Unaffiliated (1)

Amid the desert of Sordova lies the town of Ternia. It was near an oasis and was thriving, bustling with trade.

Dusting his clothes, a lone bounty hunter arrived in a Saloon. He wore a long coat, protecting himself from the heat, and a hat to cover his head. His neck was tanned and had two revolvers on the belt of his waist.

He grabbed a wanted poster on the wall. Several faces were etched with bounties on their heads.

"Gerard the bounty hunter!" Someone suddenly called his name. The bounty hunter turned his head to a gentleman nearby.

The gentleman introduced himself, "I am Lloyd Frambi, how can I be of your service?"

"How did you find me here?" The bounty hunter replied, annoyed with him.

"I am just here to help! How about a partnership?" Lloyd dressed in fine coat and trousers offered.

"You'll get the same answer from me, over and over! That's a no!" Gerard replied.

"Spoilsport!" Lloyd remarked disappointed with his answer.

As Gerard was about to enter, he was warned by Lloyd, "I wouldn't dare if I were you!" 

"Why?" Gerard asked annoyed at him.

"You'll find soon enough." Lloyd replied with a grin on his face.

As Gerard entered, a brawl erupted inside. Groups of two mobsters fought each other grabbing any makeshift weapons inside. Several broken bottles were laid on the floor. 

Gerard let out a deep sigh, he proceeded to the counter while evading any attackers. As he approached the bartender, he was to leave telling him that the bar was closed.

"Just a glass of whiskey?" Gerard asked politely.

"I can't…" The bartender replied and continued, "You see, it's the cause of their fight. Whiskey is rare in this part."

Gerard saw an old man peacefully enjoying his drink and told the bartender, "He is drinking whiskey!"

"Oh, him?" The bartender replied, "He is one of the leaders of mobsters." 

Gerard, annoyed grabbed a whiskey glass on the counter and proceeded to sit with the old man. Without any hesitation, he grabbed the bottle of whiskey and poured it into his glass. Chugging down every drop of whiskey from the glass.

Seeing this, the old man glared at Gerard. He grabbed his pistol but shot an incoming brawler who was about to attack him. 

The brawl suddenly stopped but seeing the old man return his pistol to its holster the fight continued.

"You're enjoying your time here!?" Gerard remarked on the old man.

"Whiskey is rare, you have to pay for that glass!" The old man replied to him.

Gerard grabbed one of his pistols and then shot at the roof. The fighting stopped and someone suddenly dropped to the ground, screaming in pain.

"I have insurance, that should cover the expenses of his funeral!" Gerard said to the old man who again gave him a stare.

After the brawl stopped, the old man told everyone to clean the place up. Everyone did as they were told and the Saloon was silent. 

"I have problems with the unaffiliated. Without government enforcers upholding the law, they have been a pest even at these parts." The old man began speaking moments after the silence.

"What do you mean about that?" Gerard asked.

"I have a list of naughty people, ruining my business. From odd jobs and even bounty hunting." 

"You are quite the businessman, Roy Elmo!" Gerard commented.

"You will have to be ingenious in the world we live in. Living in the past will get you killed." Roy, the old man said sharing his wisdom with Gerard.

Once again, Gerard grabbed Roy's whiskey bottle and again poured it into his glass, and drank it. 

"You have quite some problems in manners, Gerard!" Roy said, "Not all ladies want rough guys, sometimes they want some form of gentleness."

"I had my way with women, Roy!" Gerard smugly replied.

"But not the quite fine ones!" Roy added.

After finishing his drink, Gerard shifted his attention and said, "Why did you call me onto these parts? I understand that you had problems with business but you would never call me without a reason."

Roy sighed in reply with worry etched on his face, "You see.. There is this man, an unaffiliated. He is excommunicated as well!" 

"Then?" Gerard interrupted.

"His name is Mylo Chiloto, wanted by the church and the government. He has quite a bounty on his head." Roy said.

"How much?" 

"Two hundred million Shilings or two million Nilin in worldwide currency." Roy said.

Gerard's eyes opened wide with disbelief, "What could this man do? With that amount, I'd not believe that he's still alive."

"I may not like to be the bearer of good news, but he is. However, he is dangerous. I'd like a wager for forty percent for his bounty." Roy offered.

"Make it thirty-five to seventy-five my way, for old time's sake!" Gerard increased the sharing of bounty to his favor.

"Fine!" Roy agreed with the deal, "Make sure that he's not a problem in these parts. He's hurting my business and I don't want to lose money anymore."

Gerard grabbed his hat and nodded in their agreement. He once again grabbed Roy's whiskey bottle and drank after he poured the last of its contents into his glass.

"You'll pay for that bottle!" Roy annoyed, said to Gerard.

Gerard smirked and replied, "After I return, we'll find the finest whiskey in the land!"