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Chapter 21: Hawk Eye
Back at camp, Hosea couldn't relax. He stayed beside the Stable with a rolling-block rifle, eyes sharp for any movement.
Soon he spotted five figures swaggering back in the distance. He hurried over, asking if something had gone wrong—why only five had returned.
Arthur answered kindly, every word praising Johnny to the skies.
Hosea was surprised; the lad who'd just joined the Van der Linde Gang was quicker-witted than he'd expected.
Dutch rode Count to the Stable, tied him up, then told Pearson at the makeshift kitchen to have Johnny's welcome in six hours sharp.
Ms. Grimshaw heard and rallied every woman to prepare for the evening feast; even Uncle, lazy as he was, cheerfully lent a hand in the kitchen.
Arthur booted him out, insisting Uncle was better off a parasite—nobody likes a second camp rat when you already have a legendary one.
At last with a free moment Johnny opened his panel and picked two new targets to check their perks and bond values.
Charles Smith
Bond Value: 85
Gold ☆ Weapon Master – Lv 8
Why would weapon type limit a true Gunslinger? perk effects: 1. Proficiency is shared among all weapons. 2. You instinctively know how to inflict maximum lethality.
Upgrade requirement: Already maxed
Acquired
Johnny stared, slack-jawed. 'Damn, my first skill that shows up already capped.'
Purple ☆ Hawk Eye – Lv 1
Your eyes are a ruler. perk effects: 1. Briefly detect traces nearby. 2. Briefly follow a specific trace.
Upgrade requirement: Track and find 5 enemy hide-outs. Progress: 0/5
Acquired
Purple ☆ Brawl Master – Lv 1
A hunter knowing hand-to-hand makes sense! perk effect: When using melee weapons or bare hands you always fight with great skill.
Upgrade requirement: Kill 10 enemies frontally or by stealth with daggers. Progress: 0/10
Similar perk already owned; cannot acquire
'Seriously? A similar perk blocks it? Look how everyone else merges them—stupid system!'
The idiotic system wouldn't answer, but Johnny consoled himself: guaranteed stuns beat a melee perk in real fights anyway.
He gave up on Charles's remaining perks—otherwise he'd be stuck on that requirement forever.
Dutch van der Linde
Bond Value: 90
Red ☆ Dead Eye
Already owned
Red ☆ Killing Intent Perception – Lv 1
As the main character you usually dodge disaster. perk effect: Sense hidden danger.
Upgrade requirement: Use Killing Intent Perception to ambush and kill 10 enemies. Progress: 0/10
Acquisition requirement: Bond value 95
Purple ☆ Western Idea King – Lv 1
I have a plan. perk effect: When you say 'I have a plan,' people are more inclined to believe you.
Upgrade requirement: Successfully plan 3 operations. Progress: 0/3
Acquired
Green ☆ Western Godfather – Lv 1
Either you run life or life runs you. perk effect: People you rescue are very likely to feel grateful.
Upgrade requirement: Cannot be upgraded
Acquired
White ☆ False Civilization – Lv 1
perk effect: While wearing high-society clothes, people more easily see your true nature.
Upgrade requirement: Cannot be upgraded
Acquisition requirement: Bond value 60 (Accept?)
'What the—there are negative perks!' Johnny jabbed 'Decline' and shut the panel.
Western Godfather sounded strong but felt useless; who wouldn't feel grateful after being saved?
He led Charles's Taima into the Stable, poured a bucket of cool water into the trough, then strutted back to his bunk for a nap—he had guard duty that night.
In his room drowsiness hit, but he couldn't undress to sleep.
He cracked the cylinder of the lemat revolver at his hip and flicked out the round under the hammer so it wouldn't go off while he slept.
Six hours later… Bill and Arthur hauled the guest of honour to the party. The instant Johnny opened his eyes and saw Bill he shot upright like a startled cat.
Bill eyed him suspiciously, wondering why the kid acted as if he'd seen a ghost.
After a moment Bill barked, 'Mr. Morgan! You been bad-mouthing me to the new boy again?'
Arthur clicked his tongue, spread his hands innocently. 'Bill, everyone in camp knows your stories. Only little Jack's still in the dark.'
The bonfire blazed; people danced and sang around it, merry and loud.
Except for the lookouts, everyone sat by the spit-roasted deer, stuffing themselves until their faces shone with grease.
Hosea hadn't forgotten the men on duty.
He stood and called to Pearson, 'Hey, old Attendant, roast one more deer for Lenny and Javier watching Colm, and for Micah still on guard.'
Dutch stood in the centre, arms sweeping as he proclaimed, 'Brothers, sisters—after this score we leave this godforsaken place! I'll take you to a new city, a new life!' His words ignited hope in every heart.
When the revelry faded, Bill and Johnny carried most of a roast deer and two bottles of Kentucky bourbon to the abandoned mine for the two brothers still on watch.
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