Black focused intently on maneuvering the steel behemoth, navigating steadily along the snow-covered forest path.
"We can eat the deer heart another day," the old hunter broke the silence, his voice half-drowsy from the engine noise. "I'll take you home first."
Su Wei was leaning back in his chair, his eyes closed, processing the information overload he had received all night.
He paused for a moment upon hearing the word "go home".
The home Black was referring to was that remote wooden cabin at the foot of Pillar Mountain, an hour's drive from the town.
A thought flashed through my mind like lightning.
His snowmobile is still parked in the Fish and Game Department's parking lot.
If Black sends me back to the cabin at the foot of the mountain now, how will I get out tomorrow?
Relying on that old Dodge that could break down halfway at any moment?
In such thick snow, the car's two rear wheels could only helplessly slip, trapping it completely in the wilderness.
Jennifer's phone call still echoed in my ears: tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, at the Fisheries Union, to sign that $3.25 million agreement.
He absolutely cannot be trapped.
That money was the foundation for him to completely break free from the past and build his future on this land.
Su Wei sat up straight, his expression somewhat strange.
"Um... Black," he stammered, trying to make his words sound less like he was accusing his mentor of being inconsiderate, "I'm afraid we can't go back."
Black didn't turn around, but only glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
"My snowmobile is with the Fish and Game Department. And," Su Wei pointed to the knee-deep snow outside the window, "My pickup truck can't handle this kind of road condition. If I go back, I won't be able to get out tomorrow."
A brief silence fell inside the tracked vehicle, broken only by the tireless roar of the engine.
Su Wei could sense a subtle awkwardness in the atmosphere.
Black scratched his rough, hard chin, making a soft rustling sound.
This habitual action of his always seemed to occur when he felt slightly uncomfortable.
This old hunter, who was so shrewd in the wilderness, clearly made a small oversight in the details of daily life.
"Understood." Black's voice remained brief and emotionless. "Then I'll send you to the Fish and Game Department."
He paused, then added.
"As for Lu Xin, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."
Su Wei breathed a sigh of relief.
He really wanted to taste that deer heart and see what kind of beneficial effects it would bring after being processed by his Cooking Module.
I also wanted Black to try my cooking as a way of thanking him.
This is probably the only way to win over this stubborn old man's goodwill.
But compared to the more than three million US dollars that will be in his hands tomorrow, the gains or losses of a single meal are negligible.
It's already past 7 p. m., and it will still take quite a while to get back to town from the U-Shaped Valley.
The tracked vehicle turned in the snowy forest and headed towards the Kodiak Town.
As the vehicle drew closer to the town, the cell phone signal icon finally changed from a cross to a single, weak signal.
As if remembering something, Black pulled a heavy-looking phone from the inside pocket of his windbreaker.
"By the way, give me a call tomorrow after you've finished taking care of things."
Su Wei was somewhat puzzled.
"Although this mission only resulted in the capture of a wanted criminal, it still helped the Fish and Game Department eliminate a threat to the hunting area," Black said, maneuvering the vehicle without turning his head. "According to guild rules, this kind of operation will earn you points. This will benefit your leveling up as a professional hunter."
integral?
Su Wei was taken aback.
His mind was completely preoccupied with the compensation and the $80,000 antlers, and he had completely forgotten about his hunter ranking.
Black always managed to bring him back to reality in the most pragmatic way when he was blinded by his immediate gains.
A professional hunter's growth doesn't rely on one or two lucky breaks, but on the experience and points accumulated from each mission.
"Give me your number," Black said succinctly.
Su Wei gave out his phone number, watching the old hunter press the numbers one by one on the small keyboard with his thick fingers.
Soon, his phone vibrated, and an unfamiliar number appeared on the screen.
Save it.
"Okay." Su Wei saved the number, noting " Black " in the contact information.
Looking at this name, he felt an inexplicable sense of peace.
This means that he is no longer fighting alone on this isolated island.
He glanced again in the direction of the rear compartment; the enormous antlers stood like a silent silhouette in the darkness.
"Those antlers..."
"Leave it here for now. I'll bring it to you tomorrow." Black interrupted him. "You can't exactly ride your snowmobile around town carrying that thing around like that."
That's the truth.
Su Wei imagined the scene and found it ridiculous.
The tracked vehicle eventually came to a stop in the empty parking lot in front of the Fish and Game Department office building.
Black did not turn off the engine.
"Go."
"Thank you, Black," Su Wei said sincerely.
The old hunter simply waved his hand, signaling him to get out of the car quickly.
Su Wei opened the car door, and a blast of icy air rushed in.
He jumped out of the car and slammed the door shut.
Black didn't linger. He maneuvered the tracked vehicle around, the engine roared, and it quickly disappeared into the night.
In the empty parking lot, only Su Wei remained.
The evening breeze blew, stirring up the loose snow on the ground and hitting his face.
He subconsciously tightened his collar and pulled out the still-warm.30-06 cartridge case from his pocket.
The brass casing reflected a dim light under the parking lot lights.
Thirty meters, moving target, one shot to subdue.
This was the first time he had fired a gun at someone.
There was no disgust or fear as I had imagined, only a cold calm.
Then came that life-changing phone call: $3.25 million.
Then there's this "perfect" Roosevelt antler piece. $80,000.
There are also Hunters' Guild points, and the olive branch extended by Charlie.
In just one day, more events and excitement unfolded than he had experienced in the past few months.
His life trajectory seemed to have been forcibly steered in a completely new direction by an invisible hand.
Su Wei exhaled a long breath of white air and put the spent cartridge back into his pocket.
He trudged through the snow to the corner of the parking lot, where his snowmobile was parked, covered with a thin layer of snow.
He straddled it and turned the key.
The engine emitted a crisp roar that carried far into the quiet night.
He twisted the throttle, and the snowmobile drew a graceful arc across the snow as it drove away from the Fish and Game Department.
The Kodiak Town is quiet at night.
After the blizzard, high walls of snow piled up on both sides of the street, and large snowplows were parked in the distance with their yellow warning lights flashing.
There were few vehicles on the road, and most shops were closed. Only bars and a few restaurants had their lights on, providing a touch of warmth to this cold town.
Su Wei drove his snowmobile through the familiar streets.
The cold wind blowing against his face gradually cleared his chaotic thoughts.
He was no longer the transmigrator burdened with $160,000 in debt, struggling to survive in the wilderness.
He is now a professional hunter with a huge sum of money, a system, and has been taken in as an apprentice by a top hunter, and has just made a great contribution.
He now has the power to choose.
Instead of passively accepting the arrangements of fate, we can actively plan our own future.
He could buy better land, build a sturdier and more comfortable cabin, upgrade his equipment, and even...
The snowmobile gradually slowed down and eventually stopped in front of an old apartment building.