Landlord in the Arctic

Chapter 277 - 237: Acquaintance

The white men had been rampaging and plundering the Bear Tribe’s reservation.

It had long since filled Chief Welta’s heart with rage.

Now that the Bear Tribe had decided to relocate, the next step was to deal with these shameless white men.

They would be made to pay the price for their greed and wickedness, and they would learn that the Assabasca people were not to be trifled with.

A little over ten minutes later.

The roar of helicopter rotors filled the air.

Feng Mountain and the members of the Bear Tribe looked up.

Three helicopters appeared in the sky, descending one after another toward the Bear Tribe’s airstrip.

Moments later, a dozen or so fully armed tribal police officers in "Tribal Police" tactical vests emerged from the woods.

’That old fox.’

’And he said this wasn’t premeditated.’

’The armed men were all ready ahead of time.’

’They probably came here with him. If the reservation talks had gone south, they would have left. Since they went well, he sent his men in to help.’

Feng Mountain shot Chief Welta a disdainful look, and the latter fell silent, looking abashed.

It was a difficult thing to explain.

With the tribal police in position, Jeff asked Elder Xiong Ya where the reservation intruders had been spotted.

"They were last seen near Reindeer River. I’ll have Bear Bone lead you there," Elder Xiong Ya said, his voice filled with excitement. His eyes flashed with a mix of fury and anticipation.

"Nash and I will go check it out," Feng Mountain quickly volunteered. Spending any more time with that old fox felt like having ants crawling all over him.

Jeff turned to the Chief, a questioning look in his eyes.

The Chief gave a slight nod of approval.

They still had to discuss the Bear Tribe’s relocation and the reservation handover, which involved complex interests among the Assabasca people. It would be awkward to speak freely with Feng Mountain present.

The Bear Tribe dispatched two guides, who led the tribal police, Jeff, Feng Mountain, and Nash swiftly away from the village.

The two tribesmen knew the surrounding terrain like the backs of their hands, weaving through the woods and undergrowth with the agility of deer.

The tribal police officers maintained a tight formation, their eyes warily scanning their surroundings, ready to react to any unexpected developments.

Feng Mountain’s group of three followed at the rear. Not being part of the apprehension team, none of them carried heavy weapons, just the sidearms at their waists.

The only sounds were the crunch and rustle of their footsteps on fallen leaves and dry twigs. The occasional, crisp birdsong from afar only served to accentuate the quiet of the forest.

As the group neared Reindeer River, the rushing sound of water grew louder, and the atmosphere became increasingly tense.

Just then, the two guides in the lead crouched down, raising their hands to signal a halt.

The well-trained tribal police froze, instantly taking up defensive positions.

Feng Mountain, Nash, and Jeff stopped at once, exchanging glances and resting their hands on the guns at their waists.

One of the tribesmen dropped to the ground and crawled away from the group, disappearing into the trees.

A moment later, he returned.

He approached Feng Mountain and Jeff. "There are seven of them," he reported, "panning for gold in a cove on the Reindeer River."

"Are they armed?" Jeff asked quietly.

The tribesman nodded. "Rifles and handguns."

Hearing that the men were armed, Jeff’s expression turned grim. He made a hand signal to the tribal police officers. "If they resist, you’re cleared to fire. No need to ask."

The officers nodded in acknowledgment. One of them had the tribesman guide him forward for a second look.

When they returned from the second reconnaissance, that officer took command. He pulled out a notebook, sketching and writing in it as he assigned roles.

As for Feng Mountain and his two companions, all they could do was watch quietly from the sidelines.

Five minutes later, the tribal police team moved like ghosts, methodically fanning out and vanishing one by one into the dense grass and trees according to their carefully devised plan.

They moved swiftly and silently, making no unnecessary sound, as if they were one with the wilderness.

Watching the officers’ disciplined movements, a flash of curiosity appeared in Feng Mountain’s eyes. He leaned over and asked Jeff a question.

"Your tribal police move like soldiers. Why is that?"

At Feng Mountain’s question, a proud look immediately appeared on Jeff’s face, and a smug grin spread across his lips.

"They were soldiers. They’re also members of the AKFAGT, and they’re all military veterans. They go through rigorous military training every year, which keeps their combat skills and professionalism sharp. That’s why when you see them in action, they look completely different from regular police."

He paused for a moment, his eyes filled with pride. "Sometimes, when the State Troopers run into a situation they can’t handle, they even request backup from the Wild Bull Tribe. Our tribal police’s capabilities are widely recognized."

’Nothing to be so smug about.’

Feng Mountain sniffed dismissively and asked, just to be difficult, "Do they have any MG42s?"

’An MG42?’

’What would they need a gun like that for? It’s not like they’re going to war.’

Jeff didn’t understand why Feng Mountain would ask such a strange question. He was just about to ask him about it.

Suddenly, the sharp crack of gunfire erupted nearby.

The sound exploded through the silent forest like a firecracker.

Feng Mountain, Nash, and Jeff reacted in a flash. They drew their pistols with lightning speed, instinctively dropping low and hitting the dirt.

In a firefight, stray bullets are often more dangerous than direct shots.

A stray round can come from anywhere, untraceable and lethal. You never know when one might take your life.

The three of them lay on the ground, holding their breath and waiting for a lull in the gunfire before making their next move.

The air seemed to freeze. Only the sound of intermittent gunfire continued to echo through the forest.

The shooting continued for half an hour before it finally stopped.

Then, a rustling of footsteps approached.