Chapter 43: A Gambler's Smile
Levi was pissed.
Sitting on the porch after breakfast, arms crossed, jaw clenched, he glared at the ground like he could burn a hole through it. Inside, Rufus was still passed out, dead to the world. Lucky bastard.
Because if he wasn't, Levi would've strangled him.
There were boots on the road heading to the orphanage, Deputy Silent Dart was walking straight toward them.
Edmond, rocking in his chair beside him, tilted his hat up, squinting. His confusion flickered to suspicion.
"What did that damn fool do last night?"
Levi sighed, his heart pacing a little.
"Actually, think he's here for me."
Edmond froze. Then whipped his head toward Levi, eyes sharp.
"The first time? Really?! You go out one night with him, and the law's already involved?!"
Levi barely heard him.
His mind was racing.
'Did he figure something out? How? I checked when I got back—the cream was fine! Shit—did I not check good enough? No, I didn't need to fix it up today. So why's he here?'
Throwing caution aside, Levi's eyes glowed.
Zoomed in.
Tch.
Nothing.
Couldn't even see the man's eyes. No tells, no read on his mood. Could be coming to visit a friend. Could be coming to oversee an execution.
EEE-HAAAWW! EE-HAW! E-HAWWW!
Diego's braying ripped him from his thoughts.
Levi blinked as his vision returned. Took a breath. Stood.
"He doesn't know anything."
He whispered it low to Edmond as he stepped off the porch.
"I got into a fight last night, and he witnessed it. That's all. So relax and play it smooth."
Striding toward the donkey, he scratched Diego's ear, putting on the calmest damn face he could muster.
"Didn't think I'd see ya again so soon."
Levi called out.
"There some trouble 'bout last night?"
Silent Dart lifted his head, smiling lightly.
"No trouble. Well, none from me at least."
Edmond's eyes narrowed.
"What's that mean?"
Frowning, he stepped down off the porch.
Silent Dart gave him a small, respectful nod.
"Good morning, Mr. Thatcher. What I mean is, young Levi here killed a man last night. Didn't he tell you?"
Edmond's head snapped to Levi.
"No. He didn't."
Levi resisted the urge to sigh.
"Don't worry, I witnessed it myself. It was clearly self-defense. But ask him the details later, as I am not here to discuss last night's events. I came here to make the child an offer."
Edmond rubbed his temples.
"Now hold on—"
He threw a hand up between the two of them.
"We're gonna address this first. He killed who?"
"Nathaniel Bateman."
Silent Dart didn't miss a beat.
"He, along with three other men, attempted—"
EEEEE-YAWWWWWW!
Diego's bray cut through the air.
Levi patted the donkey's head. Then, stepping beside Edmond, he lowered his voice.
"He came here to make an offer. Let's hear it so he can leave. I'm sure the deputy has better things to do. And so do we."
His tone was sharp. Eyes locked onto Edmond's, screaming shut the hell up and get this bastard outta here.
Edmond exhaled slowly.
Silent Dart watched them both, then nodded.
"Then I'll get to the point. I want to train you."
Silence.
Then more silence.
Even Diego stayed quiet.
Levi blinked.
"You're foolin'."
"No."
Levi stared. Edmond stared. Hell, even Diego stared.
The last thing they needed was a damn lawman sniffing around.
"I am very serious. I want to train you. What I saw last night showed me you are capable. Even with you being too old. You need to finish what you have started."
Levi exchanged a glance with Edmond.
The hell is he talkin' about?
Edmond just about had enough. His patience was wearing thin, and his tone showed it.
"Look, Jian, the kid's already learning from me and Rufus. Plus, working at the docks—he just doesn't have time for something like that. Maybe next year."
Stepping forward, Edmond moved to clap the deputy on the shoulder.
Silent Dart calmly swiped his hand away.
His voice was measured, but firm.
"This is his decision. Not yours. I can teach him things you cannot. He has already begun the path. He must complete it."
Levi's gut twisted.
'Path? Complete it? What the hell is he on about?'
Right then and there, Levi swore on any power that'd listen—
He'd never listen to Rufus Gunn again.
"I'm not interested."
Levi's voice was flat. Final.
"Sorry, deputy, but you came here for nothin'."
Silent Dart smiled. Not mocking—expectant.
"What I offer is something you yangren do not understand. Do not understand the importance. I offer you completion. To finish what you have already started."
His tone never changed, but Levi felt the words stick.
Especially that word—completion—it stirred something deep.
It was the same feeling as his augments.
The constant sense that something was missing.
It was something he'd gotten used to. Something he'd learned to ignore.
And he sure as hell wasn't about to start that all over again.
"The answer's still no. I just picked up some things. Nothin' special. You just saw some flashy shit I was tryin' out last night. That's all."
Silence.
Jian Cheng just smiled.
And then—for the first time since meeting him—Silent Dart laughed.
"Flashy shit. Good, good, good. I like that. So that's what it was? Just flashy shit?"
His eyes glowed with challenge.
"Okay then. How about this instead. Let's fight. Just a friendly duel. If I win, you will allow me to train you for one month. If, after that month, you decide to quit, I won't stop you."
Levi opened his mouth—but before he could tell the deputy to go straight to hell, Edmond spoke up first.
"And if he wins?"
'Wait, what the hell?!'
Levi snapped his head toward Edmond, like the man had just kicked him in the dick.
"If he wins, not only will I never bring up the subject again, but from now on, any and all tips on bounties—you get first priority."
Before Levi could process that—
"And a 25% increase in reward on our next bounty! Ow! Damn it!"
All three men turned toward the porch.
Rufus.
Standing there, pale as death, rubbing his aching head.
Levi squinted.
The source of all his evils.
He took a deep breath. Then, with a small nudge to Diego—
"MORNIN' RUFUS!"
EEE-HAAAW! EEEEEEE-HAAWWWW! E-HAW! E-HAW!
"FUCK!"
Rufus stumbled back, clutching his skull, cursing as he bolted back inside.
Diego brayed in victory.
Levi smirked. Perfect timing.
Watching Rufus retreat, Jian Cheng shook his head before turning back to Levi.
"Agreed. A 25% increase."
Then he smiled like he'd just closed the deal of the damn century.
Levi's brow twitched.
"Now wait a minute. I never said nothin' 'bout acceptin'. Like I already said twice—I ain't interested."
Edmond frowned. For some reason, he wanted the kid to take the fight. He knew better, but… something about it made him ignore his senses.
Jian Cheng tapped his chin, then reached back.
With one smooth motion, he removed the sword from his back. A Chinese Saber.
"If you win, you can have my saber as well."
He turned it, letting the blade catch the morning light.
"Pure blacksteel. Folded over a thousand times."
Weapons.
All men had a weakness for them. Levi was no different.
His eyes locked onto the blade, gleaming in the deputy's hand.
He started doing the math.
He had his augments. The deputy had none.
His arm, his eyes, his mesh—everything was finally synced. He wasn't struggling anymore with fast movements.
And then there was last night. The way the man examined him.
Left a sour taste in his mouth.
Levi shifted his gaze. The blade rested before him.
"What're the rules?"
"Yes!"
Both Levi and Jian snapped toward Edmond.
The old man cleared his throat, blushing.
Jian Cheng raised an eyebrow, then turned back to Levi. His expression even.
"First blood."
"You crazy?! That's not happening!"
Flipping like a switch, Edmond stepped forward, but froze when Levi spoke.
"When?"
Jian Cheng didn't blink.
"Tomorrow. High noon. I'll be back here then."
Levi grinned back.
"Perfect."
Levi didn't blink.
Edmond felt like punching something.
"Not perfect! Now wait—get back here! This ain't settled—"
Levi set a hand on his arm, both of them watching as Silent Dart strode back toward town.
"He isn't gonna kill me."
Levi's voice was calm, steady.
"Thought you were happy I accepted?"
The tease hit its mark. Edmond flushed again but wasn't backing down.
"This isn't happening. He can come back for nothing. Damn crazy bastard thinks you're crossing blades?! And what the hell happened last night? You killed Bateman?! You're telling me every damn thing that happened, or I'm kicking both your asses."
His finger shot toward the porch screen.
"Both your asses!"
"Quit threatenin' people—fuck—!"
Rufus's miserable groan from inside brought them both some joy. But Edmond wasn't letting this go.
Levi shook his head.
"I can do this. Doesn't even have to be a fight. Just gotta make him bleed."
He turned, intent on heading toward the basement. Mind already running.
Edmond stood there, staring. Levi killed someone. Now he's dueling the damn deputy.
He ran a hand down his face.
"He only said first blood."
Levi's voice came from the doorway, the edge of a grin on his face.
"Didn't hear any other rules, did ya?"
Edmond recognized that grin.
A gambler's smile.
He'd seen it before. And, dammit, he couldn't deny it.
He was kinda proud.
And maybe, just maybe, a little excited.
Clicking his tongue, he sighed, looking over at Diego.
"It's Tuesday… nothing's supposed to happen on Tuesdays."
Grumbling—partly for show, partly not—he followed Levi inside.
Both of them already strategizing.
Figuring out how to make Silent Dart bleed first.