Su Wei pulled out the key and opened the car door.
The hands of my watch had just passed 7:55 in the morning.
He stepped onto the icy ground.
The red brick building is right across the street.
The faded wooden sign looked even more worn in the morning light — Howard and Pell Law Firm.
Su Wei did not go over immediately.
He stood next to the Raptor, his right hand reaching into the inside pocket of his jacket, his fingertips touching the two folded A4 sheets of paper.
The edges of the photocopies of the land purchase contract and confidentiality agreement had softened from my body heat.
Parsons' words after checking the database were now replaying in his mind.
The federal mining rights reservation record is empty.
It all belongs to you.
The legal barriers have been established, but there are still three hurdles to overcome in practice.
Geological exploration report, review by the state environmental protection department, and commercial mining license.
Each of these three things requires the full support of a professional lawyer.
At 7:58, he started walking across the parking lot.
The metal stairs were even more slippery than the last time I was here.
Su Wei gripped the cold iron handrail with his left hand and stepped onto the second floor.
The frosted glass door at the end of the corridor remained the same, but a thin layer of frost covered the brass doorknob.
Turn the screw on and push the door open.
A wave of heat hit me.
This office is much more respectable than Parsons' run-down place.
The reception area was covered with a thick, hand-woven carpet, made of deep red wool with geometric patterns.
On the wall hang the bar association's practice certificates and several yellowed group photos.
A coffee machine sits by the window, with several white paper cups stacked next to it.
A woman in her forties with short hair, wearing a gray knit sweater, was sitting at the front desk, typing on a computer screen.
Su Wei's Martin boots stepped onto the handwoven carpet, leaving a trail of muddy marks on the deep red wool.
The short-haired woman looked up, glanced at the muddy footprints under his feet, and then looked at the windbreaker he was wearing.
The incongruity between outdoor gear and the law firm's carpet made her pause for a second.
Have you made an appointment?
" Su Wei -Yang. I left a message by phone yesterday."
The short-haired woman glanced down at the notebook on the table and nodded.
"Mr. Howard is available at eight o'clock. Please wait a moment."
She stood up, walked to a wooden door at the end of the corridor, and knocked twice.
A deep baritone voice came from inside the door.
"Come in."
The short-haired woman stepped aside and gestured with her chin toward Su Wei.
Su Wei walked over and stepped into the private office on the inside.
This room is twice the size of the reception area outside.
The bookshelves on three walls were crammed with legal documents and brown-covered case files.
There's a potted green ivy on the windowsill that's growing quite well, though the edges of its leaves are turning slightly yellow—the heating is too strong and the humidity is too low.
The passive feedback of the [ Gathering Module ] captures details.
The soil pH is too alkaline, there is waterlogging at the bottom of the pot, and the roots have begun to rot.
Su Wei refocused his attention.
A tall, white male, around sixty years old, sat behind the desk.
He had broad shoulders and his hair was completely white and meticulously combed.
Gold-rimmed glasses sat on a high, straight nose, behind which were a pair of scrutinizing gray eyes.
A dark blue suit jacket hung on the back of the chair, and the silver cufflinks on the shirt sleeves reflected the morning light.
Jeffrey Howard, founding partner of the law firm.
Su Wei immediately realized that this person was not on the same level as Parsons.
Parsons is a lawyer who is immersed in fishing disputes and land leases.
Howard's bookshelf, however, contained three neat rows of mining law case studies.
The spines of two of the books were even worn white from frequent use.
"Mr. Su Wei -Yang?"
Howard didn't stand up; instead, he extended his right hand and pointed to the leather chair across the table.
Su Wei pulled out a chair and sat down, the waterproof fabric of his rain jacket rubbing against the leather armrests, making a slight rustling sound.
Howard adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze lingering on Su Wei for three seconds.
Young, not yet twenty-five years old.
But his posture and gaze don't seem like those of someone his age.
There were no unnecessary movements, no looking around, and it took no more than ten seconds from entering the room to taking a seat.
They are either former soldiers or people who have been tempered in extreme environments.
"You mentioned on the phone that you wanted legal advice regarding land ownership."
Howard's opening remarks were standard, neither too warm nor too cold, maintaining a precise professional distance.
Su Wei pulled out a photocopy of the land purchase contract from his inner bag, unfolded it, and laid it flat on the table.
"Land parcel number AK-KOD-0042. One hundred acres of privately owned land, located in the southwest of Kodiak Island, in the Pillar Mountain area."
Howard took the photocopy but didn't look at it right away.
He first turned to the last page to confirm the notarized signatures and the transfer date.
Then return to the first page and browse through each item.
He turned the pages slowly, and his nails were neatly trimmed.
Su Wei sat opposite him, observing the other person's reading pace.
Howard's gaze lingered on Article 7, Section 3.
Same position as Parsons.
"Subsurface rights are subject to the regional exemptions under the Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971."
Howard read the text aloud, but unlike Parsons, he didn't throw the photocopy back on the table.
He turned back to page five and checked the coordinate information in the land description again.
"What is your question, Mr. Su?"
Su Wei did not mention the laboratory report, the gold-bearing quartz vein, or the data of 8.74 grams per ton.
He will not utter a single word of this information before a formal contract is signed.
"During the recent infrastructure construction project on the territory, the construction team encountered some unusual rock formations underground."
"My question is: if sediments or other potentially valuable geological materials are found within the subsurface layer specified in the contract, how is ownership determined?"
A hypothetical question.
There is no concrete evidence, no data, only academic discussion on legal matters.
Howard put down the photocopy, tilted his chair back a few degrees, and the leather cushion made a dull thud.
"Mr. Su, there is a principle in Alaska's land law system that has been repeatedly proven."
He took off his gold-rimmed glasses and wiped the lenses with the corner of his shirt hem.
"Silence is possession."
He put his glasses back on his nose.
"Unless the contract explicitly states in black and white that the seller or the federal government retains subsurface mineral rights to the land, then every grain of dust, every stone, and every mineral component beneath your feet is legally your private property."
Su Wei did not react in any further.
Parsons has already given this answer once.
However, two independent legal professionals, at different times and using different wording, reached the same conclusion.