The Story Of Red Dead Redemption

Chapter 42: Dutch's Attitude

"Dutch, Arthur has set up a casino in Valentine," Javier said to Dutch, who was standing nearby. 

Dutch, smoking his pipe, remained silent as Javier spoke. Hosea was also there. After listening, he just smoked quietly without saying anything. Seeing that neither of them was speaking, Javier continued.

"You probably didn't know about this. I don't want to call it betrayal, but it's clear that Arthur is pursuing his own interests, not ours."

These words were quite harsh. Hosea and Dutch had just heard about this from Javier. Both needed time to digest the news. After a while, Hosea spoke first.

"Javier, don't talk like that. Arthur must have his reasons, and I trust him."

Hosea had thought a lot, but for now, he insisted on one thing: not jumping to conclusions before talking to Arthur.

Javier didn't distrust Arthur, but this situation made it hard not to think the worst. In his view, this behavior could be considered betrayal. Although Javier wanted to trust Arthur, he had his own principles. Javier looked at Dutch, waiting for him to speak.

Dutch took a puff from his pipe. He had just learned about this. What to say? He felt caught off guard.

"I'll talk to Arthur. It seems he's been doing things behind my back. I guess he really doesn't trust old Dutch anymore."

Dutch's words were carefully chosen. To Javier, it sounded like Dutch didn't know about this and was taking responsibility instead of blaming Arthur. Even the word 'betrayal' was replaced with 'behind my back.' Javier nodded, thinking Dutch's response was fair.

Hosea understood differently. He could sense the underlying meaning in Dutch's words.

"Dutch? That's Arthur!" Hosea said, frowning. Dutch, holding his pipe, interrupted Hosea.

"I know, I know! That's Arthur, I... I've been wondering if someone betrayed us during the Blackwater failure."

Before Javier could think deeply, Hosea couldn't sit still and said loudly. "You're crazy, Dutch! How can you say that? I'm going to find Arthur and talk to him about this."

Hosea couldn't believe what he had heard. Dutch was implying that Arthur had betrayed them, even if he didn't say it directly. Hosea understood what Dutch meant. Hosea knew Dutch very well, but he felt that was in the past. Now, he was increasingly unsure of Dutch's thoughts. Both he and Dutch knew Arthur wouldn't betray them. So why was Dutch saying this?

Hosea was very angry. He didn't want to think about it or stay there to listen anymore. He decided to go directly to Arthur to clarify things. Arthur was like his child, and until things were clear, Hosea would choose to trust him unconditionally.

Watching Hosea leave in a hurry, Dutch neither stopped him nor said more. He thought for a moment and then instructed Javier.

"I'll handle this. Go check on Micah. He hasn't been back to camp for days. See if he's run into any trouble."

Javier nodded and left.

Finally, Dutch stood alone, playing with his pipe and looking into the distance for a long time.

***

Behind the clinic, at the casino.

A special guest had arrived, different from the others. This person was well-dressed and accompanied by many guards. The lively atmosphere in the venue quieted down as this group entered, and everyone watched.

This group was none other than Leviticus Cornwall, who had come to hear Colm's confession. Colm had said that the people who robbed him were now in Valentine. When Cornwall arrived, he heard about a new small casino and decided to check it out first to see if the people who robbed him were indeed there, damaging his reputation.

After staying for a while, Cornwall became interested in the casino's operations. The casino offered free drinks and many novel gambling methods, which seemed quite interesting. So, he had some chips exchanged and decided to play a few rounds. Cornwall first went to a table playing Texas Hold'em, intending to see if there were any new tricks.

After Cornwall's guards politely asked a player to leave, Cornwall sat down. The game continued.

Cornwall, without looking at his cards, pushed all his chips into the pot. The other players at the table folded. For the next five rounds, Cornwall repeated the same action. It became clear to everyone that he wasn't a regular player, and the other gamblers left the table. The dealer, noticing the situation, quietly signaled an employee and continued dealing the cards.

"Not interesting, I thought there would be something new..." Cornwall remarked to his guard. When a server brought drinks, Cornwall just looked but didn't touch them.

Seeing that no one else wanted to play with Cornwall because his wealth made it impossible to win, one man couldn't stand it anymore and said loudly, "Ha ha ha, how can it not be interesting? Let me play a few rounds with this gentleman."

The person who spoke was a man in a black and red suit who stepped forward from the crowd and sat down at the table. Cornwall, looking at the newcomer, examined him with interest.

"Oh? It seems this gentleman is in high spirits. Let's see if you have enough chips."

The newcomer was none other than Dutch, who had come to check things out alone. Dutch disliked the wealthy man's attitude but smiled.

"Someone needs to teach you rich people a lesson. The rules can't always be set by people like you." The dealer quickly dealt the cards, and many gamblers gathered around. Soon, the cards were dealt.

Cornwall, without looking at his cards, pushed all his chips into the pot and said with a smile, "You see, if you don't have enough chips, you'll have to admit defeat without even seeing my cards. I don't even need to know what cards I have."

Seeing Cornwall using his money to dominate, not caring about winning or losing, but just wanting to win, the onlookers showed displeasure. Some impatient ones even started cursing, not out of justice but because they couldn't stand seeing a rich person showing off. However, Cornwall's guards were tall and strong, deterring any rash actions.

Smoking his pipe, Dutch also pushed all his chips into the pot without looking at his cards. He had seen Kieran signaling the new dealer, Old Frank's daughter. At this moment, Dutch knew he couldn't lose, so he continued to speak to the wealthy man in front of him.

"The rules are as you say, but there are always those who disagree. I want to teach you a lesson."

Dutch didn't know Cornwall. But out of resentment for such wealthy people, Dutch wanted to give him a hard lesson. The original purpose of coming here could be set aside for now.

Seeing that Dutch was challenging him, Cornwall wasn't angry. He found it quite interesting, something he hadn't encountered in a long time. So, he had his guards exchange more chips and continued his previous actions. 

Dutch frowned. With many people watching, Dutch didn't have much money on him. He couldn't directly ask Kieran for money to avoid being discovered working with the casino to cheat. After thinking for a moment, he had a plan.

Dutch placed the bonds he had taken from Cornwall on the table and had them exchanged for chips. The casino accepted not only cash but also collateral, which could be quickly appraised and exchanged for money, albeit at a low valuation. But Dutch didn't care.

On the other side of the table, Cornwall, seeing the bonds, quietly scanned the codes and immediately confirmed they were the ones stolen from him. He didn't react immediately but asked calmly.

"May I ask, what is your name, sir?"

Dutch, thinking he was being regarded highly by Cornwall, smiled and said, "Milton, Jim Milton."

Cornwall smiled but cursed internally. Fucking Dutch van der Linde. Cornwall had recognized him.

The game continued.

***

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