Summary
After reflecting on his and Valentine's differing relationships towards their respective fathers, Johnny announces that he believes Valentine is walking the righteous path. The president thanks Johnny; however, the jockey picks up Valentine's revolver and tosses it toward him. He says that the gun is the one which Valentine used to finish Gyro Zeppeli, and that its cylinder should be empty with no bullets left to fire. With that, Johnny prompts Valentine to pick up the gun with his own hand, so that he can believe the president "101%" and stop the infinite rotation inflicted on him; so that he can prove that there is no deceptive surprise attack or betrayal behind Valentine's vow — just as Gyro did with a thief, back when Johnny first met him.
Valentine approaches the revolver, but hesitates, withdrawing to deilver a short speech: that his actions and intentions are on the side of clear justice. Suddenly, Valentine pulls out a gun from a parallel world while sending D4C to attack Johnny. Even as the two guns merge with each other, both men engage in a shootout. Although Valentine successfully lands a couple of bullets in Johnny, the power and accuracy of Johnny's fired nails connect with Valentine's vitals, and D4C remains too weakened by the Spin to land its punch.
As Valentine's hand falls to the ground, a voice calls out to Johnny, telling him to look its way. Johnny looks up and sees the spirit of his deceased friend, Gyro, floating towards the sky. Gyro proclaims that if he is to die this way, he is okay with it, but also tells Johnny to keep his promise of not telling anyone the secret of Gyro's real name. He then disperses, flying away with a farewell. Johnny reaches out with his hand, apologising to his friend for how he wasn't able to believe the president in the end, and says his own final goodbyes. He then shoots a final nail towards Valentine, piercing the president through his forehead, dragging his body — along with the remains of D4C — underground by the Golden Spin until nothing but his handkerchief remains, which too eventually disappears. With Funny Valentine dead and the Saint's Corpse fully separated from an unharmed Lucy Steel, Johnny finally allows himself a loud and emotional cry of sorrow.
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SBR Volume 23, Tailpiece
