America 1883: The Western Homeland

Chapter 90 The Klaus Clan suddenly came to visit, seeking help!

The Dutton family soon discovered that Tom had brought back six strong and healthy warhorses, several gleaming pistols, thick leather trousers, and leather boots from his trip!

He also brought back news that made everyone's heart clench:

The town is in chaos!

Over the next few days, whenever Tom had a spare moment, he would grab his binoculars and stare intently at the distant snowfield.

"This awful weather, it's freezing! Who would come here!"

Chef Jonah was unimpressed by Tom's suspicious behavior, rubbing his hands together and huddled by the fireplace. "Instead of wasting time like this, why don't you come inside and warm up by the fire! Who would be crazy enough to go out in this weather that could freeze a person solid!"

Jonah was wrong.

Time slips to January 1884, a day when even breathing could freeze.

Tom's persistence finally paid off.

A group of unfamiliar figures broke through the vast expanse of white snow.

Tom squinted, eyeing the newcomer warily.

They wore heavy cowhide robes and sturdy leather trousers and boots. Most striking were the seams and edges of their robes, cleverly sewn with colorful feathers that trembled slightly in the cold wind.

They are Native Americans!

Tom recognized one of the young faces.

They had met in the distance while hunting, and tacitly agreed not to disturb each other.

But Tom had never seen the white-haired old man in the group before.

"I am the chieftain of the Klaue tribe."

The old man's voice was calm and steady, carrying an unquestionable authority, as he took the lead in identifying himself.

The cold wind whipped up the feathers on his fur coat, making them flutter.

James felt the cold weather and quickly invited the person inside.

The outside temperature is so high, I'm afraid I'll freeze if I stay outside for even a moment longer!

Tom clicked his tongue in amazement: Are these people made of iron? Their exposed skin was red from the cold wind, yet there wasn't a single frostbite!

Little did he know that the Native Americans had their own ancestral secret recipes that could keep their skin safe and sound in the bitter cold.

There were four people in total.

Behind the old man stood three men, all with wiry builds and sharp eyes. The battle axes and long swords at their waists silently proclaimed their status as guards. They stood silently behind the clan leader, bringing an invisible pressure.

The firelight from the fireplace dispelled a bit of the chill.

James cut to the chase, his gaze scrutinizing: "Chief of the Crow tribe, what brings you to the Darton family in this freezing weather?"

The Dutton family had no prior dealings with the Native American tribes, making this sudden visit seem rather strange.

The old man's cloudy yet clear eyes met James's suspicious gaze, and he said frankly, "We've come to seek help."

"Seeking help?" James frowned, almost thinking he had misheard.

On this land, powerful Native American tribes sought help from immigrants.

This sounds like a complete fantasy!

Are you sure?

"Yes, I'm sure," Chief Crow said firmly, without the slightest hesitation.

He paused, then turned his gaze to Tom beside him, his eyes seeming to pierce through one's soul.

"Because our shaman, guided by the gods, saw a revelation: a young man protected by the shadow of a wild wolf will be the key to helping us overcome this difficulty. This young man..."

He pointed at Tom, "That's him."

In the past, Tom would have definitely scoffed at such talk of "shamans" and "divine guidance."

But now?

His own extraordinary vision is living proof!

Don't believe me? He has no choice!

While we should have faith in this, we must remain vigilant in the slightest.

The moment Elder Crow finished speaking, everyone in the Dutton family turned their gazes to Tom.

"How can I help you?"

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Tom spoke calmly, his voice steady without a trace of emotion.

This composure drew a barely perceptible hint of admiration from the Klaue clan chief.

"An important young man from our tribe got lost in the mountains."

The clan chief's eyes burned with determination. "We need your help to find him!"

"Now?" Tom raised an eyebrow.

"yes!"

"Sorry, I can't do it." Tom refused decisively without the slightest hesitation.

Are you kidding me? In this freezing weather that could shatter your bones, he's going into the mountains to look for someone? Tom hasn't lived enough yet!

"We can give you this." The chieftain reached into his robes with his withered hand, pulled out a heavy leather bag, and flipped his wrist.

Splash!

A dazzling golden light poured into his palm!

Gold nuggets! A whole handful!

Bathed in the glow of the fireplace, it shimmered with a mesmerizing light!

"Good heavens! It's gold!"

"A whole bag of gold nuggets!"

Exclamations of surprise rose and fell.

It's no wonder they lost their composure; among all these people, who had ever seen so much gold laid out before them?

Not immediately drawing his gun to seize it was already an extreme act of restraint, thanks to the blessings of his ancestors!

"I refuse."

Tom's voice pierced clearly through the golden light and gasps filling the room.

Without the slightest wavering!

The chieftain of the Klaue tribe frowned deeply, his deeply lined face revealing his confusion: "You can name a number. We won't refuse any amount."

hiss--!

This time, the gasps of shock almost lifted the roof off!

The air seemed to freeze.

Tom's heart leaped into his throat, and he looked sharply at James.

"Take your gold and leave!" James's voice was firm and unwavering, brooking no argument. "We can't help you with this!"

A huge weight was lifted off Tom's shoulders.

He never expected that his father, James, would be so decisive in the face of such an astonishing temptation of wealth!

"Actually...we could give it a try..." In the corner, cook Jonah stared at the bag of gold, his eyes practically glued to it, and couldn't help but mutter under his breath.

boom!

A muffled thud! Zach's fist, as big as a sandbag, slammed into Jonah's stomach!

"Ugh!" Jonah curled up like a shrimp in pain.

No one sympathized with him; Simone even glared at him fiercely, her eyes like knives.

Jonah clutched his stomach, slunk back to the fireplace, and dared not utter another sound.

The chieftain of the Klaus tribe did not rise. After a moment of silence, he spoke again, his voice heavy with an almost tragic weight: "You are immigrants...you need land to take root...we...have a valley..."

He paused, as if each word weighed a ton, "We can rent it to you. Three generations! After three generations, return it to us."

Who could not hear the intense reluctance in those words?

Behind this promise lies the courage to divide ethnic groups.

"No way!" James replied with those two words, his voice firm and resolute.

The Klaus fell into a deathly silence; the air seemed to freeze, with only the crackling of the burning wood in the fireplace.

Suddenly, the young guard Tom had seen before bent down, leaned close to the chieftain's ear, and whispered a few words rapidly in Crow.

The chieftain's weathered face first showed astonishment, then struggle, and finally, a deep sense of helplessness, before he slowly nodded.

"Around this valley..." The Klaue chieftain's voice was dry and hoarse as he struggled to utter those earth-shattering words.

"...There's a gold mine buried here! If...if you find the people, it...is yours!"

boom!

This sentence was like detonating an invisible bomb in frozen air!

In the entire living room of the Dutton House, time seemed to freeze instantly as if by an absolute zero cold wave!