The three of them walked into the living room, their arms full of food.

Feng Shan noticed the coffee table had been cleaned spotless, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of delight. ’It’s just as Yves said,’ he thought. ’They just don’t know how to express themselves.’

After setting down the food, Feng Jun nosily sized up the group.

’No matter how I look at them, they don’t seem like decent people. Would a decent person have a scar that long on their face? And that towering guy next to Brother Shan... he looks so menacing, and his gaze is like a dagger.’

Feng Jun suddenly recalled a news report from a few days ago. A bank in Anchorage had been robbed, and the culprits had fled north.

’Ordering takeout, not staying in a hotel, and they look so menacing!’

’The report said it was a mix of men and women, all of them desperate and vicious.’

’Holy shit, it all fits.’

’Could Brother Shan be in... that line of work?’

A shiver ran down his spine, his legs went weak, and his mind went completely blank.

Feng Shan took out the check. He called Feng Jun’s name a few times, but when there was no response, he patted him on the shoulder, puzzled.

The next moment, Feng Jun dropped to his knees with a thud, threw his hands in the air, and started to wail.

"Brother Shan, we don’t have any beef with each other! I swear I didn’t know you were in this line of work! Please, spare me! I’ve got an eighty-year-old grandma and a two-year-old sister at home! I didn’t see anything, I promise! I would never sell out a fellow countryman! Please, just let me go!!"

Feng Shan stared, completely baffled, and blinked a few times.

’What is going on? He was perfectly fine a second ago.’

"Get up and talk."

"I’m not getting up! I won’t get up unless you promise to let me go! This is how it always happens in the movies! You trick me into standing up, and then you put a bullet in my head!" Feng Jun remained on the floor, refusing to look up as if his life depended on it.

"What’s wrong with him?" Feng Shan turned to Yves, but Yves just shook his head, indicating he had no idea.

"Brother Shan, my boss, Lin, knows I was delivering to you. If I don’t go back, he’ll definitely call the police! Just let me go! My lips are sealed, I swear I won’t say a thing! How about this—consider this meal on me, okay?"

With that, Feng Jun grabbed Feng Shan’s leg and pleaded desperately. Suddenly, he heard a sound from above him, like the cocking of a gun, followed by a cold warning.

"If you don’t get up right now, I’m really going to shoot!"

"I’m getting up!"

Feng Jun scrambled to his feet, only to see Feng Shan holding a Coca-Cola bottle. His face immediately fell.

’I’m a dead man!’

’Who said you can rely on fellow countrymen when you’re away from home? This is more like "countryman meets countryman, gets a bullet in the brain"!’

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Feng Shan frowned, displeased. ’This kid seemed normal enough, so how is he even more erratic than the people living here?’

His voice trembling, Feng Jun asked, "You’re... you’re not the bank robbers? Are you going to kill me to shut me up?"

Huh? Feng Shan was stunned for a moment before breaking into a wide grin.

He pulled his Sheriff’s identification from his pocket and tossed it to Feng Jun.

"Are you stupid? Take a good look. What does this say? Bank robbers? You’ve seen too many action movies. What do you think this is, some gangster flick?"

In the living room, David Steel, who had been keeping his head down the whole time, quietly translated the exchange into English for the others.

Thanks to Feng Jun, the once awkward and somber atmosphere was suddenly filled with lighthearted laughter.

After opening the ID and seeing Feng Shan’s photo and official title, Feng Jun realized what a ridiculous mistake he’d made, and his face flushed beet red.

"Brother Shan, I really screwed up!"

"Alright, alright, now get out of here. You’re something else, I’ll give you that. How could your family stand to let you go abroad when you’re like this?" Feng Shan said, exasperated. He snatched back his Sheriff’s identification and shoved the check into Feng Jun’s hand.

"Oh, come on, let me stay a little longer! I love a lively atmosphere," Feng Jun said, trying to curry favor.

"Get out, get out, get out! Just looking at you is annoying!" Feng Shan didn’t dare let him stay. ’If he’s this much of a chatterbox, none of us will get any sleep tonight.’

After shoving Feng Jun out the door, the guy started pounding on it.

"Hey, man! You paid too much!!"

"It’s a tip! Now hurry back to the restaurant! It’s not safe around here at night," Feng Shan shouted through the door, hoping to scare him off.

The next moment, the pounding stopped.

When he returned to the living room, he saw the three women had already unpacked the food and spread it across the coffee table. There was a mix of Chinese and Western dishes, and they were all just waiting for him.

"Please, help yourselves." Feng Shan pulled over a chair, sat down, and picked up a bottle of Coca-Cola. "Since we’ll all be living together from now on, let’s call this a welcome banquet. Welcome to the Crown Territory."

Whether it was because of the recent episode or the sumptuous meal, the invisible wall between them seemed to have vanished.

Feng Shan could clearly feel a subtle shift in the atmosphere. Their gazes were no longer filled with wariness and detachment, but held a hint of warmth and curiosity.

The others each picked up a Coca-Cola.

They gently clinked their bottles together, and the crisp sound echoed in the living room, as if shattering the last sheet of ice between them.

A gratified smile spread across Feng Shan’s face. "Eat, eat! Dig in while it’s hot. Don’t hold back!"

All five of them began to dig in.

One person picked up a piece of fried chicken and took a huge, satisfying bite. Another dipped a french fry in ketchup and ate it with relish.

The living room filled with the sounds of chewing and occasional conversation. Though words were few, everyone’s expression grew relaxed and comfortable.

Watching the scene unfold, Feng Shan couldn’t help but let out an inward sigh of relief.

’This bunch of prima donnas.’

’They’re a real pain to take care of.’

....

「Nightfall.」

Feng Shan and Yves were sharing a room—or rather, Yves refused to leave Feng Shan’s side for even a moment.

One of the men slept on the bed, the other on the floor, chatting quietly.

It was mostly Feng Shan asking the questions and Yves answering.

Through their quiet conversation, he learned about Yves’s life after he’d left the military. He had received a hefty severance package and had planned to enjoy a peaceful life with his wife and child.

But then he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. After a period of intense mental anguish, he’d almost become violent toward his own child.

Terrified he would end up hurting his wife and child, Yves had steeled himself, signed the divorce papers, left all his money behind, and began to drift, carrying nothing but a single backpack.

Searching for a place that could save his soul, he traveled all the way from Texas, up through Canada, and finally arrived in Fairbanks.

Eventually, he was taken in by Mr. Frank, who told him that the Crown Territory was a place that could save a man’s soul.

Feng Shan listened silently to Yves’s account.

Not knowing how to comfort him, Feng Shan just stared up at the ceiling, which was illuminated by the starlight filtering through the window.

"Yves, the Crown Territory won’t let you down."

...

Night was supposed to be a time of silence and peace, when all things rested.

But at the Fairbanks Police Department, the lights were blazing, and busy figures bustled about inside.

The incessant ringing of telephones shattered the night’s tranquility.

The incident at the Vergil Villa on the outskirts of Polaris Town had every faction in Alaska on edge.

Ordinarily, a firefight between gangs that resulted in the death of such social parasites would be a cause for celebration.

However, the fallout from this particular incident was far greater than anyone had imagined.

Vergil was merely a minor arms distributor, but he had powerful figures backing him. As soon as they heard what had happened to him, they immediately used their connections to put pressure on the Fairbanks Police Department.

In Chief Bird’s office, a female assistant set down two cups of coffee. As she bent over to pick up some scattered files from the floor, her alluring figure was put on full display.

A flirtatious whistle cut through the air.

The assistant quickly straightened up, her cheeks flushing slightly. She instinctively tugged at the hem of her skirt, then turned to glare at Frank on the sofa. She rolled her eyes, turned with a sway of her hips, and pulled the door shut as she left.

"Pal, your assistant has a great figure," Frank said with a grin.

Chief Bird glanced up nonchalantly. His gaze lingered on the closing door for a fraction of a second before returning to the case file in his hands.

"Frank, what are we going to do now?"

"Vergil was blown to pieces, and his five bodyguards are critically injured."

"Only one person died. What’s all the fuss about?" Frank lit a cigarette and took a leisurely drag. He then stood, plucked the file from Bird’s desk, and flipped through it, the corner of his mouth twitching into a smirk.

"Three hundred kilograms of high explosives and over a hundred automatic rifles. That’s enough to start a war."

"Chief Bird, you’ve cracked a major arms case. The Fairbanks City Hall will probably give you a medal for this."

"I’m resigning! I can’t do this job anymore!" Chief Bird drained his coffee in one gulp. He slammed the cup down and said with a gloating expression, "Do you have any idea how many calls I’ve taken from VIPs this afternoon?"

"The Governor’s Office, the Legislature, the Department of Justice, the Department of Community and Economic Development, the federal FBI, the Fish and Game Department..."

"God, I never knew Alaska had so many government departments. Pal, you’ve really kicked the hornet’s nest this time."

Frank nonchalantly crossed his legs, his tone breezy.

"There’s you, me, Erica, and Kelly. Plus the Wild Bull Tribe. I’m not sure why they’re helping Feng, but it’s clear they’re on our side."

"So even if those people want to cause trouble for Feng, they’ll have to think twice. The state legislature election is in November. If those idiots don’t play ball, I don’t mind costing them a few seats and handing them to the Independent Party."

"Pal, you’re spoiling Feng. Does he still not know who you are?" Chief Bird asked with concern.

Frank rubbed his temples as if a headache was coming on.

"I haven’t told him yet."

"He grew up in China, after all. There are a lot of things he probably wouldn’t be able to accept."

"God help you. I can’t wait for the day Feng puts a bullet in you, because you’re his..." Seeing that Frank was just as vexed as he was, Chief Bird finally felt a sense of vindication.

He imagined the look on Feng Shan’s face when he finally learned Frank’s identity. ’It’s going to be priceless. I truly can’t wait for that day to come.’

.....

「The next morning.」

As the first rays of sunlight struggled to pierce the thick cloud cover, the entire city was shrouded in a thin, silvery-white veil.

The streets were silent, save for the occasional passing vehicle leaving deep ruts in the snow.

Feng Shan rose early. The moment he moved, Yves, who was sleeping on the floor, shot upright.

"Morning. Sorry for waking you. Go back to sleep, I’m going to make breakfast," Feng Shan whispered. He tiptoed to the door and slipped out.

Yves watched Feng Shan’s furtive, tiptoeing retreat, and the corner of his stern mouth curved slightly upward.

’This new boss,’ he thought, ’seems to be just like Mr. Frank said. A good man.’

He made his way to the kitchen on the first floor.

There was still a good amount of Yangzhou fried rice and other dishes left over from last night’s takeout. With no gas stove, he had to make do with an induction cooktop, so Feng Shan simply heated everything up.

In no time, breakfast for five was ready.

As he carried the breakfast out of the kitchen, he ran right into Erica coming down the stairs. She was wearing nothing but her underwear. Despite the numerous tattoos covering her body, her figure was undeniably incredible—fair-skinned and perfectly proportioned in all the right places.

Seeing Feng Shan, Erica flashed a smile and nonchalantly brushed past him. She strode into the kitchen, grabbed a beer from the fridge, popped it open, and started chugging it down. GLUG, GLUG, GLUG.

"Drinking something that cold first thing in the morning is bad for you," Feng Shan offered as a well-intentioned reminder.

Erica flinched. She turned back, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by her usual indifferent expression. "Hmph. None of your business!"

Feng Shan shook his head with a sigh. "I was just trying to be nice. You can’t keep treating your body like this."

His words seemed to strike a nerve. A sudden, manic grin spread across Erica’s face. "I know my own body. I don’t need your concern. All you men want to do is look at it anyway, so here, take a look!"

With that, Erica violently yanked up her shirt.

Her fair skin was a canvas of scars. There were long, thin slashes, circular burn marks, and an assortment of bruises—a truly shocking sight.

...