She gave Su Wei a professional smile, then pointed to the camera.
"Stand up straight, tuck your chin in a little. Yes, like that."
The flash went off.
The intense white light made Su Wei squint slightly.
Then came the hum of the printer starting up.
A minute later, a still-warm plastic card was handed to Su Wei.
The card is very light, and the edges are somewhat sharp.
It had his photo printed on it and was stamped with the seal of the Alaska Fish and Game Department.
In the "Job Level" section, there is a black "LV1" printed on it.
[Professional Hunter License (Lv1)]
[Holder: Su Wei Weiyang]
[Permissions: Allows legal possession of hunting firearms throughout Alaska; allows hunting designated quotas of wild animals during specified seasons; allows selling game and related products at the Guild Exchange.]
Su Wei stroked the raised stamp on the card.
This thin piece of plastic can fetch up to $20,000 on the black market, and even then, you need connections to buy a fake document.
And now, it's legal.
This card is the cure for the $160,000 debt, and the key to the Roosevelt deer herd.
Besides the system, this was also his first talisman in this cruel wilderness.
Hey! Look at this!
Aruk, holding his identification documents, jumped up and down excitedly.
The floorboards creaked under the weight.
"Professional hunter Aruk! How does that sound? Pretty cool, right?"
The burly man held the document above his head, shining it against the lights in the lobby as if it were some rare treasure.
"I need to call my dad. No, I need to go straight back and slap this thing on his perpetually stern old face."
Aruk spoke incoherently, then turned and grabbed Su Wei's shoulder.
"Brother, we did it! I knew we could!"
The faint smell of blood that lingered even after the wash, mixed with the distinctive pine scent of Aruk, assaulted Su Wei's nostrils.
Su Wei did not push him away.
Although this guy was as noisy as a rutting moose, in that snowy valley, when Eric mocked him, it was Aruk was the first to stand up and want to throw a punch.
"We were lucky," Su Wei said.
"It's not just luck."
A steady voice broke in.
Dennis was packing his backpack.
The old hunter had changed back into his civilian clothes; his even somewhat worn leather jacket made him look like any ordinary retired worker.
He slowly and solemnly sheathed the skinning knife that had been with him for decades.
"Luck is part of skill, but in the wilderness, only calmness can save your life."
Dennis slung his bag over his shoulder and walked up to Su Wei.
He stretched out a hand, a hand covered in calluses and old scars, with large, deformed knuckles.
"I spent forty years in Kodiak and saw many brilliant sharpshooters. Some became legends, and some became complete failures."
Dennis gripped Su Wei's hand tightly.
"Your hands are steady, and your heart is steady. Keep it up, and you'll go further than me."
Su Wei felt the rough texture of the hand and nodded.
"I will. Thank you."
Dennis waved his hand and said nothing more.
He pushed open the heavy glass door, and a little bit of the wind and snow outside rushed in, only to be blocked by the door again.
The old hunter's figure quickly disappeared into the swirling snowflakes.
"He's a strange old man, but a good one."
Aruk made a comment, then immediately turned his attention back to Su Wei.
"Hey, Su Wei. Forget about that old man. We need to celebrate!"
Aruk pointed to the pickup truck outside.
"How about we go to the best bar in town, or to my place? My mom's smoked salmon is amazing. Now that we've got our licenses, how about we team up?"
He became more and more excited as he spoke, gesturing a huge circle in the air with his hands.
"You're in charge of finding the prey; your eyes are practically radar. I'll handle carrying the supplies and clearing the way; you know I'm strong. We'll split the profits fifty-fifty—no, you get six and I get four!"
This is a very tempting offer.
Chapter 76 Black's Olive Branch: The Lifelong Temptation of Half Guild Cut
Aruk is indeed a qualified teammate.
He is obedient, strong, has connections in the local area, and is very reliable.
Under normal circumstances, Su Wei might consider it.
But not now.
He was burdened with a debt of 160,000 yuan, and every penny had to be spent wisely.
Moreover, his hunting methods were somewhat unusual and not suitable for being fully exposed to his friends.
More importantly, he needs absolute control over the profits.
He was short of money.
"Let's do it another day, Aruk."
Su Wei stuffed the documents into the inside pocket of his jacket and placed them close to his chest.
"I have other things to do. You know, it's with the bank..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was already clear.
Aruk's smile froze for a moment, then he suddenly realized and his expression showed a hint of sympathy.
"Oh, right. Those damn bank vampires."
He patted Su Wei's arm, but with much less force.
"Alright. Making money is the priority. But it's a deal, once you've sorted out those problems, you absolutely have to come over for a drink. I'm saving that bottle of whiskey I've been keeping for five years."
"Must."
Su Wei agreed.
The two walked side by side toward the main entrance.
It was completely dark outside.
The blizzard seemed to be more intense than before, and the streetlights could only cast dim, yellowish halos in the snowstorm.
"I'll head out then! This awful weather."
Aruk wrapped his heavy cotton coat tighter around himself, rushed into the snowstorm, and strode outside.
Su Wei stood under the eaves, watching Aruk's figure disappear at the end of the street.
The world fell silent again, with only the sound of the wind remaining.
He should go too.
Although he stayed overnight for the exam, he still missed his simple wooden house and the always drafty garage.
Perhaps on the way back, we can also see if we can find a few good pieces of wood that have been broken by the wind.
Su Wei turned up his collar, preparing to rush into the snow.
"If you leave now, you might miss something more valuable than that document."
A voice sounded from behind.
Su Wei stopped in his tracks.
He didn't turn around, but he knew who it was.
Black leaned against the shadows of the corridor, not holding a cigarette, but simply toying with the badge that symbolized his status as a level seven hunter.
The lights in the hall didn't reach that corner, leaving most of the examiner hidden in darkness.
"I don't think anything is more valuable than going home to sleep, sir."