Chapter 59

“Boss-! I came to collect today’s interest-!”

*BANG-!*

The guy seemed to be in the mood for some serious trouble today, kicking the door open and striding in confidently.

When I turned around, I saw a weasel-faced guy with a voice that matched his sleazy appearance.

Trying to look intimidating, he had a scowl plastered on his face and kept calling for Bob as if I didn’t even exist.

*BANG-!!*

“Hey-! Boss-!! Can’t you hear me? I’m here to collect the interest, the interest-!!”

“S-sorry…! My hearing’s not so good…!”

Bob, who was hard of hearing, finally came out of the kitchen after the guy kicked over a table.

Since the guy was a debt collector, Bob’s attitude was quick and submissive as he rushed out of the kitchen.

And the weasel, who came to collect the interest, looked at Bob and…

*WHACK-!*

He smacked Bob’s head hard.

“You punk. I told you to fix your hearing if it’s bad.”

“…Sorry. But… hehe, I wish I could do that too.”

“You laughing? This punk’s laughing?”

*WHACK-! WHACK-!*

The weasel smacked Bob’s head a few more times, but Bob just stood there, taking it all without a word.

Even though Bob could’ve easily crushed the weasel just by his size, he didn’t resist at all.

Up until then, I was just watching quietly.

I really wanted to punch that weasel’s smug face and shut his loud mouth, but I held back.

He was probably from the Rush and Gold Gang, and if I messed with him here, it would definitely cause trouble.

But staying quiet was getting on my nerves, especially with that weasel’s grating voice.

“Ugh… whatever, just give me the interest.”

“…Huh? But you already took the interest yesterday, why are you here again today…?”

“Didn’t you read the contract? Interest is due every day! Just pay up!”

“But that’s not…”

“Talking back, huh?!”

Thinking Bob wasn’t listening, the weasel raised his hand again.

Watching the regular tavern owner get treated like this wasn’t exactly fun.

And more importantly…

*Growl.*

‘I’m starving, and this weasel’s keeping Bob from getting back to the kitchen.’

I was really hungry.

Humans are, after all, just animals.

And I, being someone who’s more in tune with my instincts than most…

“Hey.”

“…Huh? Who are you…?”

*WHAM-!*

I immediately punched the guy who dared to interrupt my breakfast.

The frustration I’d been holding back made the punch pretty strong.

Bob was the first to react in shock.

“K-Kid-! This guy is…!”

“Ah, it’s fine, Bob. I’ll take responsibility. Just go back to the kitchen and keep making my food.”

“But…”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

I kept reassuring him, and after hesitating, Bob finally went back to the kitchen.

And then…

“Ugh-! You bastard-!”

As Bob went into the kitchen, the weasel, who had been writhing on the floor, got up.

“Huh? Hey, your nose is bleeding.”

“Do you even know who I am-!”

*Swish.*

Angry, the weasel reached for his holster.

Seemed like he was about to draw his gun.

I smirked.

Drawing a gun means crossing the line…

And once someone crosses the line, anything goes.

But then…

“…!”

“Quick on the uptake, huh.”

The weasel must’ve sensed something was off and stopped reaching for his gun.

Disappointed, I decided to keep using my fists instead.

*WHAM-!!*

“AAAAH-!”

The weasel’s high-pitched voice really shined when he got hit.

His reactions were so satisfying, it made punching him even more fun.

*WHACK-!*

“Why’s your voice so thin? Makes me want to punch you even more.”

“AAAAH-!”

*WHAM-!*

“And why do you look like that? If you’re ugly, you deserve to get hit.”

“What the hell are you even… AAAH-!”

*WHAM-!!*

“You laughing? This punk’s laughing?”

“Ugh… when did I ever laugh…”

*WHACK-!*

“Crying? This punk’s crying?”

“Ugh… s-stop…”

After that, I punched him a few more times for various reasons.

Finally feeling a bit better, I stared straight into his face.

“Alright, let’s get a good look at you.”

If he was on any of the wanted posters I had, I would’ve shot him right then and there.

But…

‘…Definitely not on any of mine.’

He wasn’t on any of the posters I had.

He hadn’t drawn his gun first, and he wasn’t on any wanted posters.

So instead of killing him…

*Rustle rustle.*

I rummaged through his pockets and took a wad of cash as a compromise.

“Whoa, why’s there so much money here, huh?”

The weasel must’ve been collecting from other shops too, because he had a whopping 40 dollars in his pocket.

As I took it all, the weasel started crying and cursing.

“You-! Do you even know who I am?! You’re gonna regret this-! Give that back!”

He pointed to the emblem stitched on his jacket.

It was a gang symbol that looked like a ‘$’ sign.

Probably the symbol of the Rush and Gold Gang.

But since I already knew this weasel was part of the Rush and Gold Gang, his threat didn’t faze me.

“Got it, now get lost. I’ve got breakfast to eat.”

I even took his revolver for good measure and threw him out of the tavern.

“You bastard-! Just wait here-! I’ll make you regret this-!”

With everything taken from him, the weasel ran off into the distance, spouting lines like a third-rate villain.

After watching him disappear, I went back inside, where Bob, who had brought out the food, asked me worriedly.

“…Kid, are you gonna be okay? Those guys are dangerous…”

“…Yeah. I’m screwed.”

“…Huh?”

Originally, I had no intention of making enemies with the Rush and Gold Gang.

What mattered most to me was money, and since they weren’t on any wanted posters yet, there was no point.

Catching them would earn me nothing, and if I killed them by accident, I’d be labeled an outlaw.

‘Should’ve held back.’

But that guy’s face was just too punchable.

“…I don’t know. If it comes to it, I’ll just take them down one by one.”

What’s done is done.

I thought about running away, but then this Deaf Man’s Tavern wouldn’t survive.

So, with no other choice, I ate my meal and waited for them.

And then…

*Clip-clop clip-clop.*

As I finished eating, the sound of numerous horse hooves came from the distance.

More than ten, maybe?

Either way, there were a lot of them.

“Bob, stay in the kitchen for a bit.”

“…Uh-huh.”

I sent Bob back to the kitchen and checked my weapon.

A revolver with six bullets loaded.

I didn’t expect something like this to happen this morning, so my gear was pretty light.

At least ten enemies, but only six bullets…

“Totally chill.”

No big deal.

*Creak.*

The tavern door opened then…

*Thud.*

Someone walked in.

‘Huh… interesting.’

Over ten guys swarmed outside, but only one came in.

That Weasel guy must’ve told them about me, but this guy had the guts to walk in alone.

*Sip.*

I sipped the coffee Bob gave me with breakfast and watched the guy approach.

Pretty messy outfit, two pistols in holsters, and a cowboy hat.

From the looks of it, just your average gunslinger.

‘Did they send a subordinate to test the waters before the big fight?’

But I was a bit caught off guard when the guy reached out and spoke.

“Hey, sorry about that. I heard one of our members was rude. I’m Heinrich, leader of the Rush and Gold Gang.”

“…Heinrich what? Wait, you’re the leader?”

The weird name aside, leaders don’t usually show up first, whether it’s a small or big group.

And for a loan shark gang leader, his outfit was way too humble.

When I gave him a suspicious look, he chuckled with a friendly smile.

“Ah, my dad was Dutch. Dutch names probably sound weird to Americans. Just call me ‘Bert.’ Anyway, is it strange that I’m the leader of the Rush and Gold Gang?”

I answered honestly what was on my mind.

“Yeah, I thought loan shark gang bosses would look rich, but you look like a hobo. Kinda surprising.”

“Hahaha! I’ve got plenty of money! But no matter how much I have, I like staying a bit dirty and looking like a bum.”

I tried to provoke him with my words, but Bert just laughed it off.

Then he casually sat next to me and asked like a friendly neighbor.

“So, you wanna borrow some money too? Most of the townsfolk already owe me.”

Even in this situation, Bert was hustling. Dude’s got work ethic.

“For you, I can offer a lower interest rate than others.”

“Pfft.”

I chuckled for a moment, then got serious.

“Got 100 grand?”

“Huh?”

“Lend me 100 grand today, and I’ll pay you back 100 times tomorrow.”

“What? Hahaha.”

I was serious, but Bert thought it was a joke.

“Come on, man. Where would I get that kind of money?”

“Too bad. I really needed exactly 100 grand.”

“Sorry, I don’t have that much. Let’s talk business later…”

*Thud.*

Suddenly, Bert placed his pistol on the bar.

“Now, let’s talk about my subordinate who got beaten up and chased off by you.”

“……”

He drew his gun, but since he didn’t seem aggressive, I just watched.

But Bert’s gaze grew sharper.

The Rush and Gold Gang wasn’t officially outlawed.

So they couldn’t draw first.

But if they did, the story would change.

I was ready to kill him the moment he crossed the line… and take out the guys outside too.

“……”

“……”

Tension filled the Deaf Man’s Tavern.

*Snap.*

Bert moved first.

“Sorry.”

“……”

“Haha! I heard our guy was a bit too aggressive while collecting debts. My apologies. As compensation, I won’t collect interest from this place for a few days.”

Bert bowed his head and admitted their mistake with that friendly smile again.

I just stared at him, and Bert quickly stood up.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

And just like that, he walked out of the tavern.

But at the last moment, before opening the door, he turned back and asked with a smile.

“You’re Kid, right?”

“You knew about me?”

“Yeah, someone who really doesn’t like you told me all about you.”

Someone who doesn’t like me…

There’s no shortage of people who hate me.

If I died today, people from Justice Town to San Francisco would be dancing in the streets.

“Tsk tsk, should’ve lived a better life.”

“I’m living pretty decently, though?”

Decency is relative.

When I added that, Bert laughed heartily…

“Alright, let’s meet again ‘sometime.'”

“……”

He left with those ominous words.

*Clip-clop.*

Only after the sound of the Rush and Gold Gang’s horses faded did Bob come out of the kitchen.

“Kid!”

“…Bob, bring me some booze.”

“You okay? That was the Rush and Gold Gang leader, right? How was he in person?”

“How was he…?”

He was a tricky one.

Unlike most gunslingers in the West who are dumb and cross the line when their pride’s hurt…

“Sorry.”

“Haha! I heard our guy was a bit too aggressive while collecting debts. My apologies.”

He knew exactly where the line was.

A sharp, calculating outlaw.

Exactly the type I hate.

Like… a downgraded version of Luke, the South Brotherhood leader.

I’ve never gotten along with NPCs who think too much.

‘And what did he mean by “let’s meet again”?’

I had a feeling things with the Rush and Gold Gang weren’t going to end well.

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