Chapter 148: Blood-Sucking Monster (1)
The cozy holiday passed in a flash. Before they knew it, it was time to set out for Tunumo Village.
Early that morning, Misha was driven to Everly’s house by her parents. She was determined to travel across the United States, so she didn’t mind leaving ahead of schedule—in fact, she was excited to visit Yanifly State and broaden her horizons.
“I looked it up online—there’s an Indian reservation near there. Do they live on the reservation?”
“No, Tunumo Village is outside the reservation.”
Indian reservations are areas of land in the United States designated for Native Americans. Most are located in remote regions with scarce resources, relatively underdeveloped infrastructure, and limited economic opportunities.
Within reservations, Native tribes are granted a certain degree of self-governance, including the ability to enact laws, administer justice, and manage taxation. However, while that’s how it is defined in principle, in practice the U.S. Congress holds ultimate authority over Native affairs. If Congress declares a tribe dissolved, all its members would legally lose their status as “recognized persons.” This shows that Native Americans’ right to self-determination is, in reality, quite limited.
Indian reservations are considered sensitive areas and cannot be entered freely without permission. However, today most Native Americans have already moved out of the reservations and live in towns and cities; only about 30% still reside within reservation lands.
The destination of this trip, Tunumo Village, is located beside one such reservation. Most of the village’s residents are Winton people who moved out of the reservation, along with a smaller number of white settlers living among them.
The three set off from a gas station. According to their plan, they first drove to the state capital, Sunken City, then took a Grey Wolf long-distance bus. After about a day’s journey, they arrived in Gilosha City, where they stayed overnight. The next day, they rented a car and drove 65 kilometers to reach Tunumo Village.