At the ntion of that day.
Jie Luo’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch. He recalled how Feng Shan had abandoned him at Kevik Camp and taken off in his plane.
A massive blizzard had raged for three whole days. The radio was dead, he was trapped in a room with no power or food, and there was a brown bear roaming outside. By the ti the rescue team arrived, he was half-starved to death.
In those few days, aside from cursing Feng Shan’s na, his life had no other purpose.
He cursed him while sitting, cursed him while lying down, and cursed him in his dreams.
Of course, he couldn’t actually say any of this.
Jie Luo quickly composed himself and produced a card with a smile. "I was waiting for you at the entrance. I didn’t expect you to co in through the back. This is your invitation card."
Frank’s eyes quickly scanned the invitation card.
The face of the card bore the image of a North Arican wild bull.
It was the Athabasca people’s Wild Bull Tribe, just as he’d thought.
The Athabasca people, also known as the Dene People, are an ancient Indian people. Archaeological records show that since the end of the Ice Age, primitive indigenous peoples have inhabited the Northwest Plains of North Arica. Over the subsequent millennia, different tribes adapted to the environnt here in various ways.
On the eve of the white man’s arrival, the Northwest Plains were already ho to different Indian Tribes from all over.
The Athabasca people constituted another significant power on the northwestern prairies. As the white settlers continually slaughtered the Indians, the Athabasca Tribe migrated back to their place of origin, the region around the Alaska Bay in northwestern North Arica.
Because the Athabasca Tribe followed the migrations of the wild bull, their largest subtribe ca to be called the Wild Bull Tribe. Today, the Wild Bull Tribe lives on the Yukon River Reserve, with a population of over 100,000 in Alaska.
’How did the Wild Bull Tribe get involved with Feng?’ Frank wondered. ’Could it have sothing to do with the rescue at Kevik Camp last ti? But Feng didn’t save an Athabascan; he saved a white man.’
While Frank was lost in thought, Feng Shan had already taken the invitation card and handed it to the security guard.
With an invitation card, entry was naturally granted.
"He’s my bodyguard," Feng Shan said, looking at Jie Luo.
Jie Luo stepped forward and murmured a few words to the guard. The security guard nodded and stepped aside to let them pass.
The three of them followed Jie Luo into the conference hall.
All sorts of tribal banners hung in the spacious hall. Rows of chairs were set up in the center of the venue, while the Indigenous People’s chiefs, dressed in traditional attire, gathered in small groups on the sidelines, chatting and mingling.
So were in animated conversation, their faces beaming with excitent; others stood quietly to the side, their eyes filled with anticipation.
Upon entering the hall, Feng Shan instantly beca the center of attention.
The Fenrir Wolf Head Cloak was simply too ostentatious. However, Feng Shan’s features made it difficult for the chiefs of the Indigenous People to tell whether he was Indian or Inuit. In any case, he definitely wasn’t one of the Aleut People, so they just watched him in silence.
Of course, so recognized Feng Shan and wanted to approach him, but they stopped in their tracks when they saw Jie Luo accompanying him.
Frank spotted an acquaintance and left Feng Shan to go say hello.
anwhile, Feng Shan curiously observed his surroundings with Jie Luo by his side, who enthusiastically introduced the nas of the different tribes to him.
"Over there is the Eskimo Yupik Tribe. Their reservation is near the Chukchi Sea in Alaska."
"That’s the Tlingit-Haida Tribe. Their reservation is in Southeast Alaska."
"And that’s the Yunan Tribe—they’re the Aleut People. Their reservation is on the Aleutian Islands and the Alaska Peninsula."
"..."
"Feng, what are you doing here?" a familiar voice called out. Feng Shan turned to see Louise walking toward him with seven or eight people.
"I saw you a mont ago. That Wolf Fur Coat is so cool! Is it Fenrir?" Louise exclaid in surprise, then turned to introduce him to the several Indigenous chiefs beside her.
"Folks, this is our Kivalina Sheriff, Feng. Last ti there was a criminal to catch, Feng got to Kivalina in just three hours and caught the culprit in one."
Instantly, the chiefs stared at Feng Shan, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.
He could get to Kivalina in three hours and catch a criminal in one.
That kind of efficiency was several, even ten tis faster than the state troopers.
"I haven’t introduced you yet." Louise intentionally introduced Feng Shan to the group. "This is Clyde, the leader of Noatak Town; Old Pete, the Point Chief; Kitto, the Wevok Chief; Bill, the Charleote Chief; Darren, the Wayne Wright Chief; Pansi, the Atkansak Chief..."
With each na Louise called, its owner would step forward, embrace Feng Shan, and say, "Thank you."
Feng Shan, of course, knew why. They were thanking him for eliminating the Fenrir Super Wolf Pack. After embracing each of them, he suddenly had a realization.
All of these tribal towns seed to be located in the Far North Tundra Region.
Seeing that Feng Shan was only just now figuring it out, Louise smiled, nodded, and said, "That’s right. We are the Taiga Tribe Alliance. Crown Territory is also on the Tundra. Want to join us?"
The Point Chief, Old Pete, spoke with a sincere expression. "Feng, we welco you to join us. We also hope you can beco Point Laya’s Sheriff and protect the safety of our village."
The others silently cursed Old Pete for being so shaless, getting his request in before they could.
’If Crown Territory is a three-hour journey to Kivalina, it must be a three-hour journey to our villages too,’ they thought.
And their tribes, just like Kivalina, faced the dilemma of having no security agencies.
Since Feng could take on Kivalina, why couldn’t he take on their tribal villages as well?
"Yes, Wevok needs your help too."
"And Charleote."
"Point Laya..."
"Atkansak..."
Faced with the requests from seven or eight tribal chiefs, Feng Shan felt a headache coming on. Just as he was about to refuse, Frank’s teachings suddenly surfaced in his mind.
’The Far North Tundra Region is an autonomous region designated by the state of Alaska. Aside from the Barrow Town Council, none of the other indigenous towns, communities, or villages have established security agencies. As long as you can gain the support of the Indigenous People in the Far North Tundra Region, any power that wants to move against you will have to think twice.’
Thinking of this, Feng Shan put on a troubled expression.
"I would love to help everyone, but Crown Territory is short-staffed. We don’t have the manpower to provide security for all of your tribal communities. I hope you can all understand."
’Not a no is as good as a yes.’
The chiefs from the various tribal villages in the Tundra region quickly replied with delight.
"You don’t need to be stationed there permanently. Just like with Kivalina, you only need to co by when a major case occurs. We’d rather not place our hopes on the slow-moving state troopers."
"Is that so!!" Feng Shan feigned a contemplative look. After a long mont of deliberation, he nodded. "Alright then, let’s do that. A pleasure doing business with you!"
Louise suddenly interjected.
"How about this? On behalf of the Taiga Tribe Alliance, we’ll formally announce Mr. Feng as the Northernmost District Chief, responsible for handling all criminal cases in the towns, communities, and villages within the Far North jurisdiction. That way, we can apply for the Indigenous People’s security fund to cover his salary."
"I agree. That way, those parasites will have no reason to deny our application."
"Exactly! What can those donut-eating bastards say then?"
"I agree."
"Agreed."
The tribal chiefs of the Far North Region raised their hands and cheered, the commotion drawing the attention of tribes from other regions.
In a corner of the hall.
A group of Indigenous People stood apart from the other tribal chiefs. They weren’t wearing traditional clothing, but were dressed to the nines in suits, holding wine glasses and looking every bit the successful businessn.
One of these suit-clad Indigenous n curiously asked a short-haired, middle-aged man beside him, "Maz, what’s all the fuss in your Far North Region about now? Will it affect the developnt of the new oil fields on the North Slope?"
The short-haired, middle-aged man’s face darkened as he looked toward the noisy crowd.
"Who knows what those paupers are up to. It’s just about hoping the fund approves the appropriation for the Village Public Safety Officer fees. It’s the sa thing every year."
"Don’t worry, the VPSO application committee won’t approve it. Not unless they’re willing to leave the Far North Region."
"God willing. If you ask , we should just forcibly relocate all of them to the south. It’s enough to just keep Barrow Town in the Far North Region."
"As long as they agree to move, the twelve companies are all willing to pay up, aren’t they?"
"That’s right. We are willing to pay."
The group of suit-wearing Indigenous n all sneered in low voices.
anwhile, Feng Shan, surrounded in the middle of it all, was busy talking with the various tribal chiefs, making Jie Luo, who had been pushed to the side, extrely anxious.
He was supposed to take Feng Shan to see the Chief, but they got intercepted by a group of Tundra People. And in that short ti, Feng had beco the Northernmost District Chief.
The Chief was hoping Feng would move to the Wild Bull Tribe Reserve on the Yukon River.
"Feng! Feng!!" Jie Luo shouted, practically jumping up and down.
Hearing his na, Feng Shan made an apologetic gesture to the crowd and went over to Jie Luo.
Jie Luo couldn’t bother with pleasantries now. He said directly, "Feng, an elder wishes to see you. He hopes you can go et him."
’An elder?’
Seeing Jie Luo’s grave and earnest expression, Feng Shan sensed this elder must hold a very high status, at least higher than any of the other Indigenous People present.
He turned, said a few words to Louise, and followed Jie Luo to a lounge on the second floor of the gymnasium.
Several burly Indian bodyguards stood guard at the door.
When they saw the two approach, one of the Indians, who seed to have been expecting them, pushed the door open and gestured for them to enter.
’What’s going on? So secretive.’
Feng Shan had Yves wait outside and stepped into the room, full of confusion.
Inside the room was a single old Indian man wearing a feathered headdress, his eyes shut tight. His skin was the color of bronze, and his weathered face was a roadmap of deep wrinkles. He was dressed in a colorful, traditional Indian outfit and sat upright on a wooden chair made of antlers.
"Chief, Mr. Feng is here," Jie Luo said to the old Indian man with a slight bow.
Hearing his voice, the old man slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was deep and sharp, as if it could see right through to Feng Shan’s soul.
"Young man, co and sit," the old man said, his voice low and magnetic, as he pointed in front of him.
Jie Luo quickly brought over a chair.
Feng Shan did as he was told, walking over to sit before the Chief, the confusion in his heart growing ever thicker.
"Thank you for your trouble. Leave alone with Feng for a while," the old man said, looking up at Jie Luo. The latter bowed slightly, backed out of the room, and pulled the door shut behind him.
「Half an hour later.」
A weak and feeble Feng Shan erged, holding onto the doorfra for support. His face was as pale as a sheet of paper, the usual light in his eyes was gone, and his entire being seed as if its soul had been ripped out.
Every breath seed difficult, every movent an imnse effort.
Yves, who had been waiting by the door, rushed forward to help Feng Shan sit down on the floor. A flash of anger crossed his eyes, and he drew a pistol from his waist.
Seeing Yves draw his weapon, the surrounding Indians drew their pistols as well.
"It’s fine. It has nothing to do with them," Feng Shan said weakly, stopping Yves.
Jie Luo asked worriedly, "Feng, are you alright?"
Feng Shan shook his head, his voice hoarse. "I... I’m fine. I just need to rest."
Then, the old Indian man’s ancient voice ca from inside the room.
"Ruka, Takiq, go inform the representative of the Athabasca Tribe. Have him co to at once."
"Tell our companies that things are about to change."
Jie Luo and the other Indians exchanged glances, looking curiously at Feng Shan and wondering to themselves.
’What in the world did Feng do in that room?!’
...
User Comments
0 comments from readers