The Safe House and Asset Briefing
The vehicle left the airport area, drove along several wet highways, and gradually turned into a slightly elevated, quiet community in Seattle's East Side.
The houses here are no longer the densely packed townhouses or apartments found in the city center, but rather detached villas with ample spacing, nestled among maple and fir trees. The streets are wide and clean, and the streetlights are uniquely designed, exuding the tranquility and privacy of an affluent community.
The convoy slowed down in front of a modern villa with a simple exterior, mainly constructed of dark gray stone and logs, drove through a heavy wrought iron gate that opened automatically and slowly, and stopped in front of a covered porch along a gravel driveway.
The villa is surrounded by lush greenery, with tall trees and meticulously trimmed shrubs forming a natural barrier that makes it difficult to see the entire interior from the outside.
"We're here, boss." K got out of the car first and glanced around. The rain had stopped, but the air was still damp and chilly.
As soon as Lin Feng and Lü Yi the car, two other "Blood Spear" mercenaries who had been waiting there appeared silently on either side of the porch. They nodded slightly in greeting and their sharp eyes swept around the surroundings. They were also dressed in civilian clothes, but their capable and alert aura was exactly the same as those in black suits at the airport.
The villa's interior is decorated in a minimalist modern style, with gray, white, and natural wood tones as the main colors, creating a spacious and bright atmosphere. Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows are a meticulously maintained backyard and a hazy mountain view in the distance.
The furniture was sparse but of high quality, everything was in perfect order, and the air was filled with the faint scent unique to new houses, as well as a faint hum of electronic devices operating throughout the house—the security system that was everywhere.
"This place is nice, more spacious than a hotel," Lü Yi remarked casually, looking around.
K led them to the spacious living room, indicating that the mercenaries accompanying him could rest or check security in other rooms downstairs for the time being. "You guys go out first, keep watch on the perimeter," he whispered. The mercenaries nodded disciplinedly, quietly retreated, and closed the heavy solid wood door of the living room behind them.
Only Lin Feng, K, and Lü Yi remained in the living room. The thick carpet absorbed the sound of footsteps, and for a moment, only the faint sound of airflow from the central air conditioning vents could be heard.
K walked to the small bar counter on one side of the living room, took a bottle of mineral water from the temperature-controlled wine cabinet, unscrewed it and handed it to Lin Feng, then took one for himself and Lü Yi. He didn't sit down, but stood a short distance in front of Lin Feng and began to report, his tone steady and professional, like the most sophisticated instrument outputting data.
"Boss, this property, along with three adjacent villas, has been acquired through three different offshore companies. The source of funds is clear, and the procedures are legal. The four villas form a relatively independent small neighborhood, with unified community security on the perimeter and independent monitoring, sensors, and passive defense systems installed inside. ' Blood Spear ' personnel will be stationed in shifts to ensure absolute control." K first introduced the basic situation of the settlement, which was the foundation for survival.
Lin Feng nodded slightly, unscrewed the water bottle, took a sip, and listened calmly.
"Regarding the funds," K continued, lowering his voice, "The cash recovered from the Northern Myanmar channels, totaling approximately $87 million, has undergone seven rounds of laundering through multiple trusts, trading companies, and cryptocurrency channels in the Caribbean and Europe. It has now entered the United States in four batches, ostensibly as 'venture capital' and 'commercial loans,' primarily flowing to several West Coast states: California, Washington, and Oregon."
He paused, as if retrieving precise data from his mind. "Of this, approximately 30 million was invested in two AI algorithm startups in Silicon Valley that were on the verge of failing their Series B funding rounds; 20 million was used through private equity funds to purchase partial stakes in two commercial real estate properties in prime locations in Los Angeles and Seattle; 15 million was diversified into three chain restaurant brands in Portland and San Francisco; and the remainder was used to purchase some highly liquid blue-chip stocks and government bonds in my personal capacity. All investment return periods and risks have been calculated, and the apparent annualized rate of return is within a reasonable range and will not attract excessive attention."
"Furthermore," K's voice softened, but every word was crystal clear, "The 'special reserve fund' provided by ' Mr. Jin's ' side has also been received in installments, totaling 120 million. This portion of funds has a higher 'purity' and a shorter circulation chain. I will mainly use it to acquire or hold controlling stakes in some local small and medium-sized service enterprises—logistics companies, cleaning contractors, small security consulting firms, etc. These enterprises have stable cash flow and simple personnel structures, which makes it easier for us..." He carefully chose his words, "... to facilitate the discreet integration and flow of our personnel and resources."
Lin Feng listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the sofa armrest. K's report was well-organized, covering a multi-layered asset structure from black to gray to white. The illicit money was laundered and invested in potentially lucrative legitimate sectors to seek appreciation and cover; the "Superdollars" provided by Golden Sun were used to build a more grounded physical network that could provide real convenience and cover. This was not just about hiding the money, but about building a three-dimensional, vibrant support system.
"Very good." After listening to K's report, Lin Feng only gave a two-word evaluation, but the trust it contained was unquestionable. Entrusting K with the funds and these complex operations entirely was the greatest recognition in itself. "These are all under your control. Keep things in check, safety first."
"Understood." K nodded.
Lin Feng put down the water bottle, leaned back into the soft sofa, and gazed at the courtyard outside the window as dusk deepened. He seemed to be thinking about something, and his tapping stopped. After a few seconds, as if suddenly remembering something insignificant, he turned to K and said in a calm, even tone:
"By the way, have ABZ deal with that Wild Dog Gang. Make sure they're dealt with cleanly."
There was no explanation, no emphasis, not even a superfluous adjective. It was like casually ordering someone to take out a bag of trash.
K showed no surprise, as if this instruction was entirely expected. He didn't even ask for details, such as whether prisoners were needed, whether a specific scene needed to be created, or whether follow-up arrangements were required. He simply replied, "Understood."
After a slight pause, K added a sentence, which was meant to explain the background of this enforcement unit to Lin Feng to avoid information asymmetry, "ABZ, on the surface, is a Vietnam gang in Seattle, ranking third in size, mainly controlling drug retail and small protection fees in a few blocks in the south."
In reality, it was one of the channels that "Mr. Jin" established here in his early years to circulate and accumulate "special reserves." The organizational structure was relatively tight, it was capable of fighting, and it was familiar with local rules.
He glanced at Lin Feng, "' Mr. Jin ' has transferred temporary command authority over most of his non-core related assets and personnel in North America to me after you decided to come to the United States. This includes ABZ, several shell trading companies he holds controlling stakes in, two lower-level city hall officials, and several... long-silent intelligence nodes. I am currently coordinating all of them."
Lin Feng nodded, indicating his understanding. Golden Sun's "gift" was substantial, not just in terms of money, but also in terms of "tentacles" and "eyes" already embedded in the local fabric. Using ABZ to deal with the Wild Dog Gang was the most suitable choice—gang feuds were common and reasonable, wouldn't attract too much attention, and could also be used to test the loyalty and execution capabilities of these transferred forces.
The living room fell silent for a moment. Lü Yi leaned back on another single sofa, his eyes half-closed, seemingly resting, or perhaps pondering what K had just said about cash flow. It was a bit complicated for him, but it sounded very impressive.
Outside the window, darkness had completely fallen, and the automatic sensor lights inside and outside the villa turned on one by one, illuminating the courtyard and street clearly and quietly. The faint sound of a community patrol car could be heard in the distance, further emphasizing the tranquility of the place.
"Boss," K spoke again, breaking the silence, his tone slightly more relaxed than when he was reporting earlier, "According to your schedule, a tea party with the local councilor's assistant has been arranged for tomorrow morning, which is considered the first step in your public debut. In addition, the ' Lin Mo ' identity prepared for you—all the documents, resume, credit cards, and social records—are in place and ready to be activated at any time."
"Hmm," Lin Feng responded, indicating that he understood.
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the living room door.
K walked over and opened the door a crack. The mercenary who had been in charge of weapons management stood outside. He whispered something to K, speaking very quickly.
After listening, K nodded, indicating that the other party could leave. He closed the door, turned around, and walked back to the center of the living room to face Lin Feng.
"Boss," he reported, "Kong Xiang has arrived and is outside."
A barely perceptible, gentle ripple seemed to flicker across Lin Feng's usually calm face. He lowered his crossed legs and sat up straighter.
"Xiangzi's here?" His voice held a hint of warmth. "Let him in."