American Landowners: Starting with Hunting in Alaska

Suwei did not linger at the window.

No matter how beautiful the snow scenery is, it can't be exchanged for money, nor can it fill your stomach.

He quickly swept the equipment into his backpack.

Magnesium rods for ignition, Swiss Army knives, and the most precious birch mushroom.

Su Wei moved quickly and efficiently.

The clothes that I put to dry by the stove yesterday are all completely dry today.

Suwei got dressed and gave the small house a quick cleaning.

After confirming that there were no omissions or deficiencies, we prepared to depart.

On Kodiak Island, the calm after a blizzard often means that greater danger is on the horizon.

Therefore, he had to hurry down the mountain.

Fortunately, we were not far from the bottom of the mountain.

"Walk."

Suwei scooped up the white fluffy ball that was still pretending to be dead in the haystack.

Marshmallow's ears twitched, and just as she was about to resist, the back of her neck was grabbed by that big hand.

Su Wei casually stuffed it into the pocket of his windbreaker, zipping it up halfway, revealing only a fluffy head and a pair of icy blue eyes.

Cotton Candy is now his pet, so of course he has to take her with him.

Su Wei walked to the door, grabbed the cold latch, and pulled hard inside.

Not moving.

Outside the door crack, a solid wall of snow blocked the way, with tiny ice shards sliding down the gap and hitting the boots.

It's blocked off.

Su Wei took a half step back, his shoulders tensed, and slammed into the door panel.

boom!

With a screeching sound, the snow collapsed, and a cold wind filled half the room.

The air I inhaled was icy cold, carrying an intense chill.

Su Wei was not wearing gloves.

He pulled out his folding entrenching tool, and the blade sliced ​​through the compacted snow with a crisp cracking sound.

Swing your arm, scoop up, and toss.

The mechanism is mechanical and highly efficient.

Marshmallow poked half its body out of the pocket, watched the two-legged creature shoveling snow, barked twice, and took the opportunity to jump into the snowdrift and roll around.

ten minutes.

A narrow path, just wide enough for one person to walk on, was opened up.

Su Wei put away the shovel, and the white breath he exhaled exploded in front of him.

Above us was the clear polar sky, and in the distance were snow-capped peaks.

"Keep up."

He stepped over the threshold without looking back.

Cotton Candy shook off the snow and followed him happily, stepping in his footprints.

The road down the mountain was difficult to walk.

You have to use a tree branch to probe the way before you take each step, because if you're not careful, you might step into a crevice in the rock that could break your leg.

Su Wei walked very slowly.

His thigh muscles were sore and hot from being repeatedly pulled out of the snow, and he was panting heavily, his lungs burning.

Now look at the marshmallow.

This little thing is practically taking a walk in its own backyard.

Its large feet allow it to walk easily in the snow, and its white fur is the best camouflage.

It would run to the fir tree in front to sniff it for a while, and then dart back to Suwei's feet, with a frozen red slug in its mouth.

It placed the redback slug on Suvy's muddy boots, its tail wagging rapidly.

Here, for you... to eat...

A simple idea came to mind.

Suwei looked down at the frozen redback slug.

It's roughly the same species as a rat.

A look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He had actually caught a frozen redback slug?

That's amazing.

Although he doesn't eat this, it proves one thing:

This fox, besides being cute, hasn't forgotten how to hunt.

Suwei bent down and kicked the mouse back in front of it.

"Keep it for yourself."

Marshmallow tilted its head, seemingly not understanding, but then it didn't stand on ceremony and swallowed the mouse in a few bites.

Su Wei's tense shoulders relaxed.

After watching the cotton candy finish eating, it stretched out its paws to lick it, and occasionally scratched its head to wash its face.

His adorable appearance still brought a smile to his face.

However, that's quite normal.

Anyone who sees such a cute little gadget will inevitably break into an angelic smile.

……

Three hours later.

The terrain flattens out, and a few crooked fence posts emerge from the snow among the sparse trees.

It was an abandoned buffer zone.

After passing through the woods, a solitary two-story wooden house came into view on a deserted meadow.

Beside the wooden house, a lake frozen in the low temperature also came into view.

(This is roughly what Suwei's house looks like. Behind it is Pillar Mountain. Actually, the forest behind the wooden house isn't that close...)

That was his legacy, and also his debt.

Looking at the gray-brown door, Su Wei quickened his pace.

No matter how dilapidated the place is, as long as he lights a fire and closes the door, this is his safe haven in this world.

As for the debt, he still has a month left. Even without hunting, he is confident that he can pay it off with the gathering module.

The marshmallow seemed to sense that this was where it would live from now on, and it ran towards the little house.

Su Wei walked to the courtyard gate, which was now just a frame, but suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Click.

His muscles tensed instantly, and his right hand immediately reached for the butt of the gun behind his back.

There were tire tracks on the snow.

It's very new.

Even though the wind had faded them somewhat, the two wide tire treads pressed into the snow were still very noticeable.

Heavy-duty pickup truck, off-road tires.

In this awful weather, only one type of person would be here: a tourist looking to die.

People from the bank?

No, there are still more than twenty days until the final repayment date. Those vampires will just be sitting in their offices drinking coffee.

Who is that?

Su Wei squinted, his gaze following the tire tracks.

A black Ford Raptor was parked on the side of the cabin.

There was a person leaning against the black pickup truck.

This car can pay off half of his debt.

The man was wearing a bulky reindeer fur coat, an old-fashioned leather hat with ear flaps, and had an unlit cigar in his mouth.

He was holding a crowbar and tapping on the tire.

Hearing the noise, the person stopped what they were doing.

He turned around.

A face reddened by the wind, with icicles clinging to a messy, gray beard.

When he saw Su Wei, he showed no embarrassment at being caught. Instead, he grinned, revealing a set of teeth stained yellow from smoking.

Those deep-set eyes revealed shrewdness and greed.

"Hey, Suwei."

His voice was rough and hoarse.

"I thought you'd turned into Kodiak bear droppings by now."

Su Wei's finger was on the trigger; the muzzle was pointing downwards, but he could raise it at any moment.

Old Jack.

In a small Kodiak town, there are merchants who specialize in buying mountain goods and game.

In his memory, this guy didn't actually have much of a connection with him.

On the contrary, his own father was also a hunter and had dealings with old Jack.

"Jack".

Su Wei called out the other person's name and subtly adjusted the backpack straps to make it easier to exert force on his shoulders.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just passing by, hoping to find something good to buy. And popping in to see you, since I heard you went hunting in the mountains?"

Old Jack casually stuck the crowbar into the snow and pulled a lighter out of his pocket.

Ding.

A flame shot up and lit the cigar.

He took a deep breath, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and his gaze swept over Su Wei without restraint.

Finally, it stopped at Su Wei's feet, right in front of the cotton candy that was baring its teeth at him.

Old Jack's fingers, which were holding a cigarette, stopped.

His expression changed instantly.

The nonchalant expression on his face was gone; his eyes were fixed on the white fox, and his breathing became heavier.

"That's... an albino red fox?"

He took half a step forward, his boots crushing the snow crust.

"Live? Wild?"

Suwei stepped half a step to the side with his left foot, blocking Jack's view.

He did not answer any questions about the fox.

Turn your hand over and open the side pocket of the backpack.

He took out a fist-sized, jet-black piece of birch mushroom and tossed it in his hand.

"You're here to do business, Jack."

"I happen to have what you want here."

Suwei stared at the merchant, his tone calm.

"If you're only focused on my pet, then I'll have to ask you to leave."

Old Jack strained to shift his gaze from Suwei's legs to the dark brown mushroom block, and his eyelids twitched violently.

"Inonotus obliquus...this oiliness,this color."

He took another puff of his cigar, his businessman's smile returning, but now tinged with scrutiny as he looked at Su Wei.

This kid is completely different from the unlucky fellow who used to always hide behind his father.

He's become more mature and more manly.

Yes, both parents are gone.

Even with debt, I have no choice but to grow up.

"Alright, Su boy."

Jack pointed to Suwei's backpack, then to the dilapidated wooden hut.

"Now that you're back alive, let's talk about how to get you to pay off your debts."

"It's cold outside, won't you invite me in?"