Chapter 61
Meanwhile, at William's mansion.
Sip.
Someone was drinking tea with William in the huge reception room.
William complained to the guy comfortably drinking tea in front of him with a tone full of dissatisfaction, "Look here, it's been days since I put in a request for you to deal with 'that guy'. But why is it still quiet?"
"Please wait a little longer."
The one in front of William was Bert, the leader of the Rush and Gold gang.
And... “that guy” William just referred to was obviously Noah.
William, who was about to be extorted by Noah's threats, put in a request to the Rush and Gold gang to eliminate Noah.
Rush and Gold, who needed as much cash as possible due to the nature of their moneylending business, naturally accepted William's request offering a large sum of money.
But contrary to William's expectation that they would carry out the request quickly, the Rush and Gold gang was taking their time with a relaxed attitude.
So from William's perspective, he couldn't help but feel frustrated.
"What are you waiting for!? Can't you just go find the guy and kill him right now?"
"We may be a gang, but we have to keep within the line. To leave no evidence or witnesses, we need to move discreetly."
Keeping within the line was what Bert, the leader of the Rush and Gold gang, considered most important, just like Noah.
If they didn't keep within the line, the Rush and Gold gang would quickly turn into an outlaw group... and if that happened, they wouldn't be able to operate freely like now.
There was a limit to bribing those above them too.
The Rush and Gold gang, which was already on the verge of becoming an outlaw group after raiding several villages, couldn't openly kill people.
And...
"Above all, he's not someone we can just kill as we please even if we want to."
The Rush and Gold gang had another reason why it was difficult to touch Noah.
Thud.
Bert placed a state newspaper from a few months ago in front of William.
That newspaper contained content William knew about.
"This is..."
He had entrusted Noah with the request to find his daughter after seeing this.
[Young gunslinger from Justice Town! Single-handedly wipes out bank robber gang in Lexio County!]
"Bank robbery isn't something just anyone can do. Only the most reckless and fearless among outlaws can do it."
Banks were facilities that town sheriff's offices prioritized, and they stationed plenty of security personnel in preparation for outlaws.
The fact that they robbed such a bank meant their skills were tremendous in itself.
Red Beard Gang... I've heard of them. Was it a gang made up of retired Irishmen?
The strongest and most threatening among outlaws were those with military backgrounds.
Moreover, the Red Beard Gang was skilled enough that even Bert had heard of them.
He single-handedly wiped out such a Red Beard Gang...?
Just how excellent a gunslinger is he?
"When I actually met him, he was a guy with an amazing aura. I thought I might get a hole in my forehead."
"I know his skills are amazing too! That's why I asked you to do the job!"
If William had known catching that Noah guy would be an easy task, he wouldn't have offered such a large amount to Bert.
Bang.
As William slammed the table and expressed his anger, Bert smiled and calmed him down.
"Ah, don't worry too much. It will just take some time, but I have the know-how to quietly deal with such a beast-like guy."
"...What is it?"
"Even bears that easily tear people apart can't move when threatened with their cubs."
Many Justice Town residents were already in debt relationships with Rush and Gold.
Among them, could there really not be even one person who had a close relationship with Noah?
Come to think of it, they said he had a secretary too. It might be good to probe that side.
Bert picked up a biscuit from the table and continued his explanation, "We hold the cub's life in front of him and shake it. Then when he comes out of the cave, that's when—bam!"
Crumble.
The biscuit crumbled to powder in Bert's hand.
"If dozens of our gang members shoot at once, no matter how excellent a gunslinger he is, he'll die if he's human."
"...In short, you're saying you'll threaten someone close to him, lure him out, and kill him all at once?"
"That's right."
Hostages and threats.
It was the standard method for the weak to deal with the strong.
Bert's expression was full of confidence as if he was familiar with such vile methods.
But why?
That heartless bastard doesn't seem like he'd care what happens to other people besides himself...
William kept feeling an inexplicable uneasiness as he recalled Noah's image.
***
Emma, who left on Noah's errand for alcohol with various distracting thoughts, quickly arrived at the Deaf Man's Bar riding Bonnie.
"Bob, I'm here."
"Oh, Emma. What brings you here?"
"The boss said there was some alcohol to pick up..."
"Ah, that? Alright. I'll bring it right away. Wait a moment."
"Emma, wait here and chat with us."
The Deaf Man's Bar was still preparing to open, but Bob's wife Mary, and Joe, who delivered alcohol to the bar, were sitting in chairs taking a short break.
"Yes, then I'll excuse myself for a moment."
Emma, who had lived in Justice Town her whole life and was acquainted with Bob, Mary, and Joe, sat down for a while as she waited for the alcohol.
As she sat in the chair, Joe looked at Bonnie tied outside and asked excitedly, "By the way, Emma. Didn't you not have a horse before? What's that amazing white horse outside?"
Joe, being a coachman, quickly noticed that Emma's horse Bonnie was no ordinary horse.
"Ah... It's a horse our boss happened to acquire. He gave it to me for a while."
"Whoa... It looks like a fine horse worth hundreds of dollars, and that miser Noah gave it to you…? Wow."
"What are you surprised about, Joe? Emma has always been special to Noah."
Emma being special to Noah...
Emma, who was listening, found those nonsensical words absurd, but still nice to hear.
"...W-well, I guess I would be too. Emma is beautiful and good at her work... Haha."
"Noah must see Emma favorably since he has eyes."
"..."
Joe and Mary were usually on good terms with Emma, but today they seemed a bit excessive somehow.
The quick-witted Emma could tell that the two had something to ask of her.
Sure enough, Bob's wife Mary soon broached the subject.
"Haa... It's really hard to make a living these days. Those gang bastards come every day causing trouble because of the debt..."
"M-me too... Yesterday those guys threatened to take my horse... If they take my horse, how am I supposed to live as a coachman..."
"If Noah would step up, it might be a bit more bearable..." Mary said this while subtly glancing towards Emma.
Joe also helped her and added, "T-that's right...! Noah is an excellent gunslinger... I saw it when I went to catch bank robbers with Noah last time. When Noah pulled the trigger once, 6 bullets came out at once."
"..."
As expected, the two were trying to seek help from Noah through his secretary Emma.
Knowing that method alone wouldn't be effective, Emma sincerely advised the two she was acquainted with, "...The boss isn't someone who will help just because you ask. You'd need money."
"Are you saying we should gather $4,000 too, Emma…? But I really don't even have $4 in my pocket..."
"That's right, Emma. Joe and I don't have any money at all. Probably all the villagers are like that."
"Then you should give money later."
"...Later?"
As Mary and Joe opened their eyes wide, Emma explained slowly, "Write a certificate saying you'll gather $4,000 and give it to the boss when you have money. To move the boss, you'll need to do at least that much."
"..."
$4,000.
It was a large amount, but not an impossible sum to gather if all the villagers tightened their belts for a few months.
"...Alright."
"Mary...!"
"We need to survive first. I'll try to persuade the villagers. Okay, Emma. So if we just sign that certificate, we can move Noah?"
"That's... not quite it."
"...What?"
From Emma's perspective, who knew Noah better than anyone, they couldn't move Noah with just a $4,000 IOU.
Noah wouldn't trust IOUs from poor people.
Above all, $4,000 was just the basic down payment.
Wiping out a large-scale gang with over 40 members?
The usual Noah would have taken $4,000 as an initial down payment and then demanded a few thousand more dollars as a success fee.
$4,000 for dealing with a large gang clearly wouldn't make financial sense from Noah's perspective.
"...Then what should we do, Emma? The money we borrowed was already taken away in the name of interest... Our villagers are really beggars. We can't gather more money..."
"Hmm..."
Emma thought it was all their own karma, both the two people in front of her she was acquainted with and the villagers.
It was inappropriate for them to borrow money and then whine to Noah to solve the problem.
But...
— What would you do if I borrowed money from those guys too?
— I guess I'd have to hire a new secretary.
...Emma had a curiosity she desperately wanted to resolve right now.
Will Noah save me if I’m in danger?
What kind of existence am I to Noah?
Am I the only one who thinks of Noah as special?
Maybe he too...
...
Her heart became impatient and she felt a burning thirst in her throat.
Emma wanted to quickly resolve this terrible longing.
"...I'll try to do something."
So she made a choice to fulfill her own desire... under the pretext of saving the villagers.
***
"What the hell, why isn't she coming?"
I sent Emma on an errand for alcohol earlier at high noon, but even though the sun had set and evening came, she hadn't returned.
"...Is she distilling the alcohol herself at the brewery? Why is she taking so long... Finally, she's here."
Just as I was getting a bit worried and getting up from the sofa, I heard the sound of horse hooves approaching.
So after waiting a little, Emma soon came inside.
"...Boss, I'm back."
"Why are you so late? I had something to tell you."
I spoke to Emma while lying on the sofa.
"It's nothing else, but we have to go meet William tomorrow, right? That..."
"..."
Tomorrow was finally the end of the week I promised William.
I was explaining the plan to Emma as I needed to be fully prepared to get money from William, but...
"...Hmm?"
"..."
I stopped as I realized something was off about her demeanor.
"...What? Do you have something to say?"
"Boss."
"Say it."
When I gave permission, Emma hesitated a little and then opened her mouth.
"The villagers say they'll gather $4,000 and pay you within 6 months if you solve this matter."
"..."
"They say they'll write a certificate too if you want, what do you think?"
The Emma I knew wasn't the type to ask about requests first like this.
Above all, she definitely wasn't an idiot who couldn't discern such a foolish request.
It seemed like she had some scheme... but for now, I answered seriously, "Emma. How many people are in Rush and Gold? That $4,000 I mentioned before is obviously just the down payment, and to really do it, I honestly need to receive more money."
"..."
"And how can I trust receiving money later from villagers who are all beggars? What's wrong with you today? Like an amateur."
When I spoke firmly, Emma mumbled with a face full of anxiety:
"Then, Boss… will you help if I ask for help?"
"...Are you saying that again? If it's that..."
"I borrowed money from the Rush and Gold gang."
"...What?"
With those words, Emma handed me a piece of paper.
It was... a promissory note proving that Emma borrowed $200 from the Rush and Gold gang.
"What is this..."
"Boss, please... help me."
The emotion I felt the moment I saw the promissory note was bewilderment.
I pondered why Emma suddenly pulled such an eccentric stunt, it wasn’t like she hit her head.
And the moment I took my eyes off the promissory note and raised my head to look at Emma's face.
"..."
An unforgettable memory unfolded like a panorama in my mind.
Tightly closed lips as if nervous.
An anxious expression afraid of being rejected.
— Kid, actually I...
— I liked you. Maybe from the moment we first met...
— ...What about you?
— Answer me.
Emma's appearance now was so similar to hers in the past.
"..."
I knew Emma had changed after this San Francisco trip.
But I really never dreamed it would be this kind of change.
"..."
"...Boss."
In the uncomfortable silence, Emma...
She who was always expressionless and cold was now blushing like a teenage girl and urging for an answer.
For the brusque Emma, expressing her feelings indirectly like this was probably her best effort.
Why is this so straightforward?
To borrow money to express her feelings...
I thought Emma was somewhat normal in this barbaric pioneer era, but she turned out to be the biggest fool.
And... I had to answer this fool's confession.
Actually, there was nothing to consider.
— What was I to you...?
— ...I can never forgive you.
— Traitor.
I knew how this relationship would end.
Emma was just one of the many NPCs who would disappear when I left this world.
"...Haa, I'm really dumbfounded."
"..."
So I thoroughly mocked Emma, who had shown her sincerity more than ever before.
"If you want to make a request to me, bring money, Emma."
"...!"
"Why? What are you to me? Did you think you were someone special to me?"
I was the type to do things thoroughly once I started.
"I played with you a few times because I was bored, and now you're being annoying… I'm already dying with too much work, what kind of nuisance is this."
I made sure to thoroughly trample Emma's tender and naive heart so she wouldn't have any foolish thoughts.