“Those damn guys. They raise ridiculous amounts of money in front of us, and then they bully us behind our backs.”
“How about NEEAC? Or maybe we can solve it with the money we raised.”
“The company has no spare cash. And the $5,040 we saved is literally a settlement fund. It’s barely enough to buy a house and groceries.”
“Then how long do we have to keep doing this?”
The voice grows louder as the feeling of frustration grows.
Finally, Chairman Charles Robinson raised his hand and calmed the excitement in the room.
“There is nothing wrong with the documents we originally paid Stern for $500. Those who are claiming this now don’t even have the evidence to back it up. This issue will be resolved with Governor Andrew Reeder soon.”
‘What documents are you asking those guys for?’
Max glanced at James Henry Lane.
He also seems to have a lot to say, judging by the way his lips are moving.
However, as he is still a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, he is keeping quiet about important matters.
An action that was intended to be seen as competition with Charles Robinson. That was how Marx interpreted it.
‘Careful Charles, bold Lane.’
Isn’t this a combination that is bound to clash at some point?
“Let’s move on to the next item. Congressman Lane has some good news. He says the lumber mill in Leavenworth has agreed to supply lumber.”
“Oh, that’s great!”
Lane explained the terms of the contract and the delivery date.
Charles Robinson, who had been listening, asked with a puzzled look.
“It’s cheaper than other places. Is there a special reason?”
“Isaac Cody, the owner of the sawmill, is quite active in the abolition of slavery. He is willing to take losses to help settle the town.”
“That’s great. But can one mill handle that amount?”
Rain nodded, saying it was nothing.
“I heard that they supply lumber to the Kickapoo Indians. They also supplied to Fort Leavenworth, so you don’t have to worry.”
“Then let’s proceed that way. Thanks to Rep. Lane, my worries have been resolved. Thank you.”
“you’re welcome.”
The next agenda item was discussed in a friendly atmosphere. There was talk about personnel, financial status, and the surrounding situation.
And the last agenda was about the school, which is essential for a pioneer village.
The site had been decided, but construction had not even begun, so the school itself did not exist.
But ironically, the teacher was decided.
Emily Fawn Peach.
It was a brown-haired woman in her twenties who had been staring at Max intensely since before the meeting started.
‘Is it possible that I can escape solo, something I couldn’t do in my past life…?’
Her eyes sparkled so brightly that it almost made Max feel delusional.
After talking about several things, Peach mentioned what happened today.
“You all know that Muldwin came and caused trouble. If Congressman Lane hadn’t come, things could have been very bad.”
“They’ve been threatening us for more than a day or two. You should just think of them as dogs barking.”
“What if I ask you? You’re making a fuss about setting it on fire, but who knows if you really will?”
“I can’t go that far.”
“So, how can you be sure of that?”
Knock knock.
Vice Chairman Flur said, hitting the table.
“Peachy. So what are you trying to say?”
“Can you teach children in an unsafe environment? At the very least, there should be a sheriff responsible for their safety.”
“Hmm. We’ve been looking around, but we haven’t found anyone suitable.”
Everyone knows that Peach is right.
But what if no one supports it?
‘Shall we start raising our hands?’
Max was ready to put his hands up and put a steel plate on his face, when he wiggled his fingers as if he were drawing a gun.
Suddenly Peach pointed her finger at Max.
“That Oriental guy that Mr. Holiday hired. I heard he defeated a famous gang. Isn’t that enough skill?”
‘You were looking at me like that to say that.’
I’m a little disappointed, but that’s okay.
For Max, it was an opportunity that came naturally.
All eyes in the room were on Max.
It’s the flow I wanted, but the gazes are quite burdensome.
The Vice-Chairman looked at Charles Robinson for an answer. He glanced at Max and said.
“There certainly should be a sheriff. But wasn’t there considerable controversy when Holiday proposed it?”
“That’s right. And you’re young. You don’t fit in with our village at all!”
“Honestly, what would an Asian know? It’s not a position that you can get into just by being good at shooting guns!”
“Are you good at shooting a gun?”
Dissenting voices emerged here and there.
Holiday poked Max in the ribs.
– You promised not to disappoint, right?
‘Is this guy smiling?’
Max looked away from the holiday scene.
And the destination was James Henry Lane.
I stared at him intently, blinking my eyes to send a Morse signal.
· · · — — — · · ·
Also known as SOS signal.
I wonder if he understands, but Rain’s eyes unexpectedly sparkle.
‘Oh, is this what the sheriff wants to do?’
Is there any reason to do that at this time?
As a reward for saving his subordinates.
Rain chuckled as he remembered what he had promised.
And then he raises his hand in a flash.
“Oh, go ahead, Senator Lane.”
The vice-chairman gave the floor to Lane.
Since he was so strongly opposed to it, everyone was secretly looking forward to seeing how he would trample on Asians.
however.
“I agree for now.”
“Ugh.”
Holiday let out a short scream.
Similar reactions erupted from all over the place.
“Ahem. You were so against it before. Why all of a sudden···.”
“As Peach said, the sheriff’s absence seems to have been quite significant. That guy’s skills aren’t bad, either.”
“It could be a coincidence that the gang was caught. Rumors tend to be exaggerated.”
The vice-chairman also doesn’t seem to like Max.
I tried to find a reason why it wouldn’t work.
“It can’t be a coincidence. He saved Isaac Cody, who was supposed to supply us with lumber, from danger. And his men, who were surrounded by Border Ruffians, were able to survive thanks to him.”
“No, is that true?”
Someone asked incredulously.
Lane glared at the man, asking if he dared doubt her words.
Hiccup.
The man slowly stepped back, then pounded his chest to stop the hiccups.
An officer who distinguished himself in the Mexican War.
Current member of the House of Representatives from Arizona.
And he has ten subordinates following him.
Rain’s charisma silenced the room, and then he continued speaking.
“But I don’t know much about him yet, so let me ask him. What a sheriff is. Why he wants to be one.”
‘This is an interview atmosphere.’
Max slowly got up from his seat and looked around the room.
The various eyes were expressing their own thoughts. Some of them seemed curious as to whether an Asian person could even speak properly.
Max opened his mouth calmly.
“Mr. Holiday told me to stay by his side and protect the townspeople.
“I don’t see how that’s any different from what a sheriff does.”
“Is that all the reason?”
This time, Chairman Charles Robinson asked:
It was a slightly disappointing look.
Max continued speaking without paying any attention.
“You need to have the authority to act. The justice contained in the gun is something that can only be done with the backing of a village, not an Asian. If someone threatens you like today, the gun I fired is meaningless.”
Max looked around the room.
“Assessor Lane has already proven my ability. Age will not be an obstacle to the job of sheriff. The only thing left is my skin color…”
Max paused for a moment, then spoke with a little more force in his voice.
“I doubt that those who came to free black people from slavery would care about the color of their skin.”
“……”
“And another advantage is that, from the outside, it becomes a measure of the town’s authenticity. A town with free black people and an Asian sheriff. This will soon make Lawrence the epitome of freedom.”
It wasn’t a bluff, because it actually happened in the future.
‘I think it’s halfway over.’
Max raised his voice as he looked around the room, trying to drive a wedge.
“As an equal human being without racial discrimination, I promise to be a sheriff who belongs to the town, by the town, and for the town! I will end my speech here.”
‘It’s fucking hard to be a sheriff.’
A pioneer village with a population of 232.
This isn’t even a presidential speech, what the heck is this?
It may look a little shabby though.
Perhaps because of the aftereffects of the last words, their eyes are hazy.
“Are you okay? You talk better than you look.”
“Since Rep. Lane also agreed, I guess it wouldn’t be a bad idea to leave it to him.”
The opposition died down and positive words were exchanged. Charles Robinson nodded toward the Vice-Chairman.
“Now that we’ve heard the candidates, let’s vote.”
The sheriff is elected. All he needs to do is win a majority of the votes of those gathered here.
“Then, you’re an Oriental… By the way, what’s your name?”
“Max Joyo.”
“Raise your hand if you want Max Joe to be sheriff.”
Max is calm, but the woman who recommended him, Peach, looks quite nervous.
That’s why I was the first to raise my hand,
– I feel like I’ve been totally scammed!
Holiday, who had been pouting, soon smiled and raised his hand.
The result was unanimous, without opposition.
“I ask for your help in the future.”
“Young people are amazing.”
People cheered, and Lane came over and tapped Max on the shoulder.
“Your words are as good as your gun skills. I hope you get along well from now on.”
“thank you.”
Peach passed Max without saying a word.
The day after the meeting.
They set up a tent at the entrance to the village and painted some words on it.
SHERIFF Office.
Kansas Territory, which never became a state.
An unregistered pioneer village.
Max Joe becomes the temporary sheriff that no one wanted.
On that first day, the Lawrence Sheriff’s Office was packed with people.
“Fix the tent, Sheriff.”
“A horse has run away, find it, Sheriff!”
“Can I have your card?”
‘This isn’t it.’
Dark circles started appearing under my eyes overnight.
Holiday clicks his tongue after seeing Max’s face.
“Let’s quickly prepare the documents.”
“I see, so that’s what I’m saying. By the way, maybe it’s because I don’t have a sheriff’s badge, but something feels off.”
“Well, does that matter?”
At this time, a girl of about 7 years old came into the tent.
“I made this···.”
What he shyly held out was a star-shaped sheriff’s badge made of paper.
It looks like my mom wrote it.
Max took it carefully and stared blankly at the brown-haired child.
“What is your name?”
“Susan Litchfield.”
“I see.”
Max wears a paper badge on his chest.
“Now I’m a real sheriff. Thank you.”
“Please take good care of the village, Sheriff!”
‘…….’
I became a sheriff out of necessity, but suddenly my shoulders felt heavy.
The harsh lands of the West.
Conflict surrounding slavery.
When I think of the villagers living each day in fear, a part of my heart feels warm.
The boy bowed his head and quickly left the tent. Holiday smiled and put a hand on Max’s shoulder.
“She is the third daughter of Mr. Louise Litchfield. She is a girl of few numbers, but she has shown great courage.”
“That’s amazing.”
Of course, not all children were like Susan.
“Did the Asian man come from across the sea?”
“Are you good at shooting? Show me, sir!”
“It’s not you, it’s the sheriff…”
“What is that?”
“Is it similar to a blacksmith?”
“What about the blacksmith?”
‘Ira, you might not know. Yeah.’
But then Holiday, who had gone outside, came hurriedly into the tent.
“There are some suspicious guys coming outside.”
“!”
‘It’s finally time to earn some money.’
Max, who had taken his rifle, looked at the children and said.
“Watch carefully. You’ll see what the sheriff does.”
New pioneer village
Men approaching the village on horseback.
Three guys approaching while looking around.
Judging from the fact that they were blatantly armed with pistols and rifles, they were no ordinary guys.
Holiday, standing next to Max, spoke.
“The Border Rufians have never appeared in a village like this before.”
Up until now, they’ve caused trouble in the village by sending out other settlers, but they’ve never approached armed like this.
“Well, I guess I’ll have to ask.”
As we talked, the distance between us and those guys became closer.
The townspeople were mumbling and looking anxious.
