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(A/N: Sorry everyone I forgot to update, I thought I already put the auto update on sorry!)
Caleb took the left road and followed it through the forest, the Map function updating as he went. The road eventually led him to another intersection, where he turned left and headed south. As he rode, the landscape began to change, the dense forest giving way to open plains. In the distance, he saw the familiar outlines of Valentine's buildings. He had come full circle, returning to the town he now called home.
As he approached Valentine, Caleb noticed more people on the road, townsfolk going about their business, travelers on horseback, and wagons loaded with goods.
The bustling activity was a stark contrast to the solitude of the wilderness, and Caleb felt a sense of familiarity as he rode through the outskirts of town. He passed the church, its steeple rising above the rooftops, and turned right onto the main street.
The heart of Valentine was alive with activity. Saloon doors swung open as patrons came and went, shopkeepers called out to passersby, and children played in the dirt streets.
Caleb navigated through the crowd, guiding Morgan toward the hotel at the end of the road. He dismounted and tied her to the hitching post, giving her one last pat before heading inside.
The hotel clerk greeted him with a warm smile. "Welcome back, Mr. Thorne. How was your day today?"
Caleb smiled at the hotel clerk and said, "Today was a very good and productive day for me." He then leaned slightly on the counter, his tone shifting to one of curiosity. "What do you think of Valentine Bank? Is it a safe place to store money and valuables?"
The clerk, momentarily stunned by the question, quickly regained his composure. He adjusted his glasses and replied, "Oh, the Bank of Valentine? I believe it's very secure and safe. The sheriff's office is just a couple of buildings away, and deputies are always guarding the front of the bank. They patrol the main street area with repeaters or shotguns in hand as a deterrent. Security is high, especially since Valentine hosts the livestock auction yard. Many ranchers, livestock farmers, and landowners come to participate, either as buyers or sellers. The bank is the only safe place for them to store and withdraw their cash."
Caleb nodded thoughtfully. He had indeed seen the patrols around the bank at night, and if the clerk spoke so highly of its security, it seemed the townsfolk trusted it. But Caleb wanted to dig deeper. "What about the bank's reputation? External security seems solid, but what about internal security? Any news of embezzlement or corruption among the bank employees?"
The clerk's expression turned contemplative. He scratched his chin and said, "Well, there was some news in the past about embezzlement. It was dealt with quietly by the sheriff and an angry mob of townsfolk. The bank's reputation took a hit, and they had to work hard to rebuild trust. But since then, there's been no such news. The bank has regained its standing as a trusted institution."
Caleb raised an eyebrow. "So, it's safe now?"
The clerk nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely. Many store owners, including the hotel owner, keep their hard earned money there. Even I have an account. If you're thinking of opening one, I'd recommend it."
Caleb smiled. "I think I will. Tomorrow, I'll head to the bank and open an account. Thanks for the information." He reached into his satchel, pulled out 25 cents, and handed it to the clerk. "I'd like a hot bath, please."
The clerk accepted the coins and directed Caleb to the bathhouse. Caleb entered the bathroom, stripped off his dusty clothes, and sank into the warm water. As he relaxed, a gentle knock echoed through the room. A woman's voice offered, "Would you like a bath and massage for 50 cents?"
Caleb politely declined as he wanted to be alone with his thoughts. "No, thank you. I'd like to do it alone." The woman nodded and gave her confirmation, the sound of her footsteps walking away could be heard.
Alone in the tub, Caleb's mind wandered to the two gold bars he had discovered earlier. He knew they were too valuable to carry around, and storing them in the bank's safety deposit box seemed like the best option.
Because he knew from the game that one gold bar was worth 500 dollars and since he had 2, it worth was 1,000 dollars in total, and he had a very large sum of money in his hand.
He knew the price because he remembered using his memory skill when he played the game after saving Jack from the Braithwaite Manor and burning it down, he returned to see if there was any valuable left and found a gold bar thereafter using his Eagle Eye.
He reached every corner of the manor as the Braithwaite was said to have a high amount of gold and he wanted to see if it was true but he only found one at the time, inside a lock box that was under the floorboard that had been burned down.
He also thought about the jewelry and cash he had found, adding to his growing wealth. The day had been incredibly fruitful, and he felt a sense of accomplishment.
After his bath, Caleb dried off, dressed in clean clothes, and returned to his room. He sat on the edge of the bed, pulling out his satchel to inspect his findings.
The gold bars gleamed in the dim light, and he carefully wrapped them in cloth to keep them safe until tomorrow. The jewelry and cash were neatly organized, and he counted his total funds, 262 dollars and 44 cents. It was a substantial amount, and Caleb felt a surge of pride.
As he lay in bed, Caleb reflected on his journey so far. The Map function had been invaluable, helping him navigate and uncover new locations. He had explored vast landscapes, from the dense forests of Twin Stack Pass to the serene beauty of Cotorra Springs. The discovery of the train wreck and its treasures had been a highlight, and he was eager to see what else the world had to offer.
The next morning, Caleb woke up early, feeling refreshed. He dressed quickly, strapped on his holster, and headed downstairs. After a quick breakfast of a chunk of bread and some canned fruit, he mounted Morgan and rode to the Bank of Valentine.
The bank was a sturdy brick building with a large sign above the entrance. Two deputies stood guard outside, their repeaters slung over their shoulders.
Caleb tied Morgan to the hitching post and entered the bank. The interior was spacious, with a high ceiling and polished wooden counters. A teller greeted him with a smile. "Good morning, sir. How may I help you?"
"I'd like to open an account," Caleb said. "And I'd also like to rent a safety deposit box."
Caleb listened carefully as the teller explained the requirements for opening an account and renting a safety deposit box. The teller, a middle aged man with a neatly trimmed mustache, spoke in a professional tone. "Opening an account requires a minimum deposit of 10 dollars, and there's a one time fee of 3 dollars to cover the paperwork and account setup. You'll receive a passbook as proof of ownership and to record your transactions."
"As for the safety deposit box, the annual fee is 10 dollars. You can store any valuables you wish, but if the box becomes full, you'll need to rent an additional one. You'll receive the only key to your box, ensuring its security."
Caleb nodded, considering the information. "I'll do both," he said decisively. He reached into his satchel and counted out the required fees, 3 dollars for the account setup and 10 dollars for the safety deposit box. He then added 40 dollars to deposit into his new account, handing the total sum to the teller.
The teller accepted the money and began recording the transaction in the bank ledger. He carefully wrote the details in Caleb's new passbook, noting the date, the deposit amount, and the total balance. "Here's your passbook, Mr. Thorne," the teller said, handing it over. "It's important to keep this safe, as it serves as proof of your account and transactions."
Caleb took the passbook and tucked it into his satchel. The teller then called over a security guard and guided Caleb to the vault where the safety deposit boxes were kept.
The teller handed Caleb the key to his rented box and stepped back, allowing Caleb to open it privately. Caleb carefully placed the 2 gold bars and the bag of jewelry inside, ensuring they were secure. He locked the box, pocketed the key, and rejoined the teller and security guard.
"Thank you," Caleb said as they returned to the front desk. The teller nodded politely, and Caleb left the bank, feeling a sense of relief knowing his valuables were safe.
Caleb then left the bank, mounted Morgan, and rode toward the general store. The streets of Valentine were bustling with activity, and Caleb navigated through the crowd with ease. He dismounted outside the store and entered, greeted by the familiar sight of Mr. Worth behind the counter.
"Welcome, Mr. Thorne!" Mr. Worth said with a warm smile. "How can I help you today?"
"I'd like to buy a pocket watch," Caleb replied. "I've been needing one for a while now."
Mr. Worth nodded and excused himself for a moment. He returned with a sleek pocket watch, placing it on the counter. "This is a Jenson pocket watch," he explained. "Normally, it's priced at 15 dollars and 50 cents, but since you're a regular and have done good deeds for Valentine, I'll give you a discount. You can have it for 12 dollars."
Caleb appreciated the gesture and handed over the money. "Thank you, Mr. Worth. Your kindness is much appreciated."
"Anytime, Mr. Thorne," Mr. Worth replied. "Take care now."
Caleb left the general store and glanced toward the saloon, which was just to the left of the store. He decided to leave Morgan tied up outside the general store, as the saloon was close enough. Though he had already eaten breakfast, he was still hungry and thought a glass of whiskey or perhaps a few would be a good way to unwind.
As Caleb entered the saloon, the lively atmosphere enveloped him. To his right, a group of men were playing poker, their laughter and banter filling the air.
To his left, he noticed two familiar figures, a Mexican man in a blue jacket and a black man with long hair wearing a blue long sleeved shirt with white dots. They were laughing and drinking with two working girls, red hair and black hair, leaning on the bar. Caleb immediately recognized them as Javier Escuella and Charles Smith.
Caleb's heart raced. If Javier and Charles were here, it meant Arthur would likely arrive soon. This was the perfect opportunity to get closer to the Van der Linde gang. Caleb remembered the saloon brawl mission from the game, where a drunk Bill Williamson caused chaos. If Caleb played his cards right, he could help the gang during the brawl and earn their trust.
Caleb approached the bar and ordered a lamb fry for 5 dollars and a glass of whiskey for 50 cents. He stood facing Mr. Douglas, eating and drinking while keeping an eye on Javier and Charles. As he sipped his whiskey, he overheard Javier's voice.
"We got a wild one here!" Javier exclaimed, raising his glass. The group cheered, "Heyyyyy!" Javier laughed and then his tone shifted. "Oh, Arthur! Come here, come here, come over here. I wanted you to meet our friends." As Javier said that, he let out a small chuckle.
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Name:Caleb Thorne
Age: 23
Body Attributes:
- Strength: 6/10
- Agility: 6/10
- Perception: 8/10
- Stamina: 6/10
- Charm: 4/10
- Luck: 5/10
Skills:
- Handgun (Lvl 1)
- Rifle (Lvl 1)
- Firearms Knowledge (Lvl 2)
- Past Life Memory (Lvl MAX)
- Knife (Lvl 1)
- Blunt Weapon (Lvl 1)
- Sneaking (Lvl 1)
- Horse Mastery (Lvl 1)
- Poker (Lvl 1)
- Hand to Hand Combat (Lvl 0)
- Eagle Eye (Lvl 1)
- Dead Eye (Lvl 1)
Money: 191 dollars and 94 cents
Bank: 40 dollars, 2 gold bars, and a large bag of jewelry - New