Transcendent Dawn

Iron Hoof Bar.

Geli was drinking coffee, looking up at the bounty notices on the wooden board.

‘Hunting ‘Butcher’ Gered is too dangerous, not only is he a Transcendent, he also has a gang… no wonder the bounty is so high… ‘Outlaw’ Zoren is on his own, but he moves around unpredictably and has a good reputation among the poor… I don’t really want to catch him.’

‘I only have a savings of 127 Golden Dragons, far from the 200…’

At that moment, someone sat down in front of her.

The person looked young, with a calm face and a slight smile: “Hello, miss!”

Geli didn’t say much, she only flashed her gun holster on her waist and continued her breakfast.

Daughters of the West were not the type to be easily swayed by a pretty face and sweet words.

“I heard… you are the best bounty hunter around here, I happen to need a bodyguard!”

Su Lu sat down in front of her without any hint of embarrassment.

“Employer?”

Geli’s expression became more formal.

Since it wasn’t a suitor but an employer, her attitude naturally changed: “What do you want me to do? Just to clarify… I won’t do anything against the law, no matter how much money you offer!”

She sizing up Su Lu.

Hmm, dressed like a western cowboy, guns on both sides, sadly, he doesn’t have the rough temperament of a real desert cowboy… not her type.

“I want to visit the nature reserve, preferably meet the Gaosuo natives who still live there. I heard their tribes have retained some primitive cultural characteristics…”

Su Lu said: “Let me introduce myself, I am Sean, a folklorist!”

“You want to go to the Gaosuo native village?”

Geli mockingly looked at Su Lu, her body leaning back, her long legs unladylike on the table: “Are you looking to get killed? Or have your head turned into their décor?”

Indeed, in the Federation’s propaganda, Gaosuo natives are depicted as extremely cruel and barbaric, especially the natural tribes which still retain the ‘headhunting’ tradition.

Basically, after Conqueror William’s massacre, the surviving Gaosuo natives are submissive to the Federation’s iron hoof, but hold a terrible hostility towards outsiders.

“That’s why… I need a bodyguard, a particularly strong one, Miss Geli!”

Su Lu shrugged his shoulders: “For this… I’m willing to offer a reward of fifty

Golden Dragons!”

“Fifty… Golden Dragons?”

Geli swallowed, retracting her long legs and vaguely straightened her posture.

This was a big deal!

Combined with her savings, it’s very close to two hundred. If she manages her money properly, she could possibly buy what she’s had her eyes on for a long time in the black market!

“That’s good… your offer has convinced me. Just to confirm, you only need me to protect you when you go to the Gaosuo native tribe?” Geli confirmed at last.

“Yes, leave everything else to me!” Su Lu nodded.

“Pay half the deposit first, then we sign a contract, witnessed by the bar owner!” Geli thought about it and agreed.

“No problem…” Su Lu showed a faint smile: “I am Sean Otto, everything will be up to you from now.”

Although Su Lu was very quick to pay, they didn’t set off immediately.

The reason was simple, he didn’t have a horse!

When he mentioned this, Su Lu swore, he clearly saw an expression of contempt in Geli’s eyes.

“In the Midwest, whiskey, horses, and revolvers are a cowboy’s life!” Geli shook her head: “I heard you are from Kangni State?”

“I grew up overseas…”

Embarrassed, Su Lu smiled and followed Geli to a ranch.

“A good riding horse is very important, most times, it represents life… in this aspect, I recommend old horses, though young horses are strong and have stronger short-term sprints, they are not good at conserving their strength, they don’t know how to find their way, they are also not good at finding water source in the wild, and they are not quiet enough…”

In the stable, Geli affectionately stroked the horses’ heads, pressing her cheek against them.

“For this… you choose, you’re the expert!”

Su Lu had no objections.

Indeed, he didn’t know the way, and he didn’t have as much survival experience as her in this aspect.

And through investigation, this Miss Geli is indeed a reputable bounty hunter with a wealth of experience, that’s why he thought of hiring her.

After several selections, Geli recommended a black old horse for Su Lu.

Of course, it wasn’t too old, just fifteen years old, having lived half of its life. It had its own name, called Black Jack. When they were leaving, Su Lu even saw the reluctance of the ranch owner.

“Can you ride? Do you want me to teach you!”

Geli handed the reins to Su Lu with a mocking expression. “No, but I learn very quickly!”

Su Lu took the reins, his right hand stroking the horse’s head.

Inspiration was subtly cultivated, and he immediately made contact with Black Jack’s Spiritual Body!

All things have spirits! Even horses.

But its spiritual body was obviously much smaller than a human’s, and much murkier.

It was like a newly born bird, it’s hard to distinguish between good and bad, very easy to develop a sense of closeness.

“This…”

Geli watched as Black Jack just sniffed Sean, and then went forward to affectionately lick his hand, and couldn’t help being surprised: “What’s going

Even the most docile wouldn’t be tamed to this degree so easily, right?

“Maybe… we’re a natural match? After all, I have cowboy blood as well! Even though I left home a long time ago…”

Su Lu casually found a reason and got on the horse.

“Hope you won’t hold me back… we have a lot to do today!”

Geli followed suit, getting ready to go to the Gaosuo native tribe was not a simple matter.

They needed to travel a long way in the wilderness, needing to supplement a lot of food, clean water, medicine, tents, etc.

Of course, they couldn’t be without firearms and gunpowder!

Although the Federation had generally conquered the Midwest, that was only around the cities and railway lines.

On the boundless wilderness and in the dense jungle, there are still a large number of natives who are hostile to any outsiders.

And danger doesn’t just stop there!

The harsh natural environment, ferocious beasts, and even the fellow Federation cowboys, could all pose a threat!

Even for bounty hunters, failures are inevitable, every trip out means gambling with their lives.

Therefore, after Su Lu offered fifty Golden Dragons, even Geli, who originally had no regard for him, was thoroughly moved.

Jobs with such generous rewards were very rare!

As for the danger? Every job has its risks!

Very few bounty hunters actually manage to accumulate enough wealth to retire comfortably!

Many of them became war loot for horse thieves or roadside dried bones!