"Jiang Hai?" At the mention of the name, the men's eyes immediately sharpened. A bald man with a severely burned face suddenly leapt from the fire and, without a word, grabbed Izzo-Edis.
"Tell me! What's wrong with Jiang Hai?" His gaze bore into Izzo-Edis, filled with raw fury.
"I—I…" Izzo-Edis stammered, intimidated by the disfigured man.
"Alright, don't scare the kid. He can't handle it yet…" Another man intervened just as the fierce one raised his hand to strike. Hesitating, the burned man threw Izzo-Edis onto a haystack, then glared at him before returning to the fire.
The middle-aged man crouched slowly, half-closing his eyes as he studied Izzo-Edis.
"As you can see, your father and I have a history, and that… man—Jiang Hai—has a grudge against all of us. That scarred face? That's Jiang Hai's work. I've never actually met him. Can you tell me about him? And about your conflict with him?" The man, smiling faintly, addressed Izzo-Edis.
"Jiang Hai… he's… unusual. A very strange man," Izzo-Edis began cautiously. "He came to America the winter before last and spent $280 million to buy a manor. Everyone laughed at him, calling him a fool from China. But a year later, he had completely changed the game."
Izzo-Edis recounted everything he knew: Jiang Hai's rise to power, his fortune, and his dominance in the beef and fish industries. He told them about his father's involvement, his own observations, and the astounding business partnerships Jiang Hai had forged, including collaborations with Walmart. The numbers were staggering—Jiang Hai's beef sales alone could reach $2 billion, leaving him with roughly $1 billion after taxes, not including his fish farms.
To outsiders, Jiang Hai might seem merely wealthy, but in America, wealth equated to influence. And despite Izzo-Edis's assumptions, Jiang Hai wasn't defenseless. He possessed exceptional fighting skills, loyal bodyguards, and a strategic mind. He didn't rely on numbers but on quality, never a lone hero like in the movies—every move calculated, every resource leveraged.
Once Izzo-Edis had finished recounting everything, the middle-aged man considered him for a moment. "You said you kidnapped an Indian girl to lure Jiang Hai, right?"
"Yes…" Izzo-Edis admitted helplessly, aware of the irony—they had tried to manipulate Jiang Hai, and yet they had failed spectacularly.
"Are you certain she's an Indian girl from the mountains?" the man asked seriously.
"Absolutely. The kidnappers told me she came from the mountains and was bringing something to Jiang Hai, though I don't know what."
The middle-aged man smiled, speaking to his companions before turning back to Izzo-Edis. "I see… this could be our chance. Let me introduce myself. My name is Lynch Walter, an explorer. Are you… interested in revenge?"
Elsewhere, Jiang Hai descended the stairs, noticing Tarak crouched over the fish tank, observing the golden arowana.
"You're up early. Why not sleep more?" he asked, a small smile on his face.
"I can't sleep," Tarak replied stiffly.
"Then come for a walk with me. Treat this place like home," Jiang Hai said gently, understanding that words alone couldn't ease her mind yet.
"Okay… by the way, what kind of fish is this? Is it edible?" Tarak asked, pointing at the tank.
"It's edible, but expensive. The cheapest fish here cost around $100,000 each," Jiang Hai explained, smiling. He had invested years nurturing these arowana, infusing them with spiritual energy to ensure their growth and vitality. Though they weren't transformed into mythical dragons, each looked exquisite. He even shared pictures on his WeChat Moments, attracting the attention of friends and potential buyers, but he refused to sell them, saving them for breeding platinum arowana.
"Wow… so extravagant!" Tarak exclaimed, astonished. She couldn't fathom the hobbies of the super-rich.
"Let's go! Time for a quick tour of the manor," Jiang Hai said, leading the way.
Stepping outside, he breathed in the damp, post-rain air. Two large dogs scurried around in the grass, oblivious to the dew, enjoying their morning play. They ran to greet Jiang Hai and Tarak, circling around them before resuming their game.
Jiang Hai began the tour, guiding Tarak along the corridors of the estate.
"This side is the vegetable patch. Next to it is the vineyard, though the grapes aren't ripe yet. Farther right are the cowsheds, stables, and the cattle dogs' dens. Beyond that, you'll reach the dock. From there, you can walk back through the forest, but beware—there are many ferocious beasts. Don't go unless necessary."
Tarak listened intently, absorbing every detail, understanding that this would now be her new home.
(To be continued.)