Chapter 107: Chapter 107: Taking the Stage

"Hey man, you connected with a gang?"

Feng Shan frowned. Gangs in Alaska weren’t like the ones back home who just played around with knives.

Here, they meant business. Pistols, high-powered rifles, shotguns, automatic weapons... they didn’t care who you were, they’d pull the trigger on sight.

The main reason was that you didn’t need a license to buy a gun in Alaska. Plus, it was close to the Old Russians, and the complex geography of the sea and border regions meant smuggling was rampant. It was easy to get your hands on weapons.

He never wanted to get tangled up with gangs. It was best if everyone just did their own thing, live and let live.

"A man’s gotta live," Tom answered evasively.

Feng Shan lost the desire to continue the conversation. The atmosphere in the truck became tense again.

The Pickup Truck drove around a residential community and arrived at the entrance to a city park. The old, rusty iron gate showed it hadn’t been maintained in a long time.

But the sign on the park was interesting.

It was actually called Frank’s House, and it must have been made recently—the paint on the letters was still fresh.

Feng Shan turned to look at Tom, who just shrugged. "Sorry, I have no idea what’s gotten into Frank. You’d better ask him yourself."

The truck entered the park and came to a grassy field.

All sorts of pickup trucks were parked haphazardly, blocking the way forward. Blasts of heavy metal music penetrated the cab.

"Looks like we’re walking, man." Tom stopped the Pickup Truck.

Feng Shan pushed the door open and got out. Walking through the parking area, he saw a few food trucks giving out food in the distance. A crowd of people stood in front of them, holding beer and food, swaying to the rhythm of the music.

The two of them avoided the people lost in the revelry and walked toward the other side of the lawn.

There, a temporary stage had been set up, with a backdrop displaying a promotional print of Frank’s kind and benevolent face.

A rock band was playing passionately, the lead singer screaming his lungs out. Below the stage, the audience cheered wildly, swaying their bodies and waving their arms.

Some men and women were even making out right there, while others catcalled and cheered them on.

It was a real eye-opener for Feng Shan.

"Hey man, cool coat!" A scruffy, bearded homeless man, holding a beer, staggered up to Feng Shan and reached out to touch his Black Wolf Head Hood.

"Shit, get the hell away from him." Tom shoved the homeless man aside, lifted his winter coat, and revealed the pistol tucked into his waistband.

Seeing the gun, the homeless man sobered up instantly. He raised his hands and backed away, muttering something under his breath.

Feng Shan narrowed his eyes. The people he’d met since coming to Alaska had been mostly decent, aside from a few racists. He didn’t expect all the "best and brightest" to be gathered here.

"Feng, you have to act tough here, or this trash will eat you alive." Tom spat on the ground, shot a vicious glare at the surrounding crowd that was starting to close in, and warned him with a grim expression.

"Got it." Feng Shan nodded, secretly raising his guard, wary of someone trying to take a cheap shot at him.

Just then.

The music on the temporary stage suddenly stopped, and the crowd below booed in dissatisfaction.

The next moment, Frank, dressed in casual clothes and wearing a friendly smile, walked out from behind the stage’s backdrop. A woman was by his side.

"Fran—" Tom started to call out but was stopped by Feng Shan.

However, Frank didn’t know Feng Shan had arrived. He took the microphone from the band’s lead singer.

"You pitiful bastards, you dregs of society, you maggots in the eyes of the rich, you useless trash in the mouths of politicians! Welcome to Frank’s House!"

ROAR!

The crowd below wasn’t angered by Frank’s humiliating words. Instead, they raised their arms and cheered excitedly.

The reporters standing around the venue raised their cameras and video cameras and started shooting from all angles.

Frank’s expression turned sorrowful as he continued.

"My dear brothers and sisters, as I stand before you and see you wandering the streets, my heart is deeply pierced with pain."

"I must cry out that every homeless person is my brother and sister! Your plight is my responsibility. I cannot tolerate you shivering in the cold wind! I cannot tolerate you struggling with hunger! I cannot tolerate you being forgotten by society!"

"I promise I will step up my appeals, demanding the government build more shelters and provide warm beds and hot food."

"To provide job training, so that every homeless person willing to work can earn a stable income and regain their dignity and self-confidence."

"And now, I’ll let Lady Erica introduce a series of grand plans from the Independent Party for the future! Today, the beer, burgers, and fried chicken are free, so eat your fill! Freedom belongs to Alaska!"

As Frank’s passionate speech ended—or perhaps because of the line about all-you-can-eat beer, burgers, and fried chicken—the crowd below erupted in cheers, shouting, "Free Alaska!"

A confident-looking Asian woman strode to the front of the stage, took the microphone from Frank, and began to promote the Independent Party’s future blueprint.

Frank stood behind her, smiling.

’Watching the lively scene, he was secretly pleased with himself, patting himself on the back for his own cleverness.’

’Feng had asked him to do nine good deeds.’

’Now, without spending a single penny, he’d established Frank’s House to help these poor homeless people, handle some lawsuits for them on the side, build up a good reputation, and even apply for all sorts of aid from the government and charitable groups.’

’Then he could distribute it to the homeless in his own name, and while he was at it, win some votes for his party.’

’This feeling is absolutely amazing!!’

’Lately, the patrol officers had even been checking his driver’s license a lot less.’

’Yep, and fewer tickets, too!’

Just as Frank was gloating, he suddenly spotted Feng Shan in the crowd, dressed in his awesome Wolf Fur Coat. A look of delight instantly appeared on his face.

As it happened, Lady Erica of the Independent Party had just finished her speech.

The homeless people in the crowd didn’t care who was in power; they just wanted the politicians to end their cookie-cutter, hypocritical speeches so the beer, burgers, and fried chicken could be handed out.

At that moment, Feng Shan’s eyes met Frank’s, and he saw the corners of the other man’s mouth lift in a slight smile.

’Crap!!’

’This guy is up to no good.’

Feng Shan was about to turn away when he saw Frank take the microphone, an excited expression on his face, and point toward a spot in the crowd, shouting.

"Everyone, today Frank’s House has a distinguished guest! He comes from the cold Tundra! Please welcome the Carnation Knight, the Fenrir Terminator, to the stage!"

BOOM!!

The venue erupted in an uproar.

Many of the homeless people present might not know who the Independent Party was, but they definitely knew of the Carnation Knight and the Fenrir Terminator.

The first title was for risking his life for a friend, flying a plane alone straight into a Blizzard. The in-cockpit surveillance footage had long been made public, and through it, you could clearly see how extremely dangerous the conditions were. One small mistake and the plane would have crashed.

Even so, the Carnation Knight remained fearless in the face of death to rescue the injured.

The second, the Fenrir Terminator, was also a wilderness legend. The Super Wolf Pack led by that Black Wolf had evaded the National Guard’s encirclement attempts several times, wreaking havoc on the ecological balance of the Far North. The state government was helpless against it, but unexpectedly, it was the Carnation Knight who ultimately conquered Fenrir.

This story resonated most strongly among the Indigenous People, no less than a tale of a hero slaying a dragon.

As people from the lowest rungs of society, their disgust for politicians was almost absolute. Instead, they were much more inclined to admire Feng Shan’s brand of individual heroism.

While cheering, everyone turned their excited gazes in the direction Frank was pointing.

Being stared at by so many pairs of eyes, Feng Shan was so embarrassed he felt like he could dig a two-bedroom apartment out of the ground with his toes.

Tom, on the side, was a classic example of someone who enjoys watching a train wreck.

He suddenly reached out, flipped up the Black Wolf Head Hood, and pulled it over Feng Shan’s head.

Instantly, Feng Shan looked like a Werewolf standing there.

The crowd instantly erupted in even more fervent shouts, as if Feng Shan had truly become the hero who would save them all.

Feng Shan wanted to pull the wolf hood off, but he was surrounded by the excited crowd and pushed toward the stage.

"Feng, enjoy the moment!" Tom roared with laughter from the side, shouting, "Khilla! Khilla! Khilla!"

Khilla.

In an Indian Language, it means Iron Brown Bear, symbolizing strength and courage. It is also seen as the divine incarnation of strength, courage, and noble character.

Furthermore, in the traditional culture of Indian Tribes, only an Indian Warrior who has achieved great deeds in battle is qualified to be named after an animal, let alone a divine one. It was the highest honor.

Strength, courage, and noble character perfectly corresponded to Feng Shan’s two legendary stories.

Some of the Indian homeless in attendance started chanting along with Tom, and the other homeless people, who didn’t know what it meant, blindly followed suit.

For a moment, the deafening chant of "Khilla" echoed across the venue.

’Fuck!!’

Feng Shan shook his head helplessly. He had no choice but to brace himself and walk to the edge of the stage, pushed along by the cheering crowd.

A hand reached down from the stage.

He looked up.

It was Frank’s mischievous face. "Man, you look awesome today."

’Awesome my ass.’

Feng Shan wanted nothing more than to curse someone out. He grabbed Frank’s hand, climbed onto the stage, and faced the crowd.

As he faced the crowd with the Black Wolf Head Hood on, the hood concealed his head, but his eyes, sharp as knives, glinted with a cold light. The people below felt as if those wolf eyes were piercing their hearts, and many lowered their heads.

The crowd fell silent for a moment, seemingly intimidated by Feng Shan’s aura.

But soon, the cheering erupted again, even more frenzied than before.

The cheers came wave after wave, each one louder than the last.

The previously nonchalant reporters were stunned when they saw the Werewolf on stage.

’This isn’t right!’

’Frank didn’t say anything about this part.’

As media professionals, their keen journalistic instincts told them this was an absolute bombshell of a news story.

In an instant, camera flashes became a solid wall of light, and the sound of shutters clicking filled the air.

A veteran reporter was the first to react, shouting to the cameraman beside him, "Quick, get this! This is definitely tomorrow’s headline!"

The other reporters, not to be outdone, scrambled to adjust their equipment, trying to find the best angle.

Feng Shan was even more bewildered by this sudden spectacle. He stood there with the Black Wolf Head on, his gaze shifting back and forth between the crowd and the reporters.

Like a wild wolf searching for prey.

And at this, the already excited crowd grew even more worked up, their shouts becoming more deafening.

The entire scene descended into a state of chaos and fanaticism.

A microphone was thrust in his face. Feng Shan turned to look at Frank, who whispered quickly, "Feng, say a few words. You’re the big star today."

’You’re the big star. Your whole family is the big star.’

Feng Shan took the microphone and looked out at the sea of excited faces—white, black, and Asian. He took a deep breath. ’Looks like I’ll have to fucking improvise.’

"Everyone, please be quiet!"

As Feng Shan’s voice boomed from the speakers, the crowd below gradually quieted down, countless pairs of eyes shining with adoration.

"I’m not some Khilla. I’m just an ordinary person like you all, trying to make my way through this difficult life."

Feng Shan paused for a moment before continuing.

"I understand your hardships. I know you long for change, for a better life."

"But the real power isn’t with me. It’s in your own hands."

"We need to unite, speak up for our rights, and fight for our future!"

...