Genius’s Godlike Game Broadcast

Chapter 221 : Tailing the Tail (2)

Tailing the Tail (2)

The night sky was filled with starlight.

Below it, armed sheriffs lined up on horseback.

"These are guys who don't even hesitate to rob trains. Everyone, be especially careful!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Let's go!"

Lee Gyeongbok, who had been watching the sheriffs disappear with a cloud of dust, slowly drove his horse forward.

― The sheriffs are gonna get nothing, lolol

― Yeah~ It's already sorted out~

― They'll probably just pick up the corpses, lol

― Lol, even in movies, the cops only show up when everything's over!

-lolol This is such a cliché

Grinning at the viewers' reactions, he turned his head.

"Urgh......"

"Hang in there a little longer."

Behind him was the gang boss, groaning and tied up. Lee Gyeongbok checked his surroundings and stopped his horse in front of Preston Detective Agency.

After he dismounted, he lost control.

"Oh, there's a cutscene."

The office door opened, and Alex dragged the man inside. The attendant's eyes widened.

"Oh! You did it!"

"Treat him first, please."

"Understood. Lock the door, then bring him here."

The attendant supported the boss and led him down to the basement.

Next, the scene shifted. The boss now sat bandaged, the first aid apparently done.

"You're still alive, so now it's your turn."

Alex spoke in a cold voice. The boss flinched but nodded eventually.

"I don't really know the whole story, but Langston has changed his identity."

"A clean identity, huh?"

Jotting in his notebook, the attendant pressed from the side.

"Yes, now he goes by Lancaster."

"Lancaster? Wait, the ranch owner Lancaster?"

The attendant's eyes grew round. Alex turned to him and asked,

"Do you know him?"

"Not in detail, but since he runs a ranch nearby, I've seen him around. But that he's 'Bullseye' Langston...?"

He shook his head, completely thrown for a loop.

― Must have gone for a serious clean slate, lol

― Well, it makes sense for this era, lol

-lolol Just change your name, beard, or hairstyle and nobody knows

― Going full analog, huh?

― Yeah, America was sensitive about private info, lol

― Totally different from our country, right?

― Don't diss Korea's registry system, that's what I'm saying

As viewers laughed, the boss continued his explanation.

"I was originally a hired gun at Lancaster Ranch. I was pretty good at my job and not dumb, so he trusted me."

"Get to the point."

When Alex fiddled with his revolver, the boss gulped and quickly nodded.

"A-anyway, I often drank with him. I heard plenty of tall tales. I'm independent now, but we still bumped into each other sometimes."

"Ha, you call running a gang independence?"

The attendant clicked his tongue in disbelief.

"You think running a gang's easy? Damn, this was supposed to be the last time I worked with him—"

"This job? The train robbery?"

"Yes. Lancaster put us up to it."

"Lancaster? Wouldn't he get caught instantly stealing freight?"

The attendant narrowed his eyes, clearly suspicious that the boss was lying.

"The freight was just some extra. We gotta get something for ourselves, right? What Lancaster wanted was something else."

"What was it?"

When Alex stared, the boss sighed, stalling.

"A promissory note."

"Debt? You mean a deed?"

"You think a hired killer could actually run a ranch? Even when I was there, he was always whining about having no money... Anyway, he said the debt piled up at the bank and told us to steal it and burn it."

The boss rolled his eyes as he continued.

"I think the bank clerk's name was Jason or Jack..."

"Jerry?"

"Yes! Jerry! That was the name!"

Alex's eyes widened.

So did Lee Gyeongbok's—and the viewers'.

"Oh, so this ties together like this?"

-lolol Thought he was just an extra

― So they linked the story and the quest

― No wonder the pay was high for a supply run

― If it's a debt document, I get it, lolol

― I guess we gotta go see Jerry next?

― If you hadn't saved Jerry earlier, you'd have needed a different route, lol

With a hard look, alex turned to the attendant.

"I got what I needed. I'll leave the rest to the agency."

"Yes, understood."

When the attendant nodded, the boss whipped his head around quickly.

"Wait, wait! What do you mean 'the rest?' I told you everything you wanted!"

"And we kept our promise, didn't we?"

"What...! You said you'd let me go!"

His eyes bulged as he raised his voice. The attendant snorted with contempt.

"We kept our promise. We let you live, didn't we? But who knows if you'll survive after the trial."

"Trial? What trial...?"

"You tried to rob a train and think you can dodge the law?"

The viewers were satisfied by the exchange.

-lolol We still let you live

― Keeping Justice is so satisfying!

― This guy's great at giving that catharsis, lol

― Learn to read contracts carefully!

― HOXY, are you mad?

― If you're upset, try following the law, lolol

While the two argued, alex calmly went up the basement steps.

With that, the scene shifted, and day broke.

The cutscene was over.

"Guess it's time to see Jerry again."

The minimap pointer also pointed at the bank. Lee Gyeongbok headed to the bank.

"Here to make a deposit?"

As he approached, the bank clerk asked.

"I'm looking for Jerry. Is he around?"

"Jerry? Ah, over there."

Looking in the direction the clerk pointed, jerry was there as dapper as their first meeting.

"Oh? Detective Alex!"

Catching Alex's gaze, jerry ran over with a bright smile.

― Looking more and more like Genome, lol

― It's literally Genome from Godple!

― Jerry and Genome, the parallel theory, lol

― It's kinda cool to have the NPC recognize you

As Jerry approached, Lee Gyeongbok felt control slip away again.

Another cutscene.

"Oh my, what brings you here? Ah, are you here for a loan? If it's you, detective, I can get you a special—"

"No."

Alex cut him off, his cold voice chilling the air. Jerry shut his mouth and blinked.

"You had a promissory note from Lancaster Ranch on the train, right? That means you're the one in charge."

"How did you know?"

"I'm a detective. When's the collection date?"

"I was just about to head out for it now. But why do you...?"

Jerry asked cautiously, a little intimidated. Alex looked at him.

"You told me to ask if I ever needed your help before, didn't you?"

"Of course. I'd naturally help someone who saved my life..."

"Then let's go together."

"Lancaster Ranch? But why..."

"That's detective business."

When Alex dismissed him, jerry's eyes darted nervously. But he eventually nodded and shrugged.

"Of course! What kind of banker would I be if I changed my tune?"

"Thank you."

The two headed out of the bank.

The screen faded to black.

-lol Jerry's kinda likable

― He's Genome-type but at least he keeps his word, unlike Genome Kick

― Keeping your word is the standard

― Standards are so high in the old West, lol

― Wonder if you gotta have Godple-tier charisma to get favors

-lolol Righteous God Sense

― If you'd bailed from the train, I doubt he'd help, lol

-???: "Let's go together." (from the runaway detective)

― Lol, he seems so desperate

― Imma salt him if he starts acting up, lol

Lee Gyeongbok smiled inwardly at the chat and focused back on the screen.

"Oh? Alex switched to a coachman disguise."

Alex wasn't in his usual attire, but wore a shirt and suspenders; Jerry rode in the carriage.

― Oh? Are they infiltrating?

― This must be improvisation, lol

― Yeah, if the detective went along, he'd draw attention, lol

― Is that really Alex's body? Dude's in too good shape for the era!

― He looks like he scanned Godple's build, lol

― Damn, hyung really works out hard

Reading chat, Lee Gyeongbok chuckled.

"I do work out regularly. If you want to work out in a fun way, you should try Gunner Ground Showdown."

-lol, can't resist a plug even now?

― Smurfing homework with more homework!?

― That reflex is crazy, lolol

― Definite collab homework!

― That's the capitalism of the Old West!

While viewers laughed, the carriage arrived at the ranch. Lee Gyeongbok's eyelids twitched.

'It's not just Alex in disguise.'

The ranch hands glanced at the carriage and went back to work.

But some, sensed through divine energy, were different. They only pretended to work and kept a close eye on the carriage.

'Are they gunmen, like the gang boss?'

Meanwhile, alex slowly brought the carriage to a stop. Jerry got out and said to him,

"I'll be resting, so just wait here. Come back when I'm done."

When Alex nodded, jerry headed off to Lancaster's manor.

Once he'd parked the carriage in a quiet spot, alex let out a slow breath.

"Now I just need to figure out how to get into the study."

With that mutter, control returned.

― Oh? Is it really stealth now?

― Hiding in the study, then ambushing Lancaster?

― Gotta be careful here

― Do you fail if a ranch hand spots you?

― Better map out the patrols first

Viewers expected a careful approach, but soon couldn't help typing question marks.

― Hyung?

― What are you doing?!

― That boldness, what?!

Because Lee Gyeongbok began moving without hesitation.

"I already checked everyone's positions during the cutscene."

― Wait;;; You checked all that just from the cutscene?

― It's usually a nerve-wracking section, lol

― Like he owns the place, lolol

― Ah, this is what they call 'perfect-footwork.'

-???: Striding confidently, anywhere!

― That's such an old song, lol

Amazingly, Lee Gyeongbok reached the back of the manor without drawing a single glance.

"Looks like we're supposed to go in here."

After peeking through the open window and seeing no one, he entered.

"Mr. Lancaster, I'm doing everything I can for you. But at least pay the interest on time, please."

Jerry's voice floated from the drawing room. Lee Gyeongbok kept his footsteps silent and climbed the stairs.

"Here it is."

Carefully opening the study door, the next cutscene began.

Alex quietly closed the door and checked the window.

"You must complete payment within the deadline. Otherwise, this ranch will go up for auction."

"I understand."

Wrapping up their conversation, jerry spoke with a middle-aged man outside the manor. That had to be Lancaster.

"Well, then... hmm?"

Jerry looked around, raising his voice.

"Anderson? Anderson!"

"Yes, sir?"

"The coachman... Huh, well!"

Jerry sounded exasperated.

"I'm in a hurry! This won't do. Mr. Lancaster, if you see the coachman, tell him he's fired!"

"What?"

"See you at the next due date then!"

Leaving a dumbfounded Lancaster, jerry drove himself away.

-lolol Did you see Jerry's acting?

― Is this what they call a "domestic acting gig"?

― There's just something so irritating about him!

Lancaster watched him go, then, when the carriage was out of sight, yelled in frustration.

"Goddamn it! Do I look like your errand boy?!"

Alex stepped away from the window. At the same time, dusk fell and night arrived outside.

Then, the study door burst open as Lancaster stormed in.

"At this rate, my ranch...! If only I could get rid of that damn piece of paper!"

He slammed the door so hard it rattled, then pressed his forehead.

"Damn it! Those idiots... Can't do a simple job!"

He was clearly talking about the train robbers.

"How about saying it to their faces?"

At that moment, alex stood up from beneath the desk, gun drawn. Lancaster flinched at the sight.

"Y-you!?"

"Lancaster. Or should I call you 'Bullseye' Langston?"

At Alex's chilling voice, lancaster's Adam's apple bobbed.

"... Did Hired Gun send you?"

"The opposite."

"The opposite...?"

"Tell me what you know about them."

Lancaster's eyes flickered, but then he seemed slightly relieved.

"So you're after the gang. That makes things easier."

"Yeah, just cooperate—Ugh!"

Alex grimaced.

Lancaster, hands raised, suddenly kicked the desk.

Alex fired, but his aim was thrown off and he missed.

― C'mon;;;

― Man, watching Godple play, then seeing these cutscenes is rough

― The disconnect between gameplay and cutscene acting, lol

Viewers complained, knowing Lee Gyeongbok would never make such a mistake.

― Godple would've just jumped over the desk and grabbed him

-lol Even if he got hit, the bullet wouldn't miss

― Honestly, can't they sync the player's skill with the protagonist during cutscenes?

― You think you can do it Godple-style?

― Oh right!

― Yeah, true, we're not Godple, are we?

― That's education at your level

― If they synced it, you'd just die in cutscenes

― The devs must be protecting us, lol

While the chat justified things, the cutscene's situation rapidly changed.

"An intruder! There's an intruder! Get up, now!"

Lancaster ran out screaming. Alex glanced out the window, frowning.

The ranch hands—actually disguised gunmen—were quickly encircling the manor.

― Whoa?

― So they weren't just regular ranch hands?

― Oh, hired as bodyguards?

― So dirty, just like an outlaw lol

― But the opponent is Godple!

The cutscene ended.

Lee Gyeongbok checked his gear.

"Ah, only a revolver left because of the disguise."

He had just a single handgun. Meanwhile, the approaching gunmen were better armed.

― Oh... can't use a rifle?

― Thought for sure he'd snipe from the second floor, lol

― But a coachman carrying a rifle would be weird, lol

― They got rifles and shotguns

― Spoiler: Godple wins anyway

Lee Gyeongbok slipped out of the study.

'Is it because it's a boss fight? They're better than normal thugs at least.'

He sensed the threat level was higher than with previous enemies.

But he wasn't worried.

'The result won't change.'

Through divine energy, he tracked every enemy's position and route. Without hesitation, he leapt from the stairs and pulled the trigger.

Whack—a gunman dropped without even a scream.

"Damn! We lost one!"

"Be careful!"

Even as chaos broke out, Lee Gyeongbok didn't stop.

He entered the kitchen, where another gunman was climbing in through a window.

"Eek!"

As the man tried to pull the trigger, Lee Gyeongbok kicked a chair at him, throwing off his aim.

Glass shattered as bullets smashed the cupboards. Lee Gyeongbok calmly sent a shot through the staggering enemy's head.

"In the kitchen!"

"Rush him together!"

As the others charged, Lee Gyeongbok's eyes darted.

When the gunmen burst in, his hand moved in a blur.

"Grrrk...!"

"Argh!"

A knife slit a throat, a pistol spat fire; a startled gunman fired wildly.

"Die!"

But the bullets only riddled a corpse. Lee Gyeongbok was no longer there.

"Where'd he go..."

On edge, a gunman held his finger on the trigger.

When a pale object appeared, he pulled—

"What...?"

It was just a plate.

CRASH—the sound erupted, shards flying, and Lee Gyeongbok's calm face appeared through the debris.

A single, measured gunshot followed.

The gunman toppled over, crashing into a side table, flames bursting from a fallen candlestick.

― Wow, holy shit, that was badass

― John-tae-sik is back!

― So cool, seriously

― John in the old west, lol

― Is this a game? Is this a movie? Is this a game?

― Why is this guy shooting a Tarantino flick?!

― They could cut this out and use it as a movie scene, lol

The viewers were in awe at how swiftly he'd handled things.

Lee Gyeongbok, unfazed, calmly reloaded his empty cylinder.

Then, leaving the now-burning manor, he stepped outside.

A new cutscene began.

"Who the hell are you?!"

Lancaster stared at Alex in disbelief. Alex kept his distance, lifted his chin, and looked down at him.

"Revenge."

"You're totally insane."

Lancaster's face twisted, but then he started chuckling.

"So, if a madman like you found me... that means Hired Gun could find me, too."

Both men rested their hands near their guns.

"Bullseye's never lost a duel."

"Not a fair duel, at least."

Alex's eyes darkened.

"I have to keep you alive, and you mean to kill me."

"Isn't that how outlaw duels go?"

Lancaster replied with a smirk.

Control returned. The player couldn't let down his guard.

Lancaster drew his pistol. But he never got to pull the trigger.

― Yeah!

― Reaction speed is crazy

― It started without warning, holy shit

― That's the perfect-draw!

― Channel your bond with the cards... wait, wrong duel!

― That's not this series, lol

Lee Gyeongbok was faster.

The viewers cheered, but Lee Gyeongbok's face stayed tense.

"I got you!"

Lancaster's eyes went wild; he shouted and reached with his other hand. A small pistol popped out of his sleeve.

A hidden backup weapon.

But even with this surprise, Lee Gyeongbok didn't flinch.

"Arrgh!"

With a second gunshot, the small pistol shattered, shards embedding in Lancaster's hand.

― Whoa?

― What the heck!?

― He had another gun?!

― So dirty!

― Unbelievable, that kinda thing you only learn by getting shot once!

― Godple's reaction is just something else, lol

The chat was stunned, yet couldn't help but admire it all.

Another cutscene began.

Alex clicked his tongue and pressed his foot on Lancaster's head as he lay prone.

"So this is the secret of 100% accuracy, 'Bullseye?'"

― Wow, yeah, that'd make your hit rate perfect

-lol Even if you miss, you just shoot again

― So petty when you think about it

― Honestly, just shameless

― Looked cool, but now exposed and wrecked in front of Godple

Trembling, lancaster soon gave up resisting.

"Damn it... What do you want?!"

"I told you already."

Alex removed his foot, aiming his gun at Lancaster. Lancaster's jaw quivered.

"Hired Gun? Damn, if those guys find out what I said, I'm dead!"

― Ah, there's the cliché line

-lolol Always gotta have one like this

― Funny they forget that NOT talking could get you shot too

― Shouldn't you worry about dying right now, first?

Viewers sighed in exasperation.

"But those bastards will kill me whether I talk or not. If I'm screwed anyway, I might as well stick it to them on my way out."

Hearing Lancaster's words, both Lee Gyeongbok and the chat reacted differently.

"Oh? Looks like he's just going to talk?"

-lolol, that's a twist

― That's a fresh take

― It's so Matjji, lol

― Seems like he escaped from Hired Gun?

― The enemy of my enemy vibe?

Lancaster sighed and continued.

"When I was around, if anything happened or a job was finished, we split up immediately. Some went alone, some in twos or threes."

"To avoid pursuit."

"Yeah. When things cooled down, we'd regroup. But when apart, no one knew anyone else's location. We didn't even talk about it."

"So how did you regroup?"

Alex put a finger on the trigger. Lancaster flinched, but kept talking.

"Damn it! I'll tell you! Even if we didn't know each other's location, there was a communication network. Have you heard of New Noir?"

"New Noir? The port city?"

"Yeah, there's a post office there. Track the letters coming under the name 'Lady Helen.'"

"Lady Helen? Who's that?"

"A fake. The gang made up the identity. If you follow the trail of those letters, you'll find the Hired Gun gang operating now."

The chat exploded at the explanation.

― Oh? They invented a fictitious persona?

― So only the gang knows to look for that, lol

― These Hired Gun bastards are sharper than they look

― But Godple's figured them out anyway?

― So next is New Noir, huh?

― Port city probably means a bigger town?

― Oh, that'll be fun

A clear clue to revenge had appeared.