The next morning, Stephen, full of energy, found Arthur, who was brushing his horse near the camp entrance.
"Ready to head out?"
Arthur smiled, looking at Stephen in his full gear. "I thought you'd be sleeping until this time tomorrow."
"Just thinking some things over," Stephen replied, shaking his head.
Arthur put away the brush, patting his horse. "So, what did you figure out? Got any good ideas?"
"Well, I was thinking about trying to blend in with the bounty hunters."
Stephen looked at Arthur seriously. "Whether Sean's information is true or not, those bounty hunters are definitely real. If I can infiltrate them, I might be able to dig up something more easily."
"You sure you can pull it off? What if you're discovered?"
Arthur looked at Stephen, a bit worried. "Those guys are ruthless. What if you're discovered?"
Don't think everyone's gonna get along just because they're all bounty hunters.
The truth is, most bounty hunters don't die at the hands of criminals, but at the hands of their colleagues.
The competition among some bounty hunters is even fiercer than that between gangs.
Stephen said easily, "Relax, I'm not just some small fry, am I?"
As the two were chatting, Charles and the others, equally prepared, walked over.
"Gentlemen, it's time we left."
It was Josiah Trelawny, with his theatrical voice. Stephen wondered how he managed to sound like he was performing in a play.
Everyone was carrying their most used weapons and gear. Seeing this, Arthur also took his weapons from the wagon on the side and loaded them onto his horse.
"We gotta head west first, past Riggs Station, then directly south. There's a small path that leads straight to the cliffs north of Blackwater."
Javier led his horse, walking in front. "I'll lead the way, let's go!"
Horseshoe Overlook wasn't far from Blackwater.
But under Javier's lead, they didn't take the main road.
Instead, they went past Riggs Station, passed an abandoned farm, and headed south along the steep riverbank.
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The group of five carefully crossed the border and walked through a narrow mountain path.
Finally, they climbed a small hill. After crossing it, they reached the northern suburbs of Blackwater.
Stepping on Blackwater's soil again made Arthur and the others a bit melancholic.
According to Arthur, they spent a long time in Blackwater.
More importantly, they lost three comrades in the conflict there.
Mac Callander and Davey Callander, and a young girl named Jenny.
But the journey was a bit discordant.
Josiah Trelawny, the self-proclaimed magician, was just too annoying.
Ever since the five of them left the camp together, his mouth hadn't stopped.
He kept talking to people. First Arthur, then Javier, Charles, and finally Stephen.
One after another, and when everyone got annoyed with him, he started talking to himself, commenting on the surrounding scenery.
Even if a dog passed by, he would have to comment on its coat and gender.
Stephen couldn't help but complain to Charles next to him. Did this guy have a condition where he'd die if he stopped talking?
Charles shrugged indifferently, seemingly not caring.
But when Stephen saw his clenched fist, he knew the black guy was suffering.
The group endured Trelawny's chatter and set up camp in a hidden spot.
Then, led by Javier, they came to the edge of the cliff.
Sure enough, as Javier said, they could see the situation inside Blackwater from here.
The group lay on the edge of the cliff, carefully observing the town with binoculars.
The situation was similar to when Stephen last came. Almost every intersection had police or Pinkertons patrolling.
In the north of Blackwater, near the harbor, there was a camp with a lot of guards.
That must be where those bounty hunters were holding Sean.
Seeing this, Arthur and the others couldn't help but feel worried.
"We can only hope Sean doesn't get hanged right away."
Charles said calmly, "If they plan to hang Sean on the spot, there's nothing we can do."
It was unrealistic to think they could just rush in and save him with just the five of them.
"Say, didn't you guys leave money in Blackwater?"
Stephen suddenly remembered what Arthur had said earlier, that they had left money in Blackwater and hadn't retrieved it.
"Aren't you gonna try to get the money back?" Stephen asked Arthur and the others curiously.
"This is a good opportunity, we're finally here."
Hearing this, the other three didn't say anything. Only Arthur spoke up.
"Only Dutch knows where the money is hidden. He doesn't agree with us taking the money now."
Hearing this, Stephen looked confused.
What's up? Was Dutch keeping the money in a bank to collect interest?
"Our main priority now is to rescue Sean and find a way to escape capture."
Arthur explained to Stephen, who looked puzzled. "It's too dangerous to run with the money."
"The money is safe. As long as we're safe, we can come back and get the money anytime."
On the surface, it made sense. $150,000 was a significant sum.
With so much money, it could probably fill an entire wagon, so it really couldn't be taken out casually.
After all, at this time, the largest denomination of US dollars in normal circulation was only $20.
People wouldn't dare accept more than that, fearing it was fake.
But Stephen always felt something was off…
Forget it, it had nothing to do with him anyway.
He wasn't counting on the money. Although there was a lot of it, it was too hot to handle.
Stephen shook his head and said to the people behind him, "How about this? I'll go find some bounty hunters in Blackwater and check out the situation."
Trelawny smiled and said, "Shall we go together? Maybe I can introduce you to Blackwater."
"Uh, no thanks. I think it's better if I act alone."
Stephen quickly rejected the suggestion. He was afraid that being alone with this guy would make him want to sew his mouth shut.
"Alright, then let's split up," Trelawny shrugged helplessly.
"I'm leaving then, goodbye."
Waving to them, Stephen mounted his horse and leisurely headed towards Blackwater.
