The Last Ronin (Последний Ронин)

Interesting.

- I wasn't expecting you. - Well, here I am.

- That's a relief. - Ditto.

Yeah, dump everything in there.

Ah, no, no.

You can keep that on you.

Are you sure?

Yeah. I'm dying to take a closer look at it.

Make your way over, take a seat.

- You've got a cozy place. - DIY.

Plenty of activities to keep busy here. Nothing I'd call work.

- I'm happy to provide your first job. - Well, as long as it's not the last.

That's up to you.

You've got some nerve.

You're not the first to tell me that.

Yeah, I should've demanded a bigger bounty for your

head.

Now we're getting somewhere. Who paid you?

What do you mean?

Relax.

You wanted to take a look.

Pretty.

Shame it's no use to you.

Did you even have a plan?

Of course. I pay you a visit.

You answer my only question, and I leave.

And what happened to them?

Same plan, only they didn't answer.

Did you think that would give me a fright?

I think that you don't want to leave the third ring on the table.

We've had a little team meeting

and agreed to take your tongue as a memento.

One more step...

Last chance.

I'm prepared to leave right now.

- All I need is a name. - Who asks for names?

Then give me a description. I can take it from there.

You can keep your bounty.

You won't have to share with those two.

I'm sure you've never had a better offer.

Oh yeah? You're too cocky. For a dead man.

For a hunter, you keep a lousy eye on your gun.

They haven't paid you enough, it seems.

Are you the Hunter?

- Then who are you? - Not a hunter.

Is he inside?

- Do you know where he is? - What do you need him for?

- That's my business. - Great.

- And what if I go inside? - You'll see you came here for nothing.

Want to earn some pay?

Here's a word of advice:

Don't walk around on your own and give everyone you meet an excuse to rob you.

You want to rob me?

Want another piece of advice?

I get the point.

So you're not interested in earning?

The hunter's lodge is that way.

I don't need a hunter. I need a bodyguard.

You sure do.

If you agree, you'll get another five when you start.

And another six when we're done.

Done?

Heard anything about the high wall in that direction?

I need to get there. I need someone who can take me.

That's a journey of about seven nights.

Where did you get this?

We have a long journey, you'll have time to figure it out.

Well, are you in?

Are you sure you're keeping enough distance?

I like to keep a far greater distance from strangers.

But this is enough for you.

- Because you trust me? - No.

- What if I start falling behind? - Then you'll have to try to keep up.

Can you not just forge ahead, and I'll catch up?

Only if you're wounded or unarmed.

Are you prepared to hand over your gun if you fall behind?

- No way. - Then you'll have to try and keep up.

I've never walked so far with a stranger before.

You need to tell me the dos and don'ts along the way.

Been here long?

I looked like you when we ran away from the commune.

Now my hair is this long.

- Who did you run away with? - A woman by the name of Mother.

Why did you leave?

The valley isn't the safest of places, especially for women.

I haven't shot you yet, but that doesn't make me helpless.

You know you shouldn't play games with me, right?

You'll be paid in full. I'm not stupid enough to carry it all on me.

Was that the advice from the woman by the name of Mother?

No, her advice was never of any use.

- And where is she now? - She went back to the commune.

- She left you alone? - It was my decision.

Where did you get those 7.62 mm rounds?

My father.

- Is the revolver his too? - Yes.

It's in great condition. That's a rarity.

Pity I only have three rounds left. I'd really like a new pair of shoes.

With your 7.62 rounds, you could buy

a box of 9 mm ammo, plus a whole crate of shoes.

What's yours? I've never seen one like that.

It's a .45 caliber, assembled by hand. It won't shoot standard 1151 rounds.

- I've never heard of those rounds. - Because they don't have them anywhere.

- Did you try looking? - I've spent my whole life searching.

What use is a gun that you can't shoot?

Here's another five like we agreed.

You'll get the other half when we reach the wall.

Hide!

Don't waste them, you need to buy shoes.

Are you alright?

Yes.

Nice shot.

Scarce few in the valley would make that shot.

In the valley, if someone attacks first, they should die.

They knew that.

But you should never be the first to attack.

Or sooner or later, you'll end up like them. And meet the same end.

- And are you like them? - No.

I'm never the first to attack.

People should be able to reach an agreement.

Some deserve to die without any arguments.

- Is this your first kill? - No.

- And who was your first? - Someone who deserved it.

Do you recognize him?

Out of all the bastards in this valley,

you picked the worst one.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means that we can't stay here long.

You sure you want to go to the wall? Wouldn't you be safer in your commune?

I can return the rounds and take you there.

I did everything to escape from there.

I need to get to the wall. I killed that freak to save you.

So it looks like you'll have to honor our deal.

Seven nights on the road is too long.

If we don't waste time gathering food

and reduce rest time,

we'll make it in three. But we'll need to visit the market.

We'll head there right now. Others will come in larger numbers.

Throw it away! It'll attract unwanted attention at the market.

- Can't we just bury them? - That gang has razor-sharp senses.

We'll just lose time.

So why are they after you then?

I can't even say for sure anymore.

They've been trailing me forever. But they've never gotten so close.

- So I must have overestimated myself. - And are there many more of them?

Put it this way, we're very lucky that those five went AWOL.

- Now everything will get much worse. - Why?

The one with a hole in his head is the tribal heir.

- So now it's personal. - And where are we headed now?

Towards those cliffs. We need to set up camp.

Wait, didn't you say we need to hurry?

It's far easier to ambush by night. We'll rise with the sun.

Don't rummage through my things.

Can you really understand what's written here?

To an extent.

Who taught you all of this?

Pack up. It's time to get moving.

The market is behind these cliffs.

So what does this market look like?

- You've never been there? - No.

What land do you hail from?

Our commune is on the edge of the endless hellhole.

If the sun is here, then... it's in that direction.

They say there used to be a whole city there in the old world.

- Now there's a gigantic hole. - I know it, it's very far from here.

- Oh yeah? You're telling me? - Listen carefully.

At the market...

It's very important to follow the rules at the market.

Rule number one:

Don't talk to the traders unless you're bargaining.

Rule number two:

Don't fixate on the Watchers.

Unless you want them to fixate on you.

Rule number three: Don't touch anything.

Rule number four: Don't touch anything, let alone steal.

Rule number five:

Just follow my lead, and listen to what I tell you.

And the last rule: Don't draw a gun or a knife, got it?

- Give me one round. - There's only two left.

Rule number five.

How does this all work?

Each clan has their own commodity.

One is responsible for weapons, another has food.

Another supplies water, another takes care of clothes.

Before each new lunar cycle, all the valley dwellers converge here

to make deals and replenish their supplies.

And the Watchers? Is that them on the vantage points?

Yes. Each clan provides a guard.

The market is sacrosanct. All forms of conflict are prohibited.

So where did you find such fat rabbits?

So you're saying everyone just follows the rules?

It took a long time, but, yeah, they do.

Now only savages from faraway lands ignore the rules and laws of the valley.

It all began to function when everyone accepted that we need concord to survive.

I didn't expect to see you here.

And what did you hear?

I don't have enough fingers

to count how many hunters are eager to meet you.

- Well, you can save three fingers. - Which ones?

Ring fingers.

Nah, I was never a fan of those.