Landlord in the Arctic

Chapter 419: Chapter 306: Colleagues (2)

His voice trembled with excitement. In traditional Indian beliefs, the Guardian Spirit holds a position of supreme importance. It symbolizes the tribe’s protective power and the source of its heritage—an incredibly sacred and mysterious entity. To find one’s Guardian Spirit again is a sign of great favor from the Spirit of All Things.

After his cry of surprise, the middle-aged Indian man quickly faced Feng Shan, crossed his arms over his shoulders, and bowed slightly.

"Respected Guardian Spirit Khilla, the Kikapu Tribe offers you its most sincere reverence. May you forever watch over my people, that our tribe may prosper and all things live in harmony."

His words echoed across the open space, seeming to carry an ancient, mystical power. Hearing this, the surrounding Indian herdsmen also dismounted, assuming the same posture of respect toward Feng Shan.

Feng Shan could only nod wordlessly in response.

Seeing the Kikapu Tribe’s reverence for Feng Shan, Nash’s cold expression softened into a slight smile.

"The Bear Tribe wasn’t the only one. The Wild Bull Tribe also found their Guardian Spirit. Soon, we’ll hold a Sun Dance ceremony and notify all our tribal brothers to attend. It will be a grand gathering."

"The Spirit of All Things be praised. I will certainly attend," the middle-aged Indian said, his expression solemn but his eyes full of anticipation for the coming ceremony.

Just then, other members of the Kikapu Tribe rode up on horseback, herding the members of the Zorro Gang under the large tree.

The scene was grimly ironic. Just as white men had once plundered and killed Indians during a blood-soaked era, the Kikapu men now had the Zorro Gang members tied together with ropes, driving them forward like cattle.

A young Indian asked loudly, "Chief, what should we do with these people?"

The middle-aged Indian turned to Nash and said with a grin, "Brother of the Bear Tribe, what do you want to do with these white men? I can take them back to the reservation, skin them, and bury them as fertilizer. Next year, the grass will be lush for the cattle to graze on. Haha."

"Good!" Nash actually approved of the idea, a cold glint in his eyes.

The members of the Zorro Gang were terrified when they heard this. Their legs trembled and their faces went white as sheets. Valerie was so scared she wet her pants, a pathetic sight compared to her earlier arrogance. She was like a completely different person.

’Good, my ass!’

’Skinning and burying this many people alive?’

’They talk about it so casually, as if they’re just slaughtering chickens and cattle.’

’The Zorro Gang are definitely not good people, but if this really happens, it’ll cause a huge incident.’

Feng Shan quickly stepped forward, waving his hands. "Hey guys, can we be a little friendlier? We only need to punish the ringleader."

"Haha, Khilla, we’re just joking. Couldn’t you tell?" The middle-aged Indian laughed and winked at Feng Shan. "We can’t just kill people indiscriminately anymore. If this were the old days, I wouldn’t mind using these white men as a sacrifice to our ancestors. But now, we’re just trying to scare them."

"Sir, can we talk? I can pay for my life," Bao Wen said, latching onto this as if it were his last straw. He looked pleadingly at Feng Shan, his earlier arrogance replaced by a fawning, begging expression.

’When we talked just now, you wanted to kidnap me.’

’Now you want to talk again? Sorry, but I don’t have time to waste on you.’

Feng Shan curled his lip in disdain. He despised opportunists like Bao Wen.

’So arrogant a moment ago, and now he’s begging for mercy as soon as he’s caught. Life doesn’t work that way.’

He was about to leave Nash to handle the aftermath while he went to check on Yves.

Just then, a piercing roar filled the air.

A Pickup Truck came roaring toward them like a wild beast.

It was moving at an incredible speed, flying right over the road’s shoulder and bouncing violently across the rough terrain, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.

With a final BANG, it skidded to a stop under the large tree.

The moment the Pickup Truck stopped, a middle-aged white man in a dark green uniform jumped out. He clutched a handgun, nervously taking cover behind the open door. Peeking out, he yelled at the crowd.

"Alright folks, I’m Sheriff Ronnie of Baird Town! You’re surrounded! Drop your weapons and cease resisting! Don’t struggle needlessly! Surrendering peacefully is your only way out!"

...

The various groups of people stared, momentarily stunned.

Then, all eyes turned to the lone Pickup Truck, their expressions a picture of bewilderment.

’Just one guy with a handgun, and he dares say he has this many people surrounded?’

’Is he an idiot?’

’Did he get his head kicked by a longhorn, or has he been watching too many Stallone movies?’

’Thinking he’s some kind of superhero.’

The atmosphere suddenly became both awkward and amusing.

"Hey, calm down! We’ve already handled it!" Feng Shan shouted, raising his hands and taking two steps toward the Pickup Truck.

After yelling, he turned to the captured members of the Zorro Gang and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, whichever one of you knows him best, start talking. Unless you really want to be hauled off to the reservation as fertilizer."

Hearing this, the gang members perked up instantly, like drowning men spotting a lifeline. They all craned their necks and started shouting over one another.

"Ronnie, old pal! It’s me, Xiao! Everything’s fine now, come on out!"

"Ronnie, it’s O’Neal! I confess! I’m the one who put laxatives in your beer!"

"Oh God, Mr. Ronnie, get over here, quick! I want to turn myself in! I was selling weed in town, but Bao Wen made me do it!"

"Ronnie..."

One after another, they all clamored to confess their crimes to the Sheriff.

To convince Ronnie they were truly repentant, they even started confessing to unsolved crimes in town, one after another.

They were desperate to use this opportunity to get on the Sheriff’s good side and escape the fate of being taken away by the Indians.

They had no choice. The conversation between Nash and the middle-aged Indian had been terrifying.

Being taken back to the reservation as fertilizer—that wasn’t just an empty threat. There was a very real possibility it could happen.

In their minds, it felt like a very real possibility, and the thought made them break out in a cold sweat.

After all, Indian Reservations within the United States function as small, independent tribal governments.

Even the United States Federal Police could only enter a reservation to conduct operations under specific circumstances, such as after receiving an invitation from the tribe or signing a cooperation agreement, all of which required a strict process.

The jurisdiction of state and local police on reservations was even more restricted. Under normal circumstances, they couldn’t just enter a reservation to enforce the law at will.

This was because Indian Reservations held a special historical status. A series of treaties and agreements signed between the American Government and the Indian Tribes recognized, to a certain extent, tribal autonomy, which included jurisdiction over their own internal affairs.

Therefore, if they were really taken back to the reservation by these Indians, they would be utterly helpless. Whether they lived or died would be a fate that not even God could influence.

Their only hope now was that Sheriff Ronnie would take them away quickly and get them out of this terrifying predicament.

Behind the car door, Sheriff Ronnie heard the cacophony of wailing shouts. Though still a bit suspicious, he figured that since they were all yelling like that, there probably wasn’t any immediate danger.

So, he cautiously stepped out from behind the door.

His steps were light and slow, his eyes darting nervously over the people around him.

He still gripped the handgun, his finger resting beside the trigger, ready to fire at a moment’s notice.

"Fella, who are you?" Sheriff Ronnie’s gaze landed on Feng Shan. He clearly had the features of an Indian, yet he was dressed like a western cowboy. The strange combination filled the sheriff with suspicion, and he couldn’t help but ask.

"Me?" Feng Shan was taken aback for a moment, then pointed at himself and said with a smile, "I’m a sheriff too. I can show you my ID."

...