While Colm O'Driscoll, that one-legged, venomous viper, raged and roared, frantically embarking on his self-destructive path of vengeance, the Van der Linde Gang, far away in the vibrant heart of Valentine, New Hanover, had already quietly, yet magnificently, accomplished another impossible feat.
At this very moment, in what was once merely the dusty livestock town of Valentine — oh no, that quaint designation was far too humble now. It should, with all due respect to its soaring aspirations, be christened Valentine City, a veritable prospective city, throbbing with life and ambition, nestled in the heart of New Hanover.
Compared to its humble beginnings just five months prior, Valentine had now, astonishingly, doubled in size, its very foundations groaning under the weight of its rapid, explosive growth. At the express, visionary request of New Hanover's self-proclaimed Governor, Dutch Van der Linde, the sprawling, often malodorous ranches of Valentine had been systematically, efficiently relocated far beyond the burgeoning town limits, scattered across the vast, rolling grasslands around Emerald Ranch. This bold move was orchestrated specifically to ensure the unimpeded, glorious progress of development within Valentine's new, urban core.
The original ranch locations, now cleansed of their bovine inhabitants, had been swiftly transformed into bustling new residential areas. Additionally, rows upon rows of sturdy houses had sprung up like mushrooms on the previously barren land around Valentine, and even, incredibly, on the desolate stretches across the railroad tracks. Every single one of them had been snapped up, purchased with eager hands and hard-earned coin. The entire urban sprawl of Valentine had more than doubled in size compared to its former self, and with a relentless, almost biological imperative, it was still continuously expanding.
The reasons for this astonishing, almost miraculous, metamorphosis were exceptionally complex, a confluence of desperation and burgeoning hope.
Firstly, the magnificent construction of the new school, a beacon of civilization, acted as a powerful magnet. It drew in residents from distant, isolated small villages, lured in hardy pioneers who had staked out meager plots in the untamed wilderness, and even pulled in desperate families eking out a grim existence in gang-built shanties (similar to the ramshackle gang-style living arrangements near the old Valentine stables).
To secure their children a coveted spot in the hallowed halls of learning, they had to become bona fide Valentine residents, and to be a Valentine resident, one simply had to rent or buy a house. This powerful, irresistible pull inevitably led to the rapid expansion of the urban area and a dramatic surge in population.
Secondly, the diligent workers from Hope Ranch, flush with their newly acquired wealth, were frantically buying up houses, their pockets bulging with previously unimaginable sums. They possessed an almost religious conviction that Mr. Van der Linde, with his boundless vision, would surely, inevitably, transform Valentine into a bustling, prosperous city. And at that glorious time, these humble properties would undoubtedly skyrocket in value, becoming veritable goldmines. Now, with money burning holes in their pockets and nowhere sensible to spend it, they might as well invest in houses, biding their time for the inevitable appreciation. And besides, they could even rent them out for a tidy profit, a novel concept!
In addition to their unwavering belief in the radiant development prospects of this place, people from as far as Rhodes and even the sophisticated, skeptical denizens of Saint Denis specifically journeyed here to buy houses or settle down, hoping to ride the wave of appreciation. This further fueled the demographic boom and the insatiable demand for housing.
Thirdly, the recent, brutal Cleanup Operation in New Hanover, a cleansing fire unleashed by the Van der Linde Gang, had forcibly driven a massive number of displaced, desperate gang members into the already overcrowded West Elizabeth. This in turn caused untold distress and violence for the innocent residents of Strawberry, Blackwater, and countless isolated individual farms. With no other viable option, these traumatized souls had no choice but to seek stable, secure lives within the burgeoning sanctuary of Valentine. This influx, ironically, was also an unforeseen disaster, a byproduct of Dutch's ruthless efficiency.
The synergistic result of these three powerful, converging reasons was the continuous, unstoppable expansion of Valentine's scale and a simultaneous, utterly delightful, increase in real estate revenue.
However, today's true protagonist was not the mundane world of real estate, but the magnificent, freshly completed Valentine First School, officially established, a beacon of hope risen from the dusty plains!
At this very moment, on the previously flat, unremarkable ground on the other side of Valentine Train Station, sturdy, elegant brick and tile structured houses rose proudly towards the sky, a stark contrast to the weathered wooden structures that dominated the town. These houses were a rare sight in Valentine, especially given that all of them stood three stories high, towering majestically over the humble wooden dwellings of Valentine.
Four imposing, three-story brick and tile buildings were meticulously arranged in a 'pin' character shape, like a fortress of knowledge. They were completely encircled by concrete brick walls that meticulously enclosed the four buildings as one cohesive, impenetrable unit. Concrete roads, smooth and modern, were meticulously laid out inside, and to further enhance its civilized charm, there were even carefully cultivated patches of green grass and newly planted trees for beautification.
The lecture hall, spacious and bright, the pristine restrooms, the dean's imposing office, and various other administrative offices were all complete, ready for their grand unveiling. The entire school exuded an unmistakable aura of urban sophistication and civilized grace, attracting the eager, hushed discussion of the Valentine residents, who had already gathered en masse, practically vibrating with excitement around the school's perimeter.
"God," an old rancher, his eyes wide with wonder, whispered in awe, "Mr. Van der Linde's school is built so beautifully! I haven't seen a school of this massive, this grand scale, even in Saint Denis itself!"
"Wow!" exclaimed a young mother, clutching her child tightly, tears welling in her eyes. "I've never seen such a tall building! Is this… is this the environment where the children of those gentlemen go to school? I never, ever imagined my son could also attend such a high-class, magnificent school! Mr. Van der Linde is truly, truly great!"
"God, we truly didn't come in vain!" a grizzled prospector choked out, his voice thick with emotion, nudging his son. "Jack, do you see the school in front of you? I never imagined our son could also go to school here for free, become a knowledgeable and civilized person, and then he could go to the East and find a decent job! Woohoo… I'm so touched, I never dared to imagine our son could attend a school like this..."
"I see it, Lisa, don't cry," a gruff but tender voice responded, a father wiping a tear from his own eye. "Hey, Dawn, if you dare not study hard in there, I think you'll have to find out how tough your father is!"
A swelling, multi-layered crowd of people surrounded the school, trembling with a mixture of excitement and profound emotion as they gazed at the majestic edifice before them. They enthusiastically discussed the school among themselves, their voices buzzing with collective pride. Those who were once foul-mouthed were no longer; their curses replaced by whispers of awe.
Those with notoriously bad tempers were no longer irritable; their movements became almost reverent, as they cautiously, gently, touched the fresh wall paint of the school's pristine fence with their fingertips, fearing any slight damage to this sacred monument of hope.
This large, diverse group of people, whether they knew each other or not, whether male or female, all celebrated loudly with those around them, their faces shining with unadulterated ecstasy. As a small, isolated livestock town in the vast, untamed West, most people in the entire settlement had never, ever attended school. Here, anyone who could simply read and write could easily snag a coveted position as an accountant.
These people had lived their entire lives enduring hardship, their biggest, most cherished dream being merely to arrange their families' futures before they died, ensuring their children could be self-sufficient and never starve.
As for the notion of actually going to school? It was something so impossibly distant, so utterly fantastical, that they didn't even dare to imagine it.
However, now, this very unimaginable thing had been personally, miraculously delivered into their eager, trembling hands by that one, enigmatic man!
The entire area around the school was packed to bursting with people; Valentine's expanded population had now reached a staggering tens of thousands.
These people had even halted their daily work, just to circle the school, gazing intently inside, their eyes filled with both the overflowing joy of their children being able to attend school and their own wistful, unspoken inner aspirations. If only they had also been able to go to school back then, many undoubtedly thought, perhaps their lives would be completely, gloriously different now?
The saloon was empty, its doors swinging idly. The general store was deserted, its aisles silent. The entire main street lay abandoned, eerily quiet, yet a booming, vibrant human sound echoed from afar, a magnificent symphony of collective hope.
Even the usually grumpy train ticket seller walked out of his booth, climbed onto the roof of the ticket station, and watched the dignified, solemn school from a distance, a rare, wistful expression on his face.
This was a truly momentous occasion, a far bigger deal than the previous bandit suppression! This concerned their descendants, their beloved sons and daughters. It even concerned their own peace and security in the latter half of their lives. They used to have nothing to look forward to; their lives, and the lives of their descendants, were basically set, predetermined by the harsh realities of the frontier. But now it was gloriously different; now their children's futures held infinite, dazzling possibilities. The hard, grinding life they endured now had a profound, undeniable reason to be endured!
This was the colossal change brought by a simple school; it brought hope, a hope so potent it could fundamentally change a family, a generation, an entire future!
In the eyes of the Valentine residents circling the school, a clear, almost divine figure even seemed to appear before them. He had a gentle, knowing smile on his face, radiating a burning, almost blinding light. He stood bathed in that light and, with a voice that promised miracles, said to them, "Ladies and gentlemen, I will personally deliver happiness into your hands!"
At this glorious moment, Valentine First School was officially completed! At this very moment, the people of Valentine had, for the first time, true, tangible hope for the future! At this very moment, Valentine officially possessed the undisputed foundation to become a thriving, prosperous city! And at this very moment, the magnificent figure they had so fervently envisioned in their minds truly, undeniably appeared before their very eyes!
Dutch Van der Linde, having rushed back by a specially arranged train from distant Shady Belle, had finally, miraculously, made it for the historic completion of Valentine First School.