"Silly kid, I’m just messing with you!" Feng Shan chuckled, patting Feng Jun’s shoulder. He turned to Yves. "Give him an ammo belt and let him have some fun. The kid’s never even touched a gun before." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"My God! My son had his own .22 bird gun when he was five, and this kid’s never touched a gun at his age? Son, let me show you how to use an M60."

As a member of the National Rifle Association of America, Chief Bird couldn’t stand seeing someone who’d never handled a firearm. Hearing about Feng Jun’s inexperience, he was so surprised that he stepped forward to instruct him personally.

"Here, press the stock against your shoulder. Since it’s your first time with an M60, don’t hold the trigger down. Use short bursts. Once you get used to the impact, you can try full auto."

....

In the shooting range lounge.

"Brother Feng, this is the other key to the armory. Who do you think would be a good fit to look after it?" Sun Jia said, placing a key on the table.

Feng Shan looked at the three new security employees. "Any of you interested in staying here at the shooting range?"

The three men looked at each other.

Gunpowder, a burly man with a thick beard, stepped forward. "Boss, I like this place."

Feng Shan nodded and looked at the other two. "What about you?"

"Sorry, I swore I’d stay away from battlefields. I’d rather drive a bulldozer to clear rocks off the riverbank," the bald-headed Bat said, shaking his head.

"Same here. I’d much rather be in a kitchen making tacos," said Scar, who had a burn scar on his cheek, also declining the position.

Feng Shan shrugged, picked up the armory key from the table, and tossed it to Gunpowder.

"All right, then. The post is yours. From now on, you’ll report to Mr. Sun."

"Thanks, Boss!" Gunpowder grinned and walked over to stand beside Sun Jia.

DAKKA DAKKA DAKKA!!!

The deep roar of the M60 echoed from the shooting range.

「A short while later.」

Chief Bird walked into the lounge, followed by an excited Feng Jun who was rubbing his shoulder.

"Brother Feng, that was so awesome! It was my first time shooting a real gun. It’s nothing like in the games. The recoil is insane!"

"When I tell those little brats back home, they’re going to be so jealous."

"Bro, can I come back and shoot again next time? I’ll pay."

Feng Shan waved his hand dismissively. "All right, that’s enough. Get back to the restaurant and get to work. Tell the kitchen to prepare some dishes. I’m treating some guests to lunch."

"You got it! I’ll make the stewed fish myself," Feng Jun said, leaving the shooting range happily.

Next came the investigation and review. Chief Bird wasn’t a stranger, and Feng Shan had just let him fire off a full magazine for free.

The review process skipped many of the non-essential steps.

After filling out the questionnaire and answering a few questions, the review was considered complete.

By this time, the sky had begun to lighten. The long-absent winter sun finally peeked out.

A touch of warm sunlight spilled over the snowy mountain peaks. On the distant horizon, the clouds were tinged with a faint red blush, dreamlike and beautiful.

Feng Shan pulled out his phone and checked the time: 11:30 AM.

"The sun’s up!"

"Buddy, you’ve got to get used to just three hours of daylight a day. Soon enough, it’ll be completely dark. You have to learn to find your own fun... like hiding a woman in your room." Chief Bird was already accustomed to this kind of weather and, in turn, began teaching Feng Shan ways to get through the polar night.

"Why hide one? I’m surrounded by women here," Feng Shan said, pretending not to get the joke. He stood up and called out, "Come on, let’s go try some of the Crown Territory’s food."

The group, still buzzing with a bit of leftover excitement from the shooting range and a feeling that the fun had ended too soon, stepped into the restaurant.

Having gotten the message, Jenny had personally gone into the kitchen and already prepared several appetizers.

The restaurant didn’t have any private rooms, so Feng Shan chose a table by the window in the main dining hall.

The view outside contrasted beautifully with the indoor atmosphere. The newborn sunlight streamed through the window and onto the tabletop, adding a sense of peace and comfort to the upcoming meal.

A server moved briskly, approaching with a tray and placing two appetizers on the table.

A fruit salad and a vegetable platter.

All the ingredients used in these two appetizers were grown right here in the camp.

Colorful wild berries, crisp green lettuce, tender cucumbers, and bright red tomatoes were combined perfectly, making one’s mouth water just by looking at them.

Furthermore, these ingredients had been enhanced by the tribe’s Fire Seed, causing a miraculous change in both their texture and flavor.

"Have a taste. I grew them all myself," Feng Shan said with a shameless boast.

"My God, you can still grow vegetables on the tundra in winter? I only knew you could grow some for a short time on the fringes during the summer. Are you using a greenhouse?" Chief Bird asked, looking at the fresh vegetables and berries on the plate. He was certain they hadn’t been picked more than half an hour ago.

Even in Fairbanks, Alaska’s second-largest city, which is shielded by the Brooks Range, the influence of the Arctic Circle’s extreme climate makes outdoor agriculture difficult.

Even when it was possible, it was limited to small-scale cultivation of cold-hardy vegetables during the spring and summer months of May and June. To try growing crops outdoors in the winter without a greenhouse? You’d have to have been kicked in the head by a reindeer.

Faced with Chief Bird’s astonishment, Feng Shan sighed inwardly. ’Time to repeat the same old lie about the geothermal heat.’

’Sometimes I really want to just put up a sign at the camp entrance to explain it all.’

"The Crown Territory has underground shale gas..."

After hearing Feng Shan’s explanation, Chief Bird nodded with envy.

"I was wondering how moss could possibly grow on the tundra in winter, and why the temperature inside the camp is completely different from outside. So that’s why. Buddy, you’re really lucky."

"It’s why I chose to stay!" Feng Shan shrugged. "Try the vegetables. They taste great."

"Oh yeah?"

Chief Bird picked up his fork, speared a lettuce leaf, and put it in his mouth to chew.

The moment he bit down, the lettuce leaf made a crisp sound, and a rich, fresh vegetable aroma immediately filled his mouth.

It was completely different from any lettuce he had ever eaten.

A trace of surprise welled up in Chief Bird’s heart.

This lettuce seemed more tender and juicy, its texture more refreshing, and its aroma richer, as if it carried the essence of nature itself, letting one feel the richness of the soil and the warmth of the sun.

After swallowing the lettuce, his gaze shifted to the fruit salad.

He used his fork to scoop up a few berries and pop them into his mouth.

The round, plump berries burst gently in his mouth, releasing a rich, fruity fragrance and sweet juice.

Chief Bird savored the wonderful taste, feeling the sweet and sour notes of the berries dance on his tongue.

The refreshing taste and complex layers made him feel as if his whole body and mind were in an orchard, basking in the sun and gentle breeze.

"Buddy, you’ll have to excuse my manners!" Chief Bird said, glancing at Feng Shan sheepishly, his eyes full of apology.

He immediately pulled the platter in front of him, his fork flying up and down between the dishes.

At that moment, Chief Bird was completely immersed in a world of delicious food, oblivious to everything around him.

The food on the platter vanished under his assault, as if swept away by a hurricane.

At the next table, the police officers who had come with him were eating in the exact same way, but no one in the restaurant would laugh at their rudeness.

Because on their own first day, when they first tasted the vegetables provided by the camp, every single one of them had been stunned by the fresh texture and rich flavor.

Their table manners had been even worse.

After the appetizers were finished, the server brought the main course.

Pan-seared French-style reindeer steak.

Although the Crown Territory’s reindeer meat tasted good, it was still a far cry from the berries and vegetables. After all, the vegetables and berries were crops grown from native soil under the care of the tribe’s Fire Seed, while the reindeer had only been slightly influenced by it.

But Chief Bird had no basis for comparison.

So, the reindeer meat that the people of Crown Territory looked down on, he devoured with endless praise.

’Is it really that good?’

Feng Shan tried a bite. He could only say that it was edible, but far from delicious. A large part of its appeal was due to Jenny’s superb cooking skills.

’Maybe I should really start raising some livestock in the camp.’

Just as Feng Shan was lost in thought,

a loud shout came from the direction of the kitchen.

"Order up! Big fish in an iron pot stew!"

Then, Feng Jun, wearing an apron, walked out of the kitchen carrying an iron pot, while Wawa followed, helping him carry a small stove.

The stove was placed on the table. Charcoal was burning in its chamber, producing no wood smoke.

The iron pot was covered with a lid.

Feng Jun stood by the table, and from who-knows-where, he produced a bottle of liquor and some cups, grinning as he recited a rhyming verse.

As he spoke, he filled a cup with liquor and presented it to Chief Bird.

"As the old saying goes, it’s not a feast without fish, it’s not a banquet without fish! When the fish hits the table, a ’fish head toast’ must be drunk."

Everyone in the restaurant watched Feng Jun’s performance with curiosity. He was even trying to say it in English, though many of his words weren’t very clear.

’The little rascal.’

’Where does he learn all these routines?’

Feng Shan shook his head and chuckled, then explained to the dazed-looking Chief Bird.

"Buddy, this is a Chinese custom. When you treat a guest to a meal, you must serve fish. And after the fish is served, you have to invite the guest to have a drink."

Because the United States has a relatively short history, its cultural heritage might not be as deep in some respects as that of countries with long, ancient histories.

Therefore, Americans are often fascinated by the rich and colorful traditions of other countries.

Just like now, for instance. An excited Chief Bird hurriedly stood up to accept the drink.

"Good, good!!"

...