After all, maintaining this territory and feeding this picky celebrity both require money.
Lots and lots of money.
The number of views on YouTube exceeded his expectations, so Su Wei opened another music app on his phone, wanting to see what was happening here.
Sure enough, TikTok gave him a surprise.
The number of views here has exceeded 100,000, the number of likes has exceeded 10,000, and there are more than 1,000 comments.
However, just like on YouTube, most of the comments were about the cute Cotton Candy.
Overall, however, the data for both of his accounts was very good.
The video's unexpected popularity is just a bright spot in Su Wei's life; for her now, it's like a dessert after a main course.
But right now, there's a real main course, something even more important, something more crucial to his very survival, waiting for him to accomplish.
That commission worth $100,000.
That wasn't a virtual like, it was a real Franklin.
It was the seed money that transformed Emerald Lake Territory from a wilderness into a fully-equipped private estate that could withstand the cold and wild beasts.
It is the foundation of the soon-to-be-constructed exhibition hall, a perfectly paved road, and a luxurious estate worth thirty million US dollars—a solid first step towards the life of one's dreams.
With that thought in mind, he no longer hesitated.
Su Wei closed TikTok and opened her contacts.
Then, he stood up and rummaged through drawers and cabinets, finally pulling out the hard black card from the pocket of a windbreaker hanging on a coat rack.
Laurent La Laroche.
The gold lettering of the phone number gleamed in the flickering firelight of the fireplace.
Su Wei took a deep breath, adjusted his breathing, and pressed the dial button.
A few steady, monotonous beeps came through the receiver, exceptionally clear in the quiet wooden cabin.
The call was answered almost on the third ring.
There were no polite small talk, no unnecessary greetings.
A calm, restrained, and even slightly arrogant male voice with a distinct French accent came through the receiver.
Who is it?
The background music faintly carried the sounds of classical music and the clinking of wine glasses, clearly indicating that the other party was in a warm and comfortable world, seemingly in a parallel universe to the blizzard on the Su Wei side.
"Mr. Laurent, I am Su Wei Weiyang."
Su Wei's voice was steady, as if he were stating a perfectly ordinary fact.
"The request regarding the brown bear has been completed."
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone.
The silence lasted for a full five seconds.
There was no electrical noise in the silence; it was so quiet that Su Wei could even hear his own steady, strong heartbeat.
He could picture the France man in the exquisite cashmere coat standing in the impeccable kitchen of his top-notch restaurant.
He frowned slightly, and the movement of swirling the wine glass in his hand abruptly stopped.
With his sharp mind, honed by decades of experience, he was quickly analyzing the veracity of that statement.
"Is it finished?"
Laurent's voice finally rang out again.
This time, he spoke a beat slower than before, his tone carrying a hint of surprise and doubt, as if confirming something that defied common sense.
"Mr. Yang, just a few days ago there was a blizzard warning. I think I need a more precise description."
"Do you mean you found its footprints and determined its range, or...?"
"I hunted it down."
Su Wei calmly interrupted his speculation, his tone completely unwavering.
"Just this afternoon, on the north slope of Pillar Mountain. The hide was intact, and the skinning process went very smoothly."
"The body has been taken back to my garage and is still warm. It meets all your requirements, even... exceeding your expectations."
Another long silence followed.
This time, Su Wei clearly heard a very soft sound, like the rustling of fabric, coming from the receiver.
The other person seemed to be surprised and suddenly stood up straight. This subtle movement completely exposed the unease in the big boss's heart.
"The north slope of Pillar Mountain... in this awful weather?"
Laurent's voice finally betrayed a hint of undisguised surprise and unease.
" The Hunters' Guild in Kodiak, those with twenty years of experience, are all rejecting me."
"They told me that it would take at least a week after the blizzard for the tracks in the mountains to stabilize before they could be tracked."
"And you... it's only been less than two days since we last met."
"Moreover, it's Missing Ear, a cunning beast with an anti-hunting instinct."
Laurent emphasized this, seemingly trying to convince himself with common sense.
"I was just lucky; I happened to catch it when it was extremely hungry and made a mistake."
Su Wei responded calmly, even taking a small sip of the whiskey beside him.
He certainly wouldn't explain the abilities he possessed.
For clients like Laurent, the process is not important; the result is everything.
An overly detailed explanation might actually make one appear less confident.
True strength often lies in demonstrating results.
"Luck?"
Laurent chuckled softly on the other end of the phone, a short and dry laugh.
"Mr. Yang, I've been in business for thirty years, and I've never believed in pure luck."
"Luck is for those foolish fishermen who cast their nets at the dock, hoping the fish will stumble in. You, clearly, are not one of them."
He then shifted his tone, returning to the shrewdness of a businessman and the strictness of a head chef, his voice now carrying a greater respect for those in power.
"I need to confirm its weight, freshness, and especially the integrity of its gallbladder."
"You know, my guests care about every detail."
"Your weight is estimated to be over 450 kilograms. You can have your kitchen staff weigh you for a more accurate estimate."
Su Wei gave a number that startled even himself.
"As for freshness, its heart has stopped beating for no more than six hours."
"I personally performed the procedure, peeling off the intact skin along with the finger bones, cutting the tenderloin and leg meat suitable for cooking, and extracting the complete bear bile—without any damage and full of bile."
"The one with the Missing Ear?"
Laurent's voice betrayed a barely suppressed excitement.
"That's it. Right ear defect, but the features match."
"Incredible..."
Laurent exclaimed in genuine admiration.
It's the excitement of a top gourmet finally finding their dream ingredient, and even more so, it's an appreciation for someone who exceeds expectations.
"I gave you two weeks, that was based on my most optimistic estimate. I thought it would be a long wait, a contest of patience and perseverance between hunter and beast."
"I never imagined you'd turn it into a surgical removal."
"Your abilities, Mr. Yang, have given me a completely new, even revolutionary, understanding of Black's vision."
"You are far more dangerous, and far more reliable, than I imagined."
This recognition from top professionals gives Su Wei a much more solid sense of satisfaction than cheap likes on the internet.
This is not just praise; it also means that he has secured a place in Kodiak's high-end circles.
His first commission appears to have successfully established his reputation.
This is the first time I've relied on myself.
"So, regarding the transaction..."
Su Wei did not lose himself in the praise and took the initiative to steer the conversation back on track.
"Certainly!"
Laurent responded immediately, his voice rising a few decibels, his thoughts quickly shifting back to the commission itself.
"Tomorrow morning, regardless of whether the snow stops or not, deliver it to my restaurant. Use the back door, go directly to the kitchen."
"My sous chef will inspect the goods. As long as the quality and cut of meat are fine, I will pay you the $100,000 on the spot."