Chapter 232 : Gold Rush (2)

Gold Rush (2)

Lee Gyeongbok headed in the direction of the gunshots with Light. It wasn't hard to pinpoint the exact direction.

That was because mercenaries were gathering not far from the mining company building.

–I knew it. It had to be something with the mining company.

–What the hell did those merc bastards do now?

–Huh? Even the Sheriff is here?

–He's not sleeping this time, lol

–Haha, told you, he's awake at night and sleeps during the day!

Amid the mercenaries stood the Sheriff. He looked over at Lee Gyeongbok and appeared noticeably flustered.

"Uh, wh-why are you here?"

"Obviously, because we heard gunshots. What's going on here?"

The Sheriff's eyes shook at Lee Gyeongbok's reply. He glanced behind him.

"Well, it seems we disturbed your rest."

A voice came from behind the wall of mercenaries. As they stepped aside, oswald was revealed.

In front of him lay a miner bleeding on the ground.

–?????

–Whoa?

–Wait;;; was it really a murder!?

–What the heck happened, what happened!?

While the chat was flooded with question marks and exclamation points, Lee Gyeongbok's gaze sharpened.

"He's still alive."

He noticed the rise and fall of the miner's shoulder with each breath. Then, the miner's leg, hidden in shadow, came into view.

The gunshot wound was in the thigh.

"Ugh......"

Oswald grinned and nudged the miner with his foot. The miner shuddered and groaned in pain.

"An unfortunate incident, really. Exhausting, I tell you."

At his gesture, the mercenaries brutally grabbed the miner's hair. As they lifted him, it revealed a gold bar the miner was desperately clutching to his chest.

–Ah... so the miner stole it?

–No way to defend that, damn.

–But shooting him is still a bit much;;

–Wasn't it merciful for that era not to just kill him?

The viewers quickly grasped the situation.

Oswald's explanation matched theirs.

"As you can see, I had no choice but to shoot in order to catch this thief. Now that it's resolved, you can all return."

"No..."

At that moment, the miner managed to force out his voice.

"I didn't steal it...! This, this is my rightful share! They wouldn't pay me, so... guh!"

His desperate cry abruptly halted as a mercenary seized him by the throat.

The mercenaries who'd taken the gold bar began to kick the miner.

"What...!"

"H-hey! Wait a moment!"

As Light tried to intervene, the Sheriff hurriedly blocked her path.

–?????

–What the; who is he blocking now?

–Wow, lol they're all in on it together

–Look at the Sheriff, checking for Oswald's reaction

–But tbh, if you get on Oswald's bad side, you're done for

–He might kill people where no one will ever find out

–Law enforcement means nothing in this town

–Oswald's basically the lord here, lol

The viewers instantly discerned the power dynamic. Rich Hills was completely under Oswald's thumb.

"The boss wasn't totally wrong. They're exploiting the miners, aren't they?"

Light said to Lee Gyeongbok. However, her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.

Oswald raised his hand in response.

The mercenaries stopped beating the miner, but he was already unconscious, his body covered in dark bruises.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding?"

"My miners have not been 'unable' to receive payment. Their wages have merely been 'deferred,' that's all."

He casually extended his hand. The mercenary holding the gold bar respectfully placed it in his palm.

"As you may know, the price of gold fluctuates. In order to maximize profits, one must sell when the price is high. Only then can wages be paid and the company continue to operate."

He clicked his tongue as he looked down at the unconscious miner.

"But people like him, those lacking patience, cause trouble. Detective, do you think the value of this gold bar matches what this thief deserves as his share?"

Before anyone could answer, oswald shook his head.

"No, of course not. The worth of this parasite is not equal to a gold bar! Yet, without knowing his place, he tried to steal something far beyond his value?"

With Oswald's follow-up, Lee Gyeongbok acutely realized why he was cast as the villain.

"He's done nothing but harm the company. Just think about the price of the bullet I used on him!"

The viewers felt the same way.

–What a crazy way of thinking, damn

–He's got it down to the price of every bullet, lol

–Not just a joke, he's a real Black Company

–This is maddening, right?

–Someone bring a pitchfork, quick!

Lee Gyeongbok sternly turned to the Sheriff.

"Is it fine to resolve things like this?"

The Sheriff fidgeted and looked at Oswald before answering.

"Well... It's true that he stole from the company..."

"Wage arrears?"

"Well, that... that's a problem between the miners and the company, not under the Sheriff's jurisdiction..."

Viewers sighed at this sight.

–A total puppet, for real, lol

–This guy's a sheriff? Seriously? LOL

–That Wild West vibe, so infuriating

–Although, oddly, I sort of get why he says it's not his jurisdiction

–Suddenly feeling that Korean civil servant attitude in the Wild West, lol

–Hey! Stay alert!

–LOL is this supposed to be homework!?

–Just perfect—Relax, man

Lee Gyeongbok was displeased, but turned his gaze away from the Sheriff.

"Huh, fine. The injuries are severe, so let's treat him first."

His priority was to save the miner. But the mercenaries again surrounded the unconscious man.

This made not just Lee Gyeongbok, but viewers also, question what was going on.

"Treatment costs money."

Oswald spoke up.

"If he were a miner belonging to my company, of course I'd arrange for treatment. But from the moment he committed theft, this criminal is no longer our company's 'asset.'"

"... Did you say 'asset'?"

Light grimaced at the word choice. Oswald, however, continued unfazed.

"Treatment is your choice, but all the medicine in the village belongs to my company. I need to be clear who's going to pay for it."

The chat buzzed instantly at this explanation.

–Wow, this guy really is obsessed with money

–An absolute master at pinpointing what's detestable, lol

–Maybe he just wants to avoid treating him, let him die and prevent trouble?

–Oh? That could be it?

–Either way, it costs the company nothing

–In many ways, roc&Roll is a well-made game, damn

Just as Lee Gyeongbok was pondering how to respond, a sharper threat approached.

"You bastard! Where is he?!"

Everyone turned as a loud shout rang out.

It was the enormous mercenary who'd fainted at first. He glared violently as he stomped toward Lee Gyeongbok.

"You little punk...!"

"Oh, this is perfect."

At Oswald's words, all eyes went back to him.

"I was just considering how to deal with that fellow who caused you trouble. So, how about this?"

He twisted his lips, looking between the mercenary and Lee Gyeongbok.

"Why don't the two of you duel? The winner can have their request granted. Of course, the duel will be supervised by the Sheriff, so it won't be to the death. I believe both of you are skilled enough, yes?"

The chat went crazy at this suggestion.

–Look at him scheming, lol

–They're all in on it! No doubt they'll cheat!

–For real, the other mercs will probably pull out guns as soon as it starts

–Maybe just pay up and treat the guy instead?

–But that's so infuriating too

–Let's just kill them all?

–Massacre route, lol

–If not for worrying about a gang raid, I'd wipe them all out too

The viewers argued back and forth. Lee Gyeongbok thought for a moment.

"Given the situation, it'll be tough to take care of them all. Even if I deal with the mercenaries, I'd have to kill the Sheriff and all the miners to remove all witnesses."

It wasn't that he couldn't do it.

"If I kill them all, my personality build would change drastically."

He could do it, but it went against the way he'd played so far. So, he made another decision.

"I'll handle it like this."

Action followed instantly.

Lee Gyeongbok drew and fired his revolver with lightning speed. Startled by the thunderous shots, the mercenaries rushed to grab their own guns.

But their hands closed on nothing.

"How can there be a duel if you can't even draw your guns?"

Lee Gyeongbok looked around at the bewildered mercenaries and addressed Oswald. Seeing Oswald's shocked face, the viewers marveled.

–Wow, lol, thought for a second he'd kill everyone

–Quickdraw from the holster?

–So freaking cool, damn

–(Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)(Kemalcon)

–How are you supposed to have a gunfight with no guns, haha

–And the Sheriff's gun was the only one he didn't shoot, but he's so useless he didn't react at all, lol

The mercenaries' pistols clattered on the ground. Lee Gyeongbok had demonstrated remarkable skill, shooting every holstered pistol.

The mercenaries, belatedly realizing what happened, looked at Oswald in terror.

Oswald forced a smile, but he couldn't hide the twitch at the corner of his mouth or his trembling cheekbones.

"I didn't expect such remarkable skill. As you wish, I'll provide you with medicine."

At that, the viewers exploded.

–Haha, stop killing the mood, just laugh

–Try some of Godple's gunplay, my dude!

–Watch your step, lol

–But he's always so meticulous about money, even now

–If you cross the Black Company, you're dead

Unlike Oswald, the viewers laughed with genuine delight.

* * *

Light carried the unconscious miner back to their lodgings. The scene transitioned into a cutscene.

The once pitch-black night sky now radiated a bluish hue. Time had passed; dawn was breaking.

"Ugh..."

Beneath the flickering lantern, the miner's eyelids twitched slightly. Though swollen from the beating, he struggled to open them.

"Wh-where am I..."

"Are you alright?"

At Alex's question, the miner turned his head.

"Truly, thank you. Thank you for saving my life...!"

The miner soon burst into tears.

Gratitude mixed with sorrow.

"I came here thinking I'd become rich, but ended up with nothing. The company had us taking their medicine night and day just to keep working, but all I'm left with are these wounds..."

"Medicine? What medicine?"

Light pressed. The miner replied, sobbing.

"They said it was a tonic. At first, it really worked. I wouldn't feel tired or sleepy at all, thanks to it. I could mine so much gold..."

His hands trembled as he went on.

"But at some point, it got too hard unless I had the medicine. Same with the other miners. In the end, we begged for money and bought more of it. I knew it was dumb, but I needed it..."

Lee Gyeongbok and the viewers quickly caught onto the situation.

"This is... some kind of drug, isn't it?"

–Probably a type of stimulant?

–Back then, people didn't know about drug side effects and used them a lot

–True, even morphine and opium were given as cold medicine

–But Oswald must have sold it knowing it was addictive, right?

–He's a total scumbag, lol

The viewers realized Oswald was even more evil than they'd thought.

Suddenly, gunshots echoed from outside.

"What was that?"

"Don't tell me, again?"

The viewers' reactions were much the same as Alex and Light's. But Lee Gyeongbok was different.

"No, those aren't pistol shots. That's a rifle."

The sound was distinctly different from what they'd heard before. The viewers were surprised at his precise explanation.

–????

–Can he really tell the difference?

–It's not like he's standing right next to it; it's in the distance!

–That's just absurd, but if Godple says it, it must be true

–So is it a raid?

The viewers were impressed by Lee Gyeongbok's sharp hearing, but the situation quickly escalated, just as they predicted.

"A raid! We're under attack!"

"Get up! Emergency!"

"They're coming!"

"Aaagh!"

Gunfire, screams, and shouts all blended together. The cutscene ended as Lee Gyeongbok regained control.

"Alex!"

Light cried out urgently. Lee Gyeongbok nodded and drew his gun.

"The gang is attacking."

"They waited until dawn...!"

Light looked out the window in horror.

"The miners, too...! This isn't a riot!"

Lee Gyeongbok realized the situation.

The miners who had been sleeping because of the night's events were now scrambling to escape.

But the gang's bullets didn't discriminate between mercenaries and miners.

'They're completely out of control now.'

Lee Gyeongbok sensed the fierce determination from Light. It was clear that seeing the massacre had steeled her heart.

[00:30:00]

A timer appeared on one side of the screen.

The viewers caught on to its meaning.

–Survive for 30 minutes?

–It's a defense mission, after all

–Got to hold out until reinforcements arrive?

–Should be doable at this level

–No wonder Alex brought it up!

The objective was clear: survive for 30 minutes against the raid.

But Lee Gyeongbok immediately kicked open the door and stepped out.

"Given Roderi's freedom level, I doubt you have to just play defense."

He observed the outlaws climbing the slope and the mercenaries taking cover and returning fire.

Bullets were flying everywhere. There were more outlaws than anticipated.

–Why are there so many, damn

–This isn't a gang; it's a whole army!

–Was the gang always this big?

–Is it because this is a Master ranking?

But even so, Lee Gyeongbok's mindset did not change.

"I'm guessing the story will progress even if we take out all of them."

Viewers were thrilled by his confident declaration.

–Purple confidence ON!

–Haha, why defend if you can just wipe them all out?

–A defense mission (not really)

–It's become a defense mission by accident?

–Let's go for more shots, more kills!

–The reinforcements will show up late and be dumbfounded, lol

They knew Lee Gyeongbok was capable of it.

If you find any errors (non-standard content, ads redirect, broken links, etc..), Please let us know so we can fix it as soon as possible.