"Of course."
Mike Walker didn't continue pressing Dutch; he simply nodded lightly.
Right now, the most important thing for Mike was stabilizing their situation, scouting the region around Valentine, and finding a way to cripple most of Colm O'Driscoll's forces.
His memories from his previous life the game could only serve as reference.
This world wasn't a game, and his involvement was already altering events.
As for Dutch, Mike had avoided provoking him any further.
Dutch needed things stable, and Mike needed time to understand the region and plan his own future.
Besides, the consequences of robbing Cornwall's private train had not yet surfaced.
Even though Mike publicly questioned Dutch's decision on the mountain, nothing had happened yet.
Continuing to push Dutch now would be reckless.
After chatting a bit more with Dutch and Arthur, and once they left, Davey Callander mostly recovered approached Mike.
"Mike… are we really leaving the gang?" Davey asked quietly, glancing at Arthur's distant figure.
During the days on the snowy mountain, Davey, John Marston, Abigail, Uncle, Sadie, and Charles had all realized Mike's intentions.
"This gang is a ship destined to sink," Mike said calmly.
"Just like the tribes who once lived on this land, if we outlaws don't leave this country, then we'll need new identities to survive."
"Like those sheriffs in the small towns?" Davey asked.
In the old West, lawmen were often elected locals, not appointed.
Many criminals washed their identities clean and became sheriffs.
But with the emergence of oil wealth and the expansion of the railroads,
those days were long gone.
"More or less," Mike said.
"We need to say goodbye to the past."
"But… can we really pull it off?" Davey frowned.
After all, he and Mike had joined the Van der Linde gang because they couldn't survive on their own.
"As long as we have money, it isn't difficult."
Mike smiled.
Even in the future when RICO laws would exist,
money could still wash a man's sins clean.
"But that's the problem, we don't have money," Davey muttered.
"If we had it, why would we be outlaws?"
"There are plenty of ways to make money," Mike replied.
"And most are far safer than robbing trains and banks.
But first, we need people strength.
And you should spend more time with Abigail, Sadie, and Charles."
He had already built trust with them these weeks,
but trust had to be maintained.
Right now he was offering emotion and vision, not tangible benefits.
A bond based on feelings alone is fragile.
A bond based on benefits alone is fragile.
A bond based on both is strong.
"I get that," Davey nodded.
"But if you've got ways to make money, why leave the gang?"
"The gang is too big of a target," Mike explained.
"The Blackwater robbery made us famous and not in a good way."
"And Davey… listen carefully to this part.
If the gang prospers under our methods, Dutch will only grow more suspicious of us."
That was the danger of overshadowing the leader.
Trusting Dutch with their lives?
Not an option.
Davey was no genius, but he wasn't stupid.
He quickly understood.
"And another thing Dutch always says this country exploits the poor, that he wants to fight against corruption."
Mike chuckled.
"But look at the contribution box.
Everyone has to turn in 50% of what they earn.
That's higher than federal taxes."
Dutch preached equality, yet ruled the gang like a dictator.
"Fine. Whatever you decide, Mike I'll stand with you," Davey said firmly after a deep breath.
Mike smiled.
"Good. Tomorrow I'll deal with the O'Driscolls with Arthur and the others.
In the meantime, you, Sadie, and Charles should scout the nearby towns."
"Find out the local industries, wealthy individuals, liquor businesses, and the nearby gangs.
All of it matters."
"And bring Uncle with you," Mike added suddenly.
"He's great at gathering information."
Uncle might be old and unreliable in a fight,
but in terms of knowledge and investigation,
he was surprisingly sharp.
(After all, in the game, it was Uncle's intel that helped John find Charles again.)
"…Great. Looks like I'll have to bribe him with a bottle," Davey sighed.
Convincing Uncle to work required incentives.
"And be careful," Davey added.
"If something happens, let Bill charge in first."
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