Chapter 7
A small tavern in a back alley.
The worn-out table creaked with even the slightest touch, and the orange light hanging in the corner flickered irregularly.
Aside from a few people drunkenly enjoying a card game, there were barely any customers.
It was a very suitable place—not for drinking, but for quiet, discreet conversations.
“Three beers, please.”
“Anything else?”
“That’s fine.”
After placing the order, Jaei looked at the owner and Libero sitting beside him.
The owner had his hand in his pocket, ready to pull out his gun at any moment, while Libero pretended not to care but kept glancing in that direction.
“This is going to be a long conversation. Make yourselves comfortable.”
“I can hear the clicking of your gun all the way over here—how am I supposed to be comfortable?”
“If you don’t do anything stupid, I’ll stay still too. You hear the gun clicking? I hear your eyeballs rolling.”
“Alright, that’s enough.”
What was with them?
Jaei lightly tapped the table, telling them to restrain themselves.
Then he glanced around and gestured toward Libero.
“Mr. Libero. I’d like you to tell me everything about the Void gang.”
“Then why exactly?”
“That’s not something you need to know.”
“Ha. Acting polite, but you still say whatever you want.”
What a rude bastard.
He just wanted his 30 dollars back—how did things end up like this?
Libero pouted, then gulped down the beer the staff had brought.
“The Void gang is the biggest force in Mollibay. They mainly make money through loan sharking, prostitution, smuggling, and territory management.”
“When you say the biggest, how large are they?”
“Only Void would know exactly. There are plenty of people loosely affiliated too. Probably around twenty.”
Twenty?
Was that a lot?
It didn’t feel real, but judging by the owner’s reaction, it seemed like quite a number.
Then again, imagining that many armed people running around was terrifying enough.
The owner also took a swig of beer and glared at Libero.
“That’s too many. Coming from a scammer like you, it sounds like nonsense.”
“What would I gain from lying about that?”
“Mollibay is a place where bounty hunters flock for rewards, and you’re saying there’s a gang that big? Sorry, but today’s the first time I’ve even heard the name Void.”
“Are you even a resident of Mollibay?”
“I live in Turtle Rock.”
“Then shut up. You don’t know anything.”
As Libero snapped irritably, the owner moved to pull out his gun.
Jaei lightly stopped him with a gesture.
After losing 30 dollars and facing the possibility of his sisters being sold, could anyone stay sane?
“They mainly deal in loan sharking. With that, they secure prostitutes and run gambling dens and bars. They’re pretty rough, but at least ‘on the surface,’ there’s no problem, so outsiders wouldn’t know.”
“What does that mean?”
“The Security Force is backing them. More precisely, they’re turning a blind eye.”
At the mention of the Security Force, Jaei paused.
As expected.
They were in opposition, yet connected.
“They won’t even show up unless it’s a major incident. In return, the Security Force gets to freely use the businesses run by Void. There’s even a saying that if the office is closed, go there instead. So of course, no bounties would be placed on them.”
“That’s a rather trivial compensation.”
“In truth, what the Security Force wants isn’t the compensation—it’s the benefit.”
“And that benefit is?”
“As Void expands its power, other gangs naturally fall.”
In short, a symbiotic relationship with a well-behaved dog.
Void benefited by taking over Mollibay, and the Security Force maintained order without much effort.
If the government found out, it would be a problem—but this was the West.
In practice, it was their land.
“Then is there anyone who could keep the Security Force in check? It doesn’t have to be a person—an organization is fine too.”
“······Why is the conversation suddenly going there?”
“You just need to answer.”
Libero frowned as he gulped down the rest of his beer.
His insides were burning.
There was only an hour left until midnight.
He wanted to discuss the 30 dollars, but instead, they were talking about completely unrelated matters.
“I don’t know. There’s no one in Mollibay. They’re even on good terms with the mayor.”
The mayor.
Jaei crossed his arms and thought.
The Security Force, the gang, and even the mayor—the key powers were firmly supporting each other.
If just one—just one—collapsed, there would be a way through.
“······What about the gang after Void?”
“The one after Void? There’s Woodburn, but most of them are dead. They don’t have much power anymore.”
“I see. Understood.”
As if reaching a conclusion, Jaei nodded and downed his beer in one go.
“Understood what?”
“How to proceed from here.”
“······Right. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but congrats on figuring something out. Now can you listen to me? My sisters have really suffered since they were young. After paying interest, the three of us live on just 1 dollar a day.”
“Yes. I see.”
‘Damn it, are you even listening?’
There was no soul in Jaei’s reply.
Libero put on the most pitiful expression he could and clasped his hands together.
His eyes grew moist.
If nothing else, he was confident in his ability to cry.
“If you return the 30 dollars, I’ll repay you 40 with interest. If my sisters get sold, I’m dead. Really… our parents in heaven would be heartbroken······.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Libero.”
‘What a ridiculous guy.’
If he cherished his sisters that much, he shouldn’t have taken out loans in the first place.
The owner snorted, looking at Libero in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Jaei lightly patted the back of his hand, going along with him.
“Mr. Libero. I understand your situation.”
It was a habit from calming complainants—coming out mechanically.
At Jaei’s response, Libero rejoiced inwardly.
As expected, no one could resist his tears.
“And thank you for the information. It was very helpful. I wouldn’t call it repayment, but I’ll help in saving your sisters.”
“Thank you, Jaei! You are my savior—no, the savior of my sisters, of our entire family! Then hurry and give me the 30 dollars. It’ll take some time to get to Void’s place from here.”
He’s really going to help?
That scammer?
And a guy who even tried to kill him?
The owner froze in shock, while Jaei gently released Libero’s hand.
“But that doesn’t mean I’ll return the 30 dollars.”
“H-huh? You just said you’d help.”
“Yes. I said I’d save your sisters.”
“That’s the same thing!”
Bang!
As Libero slammed the table, the owner pressed a gun against his side.
Then he gestured to the worried staff that everything was fine.
“You know what pisses me off the most running a bar? Customers causing a scene. Sit down before your side gets blown open.”
“Y-you damn bastards.”
“Not something I’d expect to hear from a scammer.”
“You’re scammers too! That coin trick earlier!”
Hitting every coin he threw—did that even make sense?
Just like himself, Jaei must have used sleight of hand.
At his words, Jaei and the owner exchanged glances.
“I didn’t use any tricks.”
“Then that was all skill?”
“I can hardly believe it myself.”
“This guy’s really insane. Whatever—just give me the 30 dollars! Or kill me! Kill me and then give me the 30 dollars!”
Collapsed on the floor, Libero grabbed Jaei’s pant leg and clung desperately.
“Jaei, want me to handle it however you like? Think of it as a good deed.”
“Hmm. There are too many eyes watching.”
“You heartless bastards!”
“Shh, Mr. Libero. This won’t end well for you.”
At Jaei’s firm words, Libero sniffled, tears and snot running down his face.
This time, the tears were genuine.
He thought he could sweet-talk his way through, but seeing Jaei unmoved, the image of his sisters filled his mind.
“Then… what’s in it for me?”
“It depends on what you do.”
“······What exactly do you want?”
Libero realized Jaei had some ulterior motive.
But he couldn’t figure it out.
Why ask about Void?
Why ask about the Security Force?
“What I want is for the sheriff’s office to accept corpses.”
“C-corpses? Are you a bounty hunter?”
“For now. There’s something I need to process, but the office refuses, saying they’ve run out of funds. Managing funds is the administrators’ responsibility. If they’ve run out, they should take responsibility—why should I suffer? They should take out a loan from a bank if needed and pay what’s owed. Don’t you think?”
“Y-you’re not wrong, but there’s no way.”
“There is. You just told me.”
As Libero blinked, the owner cautiously interjected.
“Jaei. You’re not planning to expose the collusion between the Security Force and the Void gang, are you?”
“They’re even on good terms with the mayor—would that even matter? More importantly, you said Void maintains order in Mollibay. If Libero knows, most residents probably do too. Exposing it is meaningless.”
The Security Force, the gang, the mayor.
Rather than digging into their core—it was important to shake the branches.
“The Security Force overlooks Void because they control Mollibay without crossing the line. But what if they do cross it?”
Ting.
Jaei struck one empty beer glass against another.
The tavern owner watching from afar frowned, clearly signaling not to break anything.
“That’s when people start reacting like that. Probably residents whose lives are being affected. And who cares most about those residents?”
“······The mayor.”
“Yes. That’s right. Public opinion matters. The mayor, mindful of the residents, will pressure the Security Force, and the Security Force will have no choice but to tighten the leash on Void.”
“But what? Wouldn’t that solve it?”
“What if it’s not that simple?”
The owner rubbed his forehead, clearly confused.
Jaei waved his hand as if it didn’t matter.
They would just have to watch.
If things went well, it might be resolved within a week.
“Whatever the case, it starts here. With 30 dollars.”
Jaei placed the bills on the table and tapped them.
“Mr. Libero. From now on, I will go to Woodburn and give them this 30 dollars, asking them to rescue your sisters.”
Libero wiped his nose and blinked.
So what this lunatic was saying was—
“You’re going to provoke Void using Woodburn? They don’t stand a chance against Void’s firepower. They won’t accept.”
“I’ll support them so they can. And while the advance payment is 30 dollars, I’ll guarantee profits beyond that.”
“H-how? Who?”
“Bounty hunters with rotting corpses, thanks to an irresponsible sheriff.”
“If that happens, they’ll be arrested immediately for working with gangs!”
“No. The bounty hunters are stepping in to stop a gang clash. They’ll just happen to hit ‘Void’ in the process.”
What kind of nonsense was this?
Leaving Libero behind, Jaei checked the clock on the wall.
There wasn’t much time left until midnight.
“For now, I’ll go find Woodburn. Sir, please return to the lodging and spread the word among people. Say, ‘there’s a way to get money from the Security Force.’”