American Landowners: Starting with Hunting in Alaska

Chapter 99 Bear Hunting? Hold on, Blake wants to have some tea! (Bonus Chapter)

[Dear Mr. Suwei Yang, your minimum payment of $30000 for your personal business loan this month is due on October 31, 2025. Please handle it as soon as possible to avoid affecting your credit record.]

A payment reminder from Wells Fargo lay quietly on Su Wei's phone screen.

The content was no different from what he had received in the past.

Su Wei looked at the message and a strange smile appeared on his face, full of a sense of absurdity.

An hour ago, this text message was enough to keep him up all night.

This made him have to plan how much game and herbs he would hunt and collect on his next trip into the mountains.

But now, this debt that once suffocated him, this minimum repayment of $30,000, seems like a harmless joke.

He could even picture the bank's cold server faithfully executing the collection process.

Little did they know that their debt collection target had just become a millionaire in a legal sense.

money.

Three million two hundred and fifty-seven thousand four hundred US dollars.

The number swirled in his mind, heavy and carrying an unreal quality.

This is not virtual game currency, but the final proof that his parents obtained with their lives and the sinking of their fleet.

Su Wei put away his phone, and the cold air filling his lungs helped clear his chaotic thoughts.

Although the agreement has been signed, it will take time for the funds to arrive, so now is not the time to relax.

He exhaled a puff of white breath and stood in the empty street for a while.

Then he took out his phone and dialed Blake's number.

The phone was answered after only one ring.

"Speak," came Blake's cold, concise voice.

"Blake, it's me, Suwei." Suwei said succinctly, "I've finished taking care of things in town."

He didn't mention compensation, let alone a specific amount, and there was no need to publicize it to anyone.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed only by the sound of wind.

"Where are you."

"At the entrance of the Fisheries Union Building."

"Go to the Fish and Hunting Bureau and wait for me there."

The call was disconnected as soon as he finished speaking.

Su Wei was used to this and put his phone back in his pocket.

That's Blake for you—always clear about his goals and never uttering a word of nonsense.

He mounted the snowmobile, and the engine roared to life once more.

He turned the car around and drove towards the Fisheries and Hunting Bureau.

A few minutes later, the sturdy red brick building came into view.

Suwei parked his snowmobile in an open space in the parking lot and was just about to walk toward the heavy windproof curtain door when it was suddenly pushed open from the inside.

A tall, muscular figure rushed out in a flurry of activity, nearly colliding with him.

"Suwei!"

A booming voice, loud enough to shake snow off the rooftops, exploded over the parking lot.

It's Aruk.

The burly man from the Aleutian Islands was wide-eyed, his face filled with surprise.

Like a brown bear that has found honey, he rushed to Suwei in three steps and slapped his large, fan-like hand heavily on his shoulder.

"My brother! What are you doing here? I thought you were hiding in some ravine, getting moldy!"

Su Wei was knocked off balance by his slap, and only after regaining his footing did he reveal a helpless smile.

"I've come to take care of something."

"Finished your business? What a coincidence! Me too!" Aruk didn't give Suvi a chance to continue speaking.

He rubbed his hands excitedly, his bronze face flushed with excitement. "Guess what I just did? My father and I, just yesterday! Upstream of Pilan Creek! We killed a huge beast!"

He held up five thick fingers and waved them in front of Suwei's eyes.

"Level five! A fully grown black-tailed stag! That guy was as big as a calf! I used my Remington, bang! One shot and he was down! My father said it was the best shot I'd fired all year!"

He gestured wildly, spitting as he spoke, as if he wanted to reenact the scene in front of Su Wei.

"I just finished registering my points, a full six! If I get four more like this, I can level up to level two hunter!"

Seeing his unguarded excitement, Su Wei was unconsciously infected by it and genuinely happy for him.

"Congratulations, Aruk."

A simple congratulation made Aruk beam with joy.

He grabbed Suwei's neck tightly and shook him vigorously.

"Haha! Congratulations to you too! And what about you? What are you doing here? Are you here to register for points too?" he asked curiously.

"No, I'm waiting for someone."

"Waiting for someone?" Aruk paused for a moment, then lowered his voice and leaned closer in a gossipy tone, "Waiting for whom? Emily?"

Suwei shook his head.

"Blake".

"Old devil?!" Aruk's voice instantly rose eight octaves, and he subconsciously shrank his neck, looking around warily.

"What does he want with you? What trouble have you gotten into this time? Wait a minute, didn't you get first place in the last assessment?"

In his mind, being approached by Blake was usually not a good thing.

"It's not a bad thing," was the only explanation Su Wei could offer.

Aruk stared at him with suspicion, but his attention was soon drawn to something else.

"That's right! Suwei! The weather's improved these past couple of days, the blizzard's stopped!" He slapped his thigh, his eyes gleaming with fervor. "My father said those big guys in the mountains should be coming out! We're planning a bear hunt in a few days!"

Bear hunting.

Kodiak brown bear.

The true apex predator on this island.

This word made Suwei's heart skip a beat.

"It's that kind of thing—a real behemoth!" Aruk spread his arms, trying to describe its indescribable size. "How about it, brother! You wanted to make some money, right? A fully grown male bear, just its gallbladder and paws can fetch a good price! If the pelt is intact, that's even more money!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, then, as if suddenly remembering something, he punched his own palm.

"Oh right! Your tracking skills! My goodness! How could I have forgotten about that!"

Aruk looked at Suvi excitedly, "I told my father about your performance during the assessment, and he didn't believe me! He said that unless it's the most experienced old hunter, it's impossible to deduce so much just from the snow mark! Suvi, with you joining us, our chances of finding that big guy have increased by at least half!"

He looked sincerely at Su Wei and extended an invitation.

"Come with us! There are three of us, three guns! No problem at all! We'll split the profits!"

Su Wei remained silent.

The allure of bear hunting is immense.

It's not just about money; it's also a test of a hunter's skills.

However, he had just emerged from a life-or-death confrontation, and a sum of money that he could never spend in his lifetime was about to be deposited into his account.

Does he still need to take this risk?

In the past, he hunted to survive and to pay off his debts.

But now, that biggest shackle has been removed.

He suddenly realized that he seemed to have lost his most primal motivation.

In addition, he is very tired right now.

Yesterday's life-or-death standoff, today's signing of a compensation agreement.

There will be a points registration period in a little while.

So much happened in just two days.

Su Wei needs to take some time to think about it carefully.

What should he do next?

How should we live?

Most importantly, he needs a good rest.

Looking at Aruk's expectant face, Suvi hesitated.

He didn't want to dampen his friend's enthusiasm with a simple "no".

"Aruk," he said, choosing his words carefully, "this is a very important decision. I—I need some time to think about it. There are some things on my end that I haven't fully sorted out yet."

Upon hearing this answer, the excitement on Aruk's face visibly faded.

But he didn't ask any further questions; he just sighed with some regret.

He then patted Su Wei's shoulder hard, as if he wanted to brush away the hesitation from him.

"Alright, brother! I understand! But my invitation is always valid! Whenever you've changed your mind and want to see the king of the islands, come find me anytime!"

Just then, a deep and powerful engine sound came from afar.

A black Ford Raptor heavy-duty pickup truck, exuding an aura of overwhelming power, slowly drove into the parking lot and stopped not far away.

The car door opened, and a tall figure wearing an old dark gray windbreaker stepped out.

Blake.

He just stood there, not even looking this way, and the originally noisy atmosphere in the parking lot seemed to freeze instantly.

Aruk, who was gesturing wildly just a second ago, froze as if a pause button had been pressed.

Blake's gaze swept over, bypassing the stiff Aruk and landing on Suvi.

He didn't speak, but simply raised his chin and gestured towards the gate of the Fish and Hunting Bureau.

That action was simple, direct, and left no room for argument.

"Soviet Union".

Blake spoke, his voice not loud, but it carried clearly.

"Come in."