’Another "tomorrow."’

What was the point of that Indigenous People’s meeting?

It was a waste of time and energy, and it didn’t bring about any real change.

Things were still the same as they’d always been.

A sense of inexplicable irritation rose in Feng Shan. He pulled out his phone and directly called Chief Bird in Fairbanks.

The phone rang a few times. When the call connected, the sound of loud music and women giggling came from the other end.

A moment later, the music and the women’s voices vanished, replaced by Chief Bird’s low, serious tone.

"Buddy, I’m in a last-minute meeting. What’s up?"

’A last-minute meeting?’

’Meeting my ass.’

Feng Shan pursed his lips and gazed at the moonlit river. "Something’s come up. I’m in Mangting Village in the Inland Region. Some people used weapons in an attempt to kidnap and rob me. I’ve apprehended them on the spot. Now I need backup. What should I do?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Guns, kidnapping, robbery... Mangting Village? What are you doing in the Inland Region? That’s not my jurisdiction."

Chief Bird’s head started to ache. ’Wasn’t the Far North Region big enough for you to cause trouble? Now you’ve gone all the way to the Inland Region.’

"Buddy, you could try calling the Wild Bull Tribe. They have a lot of influence in the Inland Region."

’The Wild Bull Tribe!’

Feng Shan hung up. After a moment’s thought, he immediately called Jie Luo.

After the call connected and they exchanged a few pleasantries, Feng Shan explained the situation. Jie Luo seemed very concerned, not for the unlucky culprits, but for Feng Shan’s safety.

"Feng, I’ll request Tribal Police to head over right away."

Hanging up, Feng Shan looked toward the trio from Mangting Village. "Tribal Police will be here soon. If it’s convenient, please have someone take them to the clinic."

’Tribal Police?’

’You’ve got to be kidding. This isn’t a reservation. The Tribal Police have no jurisdiction here.’

The smile on Village Chief Hale’s face didn’t last long before it turned to dismay. He gave Feng Shan a dark look, his mind churning.

’Still, I need to get some people to take Jim and the others to the clinic first. Then I’ll figure out a way to stall for time and have Anchorage send someone back.’

Returning to the village, he called people over to release the six men from the fishing net.

A doctor, woken from his sleep by the villagers, rushed to the clinic in a panic. He found four fishermen screaming and clutching their thighs, and another with his head lolling, life and death uncertain. His brow furrowed instantly.

He hurried forward and began to examine the injured men.

Fortunately, the gunshot wounds were in their thighs, avoiding major blood vessels and bones. Although the injuries looked severe, they weren’t life-threatening. A simple bandaging and a trip to a city hospital would be enough.

But the fisherman whose neck had been broken was in extremely critical condition.

Even if he were sent to a city hospital immediately, there was no guarantee he would survive.

The doctor immediately took some emergency measures to try and stabilize the patient’s condition.

After leaving the clinic, the villagers’ faces were etched with anxiety and unease. The barmaid, however, secretly found Feng Shan and urged him to leave quickly.

This was because the villagers all knew that Jim had a brother in a gang in Anchorage. All the fish Jim caught illegally were sold through his brother.

This was a classic problem brought on by local autonomy; everyone knew they were committing crimes, but there was no law enforcement with the authority to deal with it promptly.

Under this system, although the villagers could manage themselves and resolve some daily issues to a certain extent, they were often powerless when faced with serious criminal acts.

Without the swift intervention of professional law enforcement, criminals could continue to act with impunity, posing an even greater danger to the community.

But when the other villagers learned that the barmaid had told Feng Shan to leave, they exploded into an uproar.

"Outsider, you can’t leave."

"That’s right! You’re the ones who shot Jim. You can’t just leave us to clean up this mess."

"You’re not going anywhere! I’d like to see anyone try to leave."

"I’m going to the airfield to impound their plane!"

The agitated villagers surrounded Feng Shan’s group of three. Some blocked their way, some ran toward the airfield, and one even pulled out a gun.

’What a bunch of losers. I didn’t see them this united when they were facing actual criminals.’

Feng Shan pursed his lips. "Don’t worry, I’m not leaving. The police will be here to pick them up soon. I’ll be staying in Mangting Village."

After speaking, he looked at the barmaid.

"Sorry about this. Could we rest in the tavern? Your rum is quite good."

The barmaid nodded quickly. "Of course you can."

Afterward, the residents of Mangting Village escorted Feng Shan’s group back to the Red Salmon Tavern.

The tavern was now completely empty, with only the sound of soft music drifting through the air.

Leftover food still sat on the tables, the cold scraps a silent testament to the recent noise and laughter.

"I’m sorry," Feng Shan apologized to the barmaid, proactively starting to clear the tables. Seeing this, Nash and Wawa quickly pitched in to help.

"I can clean up myself." The barmaid’s attempt to stop them had little effect, so in the end, she could only join in.

Soon, the tavern was clean.

At one point, Feng Shan went to the entrance and pulled the door open to see the villagers zealously standing guard outside, seemingly worried that the people inside might be in danger.

Feng Shan smiled nonchalantly, then gestured for Nash and Wawa to sit down and rest.

The barmaid retrieved another bottle of rum from behind the bar, placed it on the table, and said with a look of satisfaction, "This one’s on me. Consider it a thank you."

’Thank you?’

Feng Shan was thrown by this. ’If anything, we should be thanking you.’

"Why?"

"Because..." The barmaid paused for a moment, pulled a chair up to the table, and sat down. She uncorked the bottle, filled glasses for Feng Shan and his companions, then poured one for herself. "Because Jim and his crew are the ones who killed my grandfather," she said coolly.

’What!’

Feng Shan was stunned for a second. ’This girl is interesting.’ He took the glass and toyed with it in his hand.

"Can you tell me about it?"

"Of course." The barmaid downed her rum in one gulp. "It’s a cliché story. My grandfather used to be the owner of this Salmon Tavern. He was also a fisherman. He couldn’t stand watching Jim and his men illegally catching salmon, so he reported them to the Alaska State Troopers."

"Then, due to insufficient evidence, the case couldn’t be opened. Jim and his men were released without charges. Not long after they returned to the village, my grandfather took his boat out to fish on the Yukon River. His boat hit a hidden reef, and he went to meet God."

’Her grandfather was murdered, yet she can be so calm.’

"You’re not sad?" The barmaid’s indifferent reaction piqued Feng Shan’s curiosity.

"Sad? Why should I be sad? I warned him long ago not to provoke Jim. The worst that could happen was we’d move and open a new tavern somewhere else. But my grandfather wouldn’t listen, and in the end, he died on the Yukon River."

The barmaid poured herself another glass. After drinking it, she murmured in a slightly drunken haze, "If you hadn’t shown up, I was planning to sell the tavern, go to Anchorage, and hire a gang to take out this trash."

"Then why did you dare to come warn me? Weren’t you afraid they’d retaliate?" Feng Shan asked with a playful smile.

"Afraid of what? Like hell I am. Tomorrow, I’ll burn this tavern to the ground and go live in another city. I’ve had enough of this disgusting, shitty village." The young barmaid once again filled her glass and drained it in one go.

’Interesting.’

Feng Shan smiled, took a sip from his glass, and said, "Are you interested in a job? Or perhaps opening a tavern in a new location?"

"Oh?"

The barmaid looked at Feng Shan with hazy eyes. "Are you trying to become my sugar daddy?"

’What kind of nonsense is this!’

Feng Shan, who hadn’t yet swallowed his rum, almost choked on her words. He quickly waved his hands in denial.

"It’s not what you think. I just think you’ve got potential and maybe deserve a better opportunity."

Seeing Feng Shan’s flustered state, a complete departure from his tough-guy demeanor by the river, the barmaid couldn’t help but laugh.

"Then tell me, what exactly do you mean?"

Feng Shan composed himself and said seriously, "My Crown Territory needs some capable people to help out, and I think you’re a good fit. If you’re willing, you can come work there, or I can fund a new tavern for you to run."

"Are you serious?" The barmaid set down her glass, the drunken haze in her eyes completely gone.

’Another drama queen.’

Feng Shan nodded with a smile. "Yes. Your rum is excellent, and as it happens, my Crown Territory also needs a tavern. If you agree, I can immediately arrange to have a space converted into one."

With that, he got up, walked to the bar, found a pen and paper, and wrote down a satellite phone number, which he then placed on the table.

"Think about it. You can call me anytime. My offer stands."

「Just then.」

The roar of an airplane engine sounded from outside the tavern. It sounded like more than one.

"Alright, my ride is here. Farewell!" Feng Shan gave a slight bow and headed for the door with Nash and Wawa.

"Wait!" the barmaid suddenly called out.

Feng Shan turned around.

"Can the tavern’s name still be the Red Salmon?"

"Of course."

"My name is Demi, Demi Lovato, Boss!" The barmaid’s face beamed with a smile as she raised her glass.

Feng Shan touched his fingers to his forehead in a small salute. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Demi."

The three of them walked out of the tavern. The villagers, their expressions hostile, closed in around them, led by Village Chief Hale.

"Sir, until the State Troopers arrive, please return to the tavern!"

"Didn’t you hear the planes? They’re here to pick me up," Feng Shan said, pointing to the night sky.

Before his words had even faded, the surrounding villagers started talking all at once.

"Just because you say they’re here for you, we’re supposed to believe it?"

"That’s right. What if it’s Jim’s brother?"

"Outsider, I think you should go back into the tavern and wait quietly for the State Troopers."

"We just got news from the clinic. Puke is not going to make it."

A smug look appeared on Village Chief Hale’s face. He raised his hand, and the villagers’ voices instantly died down. "Sheriff, I suggest it would be better for you to go back inside."

Suddenly, a series of heavy, rhythmic footsteps rang out.

Then, more than twenty fully-armed Tribal Police officers in tactical vests appeared on the street, pushing aside the villagers blocking the tavern entrance.

Jie Luo, wearing a ballistic vest with a rifle slung over his shoulder, emerged and embraced Feng Shan with open arms.

"Buddy, you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I’m fine. You guys got here fast," Feng Shan said, patting Jie Luo’s shoulder.

"Mangting Village isn’t far from the reservation. This was all I could gather on short notice," Jie Luo said with a wide grin.

The brilliant smile vanished the moment he turned, his expression becoming cold as he looked at the villagers of Mangting Village.

Village Chief Hale stepped out from the crowd.

"Mangting Village isn’t within the reservation’s boundaries. The Tribal Police don’t have cross-jurisdictional authority, do they?"

"Here." Jie Luo produced a document and tossed it to Village Chief Hale. "This is an official request for investigative assistance from the Alaska State Troopers headquarters."

The latter fumbled to catch the document.

Under the dim streetlight, he saw that the Alaska State Troopers headquarters had requested the Wild Bull Tribe’s police to dispatch personnel to Mangting Village to investigate the kidnapping of a Sheriff.

’This!!’

"Any problem?" Jie Luo tilted his head up, looking scornfully at the middle-aged man who had spoken up.

"No, no problem." After reading the document, a flicker of grief appeared in Village Chief Hale’s eyes.

One of the four who had been shot was his own nephew. He had originally thought the slow-moving State Troopers would give him a night’s buffer to handle the aftermath.

Who would have thought Feng Shan would request reinforcements from the reservation, and that they would send people over in less than three hours, completely ruining his plans?

"Feng, where are the bastards who tried to hurt you?" The moment Jie Luo turned back to Feng Shan, a warm smile returned to his face.

...