Chapter 37: Back in action - where to?
--- year and some months later in yet unnamed territory ---
"Bandits!" Man burst into the saloon.
The saloon fell silent and the women, as always, hurried to their homes or to protect their children. As for men, only the bravest stayed, or stayed because they didn't care, which was the case in this situation.
"Not again..." The bartender loaded his shotgun.
He jumped over the bar and headed for the only person who didn't even flinch at the news.
"Hey, jackass... You might be used to hearing about bandits, but they're a lot more vicious in these parts than anywhere else." The bartender warned one of his barflies.
The man was wearing torn clothes, and there was a hole in his shoe so you could see his toe. And his white hat kept others from looking into his eyes. But this fearless man just smiled and took one last shot.
"I'll take one more round... I'll leave the money in the register." The fearless man said.
"Are you even listening? These bandits are even worse than the devil!" Another man said with fear in his voice.
"I heard him before..." The fearless man said.
"As I said... one... last... shot..." He added with slight annoyance in his voice.
The man reached behind the bar for a bottle of whiskey. He poured himself a drink and leaned against the bar.
"How can he be so carefree..." The bartender uttered in incomprehension.
The man was about to have a drink when one of the bandits entered the bar.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk..." The bandit sounded slowly.
"Who said you could use a gun? Huh?!" He added as he increased his voice slowly.
The bartender put the shotgun down in fear. When he got back up, droplets of sweat were dripping from his forehead.
"Oh, someone's scared." The bandit laughed and his other companions entered the bar.
"I didn't mean it like that... Don Ron, no one told me it was you and your gang..." The bartender apologized.
"I'm wondering if I should let that slide or not..." Ron thoughtfully said and looked around the bar.
At that moment, the man and Ron exchanged a glance. The man raised his glass because he was about to finally take a drink, but Ron shot his glass to pieces.
"Nobody's doing anything! Until I say so!" Ron shouted angrily.
The man wiped the whiskey from his face and straightened up.
"I understand you want a firm hand on the tiller..." The man said.
"But be careful who you take a drink from." He whispered Ron in the ear as he appeared behind him.
The man kneed Ron in the knee and shot him in both feet. Ron screamed in pain and fell completely on the floor.
"And you?" The man looked at the rest of his group.
Within moments, the remnants of Don Ron's gang were sprawled on the ground.
"H-How did you do that?" The bartender said uncomprehendingly.
"Training." The man smiled and left the saloon.
The bartender and the other men who were in the saloon went after that man.
"Who are you, anyway?" One of them asked.
The man finally removed his white hat. And turned and faced them.
"My name is Perros, the man who will become a Bandazai." Perros said.
"From Dorai territory?" Man with slightly longer hair asked.
"Yup." Perros said and whistled.
"Oh, right, I left him..." Perros thought to himself.
"Wait, how do you know where I'm from?" He asked.
"Few months ago in Minami territory, few gangs started proclaiming to be under the alliance of Six pistols. Stating that Perros from Dorai territory will come back... So all the glory went to you..." Man with longer hair explained.
Perros looked to the sky.
"Idiots..." He said softly and giggled.
"So... Where am I?" Perros asked in all seriousness.
Bartender and the other thought he was joking, but he clearly wasn't.
"Jishu... How did you get here then?" Another man asked.
"Well... I can't remember." Perros nervously laughed.
"The last thing I remember is waking up on a beach. I looked around and realized I didn't know where I was. The only thing that led me anywhere was the "E" written on my hand. So I headed east and ended up here..." He added.
"What if it was an "E" for Eddie?" A man asked from the small crowd.
There was a moment of silence.
"And I guess you're Eddie?" Perros asked questioningly.
"Yup." Eddie said bluntly.
"Okay..." Perros said awkwardly.
"Anyway... I'm heading to a certain tournament. Any leads or something that you know of?" He added.
"Try heading east?" Another man said from the crowd.
Perros sighed as he lowered his head in annoyance.
"Alright..." Perros said quickly, picked up his things and headed east once more.
Perros headed east until the crowd disappeared, then rushed back and stole the first horse he saw.
"Come on, pal." Perros spurred the horse on.
The horse stood on its hind legs and neighed. The bartender and a few others ran outside to see what was going on. By the time they got there, however, Perros was on his way off.
"I thought you were a good fellow!" The bartender shouted.
"I am, but who wants to stagger around these parts for God knows how long..." Perros replied and smiled.
"Damn it..." Barman said through his teeth.
"I mean he's got point." Eddie said.
"Shut it, Eddie..." Man said punched him.
Perros rode his horse east, hoping that the place where the tournament was to be held would soon be in sight.
"Wake me up when you see something..." Perros leaned back against the horse's neck and straightened his legs towards its back.
"If you do, I'll give you a treat as a reward." He whispered in the horse's ear.
The sun was slowly setting and Perros was already asleep. The horse walked eastward all the time until he could go no further. The horse panted and lay down on the ground.
"Woah, woah... What's going on..." Perros said worryingly as he was slowly opening his eyes.
"Oh, you're exhausted." He added and reached into his back pocket.
What he pulled out was a carrot. And after searching through the saddlebags, Perros found a canteen with some water left in it.
"Here you go, buddy." Perros said and took care of the horse.
Looking around, Perros saw a light in the distance to the north.
"That should be it, and it's not even that far away." After a moment, Perros sat down on the ground and lay down.
"Now get some rest, tomorrow is our last day together..." He added, leaning back against the horse.
"But like you would care." Perros said and closed his eyes.
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