Black didn't say anything, but simply leaned against the door frame with his arms crossed, in a relaxed posture.
But his sharp eyes remained fixed on the electronic scale's display screen, clearly calculating the price in his mind.
Silas ignored Aruk's calls, pulled an old-fashioned black calculator from his work apron, and began rapidly pressing the keys, making a rhythmic clicking sound.
"The meat is top-grade wild game. The gallbladder is golden. The hide is collector's grade. Plus the mother bear and moose..."
The calculator emitted a crisp sound as it reset to zero.
Su Wei looked at the giant bear, at the face that still held the last trace of a ferocious expression.
He wanted to leave something behind.
Su Wei took a deep breath; the icy air stung his lungs, making him incredibly clear-headed.
"I want to keep the bear's skin and skull."
"Clatter."
Silas, who was pressing keys on the calculator, stopped abruptly, and the clicking stopped abruptly.
Aruk froze in his tracks as he was carrying the venison, nearly dropping the ribs on the back of his foot.
Everyone turned around and looked at Su Wei in astonishment.
I want to keep it.
Su Wei stepped forward and placed his palm on the huge bear's head.
I could still feel the faint warmth left in my palm.
"I want to make it into a specimen and put it in my cabin, right in front of the front door."
This is more than just spoils of war.
This is a milestone for him.
"Are you crazy?"
Aruk slammed a rack of spare ribs onto the cutting board with a loud bang and rushed over.
" Su Wei! Do you know how much this thing is worth? It's worth at least fifty thousand US dollars! Or even more! Fifty thousand US dollars!"
His eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets.
"That's a huge sum of money! With this money, we can comfortably have a warm winter!"
Su Wei calmly looked at Aruk, at his good brother's face flushed with anxiety.
"I know."
He spoke slowly, but with unwavering determination.
"But this means something different to me. Aruk, I can earn the money back slowly, but I may never encounter another bear like this in my lifetime."
Su Wei turned to look at Black, then at Old Kash who had been silently smoking.
"I know the rules. This is a group hunt; the prey belongs to everyone. I can't let everyone suffer losses just because I want to keep it."
He took the black bank card out of his pocket.
That money was compensation given after my parents' death. After buying a snowmobile, equipment, and Raptor, there was still a little over 3 million left.
"How much is this pelt worth? I'll compensate everyone at the market price."
Black remained leaning against the doorframe, his face expressionless, his eyes unfathomable.
"No!"
Aruk roared, his voice trembling noticeably.
The burly man was now so anxious that his face turned red and his neck bulged.
"What do you mean by 'supplements'?! Su Wei, have you lost your mind?"
He pointed at the bear, his finger trembling.
"Who killed it? Huh? Who fired that last shot? It was you! You were the one holding that damn Browning, pointing it at its chest and firing! If that shot hadn't killed it, you would have been the one dead!"
Aruk became more and more agitated as he spoke, spitting all over Su Wei's face.
"You killed that mother bear too! I was right there watching! My dad and I didn't even have time to cock our guns before the fight was over!"
"Besides that moose that we all surrounded together, these two bears, you risked your life to save them! They belong to you Su Wei Weiyang, all by yourself!"
His voice was loud, and Su Wei's words made him extremely uncomfortable.
It seems as if the Su Wei took advantage of them, but it was clearly the other way around.
It was Aruk who took advantage of Su Wei!
The Su Wei deserves the most credit!
Even if Aruk is a fool, he can't take advantage of his own brother!
"We just helped move the goods! We were just laborers at best! Now you want to keep your spoils and pay us? What do you take us for? Vampires?"
Aruk raised his hands and shouted, so angry that he spun around twice on the spot and kicked the stainless steel table leg hard.
"I can't do something so despicable! Dad, say something!"
Old Kash took his pipe out of his mouth, tapped the ash on the sole of his heavy hiking boots, and sparks flew to the ground.
He looked at Su Wei with a complicated expression.
Greedy?
Who wouldn't be tempted?
That's a whopping fifty thousand US dollars!
Even for Old Kash, it would take hunting dozens of black-tailed deer to earn that much money.
but.
Old Kash sighed, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to soften a little.
He stepped forward and patted Su Wei on the shoulder with his large, calloused hand.
"Although Aruk has a loud voice, his words may be rough, but the truth is always right."
The old hunter's voice was deep.
" Su Wei, these are the rules. Whoever delivers the fatal blow has the greatest authority to decide the outcome. Especially in this desperate counterattack, it's a privilege you earned with your life."
"Take this skin if you want it. No need to pay extra. If we take this money, how will we ever be able to hold our heads up in the tavern again?"
After Old Kash finished speaking, he turned to look at Black.
" Black, since we're dividing it up, let's give the bear's pelt and head to Su Wei. As for the remaining meat and the other two prey, you take ten percent, Aruk and I take twenty percent, and the rest goes to Su Wei. After all, you saved our lives."
Su Wei became anxious.
"No way! Old Kash, without you blocking the route, without Teacher Black holding the fort, I simply couldn't have..."
"Shut up."
Black, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up.
Two simple words, spoken softly, instantly cut off Su Wei's argument.
Black straightened up and moved away from the doorway.
His actions calmed the argument.
Silas also stopped what he was doing and watched the scene with great interest.
" Old Kash."
Black looked at his old friend, his tone curt.
"We're all seasoned hunters, stop with the sentimental stuff. This is an exchange, not a charity. Hunters are all about efficiency and fairness, not handouts."
He walked to the countertop, tapped the stainless steel surface with his slender fingers, producing a crisp sound that resonated in everyone's hearts.
"A group hunt is a group hunt. No matter who fires the shot, or even if they're just keeping watch, everyone gets a share. This is to ensure that next time we encounter danger, someone will still be willing to entrust their back to you."
Black's voice was strong and clear.
" Su Wei wants this skin, fine."
He pointed to the huge bear skin.
"This is a privilege reserved for the main attacker, and a reward for Courage. The skin and skull belong to Su Wei; no additional payment is needed."
Just as Su Wei was about to speak, Black raised his hand to stop him, his eyes sharpening.
"But."
Black then changed the subject.
"Everything else. The mother bear, the moose, and those two tons of meat, including that valuable golden gallbladder."
" Su Wei only takes 20%."
"The remaining 80% will be split equally between me and Old Kash."
Old Kash frowned.