The Temptation of Land

The rain in Seattle seemed to have never truly stopped since the day they arrived. Outside the window, the gray sky and the endless drizzle blurred the city skyline into a hazy ink painting.

The study in the safe house was warm and dry. In front of the huge French windows, Lin Feng stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze piercing through the rain curtain, looking at the faint outline of Mount Rainier shrouded in clouds in the distance.

That wasn't the gaze of someone admiring the scenery, but rather a measurement, an assessment, as if surveying a territory waiting to be conquered.

K stood a step to his side and slightly behind, holding an ultra-thin tablet computer with complex charts and data streams flashing on its screen.

Lü Yi leaned against the wall by the door, idly playing with a tactical folding knife. The blade nimbly twirled between his fingertips, gleaming with a subtle cold light.

Kong Xiang sat on a sofa not far away, with several thick academic books and manuscript paper covered with messy notes spread out in front of him, but at this moment his attention was completely drawn to Lin Feng's words.

"K," Lin Feng said calmly without turning around, breaking the silence in the study that was filled only with the sound of rain and Lü Yi playing with his knife, "How's the progress on the land data I asked you to collect?"

"Initial screening is underway, boss." K took a half step forward, swiping his finger across the tablet to bring up an encrypted folder. "Primarily focused on areas within this state (Washington State), while also considering the border regions of Oregon and Idaho. Area, topography, and clarity of property rights are the primary considerations. Do you have any more specific directions?"

Lin Feng slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over the three people in the room before finally settling on K's face. He didn't immediately answer the question about the specific parameters of the land, but instead posed a more ambitious question.

"Do you think," he walked to the large, solid wood desk and sat down, his fingers unconsciously tapping the smooth surface, "That we are safe right now?"

Lü Yi put away his folding knife and grinned. "What's unsafe? We're well-equipped, rich, and have guns. Anyone who dares to cause trouble, we'll just beat them to a pulp!" He was clearly quite proud of his previous achievements at the nightclub and the airport.

Kong Xiang adjusted his Glasses, which weren't actually on his nose (he didn't usually wear them), hesitated for a moment, and cautiously said, "With the boss in charge, Brother K making arrangements, and... so many 'friends' helping, the apparent security should be fine for now. But..." He paused, "I feel like a rootless duckweed. This time it's customs making things difficult, next time it might be a tax audit, and the time after that... who knows which department will come knocking? Here, they set the rules, and they have the right to interpret them."

K remained silent, simply watching Lin Feng and waiting for him to continue. He vaguely guessed his boss's intentions.

Lin Feng nodded, agreeing with Kong Xiang's concerns. "Xiangzi is right. Without roots, one will always be a guest, an outsider, an object scrutinized and manipulated by the rules."

His voice remained steady, but each word carried a heavy weight. "Stay in a hotel, you're a guest. Rent an apartment, you're a tenant. Buy this villa, or even the entire community, within the framework of the law, you still have to abide by their fire regulations, building codes, and community covenants. You have to accept police questioning and deal with tax audits. Your safety is built on the rules set by others and their 'compliance'."

He paused, his gaze sharpening. "But what if we had a large enough, remote enough piece of land? A piece of land that, legally, belongs entirely to a private individual, with whom we have almost absolute control?"

Lü Yi blinked, seemingly not fully understanding. "Even if we buy the land, it's still in the United States, right? Those bloodsucking IRS (United States Internal Revenue Service) bastards can still come knocking on our door, can't they?"

"The nature is different." Lin Feng leaned forward slightly, placing his hands on the table. "With ordinary real estate, you only have the 'right to use' and limited 'ownership.' You are still nested within the layers of laws and administrative jurisdiction of towns, cities, counties, states, and the federal government."

But there is a type of land, under the legal framework of certain states, especially those sparsely populated areas with a historical tradition of 'homestead laws' and an almost obsessive protection of private property rights, where, when you own an astonishingly large area and the land's nature meets certain specific conditions...

A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, "It could, in effect, become a 'state within a state'."

"A country within a country?" Kong Xiang gasped; the meaning behind this phrase chilled him to the bone.

"It's not about independence," Lin Feng waved his hand, "But about minimizing direct interference from external powers within the boundaries of that land. We can establish our own internal security forces to replace or at least greatly limit the access and law enforcement powers of external police. We can build independent water supply, drainage, and energy systems. We can establish internal 'rules' that meet our own needs. As for the IRS..." He looked at K, "We have enough professionals and financial tools to make tax audits from the outside extremely difficult, even impossible. Most importantly—"

His gaze swept over the three men, and he said, word by word, "Anything that happens on that land, as long as it doesn't cross that most sensitive 'red line,' will make it extremely difficult for outsiders to learn the truth or intervene. It will become our fortress, our training ground, our... base. Everything that's inconvenient to do in the sunlight can find fertile ground there."

The study was silent, save for the soft patter of raindrops on the glass. Although Lü Yi was unfamiliar with the legal details, she understood the implication of "doing things her own way," and her eyes lit up. Kong Xiang was deeply impressed by his boss's scheming and ambition, which went beyond the scope of ordinary businessmen or investors. K, meanwhile, seemed lost in thought, his fingers lightly tapping the edge of his tablet, clearly considering the feasibility and operational details.

"So, K," Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, steer the conversation back to the initial question, "what I need is not just 'a piece of land,' but a 'cornerstone of a kingdom' that meets the following conditions:"

He counted on his fingers, his words clear and logical:

"First, the area must be large enough. Not a farm of a few hundred acres, but a scale measured in sections or even towns. The best combination is forests, mountains, rivers, arable land, and wasteland; complex terrain provides natural barriers and strategic depth."

"Second, the title must be absolutely clear and clean. Ideally, it should currently be held by a single owner (individual or family), with a simple history and no complicated joint ownership, easements, environmental litigation, or government trusteeship clauses. We don't have time to deal with a bunch of title disputes."

"Third, the geographical location must be 'just right.' It cannot be too close to major cities or transportation arteries to avoid being easily exposed to public and official scrutiny; but it also cannot be a truly uninhabited area, requiring a certain level of infrastructure potential (roads, electricity, communication access points) and a relatively reasonable commuting distance (for future personnel and material transportation)."

"Fourth, the current owner must have a strong desire to sell. This shouldn't be due to an urgent need to divest during bankruptcy liquidation (which could bring a host of problems), but rather due to industrial restructuring, family succession, or simply a feeling that holding such a large land asset is not profitable enough and a willingness to liquidate. Negotiations will be relatively smoother with such sellers."

"Fifth," Lin Feng added, "The local regulations of the county where the land is located must have a historical tradition of respecting and protecting the rights of large private landowners, with relatively weak law enforcement, simple community relations, and a low willingness and ability for external intervention."

After speaking, he looked at K: "Based on these conditions, what are the shortlisted candidates you have selected so far?"

K had already retrieved the relevant information on his tablet. Instead of handing it over directly, he began a verbal report, his tone precise like a military briefing:

"Based on your requirements, we have initially shortlisted four potential targets that meet most of the criteria. All are located in eastern or central Washington State, which is sparsely populated and traditionally places great importance on private land ownership."

"Target A, ' Lone Peak Ridge,' is located on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range, covering approximately 12 square miles (about 7,680 acres). 80% is primary coniferous forest, 20% is alpine meadow, and it includes two streams. The owner is an environmental trust that is looking to sell due to financial difficulties. Advantages: Absolute seclusion, rugged terrain. Disadvantages: Almost no existing roads, closed to the elements in winter, extremely high development costs, and potentially stringent environmental restrictions."

"Target B, ' Flint River Valley,' is located on the edge of the Columbia Plateau, covering approximately 8 square miles (5,120 acres). It is primarily dry pasture and scrub hills, with a seasonal river. The owner is an elderly rancher whose children have no intention of inheriting the property. Advantages: Relatively low price, clean title. Disadvantages: Unreliable water resources, infertile land, overly open views, lack of concealment."

"Target C, ' Grizzly Bear Lake Woodlands,' is located inland on the Olympic Peninsula, covering approximately 15 square miles (9,600 acres), surrounding a private lake, and featuring a mix of forests and wetlands. It is owned by a low-profile wealthy family in Seattle, who have held it for many years as a vacation retreat, and are now considering selling due to a shift in family priorities. Advantages: Excellent scenery, diverse ecology, and some basic infrastructure (basic roads, a dock, and several cabins in the woods). Disadvantages: It is subject to wetland protection regulations, potentially complex environmental reviews, and its location on the edge of a national park may attract more scrutiny."

"And," K paused slightly, turning the tablet towards Lin Feng, the screen displaying an aerial photograph and detailed information, "Target D, ' Eagle Creek Ranch '."

The photo shows a vast and layered land. In the distance, verdant, rolling mountains form a backdrop, while in the foreground, a stream meanders like a silver ribbon, dividing large grasslands, dense secondary forests, and several well-maintained ranch complexes. The land appears to have both open spaces and complex terrain that offers opportunities for concealment.

"Eagle Creek Ranch," K continued, "Is located in north-central Washington State, on the border of Skagit County and Whatcom County, in the rain shadow of the western Cascade Range. It covers approximately 9.6 square miles (6,144 acres). The terrain is ideally configured."

Approximately 40% is high-quality irrigated pasture (distributed along Eagle Creek), 30% is mixed woodland (dominated by Douglas fir and hemlock), 20% is rolling hills and rocky outcrops, and 10% is the water system area of Eagle Creek and its tributaries. The average elevation is about 500-800 meters, and the climate is drier than Seattle but milder than the East Coast.

Regarding the title, K slides the data, "Clear. Held by the ' John ' family since the late 19th century, over 120 years. The current owner is Andrew John Sr., 65 years old, the third generation of the family. The land is free simple, with no co-ownership, easements, or known legal disputes. Good land tax payment record."

"The location is 'just right.' It's about 25 miles from the nearest town, Stone Bridge Town, connected by a two-lane paved road. It's about 60 miles from Interstate 5, a little over an hour's drive. It's remote enough to maintain privacy without being completely isolated. The ranch has its own well and a small hydroelectric generator, and while it's connected to the grid, it has a certain level of self-sufficiency in energy. Communication signal is acceptable, and there's great potential for upgrades."

"Want to sell," K pulled up a brief summary of the financial analysis. "The Johnson Family Clan has traditionally made its living through livestock farming and timber harvesting (in a sustainable way). However, in recent years, due to market volatility, a lack of interest from the next generation (Old Johnson's son seems uninterested in running the ranch, working in finance in Seattle), and rising maintenance costs, the ranch business has only been able to break even, contributing little to the growth of the family wealth."

Intelligence indicates that Old Johnson has been in contact with Seattle land brokers for the past two years, expressing an intention to "consider selling some or all of his land if the price is right, in exchange for more flexible asset allocation." His attitude is open but not urgent, making him the ideal seller type.

Finally, the local environment. Skagit County is primarily agricultural and forestry-based, with a relatively conservative culture and a strong respect for private property rights. The county police force is limited, mainly responsible for traffic and emergency response, and rarely intervenes in the internal affairs of large private properties within its jurisdiction. Local tax revenue mainly relies on property taxes, and for large landowners like Eagle Creek Ranch, who can provide stable tax revenue and avoid trouble, the local government usually adopts a cooperative or even permissive attitude.

After the report, K gently placed the tablet on the table in front of Lin Feng. The screen displayed detailed information about "Eagle Creek Ranch" and several photos from different angles.

Lin Feng didn't immediately look at the tablet. Instead, he closed his eyes slightly and unconsciously tapped the table with his fingers again, clearly weighing the pros and cons of the four options in his mind.

The study fell silent again, broken only by the sound of rain and the rhythmic, soft tapping of Lin Feng's fingers on the table. Lü Yi held his breath, and Kong Xiang put down his pen. They both realized that their boss was making an important decision.

A moment later, Lin Feng opened his eyes and his gaze fell on the aerial panoramic image of "Eagle Creek Ranch" on the tablet. In the photo, Eagle Creek shimmered in the sunlight, the grasslands were lush and green, the forests were deep and secluded, and the distant mountains were like dark eyebrows, presenting a unique temperament that combined practicality, seclusion, and a certain rugged beauty.

He extended his finger and lightly tapped the title "Eagle Creek Ranch".

"That's it."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a decisive, final tone.

"Make arrangements, K. I want to go see Eagle Creek Ranch myself and meet with old Mr. Johnson. Andrew Johnson."

"Furthermore," he looked up at K, his gaze deep, "Before any formal contact, I need to know everything about the Johnson Family Clan. Especially old Andrew's personality, hobbies, weaknesses, and... whether he's really just an ordinary rancher facing a succession crisis, as he appears."

"Understood, boss." K deftly put away his tablet and nodded slightly. The new instructions were clear, and action began immediately.

Lin Feng turned his gaze back to the endless rain outside the window, the cold smile on his lips seeming to deepen slightly.

A piece of land that belongs entirely to me.

A fortress that can be shaped according to one's own will.

This was his first real move after setting foot on this unfamiliar continent.