ATPnovel Chapter 91 The bargaining chips were too tempting, so I had no choice but to agree.
Chapter 91 The bargaining chips were too tempting, so I had no choice but to agree.
Jonah, who had just been cowering because of the beating, suddenly straightened up as if struck by lightning. His eyes bulged out as he stared intently at the clan leader's opening and closing lips, completely unaware that saliva was dripping down the corners of his mouth that he had forgotten to close!
"Tom! What the hell are you thinking about?!" Jonah's hoarse voice roared, instantly shattering the silence of the living room.
Ignoring the glares around him that seemed ready to tear him apart, he forced his way in front of Tom, his eyes bloodshot, spitting almost onto Tom's face: "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Your Dutton family's chance to turn things around!!"
"Gold! With gold, you can go wherever you want! This godforsaken place, let whoever wants to stay here stay!"
"Oregon! Haven't you always dreamed of going to Oregon? Go ahead, take your gold and buy land! Buy it by the tract! Buy the whole valley, I'll take it!"
Jonah's roar was like boiling oil, but the flame in Tom's eyes gradually cooled down.
His voice wasn't loud, but it pierced Jonah's fervor like an icicle: "What makes you so sure I can find someone? In this awful weather that could freeze a bear to death, who can guarantee I'll come back alive?"
Tom's question was like a bucket of ice water, instantly sobering up the fanatical Jonah.
Seeing his stunned companion, Tom understood.
Who can resist the allure of gold?
They were all ordinary people struggling to make a living in this harsh and cold land. The allure of a gold mine was enough to make them risk their lives.
But! Behind this immense wealth, could there be a trap that could devour a person whole, skin and bones?
"The cold won't hurt you," the Klaue chieftain said firmly and without room for argument. "We have thick leather coats, snow boots, and warm tents at night!"
Tom's gaze sharpened, and a question that had been lingering for a long time finally came out: "You have shamans, so why can't you find any trace of that young man?"
"His traces have vanished," the chieftain said in a low voice. "Our shaman can no longer sense him."
Tom was not satisfied with this answer.
But a gold mine, just like that? Tom asked himself, who could accept that?
Jonah is right, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
What does it mean to the Dutton family?
Tom understood perfectly; every burning gaze around him seemed to hold the answer.
"So, this deal only counts if I find the person?" Tom's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible coldness.
The chieftain of the Klaue tribe nodded slowly.
"No way!" Tom shook his head decisively, his eyes suddenly sharpening. "No matter the outcome, if I accept this job and step out this door to find that person, you'll have to pay a 'deposit' first!"
He paused, then spoke each word clearly and distinctly into the cold air:
"For example, that valley!"
The Crow chief instantly bristled, abruptly standing up and glaring at Tom:
"impossible!"
James also suddenly stood up.
"Then get out!" James glared at the patriarch.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense!
"You begged me, and these are my conditions!" Tom's voice was cold and hard. "Whether you agree or not is up to you! But once you step out that door, even if you beg me on your knees next time, don't even think about talking to me again!"
These words struck the heart of the Klaue clan chief like a heavy hammer.
He clenched his teeth, uttering each word slowly and deliberately:
"Rent! Three generations! Must be returned after three generations!"
"No!" Tom shook his head, his voice firm and resolute. "Permanent ownership!"
"You—!" The chieftain was furious, his finger trembling as he poked Tom in the face!
The two guards behind him reacted extremely quickly, and with a clang, their giant axes were already drawn!
The Dutton family members were equally decisive, instantly drawing their revolvers from their waists, the dark muzzles pointing directly at the other side!
The two groups of people suddenly confronted each other, instantly filling the living room to capacity!
Sparks flew, and it was about to explode!
"Is it more important to fight us, or to find your people?" Tom's eyes were cold, and he wouldn't budge an inch.
The clan chief's chest heaved violently, and he almost stormed off!
Tom, however, slowly extended a finger and waved it in front of the patriarch:
"You only have one chance!"
This gesture not only angered the clan chief, but even Jonah, the cook standing nearby, clenched his fists, wishing he could give Tom a good beating.
Dead!
The air was frozen, and the heavy smell of gunpowder was almost suffocating!
Finally, the chieftain's eyes flashed with a cold light capable of incinerating Tom, and he forced out a sentence through clenched teeth:
"You must bring this person back to me safely!"
With that, he waved his hand and, with two clansmen, turned to slam the door shut and leave without looking back.
But the road was abruptly cut off by James's imposing figure!
"You must stay!" James's voice was firm and resolute.
The Klaue chieftain seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world, a cold smile spreading across his face: "Impossible!"
James stood his ground, his fierce gaze locking onto his opponent: "You think you can take him away so easily? Dream on!"
Before he could finish speaking, skinny Zach, fat Cooper, and even the lame cook Jonah all swarmed around him, blocking all their way out!
Several pairs of eyes blazed with fury, and the air froze once more.
"You can only leave when Tom returns safely!"
James spoke each word clearly and unequivocally.
"Do you want to start a war?"
The chieftain of the Klaue tribe trembled violently, his eyes flashing with ferocity, like a lone wolf driven to the brink of despair.
He finally understood where that kid Tom's arrogance came from!
"A friendly reminder," Tom's voice rang out lightly, as if discussing dinner plans, but its tone was chilling, "you're standing on a reservation. As for the gold mines, do the bigwigs in Washington even know about them?"
Every word was like a bullet piercing the heart of the Klaue chieftain!
His body swayed violently, as if all his strength had been drained in an instant, and he slumped heavily into the chair with a thud.
The heavy breathing sounded particularly jarring in the deathly silent living room.
After a long pause, he gritted his teeth and growled at the few tribesmen behind him, "All of you, go!"
Turning his gaze to the young tribesman Tom had seen before, the chieftain's voice carried a barely perceptible hint of weariness and entrustment: "Snow Wolves, protect them!"
The young man known as Snow Wolf nodded silently, his gaze sharp as a knife, piercing through the crowd and aimed directly at Tom: "Now, let's go."
He spoke fluent, almost stereotypical English.
"Are you kidding me?" Zack looked the snow wolf up and down suspiciously, his face full of disbelief.
The snow wolf completely ignored Zack, its cold gaze still fixed on Tom, an invisible pressure spreading out.
Tom didn't bother with any more words and quickly started packing his things.
Tent? From the Klaus tribe.
A sled? Produced by the Klaus tribe, shared with the snow wolf.
The sled of the Klau tribe is, to put it simply, a trolley for horses!
Two hardwood poles, each ten feet long, were securely tied at the front ends to the sides of the horse's saddle.
The wooden poles extend diagonally backward, supporting the outline of the triangular support behind them!
Thick wooden sticks were haphazardly placed across the middle of the frame, and grease-soaked leather ropes were tightened with a "creak, creak" sound!
Finally, with a "whoosh," a thick old bison hide was unfurled and placed over the body.
A Crow sled capable of withstanding wind and snow was completed.
The cold wind whipped up snowflakes. Tom took one last look at the shrinking "Dutton House," suppressed his worries, and turned his gaze to the vast snowfield. Finding that young man became his only thought at that moment!