At first, there were three of us.
We made money by taking on various odd jobs as a trio.
But back then, we were too young.
Above all…
With just three people, we couldn’t make a fortune like a million dollars.
So, we started gathering more people.
For money, for revenge, because they owed us favors, and so on.
For various reasons, many people began to gather around us.
That’s how the TKK organization was formed.
“…Why did you abandon us?”
“……”
“Were we not that important to you?”
“Yeah, not really.”
I could say it confidently.
TKK was just something I needed to get home early.
I didn’t feel any attachment or think it was precious to me.
“…Were we just a means to make money for you?”
“Yeah, exactly. I made the organization to earn a lot of money.”
That’s also true.
TKK was just a money-making tool to me.
*Thud.*
It seemed Rize wasn’t confident in a direct confrontation, so she tried to shake me up first.
This was also a method I usually enjoyed.
Could I really fall for my own tactics?
*Thud, thud.*
I moved forward without a hint of hesitation, unfazed by Rize’s mind games.
I planned to close the distance and subdue her before she could do anything.
But…
“…Don’t you regret killing the vice-leader?”
“……”
At Rize’s final question…
“…Was the vice-leader also just a means to make money for you?”
I had no choice but to stop in my tracks.
Jenny James.
Three years ago.
She died.
From a bullet I fired.
‘Traitor.’
‘This inhuman monster.’
Memories flooded my mind, refusing to leave.
Do I regret killing Jenny?
Was Jenny also just a means to make money for me?
‘Kid, I like you.’
‘Kid, do more.’
……
I answered Rize’s question.
“…Yeah.”
The answer that came out of my mouth felt incredibly awkward, even to me.
*Thud.*
Rize noticed I was shaken and jumped out from behind the rocks.
‘…Damn.’
I guess I’m still not a pro.
It’s been 17 years since I shot my father in this damn western game.
By now, I should be unshakable in any situation, but here I am, visibly shaken.
*Click, clack.*
At least my instincts were still alive.
Before I could even feel the emotion of letting my guard down, my gun hand automatically rose, aiming at Rize.
Now, it wasn’t up to us who would live or die.
0.001 seconds.
That split second would decide our fate… huh?
The barrel was already raised, and my finger was on the trigger.
Only then did I see Rize’s expression.
“……”
The girl who always wore a blank expression…
*Drip, drip.*
Was shedding tears.
‘Ah…’
TKK was my farm.
I raised dogs on the TKK farm.
Dogs that obeyed me and followed my orders faithfully.
I sent those dogs out to hunt and bring back money…
And when their value increased, I sold them for bounties.
I was a dog dealer.
To a dog dealer, dogs are just business tools.
A businessman wouldn’t feel pity for a business tool.
But then I wondered…
Would the dog dealer really…
Feel no pity when selling a dog to a butcher shop?
Seeing the dog wagging its tail, unaware of its impending death…
What would the dog dealer feel?
I was also a dog dealer.
I…
……
The thought didn’t continue.
It couldn’t.
My hand moved faster than my mind.
Before my mind could finish thinking…
*Bang.*
I instinctively pulled the trigger.
Rize, who had bared her fangs at me, ultimately couldn’t bite me.
*Thud.*
In the end, Rize, unable to pull the trigger, collapsed.
All of this happened in an instant.
In the West, all major events happen in an instant.
“…Ah.”
…But the aftermath lasts a lifetime.
“……”
*Thud, thud.*
I approached Rize as soon as I pulled the trigger.
*Clatter-clatter!*
I walked, then ran.
“…Cough.”
Rize was still alive.
To be precise, she was alive.
Even in that critical moment, my shooting skills were impressive.
The bullet I fired hit Rize’s heart precisely.
A pool of blood had already formed where Rize fell, and blood was pouring out of her chest without pause.
…No doctor, no matter how skilled, could save her in 10 seconds.
Rize was facing death.
“……”
I had no intention of shedding tears or showing regret after putting her in this state.
I just looked down at her.
Rize was the first to speak.
“…With those eyes, I couldn’t shoot.”
“……”
What kind of eyes was I making?
I was just looking at a dying NPC.
Even without my response, Rize continued.
“…I found out the leader’s location. …Cough, Gonzales will soon send a bunch of enforcers here.”
“……”
“Before that… run away.”
I usually didn’t bother remembering the names of TKK members.
I didn’t think it was necessary.
But Gonzales was a name I couldn’t forget.
He was the head of the TKK San Francisco branch.
Above all, he was… personally recruited by Jenny.
His loyalty and affection for Jenny were deep, so he would never forgive me.
I had already anticipated this.
But…
“Uh, and… *cough*.”
“……”
“T-the vice-captain… will soon be revealed to the world.”
Rize’s next words were something I never expected.
Without realizing it, I asked.
“…How?”
“*Cough*… I-I don’t know the method. But… D-day is coming soon… When the vice-captain appears… *cough*…”
“I know.”
I know all too well what will happen when he comes out.
“You can stop talking now.”
“……”
At my words, Rize immediately shut her mouth.
Forced to shut her mouth…
“*Cough, cough*…!”
It was to the point where blood might flow back.
Only then did I realize why Rize was acting this way.
The second rule of TKK.
Absolute obedience to orders from above.
Rize was TKK to the core.
Realizing this, I held my forehead and said.
“…From now on, say whatever you’ve been holding back, execute.”
“…Ah.”
She’s going to die anyway.
I could take any curse or blame she hurled at me.
But…
“…Ah, ah.”
“……”
“…Ah.”
Even with my order to say what was on her mind… Rize couldn’t easily speak.
**
Rize had never disobeyed an order from her superiors before.
“…From now on, say whatever you’ve been holding back, execute.”
At Kid’s command, Rize immediately opened her tightly shut mouth.
…She had so much she wanted to say to Kid.
“…Ah, ah.”
“……”
“…Ah.”
She wasn’t stuttering.
She just couldn’t connect the words.
Dad.
She wanted to call him Dad.
Though Kid was too young to be Rize’s dad…
Kid was too young, and Rize was too old, but it didn’t matter.
Kid had saved her… and given her a name.
To her, Kid was her dad.
She wanted to call him that.
But…
“……”
“Why are you stuttering? Say what you want to say.”
In the end, Rize couldn’t call Kid that.
It wasn’t because she lacked courage in the face of death.
It was for Kid’s sake.
Though Kid might not know what expression he was making now…
Rize could see it.
His face, looking like it might crumble at any moment.
Rize knew.
That Kid was already carrying a burden too heavy to imagine.
If she selfishly called him “Dad” here…
It would only add to his burden.
So instead of being selfish…
“…Live, Captain.”
“……”
…She told him her other wish.
“…Be happy for a long time.”
“……”
“…Thanks to you, I lived a life like a gift…”
Rize still couldn’t forget the taste of that bread.
The nameless girl who was destined to starve to death in that back alley lived six more years with the name Rize.
To her, it was like a gift.
Even if there was some ulterior motive behind Kid saving her…
Even if Rize meant nothing to Kid…
Even if Rize was just a means to make money for Kid…
Rize was always grateful to Kid for giving her a new life.
But in the end, Rize couldn’t say all of that.
“Lived… *cough*…”
*Thud.*
Rize’s hand, now without strength, fell from the air.
*Thump.*
Kid caught it.
*Squeeze.*
His warmth reached her through their touching hands.
‘This is enough… this is…’
Rize closed her eyes, seeing that scene for the last time.
Nameless for 9 years, Rize James for 6 years.
In her final moment, after 15 years of living expressionlessly…
A small smile appeared on her face.
**
“……”
“……”
I held Rize’s small hand for a long time.
And soon…
*Slide.*
I lifted her small body and placed it back in its original spot next to Joe’s corpse.
“……”
Joe and Rize.
For being Zodiac and TKK members, the two were too innocent and young.
I stared down at them for a long time.
Then.
*Clip-clop, clip-clop.*
My sharp ears caught the sound of hooves approaching.
My grueling night wasn’t over yet.
Now it was time for cleanup.
