One metal case had four compartments. Three of them held guns—six in total—and the fourth contained matching ammunition and tactical accessories.

Feng Shan opened another metal case. It also held guns, just different types: AK-47s, HK416s, M4A1s, and shotguns.

When he opened the third case, Feng Shan froze.

This metal case, surprisingly, didn’t contain guns. It was filled to the brim with small foam balls. Pushing them aside revealed a wooden picture frame.

The two of them lifted the frame out and saw it was an oil painting.

The painting was shrouded in a dim, oppressive atmosphere. An old man, his face a mask of terror, clutched a young man’s body with one hand while his other pressed tightly against a bleeding wound. The young man lay limp on a carpet, gazing up at the aging man with eyes full of both despair and forgiveness.

The contrast between their gazes was stark, lending the entire painting a haunting charm.

"Khilla, there’s a letter here," Yves said, pulling an envelope from among the foam balls.

Feng Shan took the envelope and tore it open. Inside was just a single sheet of paper that gave off a faint, pleasant fragrance. On it was written a single line of text.

[Returned to its owner. Keep or sell at your discretion.]

Judging by the handwriting, it must have been written by a woman; every letter carried an air of elegance and nobility.

’What’s that supposed to mean, "Returned to its owner. Keep or sell at your discretion?"’

’Couldn’t they have written a few more words?’

Feng Shan turned the paper over, examining both sides. It seemed that was the only line of text.

"Khilla, I think this painting has to be valuable," Yves said. Even though he didn’t know anything about art, he could feel the oppressive atmosphere emanating from it after just a few glances.

"It’s probably not cheap," Feng Shan agreed with a nod. He didn’t need Yves to point it out; he could feel it as well.

’But is this kind of painting really suitable for hanging at home? People usually hang cheerful things—flowers, birds, fish, insects, landscapes, that sort of thing. Who in their right mind would hang a murder scene on their wall?’

"Put it away for now. Move the painting to my bedroom. As for these guns..."

’My small bedroom can barely fit one case. There’s no room for the other two, but they’re full of guns and ammunition. I can’t just leave them lying around.’

"Why don’t we move them to the cave for now? The metal cases have combination locks, so the average person can’t open them," Yves suggested.

’I guess that’s our only option.’

Feng Shan sighed to himself. He first moved the metal case with the oil painting into his bedroom, then the two of them hauled the remaining two cases into the cave.

They each picked an automatic rifle and slung it over their back.

By the time they finished, it was broad daylight.

Everyone except for the three drunkards was up. People went about their morning routines, washing up and preparing breakfast.

Andy had to stay at the camp because Jennifer, the one who had hired him, was still drunk.

At the breakfast table, Feng Shan laid out the day’s work.

"David, you take Yves and find a suitable spot for an airstrip. Andy and I will go receive the snowmobiles, which should be delivered to camp today. North Slope Petroleum Company might send people over as well."

"Nash, tell Old Swan to hold off on logging today. Have him gather everyone on the river beach for now, and then come find me at the runway site later."

"As for you women!" Feng Shan looked at Maria, Jenny, and Tammy, genuinely unsure what to have them do. Finally, he waved his hand in resignation. "You’re free to do as you please. Just check on the three drunks in the bunkhouse."

The three women smiled and nodded.

After breakfast, everyone sprang into action.

David and Yves left together. Nash jogged off into the forest to find Old Swan. Maria, Jenny, and Tammy chatted and laughed, enjoying their free time.

Feng Shan and Andy headed to the airstrip site on the tundra.

The snowmobiles and fuel storage tanks were scheduled to be delivered together today, and Andy was the one who had arranged for the helicopters.

Before long, the roar of helicopter rotors filled the sky.

Two helicopters, each slinging a cargo pallet, flew straight in from the distance. At the same moment, Feng Shan’s satellite phone rang.

He answered; it was the helicopter pilot, asking for the drop-off location for the cargo pallets.

Feng Shan tossed the phone to Andy, letting him coordinate with the pilot.

A moment later, the two helicopters arrived over the runway site, one after the other. Under Andy’s direction, the first chopper slowly lowered its cargo pallet to the ground, disconnected the hook, and flew off. The second helicopter did the same, setting down its cargo before departing.

"Andy, tell the pilot to deliver the next batch, the fuel tanks, directly to the river beach. Not here."

Feng Shan grabbed a crowbar and pried open the wooden frame around the cargo. Three snowmobiles wrapped in clear plastic sheeting sat on the pallet.

He ripped the plastic off a black snowmobile and climbed on.

Snowmobiles don’t have gears; they use a continuously variable transmission, making them foolproof to operate. You only need about ten minutes to learn how to ride one freely.

As it happened, Feng Shan had learned to ride a snowmobile from Little Swan back in Kivalina. It wasn’t that different from riding a motorcycle.

He hit the ignition, and a green light blinked on the instrument panel.

He squeezed the throttle. The snowmobile’s engine roared to life beneath him, and the vehicle shot off toward the camp.

In the camp.

The three women were chopping wood. Even though Feng Shan had told them to take the day off, they had taken the initiative to do what they could to help.

"What’s that noise?" Maria lowered her axe. She heard a whirring sound in the distance, and it was getting closer.

Jenny and Tammy put down their logs and also looked toward the sound.

The next moment, Feng Shan roared into camp on the black snowmobile. As he passed a snowdrift, he deliberately gunned the engine.

With a roar from the engine, the powerful four-stroke sent the snowmobile airborne. It landed hard in the snow, kicking up a cloud of powder, then came to a stop in a stylish drift right in front of the three women.

"Wow!"

The three women stared, their mouths slightly agape, still stunned by the sight of the flying snowmobile.

"Ladies, care for a spin?" Feng Shan flashed the kind of smile he’d seen Frank use to charm women.

Maria was the first to react. "I do! I do!" she said excitedly.

"Me too!" Tammy, for once, eagerly ran forward.

Jenny stood to one side, a smile playing on her lips. Though she said nothing, her eyes were full of anticipation.

Feng Shan laughed. "No need to rush, one at a time! Maria, you’re up first!"

Maria cheered and hopped onto the back seat, wrapping her arms tightly around Feng Shan’s waist.

Feng Shan gunned the throttle, and the snowmobile shot out of the camp like an arrow loosed from a bow. Maria’s shrieks echoed through the entire area.

Just as Tammy was starting to feel disappointed, Feng Shan zipped back into camp on the snowmobile, pulled her on, and sped off again in a flash.

Finally, it was Jenny’s turn. She settled gracefully onto the seat, leaned gently against Feng Shan’s back, and felt the cold wind rush past her ears.

And then, the wind stopped!

Jenny lifted her head and saw they had arrived at the airstrip site. Maria and Tammy were standing beside the other snowmobiles, glaring daggers at Feng Shan.

"Haha, well... we’re a bit short-handed. I figured I’d give you all a ride and have you help me drive the other snowmobiles back at the same time."

Feng Shan let out a sheepish laugh.

The corners of Jenny’s mouth lifted slightly. She dismounted, found an empty snowmobile, expertly hit the ignition, and did a few tight circles on the spot.

’Impressive!’

Feng Shan gave her an admiring thumbs-up.

"I’m heading off!" Jenny said with a slight smile, then rode away on her snowmobile.

"It’s just riding! I can do that too!" Maria quickly chose a red snowmobile and sped off after Jenny.

"Wait for me!" Not to be outdone, Tammy followed bravely, though her movements on the snowmobile were still a bit clumsy.

In an instant, their tracks etched trails of flying snow across the white landscape.

Jenny rode gracefully and with abandon, her form agile as she raced ahead.

Maria followed close behind, trying to overtake her.

Tammy, meanwhile, struggled to maintain her balance and keep from falling behind. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"I told you to ride back to camp, not out onto the tundra!" Feng Shan yelled after the departing women. But he just laughed, shook his head, and hopped on a snowmobile to chase after them.

The cold wind howled in their ears, and their laughter echoed across the snowscape.

"Hey! What about me?" Andy yelled, guarding the three remaining snowmobiles and wishing he could join the fun.

「Half an hour later.」

Under Feng Shan’s watchful eye, the three women rode their snowmobiles back to camp. Everyone felt a sense of release, their faces lit up with happy smiles.

This was especially true for Tammy. When they first met, she would keep her head down, afraid to look anyone in the eye. Now, her personality was gradually becoming more lively, and she was starting to talk more.

After parking her snowmobile, Jenny walked up to Feng Shan, pulled him into a hug, and whispered her thanks in his ear.

Maria was next, and then Tammy.

They did the same, hugging him and whispering their thanks in his ear.

Feng Shan awkwardly rubbed his nose. It wasn’t their gratitude that made him feel this way, but the fact that the medicinal wine from last night still hadn’t worn off. And he was, after all, a young man in his prime.

Being hugged by the women, feeling their warm breath in his ear as they spoke... even through their thick clothing, the physical contact inevitably made the blood rush to certain parts of his body.

’This medicinal wine is seriously potent!’

Feng Shan tried his best to calm down, taking a few deep breaths to quell his inner agitation.

But a hot current was still coursing through his body, making his heart beat faster and his face flush.

He could only feign nonchalance, exchange a few pleasantries with the three women, and then hastily ride off, terrified they would notice his predicament.

But Jenny, being a woman of experience, couldn’t help but cover her mouth to hide a giggle as she watched Feng Shan’s hasty retreat.

The cold wind on his face helped dissipate much of the heat in his body.

When he got to the runway site, Andy was still dutifully guarding the snowmobiles. Feng Shan laughed. "Hop on one and follow me to the Glacial River Beach. This place is in the middle of nowhere. Did you really think there’d be thieves?"

Andy gave a sheepish laugh. His uncle’s words from last night were still echoing in his ears.

’From now on, treat Feng like you pray to God. God won’t give you Franklins, but Feng definitely will.’

And as it turned out, he was right.

He had earned 10,000 US Dollars just from that two-helicopter delivery.

Feng Shan looked back and urged, "What are you spacing out for? Let’s go!"

"Coming!" Andy quickly hopped on a snowmobile and followed.

They gunned their engines and sped toward the Glacial River Beach.

Compared to a wolf-drawn sled, a snowmobile was much faster. As long as you didn’t run out of fuel, you could push it as hard as you wanted.

Plus, you didn’t have to worry about feeding or resting an animal, which made the snowmobile far more convenient.

However, the wolf-drawn sled had its own unique charm. It was closer to nature, allowing one to feel the wonder and primal power of working together with animals.

It was hard to choose between the two.

As they reached the river beach of the new camp, Feng Shan saw a circle of people sitting motionlessly around a fire pit in the distance.

’What’s going on?’

’Did something happen?’

...