Chapter 71
The sun hung over the horizon.
As night fell, travelers passing through the West must make a choice.
Whether to stop their journey and spend the night in a nearby town or...
Whoosh—
…to traverse that lawless wilderness full of outlaws and wild animals through the darkness.
Crunch—crunch.
On a day like today with heavy snow, there was essentially only one choice.
Pike, a traveler passing through the West, rode his horse following the map to find a town to stay for the night.
"There should be a sign around here... Ah, there it is."
Fortunately, Pike was able to find the town sign just before it got completely dark.
[Justice Town]
A sturdy sign that hadn't fallen despite the harsh snowstorm greeted him.
Justice Town, Utah.
This town located on the path through the West was a backwater until just 6 months ago, but it was currently developing tremendously.
I heard capital flowed in 6 months ago and gave momentum to the town's development?
Thanks to that, Justice Town became a huge town that most travelers stopped by.
Pike, who was planning to stay in Justice Town tonight, entered the town following the sign before it got completely dark.
...Oh.
Justice Town seen in person was really a large-scale town.
Of course, just because a town was big didn't mean hostility towards outsiders decreased, so...
Jake looked around carefully for a place to get food and lodging for tonight.
And...
[Deaf Man's Bar]
He stopped in front of a bar with a strange name.
A bar...
[Food and lodging available]
The Deaf Man's Bar happened to be a place where food and lodging were available.
The building looked newly built, shiny on the outside, and seeming safe...
So Pike tied his horse beside it and went inside without hesitation.
"Wahahahaha—!!"
The Deaf Man's Bar didn't seem much different from other bars.
"Chug! Chug!"
"Let's drink and die today!!"
Drinkers guzzling alcohol with red faces, not thinking about tomorrow.
And...
"Haha, full house!"
"Damn it! Don't bullshit! Does this make sense? Losing 13 hands in a row, does that make sense?!"
"It's all skill, hehe."
"...I lost $150 today. If you've been cheating, know that you'll have as many bullets in your body as the money I lost."
"...I really didn't cheat. Calm down."
Gamblers enjoying card games fiercely.
Pike quietly passed by the noisy crowd and moved to the bar.
"Welcome!"
A middle-aged man who seemed to be the bar owner greeted him, showing off his rotten teeth.
"I'm Bob, owner of the Deaf Man's Bar. Is this your first time in Justice Town? I don't recognize your face."
"Ah, yes, it's my first time."
"I guess you stopped by briefly to avoid the snowstorm tonight! Well, what can I get you? Oh, by the way, please answer loudly. My hearing isn't good."
So that's why it's called the Deaf Man's Bar...
Pike nodded and said in a loud voice, "I need a warm meal, feed for my horse, and a place to sleep tonight!"
"Alright. I'll prepare it right away."
Owner Bob gave Pike a final welcome greeting as he went into the kitchen to prepare food.
"Welcome to Justice Town. This place has more outlaws than any other town, but it's safer than any other town. 'He' should be here too, so you'll be able to sleep safely tonight."
"...Pardon?"
Pike couldn't understand Bob's last words.
Why is it safe when there are many outlaws in the town...?
And who is “he” referring to?
Well... it's not like it's a guard dog or anything.
As Pike was looking around wondering if there might be a dog in the store, that was when it happened.
Bang—!!
"..."
"..."
Along with a loud kick sound enough to quiet the noisy bar...
Step—step.
Four unfamiliar men entered the bar.
The customers in the bar sent wary glances at their extremely dirty appearance, as if they hadn't washed for weeks, and their rough and cocky attitude.
It was the same for Pike.
And...
That's...!
Pike could quickly find a clue to guess who they were.
That tattoo on their wrist...! It's the mark of the Lee Axio Gang!
Why is the Lee Axio Gang, based in Texas, here...?
The reason Pike could recognize that tattoo was because he also came from Texas.
They didn't have wanted posters, but with that tattoo, it was as good as having an outlaw guarantee mark.
If one killed these guys and took them to the sheriff's office, one could easily get $150 per head.
What should I do...
There might be a chance if he ambushed them, but there were too many of them.
As Pike was pondering, touching the revolver in his pocket, that was when it happened.
"Welcome."
Bob, who was making Pike's food, came out of the kitchen and greeted the Lee Axio Gang members.
Though he didn't recognize the gang mark, Bob's face was hardened unlike when he greeted Pike, perhaps sensing their atmosphere wasn't normal.
"...Food? Or alcohol?"
"Both food and alcohol. Food hot, alcohol cold."
"...Alright."
"All four of us will be staying here tonight. Prepare four of your best rooms."
"I'll prepare them."
The gang members' demands disguised as customers were quite rude, but Bob handled them as gently as possible.
But...
"And we can't stand noise, you know. We'd like everyone in the bar to leave, okay?"
"...Are you joking?"
"Did it sound like a joke?"
Swish.
The Lee Axio Gang members threateningly placed their Sharps rifles they had been carrying on their backs in front and shouted loudly to the customers in the bar, "Well, if you really want to stay, you can. But we hate noise, you know. If there's anyone who can drink without saying a single word, they can stay."
"Hehe."
"..."
Rustle.
It was impossible to just drink quietly without saying a word in the bar.
At the eerie guys' threat, customers started getting up one by one.
Pike was also looking around wondering if he should go to another bar, when...
"...Hmm?"
Unlike those sneakily getting up from their seats and trying to leave the bar, some customers caught his eye, keeping their seats with indifferent expressions.
Their common point was that their appearance was cleaner compared to other customers.
Are they people living in this town?
Usually, if clothes were clean, they were town residents, not outsiders.
But why do these town residents have such nonchalant expressions despite the terrifying gang members' threats?
And that was...
"...I think it would be better if you guys didn't do anything unnecessary."
"What?"
The same was true for Bob, the owner of the Deaf Man's Bar.
Bob went a step further and looked at the gang members with a somewhat pitiful expression, trying to dissuade them.
"This bastard has gone crazy..."
As one of the Lee Axio Gang members got angry and was about to grab Bob's collar, that was when it happened.
"You fucking bastard! Where are you going!!!"
"...!"
The Lee Axio guys clearly said they hated noise, but...
A man at the gamblers' table shouted excitedly.
He was a man with impressive dark circles and fierce eyes.
"Damn it! Where are you going when the game isn't over!"
"L-look here... T-those friends said they don't like noise. I-it was nice meeting you today, and we can play the game again when we meet later..."
"Should we shut up just because those idiots say to shut up? My hand is good right now! Sit down while I'm asking nicely!"
"...!"
The Lee Axio Gang members reacted immediately to the word “idiots”.
"Hey? You. What did you just say?"
Click.
They aimed at the man with rifles and revolvers in their hands.
"Want to become a beehive? Huh?"
Their faces were full of excitement.
It seemed like a gunfight could break out at any moment.
...This is a chance.
Taking advantage of that gap, Pike gripped his revolver.
Pike intended to shoot and kill the guys from behind while their attention was focused on the man.
Let's count down in my mind and then draw.
Gulp.
3..., 2....
As Pike gulped once and was about to draw his gun after blinking once, that was when it happened.
1...!
Whoosh—
Bang bang bang bang—!
"...!"
As soon as Pike drew his revolver, it happened.
...Huh?
Pike couldn't fully understand the situation before his eyes.
The Lee Axio Gang members were clearly aiming at the man, but...
In that moment when he blinked once, the man had a gun in his hand and the gang members had fallen.
...The hand drawing the gun wasn't visible.
All the bar customers who witnessed this impossible scene opened their eyes wide.
Only those who looked like residents of this town just drank alcohol as if familiar with it.
"...W-what is this?"
Hoover, the gambler who had been sucking money from the man until just now, couldn't help but be even more surprised at the situation before his eyes.
He thought he was just a simple sucker because he was terrible at cards but picked big fights, but what is this...
"Sit down."
"...Yes."
"My hand is good this time, you know? All in."
"...Pardon? No, my hand isn't good this..."
Click.
"...I'll bet everything."
With a gun muzzle in front of his face, Hoover had no choice but to spit out the money he had won so far with tears in his eyes.
Pike watched all of this and then quietly approached owner Bob and asked, "...Owner. Is that person perhaps the sheriff?"
"How could such a rascal be the sheriff."
At Bob's words that the man wasn't the sheriff, Pike nodded as if he had expected that.
"Then as I thought, an outlaw..."
"No, he's not an outlaw, he's a bounty hunter. He's called Kid. Though his personality is shitty, he's essentially Justice Town's guardian."
Justice Town's guardian...
So the reason Justice Town was safe despite having many outlaws was because of that bounty hunter.
Certainly, the gun skills he just showed were almost miraculous.
At this, Pike...
Sneak.
Pretending not to, he slowly backed away towards the exit.
Creak.
Just as he was about to leave the bar like that...
"Hey."
"..."
Kid called out to Pike who was trying to leave the bar.
Kid spoke without even looking at him, nonchalantly playing cards, "You didn't think you could just leave, did you?"
"...Pardon? Do you know me perhaps?"
"I don't know who you are, but I know you're worth $347."
"..."
Kid was playing cards with his gun placed on the table.
In contrast, Pike still had his revolver gripped in his hand.
There was no time to hesitate.
Whoosh.
Pike quickly raised his hand holding the gun to seize his last chance, but...
Bang—!
"Aahhh!"
Nevertheless, Kid's speed in picking up the gun and shooting was faster.
"Phew."
Kid blew on the smoke rising from the gun muzzle and muttered as if talking to himself:
"...Now I have one bullet left. Should I shoot this in the head of that cheating bastard?"
"Hii-hiik! I-I didn't cheat...! I didn't do any sleight of hand! Really...!"
"Then how do you explain me losing 13 hands in a row and $150?"
"That's just... you're just really, really bad at cards..."
Click.
"Uwaaah! No!! I cheated-!"
"I knew it. You cheating bastard. All your money is confiscated."
Noah's card game win rate in Justice Town was 100%.
Noah was Justice Town's self-proclaimed card master.
Satisfied with winning money through cards and wiping out outlaws again today, Noah got up from his seat with a satisfied smile.
Bob brought him a drink and clicked his tongue, "Tsk tsk, why don't you stop ripping off clueless outsiders now?"
"What did I rip off?"
"More importantly, was that innocent-looking friend an outlaw too? He looked kind and diligent."
"Ah, that bastard?"
At Bob's question, Noah took out the wanted poster he received from Jett today and showed it.
[Pike McGarfintoo]
[Age: 28]
[Bounty: $347 dead or alive]
[Characteristics: Former member of famous Texas gang 'Broadman Gang']
[Charges: 6 counts of kidnapping, rape, threats and murder]
"...Broadman Gang. I think I've heard the name too. To think such an innocent-looking guy was an outlaw and gang member."
"He looks like an outlaw at first glance, how can you not see that?"
"Haa... There are just so many outlaws in town these days."
Noah nodded at Bob's sigh-filled words.
"Fuck, you're right. Why are there so many outlaws in this damn town?"
As the town developed, outlaws flocked like crazy to Justice Town, which was already an outlaw spawn location.
So when Noah, who had suffered greatly over the past 6 months, complained, Bob clicked his tongue and said, "But haven't you made a fortune because many outlaws came?"
"That's... hm... true."
Noah secretly opened the logout window.
[Unable to log out]
[Remaining amount until logout: $949,653 / $1,000,000]
He had earned quite a bit of money over the past 6 months.
If he converted the outlaw corpses in front of him into money and added the stakes he won in this card game...
He'd finally surpassed the dreaded $950,000.
I'm almost there. Fuck, I'm really almost there.
Less than $50,000 left.
6 months.
Generously speaking, in about 6 to 8 months, he could finally go home.
Of course... assuming he didn't get screwed over.
From now on, let's really be careful of even a falling leaf.
Originally, in the military, time passed extremely slowly and many accidents happened from when one became a senior sergeant.
Noah resolved to be careful with every action from now on and...
But what could possibly happen?
He downed the alcohol Bob brought in one gulp.
***
The sun... had already set.
"Ugh... it's cold..."
A girl was passing through the pitch-black darkness.
Traveling at night in the West was dangerous, but fortunately, the sign pointing to her destination was right in front of her.
[Justice Town]
To be precise, it was her final destination.
Starting her journey from San Francisco, she followed various clues and ended up here in Justice Town.
Hmm... I have a good feeling about this?
The girl with exceptionally good intuition felt as soon as she saw the Justice Town sign that she would be able to achieve what she wanted here.
"Spiegel. Let's hurry before the night gets deeper."
"Neigh."
As she rode excitedly towards Justice Town like that, in her pocket were a badge and certificate proving she was a Pinkerton agent.
And...
A wanted poster of a faceless outlaw with a bounty of $150,000.