Chapter 1249

The sound of footsteps suddenly broke through the quiet as two men entered the yard. The first was in his 40s, with spiky hair styled with some kind of gel, wearing sunglasses, a black t-shirt, white shorts, and flip-flops, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. His companion was a tan-skinned man with a large belly and a gold chain around his neck. He wore a short-sleeved shirt, slacks, and dress shoes. The man also carried two bottles of drinks and offered one to his companion, saying, "It's too hot today—here's something cold to cool you down." The man in sunglasses took a swig and then shouted, "Hansel, what are you doing holed up inside? Get out here!" Matthew stepped aside as Hansel came running out, immediately offering a cigarette to the man. "Chief, what brings you here? Have a smoke." Bart Wildwood, the village head, waved the cigarette away, his face twisting into a smirk. "Hansel, come on. Still smoking those eight-dollar-a-pack sticks? You need to try real smokes!