His daughter’s mental state was getting better and better, and her depression showed clear signs of improving.

The light was returning to her eyes, which were no longer as empty and lifeless as before.

She started to observe her surroundings on her own and showed interest in new things.

Daisen felt like he was seeing a new beginning—hope for his daughter’s recovery. At the same time, he regretted not listening to Tom’s advice sooner.

"Sit down, let’s chat." Feng Mountain, of course, didn’t know what was going through Daisen’s mind and took a seat himself.

Daisen was taken aback for a moment, then gave a grateful smile and waved a server over. "What would you like to drink? It’s on me. The drinks at your bar are great."

"A Tundra Aurora," Feng Mountain said irritably, glancing at the server.

Of course, he wasn’t angry at the server.

It was the fact that he had to pay for a drink in his own bar.

’Demi actually dared to send the bill to my cabin and make me pay. She wouldn’t even let me start a tab!’

"Right away, Boss!" the waitress said with a smile, not minding her boss’s grumpy tone at all.

Soon, a brilliantly colorful rum cocktail was brought to the table.

Of course, when the boss came to the bar, his drinks couldn’t be free, but he could get a complimentary plate of nuts and dried fruit.

"I’m not paying for this," Feng Mountain muttered.

"It’s on the house," the waitress said with a sweet smile before turning to leave.

"God, can you believe it? Having to pay for a drink in your own bar. Is there any justice in this world?" Feng Mountain grumbled before pushing the plate of fruit over to Lotti.

"Uncle, are Xiong Da and Xiong Er your pets?" Lotti asked softly.

"They’re not pets; they’re members of the camp." Feng Mountain smiled when the little girl mentioned the two polar bear cubs. "Do you like them?"

Lotti nodded, then shook her head.

"I like them, but they love to drink. They’re not good boys."

Huh?

’Drinking?’

Feng Mountain froze, not understanding what Lotti meant.

Just then, a cheer erupted in the bar’s main hall.

Feng Mountain turned to look and saw the two polar bear cubs waddling in through the main entrance. They expertly made their way to a table, stood up, raised their little paws, and started whining at the drinking townsfolk.

"Xiong Da and Xiong Er, you’re late! Did your dad, Prince, give you a spanking?" a town resident chuckled, picking up a mug of draft beer from the table and placing it on the floor.

WHINE!

The polar bear cub whined in response, then struggled to wrap its paws around the mug and began to gulp down the beer.

Its movements were unnervingly practiced, as if it had done this many times before.

Feng Mountain turned to look at Daisen, who cracked a grin. "In the few days I’ve been here, these two little guys come to the bar to beg for drinks every day—once during the day and once at night. If you don’t give them any, they play pathetic."

’Unbelievable!’

’They’ve already learned to use tactics. I don’t even have to think to know that damn Prince taught them.’

"We’ll talk in a bit. I need to take care of this." Feng Mountain shot to his feet and strode toward the two polar bear cubs.

A group of carefree Inuit had surrounded the cubs and were deliberately placing various kinds of alcohol on the floor.

The two cubs accepted all offers, whining as they picked their drinks, their little black eyes already looking glazed over.

Feng Mountain tapped the shoulder of an Inuit man in front of him who was holding a beer.

The man shrugged impatiently. ’What’s the rush? Can’t you see we’re all waiting in line?’

But the tapping continued, and the Inuit man spun his head around viciously.

The next moment, his fierce expression vanished, replaced by the meekness of a Snow Rabbit. He ducked his head, gave an awkward laugh, and quickly stepped aside.

The great Inuit people fear nothing.

They would provoke a Polar Bear with nothing but a wooden stick in hand.

But this man... it was impossible not to fear him.

’Even if you gave me a Gun of Truth, I wouldn’t dare mess with him.’

"Mr. Sheriff, after you."

"Hmph," Feng Mountain grunted, continuing forward and tapping the next person’s shoulder.

The Inuit people’s reactions to the shoulder taps were all nearly identical.

They would turn around, annoyed.

In China, friends or elders might pat someone’s shoulder as a sign of encouragement. However, this gesture is considered very rude among the Indigenous People of Alaska, who view casually touching others as disrespectful, which can lead to misunderstandings and conflict.

Feng Mountain, of course, was unaware of this cultural difference, but his high status was undeniable.

The Inuit who were tapped would turn, see it was him, and obediently get out of the way.

He walked up to the two little Polar Bears and snatched the drinks right out of their paws. Seeing their alcohol stolen, the already tipsy cubs let out dissatisfied squalls.

’They dare to talk back?!’

Feng Mountain reached out, grabbed Xiong Da by the scruff of his neck, and gave him a few quick smacks on the rear.

Xiong Da’s little paws flailed wildly in the air, but he was powerless against the sudden punishment.

After he was done with the first, he picked up Xiong Er and gave him a few smacks as well.

Xiong Er barely had time to realize what was happening before he was punished.

Being spanked for what they saw as no reason, Xiong Da and Xiong Er—who were beloved by everyone in the camp—were not about to take it lying down!

They opened their mouths and let out aggrieved cries, calling for backup. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Prince, who had been lying at the bar’s entrance, heard his precious sons’ cries. Thinking they were being bullied, he shot to his feet and darted inside.

But the moment he saw his master, Prince immediately turned tail and fled, terrified of being spotted.

’As for his precious sons? If they get a beating, they get a beating. He’d just pretend he didn’t see a thing.’

As for Xiong Da and Xiong Er, they were still wallowing in self-pity, completely unaware that their backup had already deserted them on the battlefield.

The pair continued to wail, as if trying to tell everyone around them about their terrible ordeal.

However, without Prince to back them up, their cries sounded somewhat feeble.

Feng Mountain shook his head helplessly, picked one up in each hand, and looked out at the townsfolk who were enjoying the show.

"From now on, no one is allowed to give these two any more alcohol! They’re turning into little drunkards. Anyone I catch giving them drinks will be blacklisted from the bar!"

The surrounding townsfolk were stunned for a moment, then broke into sheepish smiles.

Xiong Da and Xiong Er squirmed in Feng Mountain’s grip, apparently still upset about their confiscated drinks.

Feng Mountain ignored them and returned to Daisen’s table. Noticing that Lotti’s gaze was fixed on the little Polar Bears, he handed Xiong Da and Xiong Er to her.

"How about I give you a mission, okay?"

Lotti looked up, bewildered, and took the two whimpering, sniffling cubs, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

"You’re in charge of these two little rascals now. Don’t let them drink anymore, and teach them how to be good boys, okay?" Feng Mountain said with a smile.

Lotti looked down at the two little Polar Bears in her arms, and a strange warmth washed over her heart.

She nodded lightly, as if accepting a sacred mission.

Daisen watched his daughter’s reaction in silence, his heart filled with emotion.

’Ever since we came to this strange, magical place, my daughter has been gradually opening up.’

"Sir, thank you!"

Feng Mountain waved it off, not thinking much of it. "It’s nothing. The camp is still developing, and I’m too busy to keep an eye on everything. Xiong Da and Xiong Er picked up some bad habits from a bunch of rascals. With Lotti helping out, I can worry a little less."

"By the way, you’re planning to open a hide shop in the camp, right?"

Daisen nodded. "That’s right. Because of Lotti, my tannery in Polaris Town is closed. Tom suggested I open a shop here in Crown Territory."

"A very wise decision. I hope you can get your shop open soon. We’ll have tourists coming to Crown Territory before long. As you can see, the camp’s shopping facilities are still incomplete. We need plenty of businesses to move in. You’d do well to stock up on cold-weather clothing made from animal hides."

Of course, Feng Mountain welcomed Daisen opening a shop in the camp. It was now winter on the Tundra. Although the climate inside the camp was pleasant, the temperature outside was -30 degrees Celsius. He doubted the winter clothes people brought from China would be nearly enough.

Su Ziweng’s last visit had proven that much.

In the end, he’d had to ask Tom to bring some clothes made from animal hides from Fairbanks.

"Also, since Crown Territory is a self-governing town, I set the tax policies. The Crown Territory provides land for free, but electricity is not. As for taxes, there’s only a sales tax, which will be fixed at a 20% rate."

"It’s a bit high, I know, but that 20% covers infrastructure, public services, community development, and welfare. I hope you can understand."

A 20% sales tax.

That rate wasn’t just high; it was exorbitant.

Daisen fell into silence.

’Gratitude is one thing, but just giving away money is another. I can’t throw my money down the drain just because I’m thankful.’

...