Black pushed open the door, and a wave of heat, mixed with the aroma of coffee and the warmth of the air conditioner, hit him.
The windproof curtain fell, shutting out the cold air from outside, and warmth enveloped the body.
The lobby was empty, with only a few staff members chatting and getting hot water from the dispensers.
Behind the reception desk, Sarah was holding a cup of hot coffee, staring blankly at the computer screen.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up.
The capable-looking woman paused for a moment when she saw the two people who entered one after the other.
"Good morning, Mr. Black." Sarah put down her coffee cup, her gaze sweeping between the two men, her eyes filled with inquiry. "And... Su Wei? You're here so early?"
Black made no small talk.
He walked straight to the counter, bent his fingers, and tapped twice on the thick table with his knuckles.
"Retrieve his file," Black said, gesturing to Su Wei behind him. "Modify his access level."
Sarah was a little confused, but she still put her hands on the keyboard.
"Are you adding temporary enforcement powers?" Sarah typed in Su Wei's name while expertly bringing up the template. "I've already prepared the contract for that poaching case; all we need is for it to be signed..."
"No."
Black coldly interrupted her.
He pulled the black professional hunter's certificate from the inside pocket of his jacket, slammed it heavily on the counter, and pushed it over.
"Give him access to internal privileges."
Black paused for a second, his gray eyes fixed on Sarah, and added, word by word, "Reduce the guild's cut of the hunted prey from ten percent to five percent."
There was a two-second silence in the hall.
Only the faint hum of the heater remained.
Sarah's hands, which were typing on the keyboard, suddenly froze in mid-air.
Her eyes, which always wore a professional smile, widened instantly, and she even stood up from her chair, disregarding her manners.
Five percent?!
Sarah's voice rose several octaves, drawing the attention of the cleaning staff mopping the floor in the distance. " Black, are you sure you're not crazy?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Black asked expressionlessly.
"But..." Sarah looked at the calm Black, then at the bewildered Su Wei standing to the side, her face filled with disbelief.
She took a deep breath.
"Mr. Black, according to the guild's charter, only senior professional hunters of level six or above are qualified to share their rights with a newcomer through a 'mentorship' relationship."
"One."
Sarah held up one index finger and waved it in front of Black, her tone serious, "This is your only apprenticeship spot."
"In Kodiak, how many people want to give their kids to you? Last year, someone even offered $200,000 for the spot for his nephew, and you just told them to get lost."
She stared at Black, her gaze complex. "You're going to give this only spot to... Su Wei? A newbie who just got his license yesterday?"
Su Wei stood to the side, his hands clenched tightly in his pockets.
It felt like my heart had been struck hard by something.
He originally thought that Black's "half-cut commission" was just a way of using his identity as an examiner or a high-level hunter to open a backdoor in the system.
It's like a supermarket manager giving a discount card to an acquaintance.
But after hearing those words, the meaning completely changed.
The only spot available.
Two hundred thousand US dollars.
A wealthy man who was rejected.
This isn't just a discount card; it's a long-term meal ticket, or even a privileged gold card granting access to Alaska's top hunter circles.
Black didn't say anything.
He just kept his eyelids down, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.
Once, twice, three times.
The silence created a somewhat awkward atmosphere.
Sarah sighed; she knew this stubborn old man all too well.
Once he's made up his mind, not even ten brown bears could change it.
She turned her head to look at Su Wei, the shock on her face slowly fading into a complex envy, and even a hint of jealousy.
" Su Wei, it seems you still don't understand what this means."
Sarah sat back down in her chair, crossed her hands on the table, and said solemnly, "The so-called apprentice benefits are not just about halving the cut you get from the prey you sell to the guild. It means that you will inherit half of Mr. Black's permissions within the guild in terms of system privileges."
As she operated the computer, she listed out the enviable benefits as if reciting a menu.
"Besides the low 5% commission, you get a 10% discount on all guns, ammunition, vehicles, and outdoor gear purchased from the guild's official store—including the high-end equipment."
"You can attend all the advanced courses offered by the guilds for free, including polar survival, battlefield first aid, and even helicopter rappelling."
"And..." Sarah paused, then dropped the final bombshell, "You'll also get a share of the guild's annual quota for purchasing low-priced meat for high-level hunters."
With each word Sarah spoke, Su Wei's heart pounded harder.
Buy guns at a 10% discount.
Free courses.
Low-priced meat.
If hunting was something you had to do to pay off debts before, now it's practically a shortcut to wealth.
Su Wei's brain was working at lightning speed.
Only the commission from the prey is considered.
A fully grown male Roosevelt elk would sell for about $30,000 to the association.
The normal commission rate of 10% would deduct three thousand US dollars.
Now, it only costs 1,500.
For every deer hunted, you earn an extra $1,500!
Ten heads would be fifteen thousand.
One hundred heads equals 150,000.
Anyone can do this math, let alone Su Wei, who is now burdened with huge debts and is sensitive to every penny.
No wonder someone would spend $200,000 to buy an apprenticeship spot!
In the long run, this is incredibly profitable!
He turned to look at Black.
The man known as " Old Devil " remained expressionless, but the frequency of his tapping on the table seemed to have increased slightly.
Is he nervous?
The thought flashed through Su Wei's mind.
Black was waiting for his answer, or rather, for an attitude.
This is not just a simple exchange of benefits.
In this place, it's a very serious contractual relationship—a master-disciple relationship.
This means that Black has staked his reputation, experience, and even part of his career on Su Wei.
Why?
Because of those two shots yesterday?
Was it that same calm autopsy?
Or... did he see a reflection of his younger self in himself?
Su Wei did not dwell on this issue for too long.
Adults don't have that much time to be sentimental; there's no reason to refuse benefits that are offered to you.
Whatever Black saw in him, this was the best card Su Wei could currently hold.
It is also the fastest shortcut to pay off the debt and save that land.
Moreover, he didn't dislike this stubborn old man; in fact, he held him in some respect.
His character and his abilities both deserve Su Wei respect.
Although he was an old man who was extremely strict about the hunter's code.
However, Su Wei did not think this was a bad thing.
In a sense, they share the same values.