How to Stop the Villain from Going Crazy
Translator: Fuyu
Chapter 49 - It felt like being pricked with needles, with thorns. He couldn't move. (2)
Ten minutes later, the carriage stopped in front of the police station.
When Erik took the remains of Trique and Boyd along with their wanted posters into the station, the sheriff thought he was coming to rob him. Only a robber would stroll the streets in a mask.
Bo Li hastily stepped forward to explain. The sheriff skeptically put down his gun.
"So these two swindlers are going by the names of Trique and Boyd… It's really hard to guard against them!"
The sheriff blew his nose in his handkerchief. He seemed unaware of the trouble these two had caused in the city. If Mrs. Merlin hadn't mentioned that Trique bribed the police, Bo Li would have been fooled by the sheriff's lies.
"These two swindlers had changed their names countless times. They've been pretending to be well-connected individuals and harming people everywhere. Leave them here. Here's your reward."
Bo Li picked up the money and counted it. "Why is it only 50 dollars? Aren't they worth 50 dollars each? 100 dollars in total?"
"Enough." The sheriff waved his hand, leaned back in his chair, and put his feet up on the desk. "You don't look like professional bounty hunters. I'm being generous by giving you 50 dollars and not charging you with murder."
Bo Li's mind raced. She took off her wide-brimmed hat, revealing her short hair. She put one foot on the chair next to her and spat on the ground like a bandit.
"Why do you think this is my first time as a bounty hunter? Let me share something with you. Trique and Boyd confessed all sorts of interesting things before they died. However, we're not good people. As long as you give us the remaining 50 dollars, I promise we'll keep our mouths shut and never say anything to anyone."
The sheriff's face slightly changed. "Are you threatening me?"
Bo Li smiled. "I wouldn't dare. People in our line of work like to have a good relationship with the police. We don't like to meddle in other people's business."
Seeing that she was a short-haired, pants-wearing woman and took down two tricky criminals, the sheriff thought she might have real skills.
There were female gunmen. If a woman wanted to be a bounty hunter, then she had to be better than a man. She had to be more ruthless, more agile, and better at shooting.
The sheriff didn't want to provoke trouble. He took out 50 dollars from the drawer and tossed it at her. "Fine, fine, since you're a lady."
Bo Li accepted the money and immediately brightly smiled. "Thank you, Sheriff."
Erik had been watching without interest. He suddenly said, "Let's go."
Bo Li didn't care about his attitude. She happily counted money and walked out of the police station.
The fog had dissipated a bit, and the city workers were extinguishing the gas street lamps. That indescribable feeling of loneliness flashed through her mind again.
The 19th century was very similar to modern-day, but it was also completely different. This feeling of discordance with the era, she couldn't think too deeply about it, or she would feel disconcerted.
She glanced at Erik, and the overwhelming feeling of loneliness was immediately squeezed out by other thoughts.
She had too many things to do: continue to express goodwill towards Erik and visit Mrs. Merlin to find out the whereabouts of the deformed people and what was the ghost that the owner of the house saw.
In addition, she had to write out a script for the deformed people, rehearse the script, and use them to convey to Erik that she didn't care about people's outer appearance.
Most importantly, she had to get Erik to stop killing people.
This time, he killed wanted criminals and could get bounties. What about next time though?
Although the legal system in the US wasn't robust in the 19th century, it still existed. She had to find time to talk with him. It would be best that he only killed bad people and left good people alone.
And the carriage, it was covered in blood. She had to hire someone to clean it.
As soon as she looked at Erik, she felt too busy to even think about being lonely. So then, why had she felt lonely? How strange.
No wonder, she felt a strange sense of safety with him. Surely, that must be the reason.
Bo Li got on the carriage and sat next to Erik. After hesitating for a moment, she used the driver's bench to support herself, turned sideways, and kissed his white mask. "Thank you."
There was both flattery and gratitude.
The relationship between them hadn't changed.
She was still his prey, and he was the hunter. Stalking, chasing, approaching, and easily grasping her throat.
Her feelings towards him… had subtly changed. This was clearly wrong, ill-advised, unhealthy. This change was wrong, but she needed this change to survive.
Bo Li hugged his arm and closed her eyes.
Erik's eyes didn't change, but a close look would show that from his jaw to his arms, he was extremely tense.
His dagger was in his boot, and his rope was hanging from his belt.
He could strangle her with just his hands.
He didn't even need any of that. He could simply shake her off his arm, and with a flick of the reins, she would fall off the carriage and die.
He had countless ways to end the discomfort he felt at her closeness.
However, in the end, he didn't take any action. He allowed her to cling to his arm and felt the warmth of her body seep into his body. It felt like being pricked with needles, with thorns. He couldn't move.
Translator Ramblings: I feel like Bo Li has to distract herself by continuing to do idle things to win over Erik because if she has time to think, the idea of being trapped in the 19th century would be too crushing.
T/N: Wednesday’s part will be late. Posting at 11:25 PM EST instead of 9:25 PM.