The Eye of the Storm and the Strategic Shift

Eagle Creek Ranch, lakeside villa. The night was deep, but the light in the study stayed on until dawn.

The heavy velvet curtains were drawn tightly, shutting out everything from the outside world. On the huge walnut desk, maps, documents, coffee cups, and several ashtrays piled high with cigarette butts were scattered haphazardly. The air was thick with the smells of tobacco and coffee, and a silent, almost stagnant tension.

Lin Feng sat behind his desk, leaning slightly forward, his hands clasped under his chin, his gaze calmly fixed on the three people sitting opposite him: K, Lü Yi, and a middle-aged white man in a dark blue police uniform, his face weary and his eyes filled with obvious anxiety— Jonathan Mitchell, the deputy commissioner of the Seattle Police Department. He was one of Lin Feng's "insiders," firmly controlled by money and "incriminating evidence," and also their most important eyes and buffer within the city's police force.

"... Mr. Lin, the pressure is immense, truly immense." Jonathan wiped non-existent sweat from his forehead with a slightly wrinkled handkerchief, his voice dry and his speech rapid. "Cohen, the IRS's CI head, Daniel Crawford, the CEO of ' All-American Express,' both died in that... bizarre 'accidental' way within a day. The crime scene investigation was an 'accident,' the medical examiner's report was an 'accident,' and the public announcement was also an 'accident.' But the higher-ups aren't stupid."

He swallowed hard, glanced at Lin Feng's expressionless face, and continued:

"Regarding Cohen, the IRS Office of Inspector General (TIGTA) has sent people down, ostensibly to assist with the aftermath and internal security audit, but everyone knows they're there to investigate what Cohen did and why he died."

Daniel's situation is even more complicated. His Old Qian family friends in Congress, along with his network in the state legislature, have started to launch an attack. They're questioning whether the police investigation was hasty, whether there was any foul play involved, and even implying... that someone deliberately staged an 'accident' to cover up the murder."

Jonathan gave a wry smile, "On my end, the chief has already called me in and berated me three times, saying the Major Crimes Unit is incompetent and is tarnishing the Seattle Police Department. But I know he's under even more pressure; the calls from the mayor's office, the state attorney general, and even... the federal government haven't stopped. The Crawford family didn't donate so much political money for nothing."

Lü Yi leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, and scoffed at the words: "Investigate? Let them investigate! The scene is spotless, flawless. What can they possibly find? Do they think the pipes burst or the glass fell down by itself and they can blame it on us?"

K gave Lü Yi a cold glance, and Lü Yi shrank back and remained silent.

"It's not a matter of whether we can find out or not, Jonathan," Lin Feng finally spoke, his voice steady and devoid of any emotion. "The very existence of 'being' itself is the problem, isn't it?"

Jonathan nodded vigorously, as if he had found Zhiyin: "Yes, Mr. Lin! You're right! The issue now isn't evidence, it's the level of attention, the prevailing opinion! Seattle is only so big, and there are only so many influential people. Daniel and Cohen, a business tycoon and a high-ranking law enforcement official, dying suddenly in this way is already explosive news. Now all eyes, openly and secretly, are on Seattle, on these two events, and also on... the people involved."

He paused, lowered his voice, and said in a more somber tone, "The congressman behind me... called me personally this afternoon. He didn't say it explicitly, but the meaning was clear: 'Tell your friend from the East to keep a low profile lately, or... go out and clear his head.' He said the waters in Seattle have been stirred up too much, and many people are having trouble sleeping. Some of the older folks are already quite unhappy."

"Old man?" Lin Feng raised an eyebrow.

"Those... families that have truly been entrenched here for decades, even centuries, the financial backers behind the congressmen, the heads of interstate corporations, and... some 'friends' who are less likely to appear in the sunlight but wield immense power." Jonathan's voice was filled with awe and lingering fear. "Daniel and Cohen might just be pawns on their chessboard, or... a more prominent link in a chain of interests. Now those two links have broken, and broken so 'undignifiedly,' disrupting certain tacit understandings and throwing off certain balances. They don't care who did it; what they care about is stability, order, and everything operating within the rules they control."

He looked at Lin Feng, his eyes filled with complex emotions. "Mr. Lin, your methods... are impressive. But here, in Washington State, especially in Seattle, the glass ceiling is real. Boeing, Microsoft, Amazon, Starbucks... these behemoths are deeply entrenched, Old Qian and new elites are intertwined, and the lines between politics and business are blurred. As an outsider, someone who broke the rules and barged in using methods they were unfamiliar with, even fearful of, has already touched a nerve with too many people. You've proven yourself not to be a sheep, but a predator. That's good, but it also means you've become a target."

A brief silence fell over the study, broken only by Jonathan's slightly heavy breathing.

Lin Feng slowly leaned back in his high-backed chair, his gaze falling on the map of the United States spread out on the table. His finger moved slowly south from Seattle, across Oregon, and finally stopped on the vast, long and narrow state of California.

"Jonathan, your congressman friend, where do you suggest I go to 'clear my head'?" Lin Feng suddenly asked, his tone casual.

Jonathan paused, then instinctively replied, "He... he didn't say it explicitly, but he hinted that the sun is nice on the West Coast, especially in the south..."

"California?" Lin Feng continued.

"... Yes." Jonathan nodded, adding, "Especially... Los Angeles. It's big enough, complex enough, full of opportunities, and deep enough. Most importantly, it's far enough away from here."

Lin Feng's finger lightly tapped the location in California, especially Los Angeles. Then, he looked up at K.

"K, the assessment we discussed before regarding the next phase of development."

K immediately stepped forward, his voice clear and steady. "Yes, boss. Comprehensive assessments show that California, especially the Greater Los Angeles Area, is more suitable for our deep penetration and expansion in terms of economic size, population structure, industrial diversity, immigrant inclusivity, and... the 'flexibility' of its political environment. Silicon Valley's technological concepts, Hollywood's entertainment industry, Port of Long Beach's logistics hub, the large Latino and Asian communities, and the relatively loose local political alliances all provide more room for maneuver and entry points. In contrast, Seattle's landscape is relatively solidified, with stronger xenophobia, making a breakthrough difficult in the short term."

Lin Feng nodded, his gaze returning to Jonathan: "It seems your congressman friend and my strategic advisor are thinking the same thing."

Jonathan breathed a sigh of relief, but worry still lingered in his eyes. "Mr. Lin, you've decided to leave? What about Seattle...?"

"It's not leaving, it's a strategic shift," Lin Feng corrected, his tone resolute and unwavering. "Seattle is where we've established ourselves, and NLG is a solid foundation we can't afford to lose. But for now, it's only suitable as a stable rear base, a low-key cash cow. The real stage is in California."

He began to issue specific instructions, speaking steadily and clearly:

"First, NLG's operations will fully transition to a low-profile, stable model. The Old Walton team has been cleared out. From now on, a professional management team will operate in the most compliant and profitable way. We will improve NLG's financial statements, appropriately increase charitable donations to the local community, and cultivate an image of a 'responsible corporate citizen.' Unless absolutely necessary, NLG's overt connections with us will be minimized."

"Second, asset disposal. Apart from NLG and the necessary safe houses, other scattered properties, vehicles, and small companies registered under the 'front person's' name should be gradually and quietly disposed of. Funds should be consolidated, and unnecessary traces should be erased. The disposal process must be legal, but it must be fast."

"Third, the intelligence network." Lin Feng looked at K, his gaze sharp. "Inform Mr. Jin that all activities in the Seattle area have entered a period of silence. Except for the most core, never-activated 'seeds,' all other personnel and groups that have been active recently should be evacuated in batches. The evacuation routes and identity changes must be absolutely clean. At the same time, the main intelligence resources should be shifted to California, especially the Los Angeles area. I want to see a preliminary intelligence network structure and a list of available personnel in LA within a month. Infiltration must be like a drop of water, silent and stealthy."

"Fourth, itinerary arrangements," Lin Feng said to K. "Under the guise of 'investigating the prospects of the California logistics market,' 'seeking new investment opportunities,' and 'vacation,' plan my trip to California with the core team. No grand farewell, just a low-key departure. Externally, I will still be the owner of NLG, just expanding the business. The first group going shouldn't be large, but it should be elite."

K quickly noted down each instruction and solemnly replied, "Understood. I will come up with a plan for NLG's operational adjustments and asset disposal within three days. The intelligence network transfer and travel arrangements will proceed simultaneously."

Lü Yi rubbed his hands together, eager to get started. "LA! Boss, I heard Beverly Hills is full of supercars and Hollywood stars are everywhere! When are we leaving?"

Lin Feng ignored him and looked at Jonathan, who had been listening intently.

"Jonathan, your mission remains unchanged. Stay in Seattle, maintain your position as deputy commissioner, and make good use of the senator's connections. NLG's continued 'legal operations' and community image will require some 'favors' from the local police. Also, closely monitor the situation in Seattle regarding the Cohen and Daniel incident. If anything unusual happens, immediately notify K through secure channels."

Jonathan nodded quickly. "Yes, Mr. Lin, I understand. I will do my best."

"It's not just about trying, it's about having to do it." Lin Feng's voice was soft, but carried a chilling weight. "You and I are in the same boat now. If the boat is stable, we're all fine. If the boat capsizes..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Jonathan's face paled even more instantly, and he repeatedly assured him.

Lin Feng waved his hand. "Alright, go ahead. Do as I say."

Jonathan felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He stood up, bowed slightly, and then quickly left the study.

Only Lin Feng, K, and Lü Yi remained in the study.

Lin Feng walked to the huge map of the United States, turned his back to the two of them, and stared at the land of California for a long time. Outside the window, the sky was already beginning to lighten, and the mist on the lake began to surge.

"Seattle..." Lin Feng murmured to himself, as if bidding farewell, or perhaps summarizing, "It proves that 'Fangs' are effective, but the cages here are too small, and the guards are too old and too wary."

He turned around, his face showing no reluctance to leave his old home or excitement to head to a new battlefield, only a deep, predatory calm and assessment.

"The gleaming fangs scared away the petty thieves, but also attracted the real beasts. Now, it's time to sheathe the fangs for a while. Let's move to a larger hunting ground, where the prey is plumper, and the lookout... might be more 'interesting'."

He went back to his desk, picked up a brief report on the California logistics market, and sat down again.

"K, pass the word, get ready. The Seattle show is over for now. It's time to set up the stage in California."

The morning light finally dispelled the thick fog over the lake, casting golden dappled patterns on the study floor through the gaps in the curtains. A new day had begun, and at this dawn, a more secretive and grander game of chess, spanning state borders, quietly began with its first move.

[End of Chapter 416]