"Eighty thousand US dollars," Black repeated, seemingly pleased with Su Wei's naive reaction, "And it was bought by a Wall Street fund manager. That guy's never even touched a gun; he just bought it to hang in his office overlooking Central Park for show."
$80,000.
Looking at the pile of "bones" in front of him, Su Wei quickly started doing calculations in his mind.
Even excluding the unexpected insurance payout, the $80,000 would be enough for him to buy a new heavy-duty pickup truck in Kodiak Town, or renovate the heating system of the entire log cabin, or even buy dozens of high-quality calves.
And now, it's just stuck in the snow.
"That's still the auction price," Black added. "If you factor in its history—this is a stag that stopped a murderer's bullet and witnessed a fierce battle. If it finds a collector who appreciates it, the price could go even higher."
Su Wei swallowed hard.
He reached out and grasped the thick main beam.
[High-value harvestable target detected.]
[Item: Roosevelt Deer Skull (Perfect/Collector's Grade)]
[Status: Dead. Main beam intact, minor shrapnel scratches at the third fork (does not affect value, but rather enhances its historical significance as a Wild Badge).]
[Collection Recommendation: Use cutting tools to preserve the skull intact, avoiding damage to the horn base.]
A system notification popped up, its gold border brighter than ever before.
The words "Perfect Grade" looked like an enticing gold coin symbol.
"Get to work," Black tossed him a folding bone saw. "Don't just stand there. Get the body off the ground before it freezes to stone. Otherwise, you'll be using a chainsaw by tomorrow."
Su Wei caught the bone saw, took a deep breath, and suppressed the turmoil in his heart.
He stepped over the scattered entrails, treading on the frozen, brittle blood, and arrived behind the deer's head.
This feels strange.
Ten minutes ago, this place was a battlefield of life and death, the air thick with murderous intent.
Now, like a craftsman, he prepares to reap the gifts of nature.
The serrated teeth mesh at the junction of the cervical vertebrae.
That's where the first cervical vertebra connects to the skull, and it's also the most difficult joint to treat.
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The sound of a bone saw rubbing against bone echoed through the empty valley, making one's teeth ache.
Su Wei exerted force with his arms, each push and pull bringing out white bone powder and dark red ice shards.
This male deer has an astonishingly high bone density; when the serrated teeth cut into it, it feels like sawing granite.
Black stood to the side, shining a flashlight, occasionally offering a few pointers.
"Angle it downwards a bit. Yes, preserve the orbital bone. That way, the specimen will look more lifelike."
"Don't touch the skin! If we need to skin it for a shoulder specimen later, this cut will ruin everything."
Su Wei was completely focused.
His hand was numb from the violent shaking, and his breathing became heavy with the rhythm of the sawing.
With a crisp "snap".
The last connecting bone bridge broke.
Su Wei threw down the saw, grabbed the base of the antlers with both hands, and pulled upwards with force.
The heavy skull, with its crown-like horns, was completely detached from the body.
He turned it over on the snow, grabbed a handful of clean snow, and vigorously wiped away the blood and brain tissue from the cut.
The cold snowflakes melted on the warm bones, washing away the filth and revealing the dense trabecular structure within.
Panting heavily, Su Wei carried the heavy trophy, which resembled a millstone, to the tracked vehicle.
But he didn't put it in the truck bed.
He turned around, holding the priceless antlers in both hands, and presented them to Black.
"Take it."
Su Wei's words were simple, even a bit harsh.
Black, who was wiping the grease off his hunting knife, paused upon hearing this.
He raised his eyelids, glanced at the antlers, and then looked at Su Wei.
"Did the wind damage your brain?" the old hunter asked.
"Without your stun grenade, I might already be shot." Su Wei still held up the antlers, his arm trembling slightly from the weight. "Besides, you brought me here. This should be yours."
Whoever puts in the most effort gets the lion's share.
Without Black drawing fire in front and providing cover from behind, Su Wei would never have had the chance to fire that shot within thirty meters.
Of this $80,000, half, or even more, should rightfully belong to Black.
Black looked at this stubborn young man.
The wind and snow passed between them.
The old hunter suddenly smiled, but there was no mockery in his smile; instead, there was a hint of relief.
"Take it away."
Black waved his hand dismissively, as if shooing away flies. "Don't insult my walls with this kind of thing."
Su Wei was taken aback.
"In my cabin hang four brown bear skulls, two moose antlers over 60 inches long, and a snow sheep I hunted in Siberia."
Black sheathed his hunting knife with a click.
He turned around, opened the driver's cab door of the tracked vehicle, and said with his back to Su Wei:
"I don't have room on my wall for this little toy that only costs $80,000. Besides..."
The old man stopped what he was doing and turned his head to the side.
"This is your first milestone as a professional hunter. Sell it, or leave it up for sale. That's up to you."
But I suggest you keep it.
"When you're too old to walk, looking at this thing on the wall will remind you of that night, how you chased a madman with a sniper rifle through a blizzard like an idiot, and how you broke that bastard's leg."
"That's priceless."
After saying that, Black climbed into the driver's seat and slammed the door shut.
Boom
The tracked vehicle's diesel engine roared, spewing black smoke from its exhaust pipe.
Su Wei stood there, still holding the heavy pair of deer antlers in his hands.
He looked down at the massive skeleton, his fingers tracing the rough, resinous main beam.
$80,000.
No.
Black is right.
This isn't money.
This is the medal of that crazy night, the first cornerstone for him to gain a foothold in this cruel world.
Su Wei grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.
He chuckled in the snow, then exerted all his strength to hoist the hundred-pound crown onto his shoulder.
At that moment, he felt as if he were carrying the ticket to Kodiak Island.
He strode over to the tracked vehicle, carefully securing the antlers to the cargo rack in the rear bed, binding them with three strong cables to ensure they wouldn't be damaged during the bumpy ride.
Then, he opened the passenger door and stepped inside, bringing with him a chill.
"Drive, Old Devil." Su Wei fastened his seatbelt, in a great mood. "When we get back, I'm going to eat roasted deer heart. Don't tell me you're disgusted by that too."
Black grunted and shifted into gear.
The tracked vehicle crushed the ice and snow on the ground, and guided by the two headlights that pierced the darkness, it drove deeper into the snowstorm.
Behind them, on a shelf, a massive pair of antlers pointed straight to the sky, surveying this wild territory as they swayed.
Chapter 95 The Old Hunter's Oversight, and a Late-Night Reunion with Emily
"Let's drive, Old Devil." Su Wei fastened his seatbelt, in a good mood. "When we get back, I'm going to eat roasted deer heart. Don't tell me you're disgusted by that too."
Black grunted and shifted into gear.
The tracked vehicle crushed the ice and snow on the ground, and guided by the two headlights that pierced the darkness, it drove deeper into the snowstorm.
Behind them, on a shelf, a massive pair of antlers pointed skyward, surveying this wild territory as they swayed.
The roar of the diesel engine echoed dully through the valley.
Inside the carriage, the warm air from the heating system carried a hint of engine oil, but it was enough to dispel the chill that clung to our bones.