It’s been a month since the Redbeard Gang was wiped out.
“Yaaawn~.”
I was still living like a slacker in Justice Town.
After that day, it was like the outlaws had respawned all at once, but since then, the number of outlaws appearing in Justice Town had decreased as if it were a lie.
Last week, I caught two outlaws, but… they were just small fry.
Thanks to that, I’ve been living at the Deaf Man’s Tavern, drinking my life away.
“Ugh… my head… Emma…! Get me some water…!”
After drinking all night and coming back like a dog, I barely woke up and called for Emma.
But…
“Emma! Emma…?”
No matter how much I called, Emma didn’t bring me water like she usually does.
Come to think of it, there’s no sign of her.
‘Guess she hasn’t come to work yet.’
Looking out the window, it’s really sunny outside.
Seems like Emma was late for the first time in a while.
“Tsk tsk… I’ve really been out of it lately.”
I wanted to drink water, but it was too much effort to get up, so I just stared blankly at the ceiling…
“Log out.”
I habitually shouted to log out.
[Logout unavailable]
[Amount remaining until logout: $903,259 / $1,000,000]
After exchanging the Redbeard Gang members’ bodies for cash, fencing their horses, and giving Joe $200, I made a little over $3,500.
I couldn’t find a place to sell their weapons, so I just piled them up in my warehouse. Now, I only have $97,000 left until I can log out.
Damn… I thought I was close to going home, but now it feels a bit daunting.
It’s like counting down the days left in the military when you’re a private first class.
With almost no income over the past month, there’s been no progress.
“Ah… I wish money would just fall from the sky…”
Just as I sighed…
*Creak.*
“I’m here.”
“Emma!!”
Finally, Emma arrived at work.
As soon as I saw her, I was both happy and scolded her.
“Who told you to be late?! Get me a glass of water first!”
“……”
Maybe she knew she was in the wrong, so Emma silently brought me water.
“Here you go.”
“You used to be so diligent and never late, but lately, you’ve really let yourself go. So lazy!”
“…And you, Boss, stayed up all night drinking and just woke up, right?”
“Talking back again!”
Where did the sweet, obedient Emma from the past go?
Now, there’s only this cold Emma looking at me with pity.
As I grumbled, Emma shook her head as if she wasn’t going to listen anymore and handed me something.
“I was late because I had to bring this. Take a look.”
“What’s so important that you had to be late for it?”
I grumbled but took what Emma handed me.
It was the state newspaper of Utah, where our Justice Town is located.
“A newspaper? Oh, wait…”
After wiping out the Redbeard Gang, there was some commotion, and a reporter came to cover the story.
Remembering that, I nodded as if Emma was right.
“Yes, there’s an article about you here, Boss.”
“Ooh.”
Curious, I followed Emma’s finger to check out the article.
It wasn’t front-page news, but my story had a decent amount of coverage.
[Justice Town’s Young Gunslinger! Takes Down Lexio County’s Bank Robbery Gang Single-Handedly!]
[Mr. Noah (23), a bounty hunter based in Justice Town…]
The article had some brief information about how I single-handedly wiped out the Redbeard Gang.
If that was all, I might’ve been a little disappointed, but…
[Mr. Noah’s Noah’s Bounty Hunter Office also takes private requests. If there’s an outlaw you really want caught, entrusting this young and skilled gunslinger might be the smart move.]
The reporter even gave me a little promotion at the end.
“Wow… this reporter’s got style. I knew they were sharp. That’s why I agreed to the interview.”
“…Boss, didn’t you agree to the interview because the reporter offered money? You were really against it at first, saying you didn’t want your name out there.”
“Ah… just let it go, why do you have to pick at everything?”
Truth be told, I had refused the reporter’s interview at first, just like Emma said.
I was uncomfortable with the idea of my name spreading beyond Justice Town to the whole state of Utah.
But…
‘Oh, Mr. Noah, come on, take this and think about it…’
‘Oh no, I’m not the type to take things like this. Hehe~’
I couldn’t ignore the reporter’s earnest request(?) and eventually allowed the article to be published.
‘Well, it’s not like my face or full name is in it…’
Now that I think about it, the publicity seems like a good choice.
I handed the newspaper back to Emma and said,
“Emma, with this article, we’ll probably get a lot more clients, right?”
“…Hard to say. The article just came out today, so it might take a while before we see more clients…”
Just as Emma gave her skeptical answer…
*Clip-clop, clip-clop.*
“…Seems like an impatient client just arrived.”
“……”
I started hearing footsteps approaching from a distance.
Hearing my muttering, Emma tensed up and asked,
“…Is it another outlaw? Like last time with Marv Merchins…”
“…Hmm.”
Of course, it could be.
But…
“This time, I don’t think so.”
I was sure it was a real client this time.
Because…
*Clip-clop, clip-clop, creak-.*
The sound of hooves and wheels.
“What outlaw comes in a carriage?”
It was the sound of a carriage.
So, instead of sneaking out the back like last time, I went out the front door to greet the client.
And just as I expected, a fancy carriage was approaching.
As soon as I saw it, I ordered Emma,
“…Emma. Get two cups of coffee ready, quick.”
“Yes.”
Quick-witted Emma went to prepare the table, and soon the fancy carriage stopped in front of my office.
The coachman stopped the carriage and opened the door himself.
“Sir, we’ve arrived.”
The coachman’s attire was quite neat, and his movements were dignified.
*Ahem.*
From the carriage, a stern-looking old man stepped out.
As if mimicking a European noble, he surveyed his surroundings with a gold-encrusted cane, tapping it on the ground…
“So, you’re the bounty hunter who single-handedly took down the Bank Robbery Gang?” he said, spotting me and looking down on me with an arrogant tone.
“I came after reading the newspaper. Are you really that skilled? Normally, I would’ve summoned you to my estate, but the matter is urgent, so I came myself,” he continued, casually handing me his hat as if it were the most natural thing.
In America, handing someone your hat like that was a blatant way of treating them like a servant.
Of course, I’m not his servant or subordinate.
This old man’s behavior was extremely rude… a clear sign of disrespect, but…
“Yes-! Welcome!! I’m indeed the one who took down the Bank Robbery Gang alone! Hehe!” I replied, humbly accepting his hat and treating him with utmost respect.
Well, it made sense… the guy reeked of wealth.
In my book, customers are kings, and the wealthy are gods.
“Please, let me escort you inside-!!” I said, my instincts telling me that after the Redbeard Gang… another big opportunity had come knocking.
—
Hmm.
The wealthy old man took a sip of the coffee Emma had brought and spoke.
“My name is William Capulet. I’ve been in Utah for about ten years, running a tobacco farm.”
“Ah, yes. You can call me Noah!”
About five miles south of Justice Town, there’s a massive tobacco farm. Since it’s the only one around, William must be the owner.
‘So, this guy’s filthy rich.’
Realizing he was wealthier than I imagined, a smile spread across my face.
‘How much should I squeeze out of him?’
Rich folks like him tend to throw money around without a second thought.
I was already planning to milk him dry as I asked, “So… what brings you here?”
“……”
“Obviously, you’re here to catch an outlaw, right? A family enemy? Or someone who ran off with a precious heirloom? Just say the word. I’ll catch any outlaw for you.”
In this vast America, even if a crime is confirmed and a bounty is placed, it’s hard to catch outlaws once they’ve fled far away. That’s why people often hire privately to catch them.
I was ready to hunt down any outlaw William wanted and bring them to him.
But…
“There’s a runaway slave from my farm. Catch him for me.”
“……What?”
“Kill him if you must. But bring back his hand or foot as proof.”
“……”
This old man seemed to have lost his marbles.
For a moment, I thought I misheard and glanced at Emma in the corner.
Her expression was equally baffled.
Seems like I heard him right.
“Haha… Sir, a slave? It’s 1874, you know?”
The Emancipation Proclamation was in 1863, and the Civil War ended in 1865.
Regaining my composure, I asked, and William replied nonchalantly.
“Of course, the blacks working on my farm are slaves. The runaway’s grandfather and father were both slaves of the Capulet family.”
“……”
Then, I noticed the emblem on his cane.
A well-known symbol.
Once a major player in the Confederacy, where slave plantations thrived…
Mississippi.
‘Why is he flaunting the symbol of the defeated so proudly?’
The defeated South is still under military rule, governed by Northern soldiers.
This old man must’ve moved from Mississippi to Utah for that reason.
But why do I keep getting tangled up with these Southern folks?
First the Redbeard Gang, now this rich old man.
‘Maybe it’s because I’m from the South too. Damn it.’
Gathering my thoughts, I asked William with my last shred of patience.
“Sir, just one thing.”
“Go on.”
“Is that black man a wanted outlaw?”
I don’t discriminate based on race.
If he’s an outlaw, I’ll shoot him dead, whether he’s a Yankee or a black man.
But…
“No, he’s not.”
“Then we’re done here. Please leave.”
If he’s not an outlaw, that changes everything.
“Sir, are you joking? What era do you think this is? Slave hunting is long over.”
“What?! …You’re making a mistake-!”
“The mistake is yours. Leave while I’m being polite. What is this, an assassin’s guild? Killing innocent civilians could lead to trouble…”
If I shoot a civilian, I become an outlaw too.
That would make bounty hunting much harder.
And if I can’t do bounty hunting, going home becomes a distant dream.
That’s why I don’t use my gun unless it’s against outlaws.
And even then, only those with wanted posters.
But what? He wants me to hunt down his slave and kill him?
And bring back a body part as proof?
Ugh. No need to hear more. No amount of money is worth this.
Creak.
I stood up, pushing my chair back to signal the end of the conversation.
But then…
“$10,000.”
“……!”
“That’s the payment for this job.”
“……”
Hearing the amount, I paused for a moment.
At the mention of $10,000, there was no need to hesitate.
“I apologize for my earlier rudeness.”
“……”
“Shall we continue the discussion?”
I immediately sat back down.
