Landlord in the Arctic

Chapter 423: Chapter 308: Explanation (Part 2)

With no other choice, she dragged her stumbling feet and slowly followed.

Ten minutes later, Sheriff Ronnie returned, looking pleased. He walked straight up to Feng Shan, his face beaming with a confident smile.

"Buddy, it’s all settled. For the sake of Fiona’s future, Valerie has agreed to transfer custody to Yves."

"Is that right, Valerie?" After he spoke, Sheriff Ronnie turned to look at Valerie, and a subtle, almost imperceptible warning flashed in his otherwise amicable eyes.

It was a reminder for Valerie to be obedient and not cause any more trouble.

Recalling what Ronnie had just said to her, Valerie couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

Though her heart was filled with unwilling resentment, the thought of her own life and safety made her reconsider. Swallowing her indignation, she could only nod slowly.

"Y-yes... that’s right. I agree to relinquish my custody rights."

Feng Shan looked at the once-greedy and arrogant woman and sighed to himself.

’It just goes to show, her greed was boundless.’

Still, he remembered that she was Fiona’s mother. After a moment’s thought, Feng Shan said calmly,

"Ma’am, I am very pleased with your selflessness. As a token of our gratitude, I can offer you 100,000 US Dollars in compensation on behalf of Yves."

"Really?"

To hear there was actually compensation...

Valerie’s eyes lit up instantly. She looked like a drowning person who had just grabbed a life-saving log, her face full of shocked delight.

Although she had originally demanded 500,000 US Dollars, which was a far cry from the 100,000 US Dollars now on the table, something was still better than nothing.

Besides, she wouldn’t have to split this money with Bao Wen.

If Bao Wen had been involved, she might have ended up with only a pathetic few thousands of US Dollars.

But now was different. This 100,000 US Dollars would be all hers.

With this money, she could leave Baird Town for good.

She could leave this disgusting place, a place filled with memories of failure and humiliation, and go somewhere no one knew her to start over.

Though he felt a hint of contempt watching her, Feng Shan still nodded.

"Of course. But I need you to personally tell the judge in court that you are willing to relinquish custody. I’ll give you the money right there in the courtroom. Can you do that?"

Feng Shan did this for two reasons: one, to ensure the entire process was legal and above-board, and two, to reassure Valerie that he would not break his promise.

"Yes, yes, that would be for the best." A final weight was lifted from Valerie’s heart.

Getting the money in court would eliminate the risk of a bounced check, giving her true peace of mind.

"Alright then. Let’s head directly to the Kalah County Constitutional County Court. Yves has already filed the application to change custody, and I’d like to get this matter settled today."

Feng Shan glanced at the time, feeling that there was no time to lose. The sooner this was resolved, the better, to prevent any new complications from arising.

After speaking, he pointed to a black SUV parked nearby.

"You can go wait for me in the car. I believe you know Xia Li."

Valerie nodded repeatedly, then turned to glance instinctively at Sheriff Ronnie, as if seeking his approval.

Sheriff Ronnie waved his hand dismissively, his face impatient. "What are you looking at me for? Just remember what you promised Mr. Feng. And one more thing: I don’t want to see you in Baird Town ever again. You understand me?"

"I understand, I understand!" Valerie replied hastily, as if afraid Ronnie might change his mind.

She then turned and ran toward the SUV, her steps much lighter, as if she could already see the dawn of her new life.

Next, Feng Shan sincerely expressed his gratitude to the Kikapu Tribe, thanking them for their help at such a critical moment.

He also invited the tribal chief and the other members of the tribe,

to visit Crown Territory whenever they had time and experience a different way of life there.

The tribal chief listened, a hearty smile spreading across his face, and readily accepted Feng Shan’s invitation.

Afterwards, the chief and Nash embraced tightly, a deep sense of camaraderie passing between them.

The Indian herdsmen of the Kikapu Tribe mounted up and drove the cattle onward, continuing their seasonal migration.

The vast procession gradually receded into the distance, leaving only a cloud of dust in its wake.

Then, Feng Shan gave Sheriff Ronnie a simple wave goodbye before getting into the car with Nash.

At that moment, Director Roland looked through the car window and saw the members of the Zorro Gang looking overjoyed. He couldn’t help but frown in confusion.

"Hey, are you just going to let them go? I think those bastards deserve to be punished by the law."

"The law?" Feng Shan scoffed at the words. He raised a hand and pointed through the window at Sheriff Ronnie, who was speaking with the gang members. With a hint of mockery in his voice, he asked,

"Who do you think keeps these gangs afloat? It’s you wealthy white people. You take care of the Zorro Gang today, and tomorrow they’ll just prop up a Right Luo Gang. They’ll be doing the exact same things."

"Believe it or not, within three hours, I’ll get a call from the sheriff telling me that Bao Wen has died for ’some reason.’ Isn’t that right, Lady Valery?"

As he spoke, Feng Shan’s gaze suddenly shifted to Valerie, who was sitting in the front passenger seat.

Valerie flinched violently as if he’d struck a nerve. She lowered her head and said nothing.

But her reaction was a silent admission to Feng Shan’s words.

The atmosphere in the car instantly grew heavy.

"So that’s just corrup—" Director Roland didn’t finish the word, but everyone in the car understood what he wanted to say.

Everyone knew in their hearts that there were likely unspeakable secrets hidden within this whole affair.

Feng Shan had no desire to linger in this sickening atmosphere. "Crown Territory is much cleaner. Ms. Xia Li, let’s go. Let’s get this over with."

The SUV started up again.

Xia Li slammed on the gas, and the engine let out an instantaneous roar.

The car shot onto Highway 20 like an arrow loosed from a bow and sped away.

Sheriff Ronnie watched the car as it drove away,

until the SUV completely disappeared from his line of sight.

Only then did he slowly turn his head, his gaze falling upon the members of the Zorro Gang.

His cold eyes swept over each of them before finally landing on a man with an ear stud. He pointed a finger straight at him and said coldly,

"Fuer, take two men and drive my pickup truck off the road at Big Bend. I don’t need to spell out the rest for you, do I?"

Hearing this, a conflicted look immediately appeared on Fuer’s face.

Big Bend was an extremely dangerous cliffside road on the outskirts of Baird Town. In the past, cars unfamiliar with the road would occasionally go over the edge, resulting in wreckage and death.

After Highway 20 was rebuilt, that old road had been abandoned.

The sheriff’s meaning couldn’t have been clearer.

He was to send the pickup truck—along with their boss, Bao Wen, who was inside it—over the edge at Big Bend.

"What? You have a problem with that?" Seeing Fuer hesitate, Sheriff Ronnie narrowed his eyes. His gaze was like that of a rattlesnake lying in wait in the desert, cold and full of menace. "Bao Wen pissed off someone important this time. Now it’s either he dies, or we die. You choose."

A ruthless edge crept into Sheriff Ronnie’s tone.

Fuer felt the immense pressure.

"I’ll do it!" Fuer gritted his teeth. After weighing the options in his mind, he ultimately chose to submit.

He called out the names of two other members, accepting the task.

Sheriff Ronnie nodded in satisfaction, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

"Very good. From now on, you’ll be in charge of the Zorro Gang. You just make sure you keep the routes secure and keep things quiet in town. Bao Wen ended up like this because he got too greedy."

At these words, Fuer’s eyes lit up.

The conflicted look on his face instantly morphed into one of delighted surprise.

This was his chance to rise up in the gang. As long as he did as the sheriff said, the Zorro Gang might really be his to control in the future.

"I understand, Mr. Roni. You can rest assured, I’ll get it done right."

...