"The review meeting at Anchorage headquarters was a huge mess the other day."
She spoke faster.
"The original draft has been completed. Hunting Area No. 1 will be downgraded to three stars, and the quota will be reduced by thirty percent."
"Then what?"
Su Wei steered the pickup truck smoothly into a long bend.
"Then, a high-ranking official from the State Economic Development Bureau personally made a direct call to the guild headquarters."
Emily leaned back in her seat, her gaze falling on the back of Su Wei's hand gripping the steering wheel.
"Not only did I make a phone call, but I also faxed over a very thick document."
"I saw a copy of that document in the conference room: the 'Draft Initial Bylaws of the Northern Throne Club.'"
Emily sat up straight, the latte in her paper cup sloshing violently.
The total number of slots is limited to one hundred, and will not be increased for life.
"Not only are extremely high levels of proof of assets required, but also rigorous background checks on families."
"The most outrageous thing is..."
She stared intently at Su Wei's profile.
"The initial membership list was accompanied by a photocopy of a cash check verified by Citi Private Bank, bearing that person's signature."
" Seattle, Charles."
A brief silence fell over the carriage.
Only the air conditioner vents were blowing warm air.
Cotton Candy let out a comfortable purr and rolled over.
Just a week ago, the anxious voice of agent Harris still echoed in the video call.
"I need to draft a ' Northern High-End Ecotourism Stimulus Plan ' to submit to the State Economic Development Department..."
At the time, it was entirely to appease the IRS Anomaly Monitoring Group regarding money laundering investigations.
Without a legitimate pretext, the $500,000 in cash flow with no barriers to entry is simply unusable.
Defining the funds as investment attraction aimed at boosting the local economy was a risky move by Harris.
This thing was immediately sent to the Hunters' Guild headquarters?
Su Wei looked at the gray-white coastal highway ahead.
To justify the membership fee, he sent Charles's $300,000 deposit check directly to Harris.
From the perspective of the IRS tax commissioner, this level of spending was abnormally high.
But in the eyes of the Alaska State Economic Development Bureau, this became an irresistible endorsement.
A private club where even the entry requirements are set in the sky, and you have to queue up and be inspected before you can spend any money.
A mysterious stronghold that even top-tier investors obediently pay to reserve its location.
Through a series of unforeseen circumstances, everything turned out this way.
Su Wei fell silent; he didn't know how to answer.
Was all of this just a way to evade censorship?
"The state government is desperate for money."
Emily scoffed, breaking the silence.
"For the past few years, they've been trying to lure the money from Wall Street and West Coast tycoons to Alaska."
"But aside from selling crabs and visiting glaciers, there's nothing here that can attract the super-rich to indulge in high-end consumption. Nobody wants to experience life sleeping in a sleeping bag and eating canned food."
She drew a circle in the air with her finger.
"Your plan hit their weak spot right away."
"A top-tier club that can gather the world's top 100 elites means countless possibilities."
"Although it also implies hidden deals, it's okay."
"As long as they are still around, there is a possibility of large-scale infrastructure investment extending to the entire Kodiak Island."
"And that is more than enough."
Su Wei tapped his fingers lightly on the steering wheel.
After hearing Emily's subsequent explanation, Su Wei was completely dumbfounded.
He had thought about it a thousand times, but he had never considered this possibility.
He did indeed consider that the club's development would make a small contribution to tourism on Kodiak Island.
But it really is only insignificant.
After all, his own goal was quite simple.
It's just about setting up a club to make money.
But now, because of a dinner in the Chart Room, the club has become one that is forced to move towards the top.
Because of Charles's check, the company had to be established ahead of schedule.
Finally, in order to circumvent censorship, they had to fabricate some possible documents.
Some of these documents, which may seem like empty promises or mere lip service in retrospect, are simply wishful thinking.
After all, his club is still just an empty shell.
Charles knew, Harris knew, and he knew even more clearly.
But he never imagined that all of this would be a series of unexpected twists of fate.
This led to a series of chain reactions.
In the end, it turned out like this!
The higher-ups have actually taken this seriously!
And did this even lead to a rating upgrade for Hunting Area No. 1?
Su Wei sighed, and the root of all this was...
However, it's all connected to one person in a fatal way.
Charles.
At this point, Su Wei finally gained a profound understanding of the absurd scene in " The Million Pound Bank Note".
Once you possess high value, whether it's inherent or bestowed by external forces.
Everything around you will automatically gravitate towards you, whether it's wealth, status, or connections.
What was the guild's response?
Su Wei inquired.
"Of course, the guild will listen to the official sponsor."
"The state government has made it clear that this is a core ecological engine project that can revitalize the local high-end economy, and it happens to be located in the Kodiak Hunting Area No. 1."
Emily's tone held a hint of disbelief and astonishment.
"If Hunting Area No. 1 is downgraded, road network maintenance will stagnate, security and ecological patrols will be reduced, and the entire area will become dilapidated, which will directly affect the progress of this major project."
"It might even anger that important figure from Seattle."
"If that happens, the prospects for attracting further investment may not be so optimistic."
"So, in order to meet your club's infrastructure standards..."
"They raised the hunting area to four stars out of thin air, paving the way for me with official funds."
Su Wei continued the conversation.
He turned his head and looked at the undulating coniferous forests in the distance.
And now, because of Charles's check.
The state government not only didn't suspect him of money laundering, but also proactively allocated funds for infrastructure projects, fearing that his large project would lose its value.
What's this called?
Did they manage to pull off a local poverty alleviation project out of thin air?
"Not only that."
Emily moved closer.
"Those old conservatives were still hesitant, after all, the mistake in Hunting Area No. 1 was a major weakness."
"But your proposal contains an extremely arrogant supplementary clause."
"Custom-made complete set of original behemoth specimens, perfect quality, with no risk of chemical oxidation, and permanently cured."
She recited that sentence word for word.