"Um."
Emily sat on the bed, holding Cotton Candy in her arms, her blue eyes filled with unconcealed worry.
"Sue, that Black... you have to be careful, he's not joking."
"I know."
Su Wei nodded.
"Take good care of yourself, and take good care of it too."
He was referring to Cotton Candy.
The little fox seemed to know that its master was about to leave again. It jumped down from Emily's arms, ran to Su Wei's feet, and gently rubbed its head against his trouser leg, making a soft whimpering sound.
Su Wei crouched down and rubbed its head.
"Stay put and wait for me to come back."
After saying that, he opened the door and walked out decisively, leaving the man and the fox's attempts to stay behind the door.
The Kodiak Town was transformed into a pure white world in the early morning after a night of snow.
The snow had thickened, and there were almost no vehicles on the streets, only a few cleared sidewalks.
The air was frigid, and inhaling it brought a stinging, icy sensation to my lungs.
Without delay, Su Wei mounted his snowmobile.
With yesterday's experience, this launch went much more smoothly.
Accompanied by the familiar roar of the engine, he once again became a conspicuous sight in this snowy town, speeding towards the Fish and Game Department.
In the open space Fish and Game Department, Su Wei saw a familiar figure.
The man, dressed in thick brown hunting attire, paced anxiously back and forth, occasionally glancing at his watch, his breath forming puffs of white mist.
It's Aruk.
Hearing the sound of the snowmobile engine, Aruk looked up sharply and saw Su Wei. As if he had seen a savior, he rushed over in three steps.
"My God, Sue! You're finally here!"
Aruk's voice was as loud as ever.
I thought you were buried in the mountains by the snow!
Su Wei stopped the car and turned off the engine.
Why are you waiting here?
"Can I not wait?!"
Aruk grabbed Su Wei's arm; his face, weathered by years of hardship, was now frighteningly pale.
"I had nightmares all night! I dreamt that the Old Devil Black pinned me to a target with antlers! He said my tracking skills were an insult to the great Spirit of the Wilderness!"
Su Wei: "..."
This guy still has such a vivid imagination.
"Let's go, it's almost time."
Su Wei slapped his hand away.
"Etc!"
Aruk pulled him back, lowered his already loud voice, and leaned closer to say mysteriously:
"I heard! That bastard who poached the doe still hasn't been caught. Black swore in the bar yesterday that he'd skin that guy himself and make his footpads! He's a powder keg right now! If we make even the slightest mistake today..."
Aruk made a throat-slitting gesture.
"We just need to avoid making mistakes."
Su Wei's answer was simple and direct.
He bypassed Aruk, who was still muttering to himself, and headed straight for the familiar red brick building.
Aruk paused for a moment, then quickly followed, still muttering to himself:
"No mistakes? Easier said than done! You know, last year there was a guy who was disqualified because he cut off half an inch too far while processing his prey, losing an extra ounce of meat! Half an inch! That's the Old Devil's knife!"
The two entered the Fish and Game Department hall one after the other.
Unlike yesterday's bustling atmosphere, the hall was eerily quiet today.
Apart from Sarah at the front desk, there were only two men sitting silently on the bench to the side.
He was a burly man with a thick beard, who looked like a seasoned veteran who spent years in the woods.
The other was young, equipped with brand-new gear, but arrogant and dismissive of everything around him.
At the very center of this oppressive atmosphere stood a man.
He stood with his back to the door, wearing a dark gray, somewhat worn Arc'teryx hardshell jacket and a pair of well-worn military boots.
He carried no extravagant equipment; he simply stood there quietly, like a silent rock, plunging the entire hall into silence.
Aruk immediately shut his mouth.
He even held his breath, tiptoed to the other end of the bench and sat down, not daring to make a sound.
Su Wei simply glanced at the figure's back and then found a corner to stand in.
Time passed second by second.
The clock on the wall had its hour hand steadily pointing to nine o'clock.
The man, who had been facing away from everyone, finally moved.
He slowly turned around.
It was a weathered face, around fifty years old, with deep nasolabial folds.
What's most striking is his eyes—cold and serious.
He is Black Anderson.
Without uttering a single unnecessary word, Black pulled a list from his pocket.
" Aruk Kash."
"Arrive!"
Aruk practically sprang to his feet, his voice trembling slightly.
Black glanced at him but said nothing.
Dennis White.
The burly man with the thick beard replied in a deep voice:
"Arrive."
Eric Shaw.
The young hunter raised his chin:
"Here."
" Su Wei."
"Arrive."
Su Wei's voice was calm and unwavering.
Black finished reading the list and put it away.
His gaze swept across the four faces, as if assessing prey.
"One more is needed, Roy."
Sarah at the front desk whispered a reminder.
Black glanced at the wall clock.
The minute hand has already passed nine o'clock.
He didn't answer Sarah, but turned and walked towards the door.
"The assessment has begun. Keep up."
The cold voice uttered those words.
Aruk and the other two quickly followed, while Su Wei walked at the very back at a leisurely pace.
Just as they were about to walk out the door, a young man wearing a thin jacket rushed in, panting.
"Wait! Mr. Black! Wait for me! I'm coming!"
He ran and shouted, his face covered in sweat.
Black stopped walking, but did not turn around.
The entire group stopped.
The young man named Roy ran up to Black, leaning on his knees and panting heavily.