Chapter 62: System Upgrade
The next day.
The chatterbox Sean kept circling Arthur, asking if he'd masterminded a big robbery last night.
"Limey! You lot heading out after dark—bet Johnny heard about some fat payday, right?"
"And you didn't take your most reliable pal—me? That's low, man."
"Even Ms. Grimshaw went; why couldn't you bring me along?"
"Say something, Limey!"
Everyone sat around Pearson's stew, watching Sean perform his one-man comedy routine.
The guy could keep babbling without a single response—most folks couldn't learn that skill if they tried.
Arthur finally snapped. He gulped the last spoonful, set the bowl down, and prepared to give his brother some brotherly care.
Seeing the danger, Sean bolted, but by then it was obviously too late.
As everyone knows, sprinting can't interrupt a skill, so Sean earned a pair of rare-panda-style eyes.
Susan, who'd watched the whole thing, said to Arthur:
"Arthur! You and Johnny haul those damn wanted men to the sheriff today—they've eaten too much of our food."
With that, she turned her gaze to Pearson and Charles.
"Pearson, Charles, you two ride to Valentine today and buy decent seasonings and good flour—no more of that coarse cornmeal. Times are good; no need to pinch pennies!"
She then walked off to assign the day's chores to the girls.
Last but not least, she found jobs for Kieran—freshly freed from bondage—like feeding the horses.
The Gang hadn't decided whether to keep him, but while he stayed he'd earn his keep.
Johnny strolled to his wagon and, together with Arthur, ferried its mountain of busted guns to his tent.
With two big worries settled, he finally had leisure to cultivate a hobby.
Fix guns by day, learn guitar from Javier at night, play accordion with Pearson… Johnny's future looked bright.
Had he forgotten something important?
!!!!!!
Yesterday's excitement had made him skip the system update!
Johnny quickly opened the translucent panel and checked… [Ding! Congratulations, Host, on the achievement—West's Living King of Hell.]
[Reward—partial system permissions unlocked: you may now view anyone's current Bond value.]
"Nice—so I've basically got a loyalty detector already? Shame I'm not the boss; what's the use?"
"Hey! You standing there daydreaming? Craving Valentine's coffee?"
Arthur, watching Johnny zone out, couldn't resist the jab.
Startled, Johnny snapped back, grouchy:
"Shut it, Arthur. I was just wondering whether I should wrap your gift in a fancy box.
Make the whole thing feel more ceremonial. Never thought you'd take me for that kind of guy!"
He slipped a hand into his satchel and carefully pulled out a gold-glittering double-action revolver.
He gave it a proud wave toward Arthur, then tucked it away again.
Arthur hurried to smooth things over:
"Hey now, don't be mad, little Johnny—I was only joking. You know you're top-shelf in my book!"
His eyes, though, stayed magnet-locked on the pistol, unblinking, as if it were a one-of-a-kind treasure.
"Cut the crap, Arthur. Hand over your cowboy revolver for a look!
You know I love collecting guns used by famous Gunslingers.
This gold double-action beats your outdated cowboy revolver hands-down. With your skill, you'll master it in no time."
While speaking, Arthur obediently drew the cowboy revolver that had accompanied him for years.
For a Gunslinger of Arthur's level, gun type barely mattered—his casual shots were most men's limits.
The instant Arthur surrendered the weapon, the system chimed:
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for gifting a Magical Item to its ideal master—Laborer's revolver perk unlocked.]
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for gifting a Magical Item to its ideal master—Arthur's cowboy revolver perk unlocked.]
Both messages popped together; giving the gun to John yesterday had been the right call.
That revolver's broken skill suited the West's true living King of Hell—John.
But the ideal master of Arthur's cowboy revolver being himself?
That surprised Johnny.
The system had also recorded yesterday's gift opening: Gunsmith rank shot to level 3 in a flash, flooding Johnny with pistol knowledge.
Elated, Johnny carried the gleaming gold double-action to the Gunsmith workbench.
He wanted to test his new skill, laying the treasure gently on the bench.
First try and he already wielded the fine tools like a veteran, stripping the gun in one fluid motion.
Examining the internals, his eyes widened: every single part was top-tier—materials and craftsmanship flawless; no upgrades needed.
As expected: system Produced, Must be a high-quality product—system-made, top-grade!
Carefully he reassembled the piece, each part clicking perfectly into place like a masterpiece.
Finished, he oiled a soft cloth and polished every inch until the pistol blazed even brighter.
Yet he wasn't done. Narrowing his eyes, he quietly added Arthur's original perk—"Dead Eye cost reduced by 30%"—into the gun.
He didn't have a better second perk yet, so that would do for now.
Beside him, Arthur fidgeted like a kid about to get a shiny new toy.
Eyes shining, hands rubbing, he could barely wait to test the glittering "big toy" himself.
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