Has the Dust Settled?

Eagle Creek Ranch, afternoon.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the study, casting warm dappled patterns on the natural wood floor. Outside, a vast pasture stretched out, with several horses grazing leisurely by the fence. In the distance, the silhouette of rolling hills stretched out before them. The sky was a clear, deep blue, with a few white clouds drifting slowly by. Everything seemed so peaceful and serene, as if it belonged to a different world from the Undercurrent streets and blood-soaked abandoned houses of downtown San Francisco.

Lin Feng sat behind his desk, holding a freshly brewed cup of Tieguanyin tea. The tea was golden and clear, with a delicate fragrance wafting through the air. He wore a simple white linen shirt, the cuffs casually rolled up, his posture relaxed, his gaze calmly fixed on the scenery outside the window, as if admiring the tranquil pasture landscape.

K stood ramrod straight at his desk, hands hanging naturally at his sides, having just finished a full report on the South District Black Snakes incident. His voice was steady and clear, devoid of embellishment, offering only the facts: Big Snake was confirmed dead, and the body had been disposed of before the police discovered it, leaving no traceable evidence; the South District Black Snakes's core businesses—gambling dens, loan shark outlets, and drug distribution channels—had been successfully taken over by our operatives and were currently operating normally; things were temporarily stable with Chief Blake, and the police investigation had shifted to a routine approach, with no substantial obstacles from the police expected in the short term; the task force had received their payment and left San Francisco in batches, returning to standby status without leaving any loose ends.

Lin Feng listened but didn't immediately respond. He picked up his teacup, gently blew on it to cool it, and took a small sip, letting the sweet aroma of the tea slowly unfold in his mouth. Then, he put down the teacup, turned his gaze from the window to K, and asked, "Is Blake reliable?"

K thought for a moment and replied, "He's reliable for now. He has family, a weakness, and he's already taken the money; there's no turning back. He's a smart man; he knows where he stands now."

Lin Feng nodded, not pressing the issue of Blake. He paused for a few seconds, seemingly pondering something else, then abruptly changed the subject, asking a question that surprised K: "What is Feng Ya doing now?"

K paused slightly, then replied, "She's still staying at the hotel. As you instructed, she hasn't been involved in anything. Her emotions have stabilized somewhat, but it's clear she's still a bit lost and unsure of what to do next."

Lin Feng's fingers gently traced the rim of the teacup, his gaze returning to the vast pasture outside the window, where he remained silent for a moment.

"Get her a decent job," he said, his tone calm but with an undeniable determination. "It doesn't need to be great, but it has to be respectable, something that will allow her to settle down."

K was somewhat surprised and tentatively asked, "Should we involve her in our business?"

Lin Feng shook his head. "No. She shouldn't get involved in these things. She should find a respectable company and do some clerical work. She needs a normal life."

K understood Lin Feng's meaning— Feng Ya was someone he had pulled out of a fire pit, and he didn't want her to fall into it again. He nodded. "I will use my connections to arrange a suitable position for her."

Lin Feng added, "Don't let her know about me. Just say I'm a distant relative who helped her find a job."

"Understood," K replied.

Lin Feng didn't speak again. He picked up the cup of Tieguanyin tea again, turned his gaze to the window, and looked at the pasture that appeared particularly peaceful in the afternoon sun, as if he was thinking about something deeper.

K stood still, waited for a moment, and after confirming that Lin Feng had no further instructions, bowed slightly and turned to leave.

As he reached the door, Lin Feng's voice came from behind him, calm and indifferent:

"By the way, preparations in California can begin."

K stopped and glanced back at Lin Feng. Lin Feng didn't turn around to look at him, still gazing out the window, but K knew the weight of those words.

"Yes, boss," K replied, then gently closed the door.

The study returned to silence. Lin Feng sat there alone, holding a cup of tea that was gradually going cold, gazing at the vast sky outside the window, motionless for a long time.

The South District Black Snakes has been settled. Mike's Ponzi scheme has also been shut down. The situation in Seattle is temporarily stable. The plan in California is slowly unfolding.

Everything was progressing steadily according to his plan.

But he knew the real storm was yet to come.

He put down his teacup, picked up the report on the California market analysis on the table, turned to the next page, and continued reading.