"No, the West still needs me, but I'll occasionally come to New York to visit friends. Oh, Miss Consuelo, you should investigate this incident. The two gangs clearly knew your itinerary and escort strength; their ambush was very targeted," Hunter reminded.
"Thank you for the reminder, Henry, I will. Will you transfer directly to New York after you arrive in Chicago this time?" Consuelo asked.
"Yes, Richard and Madeline will be staying in Chicago for a few days, but the rest of us will transfer directly to New York," Henry stated their itinerary.
"That's wonderful! I sincerely invite you to return to New York with us. I still have a Pullman car at the Chicago Train Station, and we can depart for New York tonight," Consuelo said earnestly.
"My pleasure, Linda, Edith, what do you think?" Henry asked.
Linda and Edith at the next table both thanked Consuelo.
"Thank you, Consuelo, we'll rely on you for the rest of our journey," Henry said.
"I'd be delighted. Also, I sincerely invite you to my eighteenth birthday ball in six days, on the 29th," Consuelo said earnestly.
"It would be a great honor. I am very happy to witness such an important moment for you," Henry said with a smile.
"That's wonderful! I'll have a servant send you a formal invitation then. Have you confirmed your address in New York?" Consuelo beamed.
"Not yet. After dropping off Linda, Becky, and Andre, Peter, Mary, and I will find a hotel to stay at," Henry said.
"Let me arrange it. You can stay at our family's hotel, Astor Mansion, if that's alright?" Cathy from the next table asked.
"Of course, thank you, Cathy, you're so thoughtful," Henry agreed.
It's not appropriate to give without expecting anything in return; there should always be a way for them to express their gratitude, which fosters interaction and deeper connections.
Moreover, Henry, as the Son of Destiny, believed he could handle any thanks or gifts.
"Henry, besides practicing marksmanship and apprehending bandits, what else do you usually enjoy doing?" Amanda opened the conversation.
"Many things: reading, music, dancing, boxing, fencing, archery, horsemanship, and so on. What about you? What do you like?"
"Wow, are you proficient in all of those? I like music, dancing, flower arranging, and painting."
The meal lasted over an hour, with even Mark and others joining in later.
Everyone, including Richard, Madeline, and Edith, gained a deeper understanding of Henry, feeling that he was the kind of scion from a top family who had received the most elite education.
Not only did he have a deep understanding and mastery of various skills, but he also possessed keen and unique insights into current affairs and politics in America and the world.
Although Henry didn't say much, whenever he spoke, he hit the nail on the head.
While everyone found it a bit difficult to understand how such a person could emerge from a mountain valley, under the halo of Henry's incredible martial prowess, it didn't seem to be a major problem. Perhaps that's just how a genius is.
As for Linda, she only thought Henry had been hiding his abilities before.
After all, she had only been in Fresco Town for just over seven years and didn't know much about Henry's past.
Peter had also only been in Fresco Town for about six years, and he now felt that he had never truly understood Henry.
However, the stronger his friend was, the better. Being naturally optimistic, he didn't overthink it.
If Mark and Consuelo had previously only been grateful for Henry's rescue and astonished by his immense strength, after this meal, they truly recognized Henry as a member of their circle, even a top-tier one.
Edith, moreover, looked at him with loving eyes, as if she shared in his glory, because she could sense in Henry's gaze that she was different.
This was also Henry's deliberate intention—three monks can't carry water, so he had to make his true target feel specially treated.
Besides, Edith was about to sail to London for her studies in about ten days, so Henry had to make sure to leave his mark on her quickly.
Around 9:40 PM, the train arrived at Chicago Train Station, and Henry bid farewell to the passengers in the other three Pullman cars one by one.
Additionally, Richard and Madeline left Chicago Train Station after entrusting Edith to Henry.
Richard also enjoyed immense prestige today because he was Henry's comrade-in-arms during the Death Valley incident.
Conrad, the editor-in-chief of the New York Sun, and Davis, the editor-in-chief of the Chicago Tribune, also interviewed him.
Because the railway line from Chicago to New York—at this time, the most valuable and prosperous railway in all America, belonging to the Erie Railroad Company—was controlled by the Vanderbilt Family, railway company personnel quickly arrived to handle the escort car and arrange the new train itinerary for Consuelo's group.
Almost seamlessly, Henry's group followed Consuelo and her companions onto the express train to New York at 10:35 PM, expected to arrive approximately 31 hours later, at 5:45 AM on July 25th.
The Vanderbilt Family also arranged an escort car, adding eighteen guards, placed before Consuelo's Pullman car at the very end.
Everyone, having experienced a day of twists and turns, was quite tired, and most went to rest early.
On Saturday morning, July 24th, at 6 AM, the New York Sun and the Chicago Tribune were delivered early to the doorsteps of their home subscribers, while newsboys on the streets and alleys also hawked their papers.
The newsboys in New York had new promotional gimmicks.
"Single-Handedly Defeats Nearly a Hundred Bandits, 'Gun God' Sheriff Henry Vows to Defend Western Town to the Death!"
"Revealing the Secret Behind Sheriff Henry's Super Strength and Handsomeness!"
"The Waterloo of 'Blue Reaper' Barrett, the Rise of a New Hero!"
Today, many more people believed this report, after all, the renown of "Blue Reaper" Barrett was known to many older people, and the New York Sun would not use such easily exposed falsehoods to deceive people.
Today, Charles, the editor-in-chief of the New York Sun, took a risk and issued 250,000 copies of the daily newspaper, because all 100,000 copies of last night's The Sun Evening News had sold out, whereas the normal evening sales of The Sun Evening News were only around 50,000 copies.
The Chicago Tribune was the largest newspaper in Chicago and had an enormous influence in the city; its credibility was far beyond what the New York Sun could compare to.
In this era, Chicago had a permanent population of about 500,000, but with the floating population, it could exceed 1,000,000.
Henry's title of "Gun God" truly began to be widely known today.
At the same time, his formidable personal martial prowess also attracted the attention of many discerning individuals.
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