Greeting the crowd were the family of Paul Hebble, the wealthy former banker and now Margrave Town's CFO, rescued by Jack and his companions.
Also welcoming them were the wife of the town police chief, Stevenson's wife, holding a baby. Jack remembered that they and the Hebble family were cousins.
Of course, besides these old acquaintances, there were also a host of new faces. Some were already Margrave residents, while others, thanks to the recent surge in local employment, had recently settled in.
These included Americans from other states and Latin Americans who, through various means, had now officially established themselves here. Jack even spotted a few distinctly Asian faces.
These Asians, holding engineer titles, were Jack's "fellow countrymen" from Seres, working for a state-owned agricultural machinery group in Lu Province.
Due to the large number of people, a somewhat lengthy introduction ensued.
While some of the past events were difficult to discuss openly, and some had never even heard of the former Kleiner family, most present were familiar with the situation.
The group they welcomed, though posing as FBI agents, were actually shareholders of the Shangri-La Group, the financial backer of the entire Margrave Town chain of industries.
When the Kleiner family collapsed, the IRS took over, and their vast Georgia holdings were swallowed up by various factions.
Back then, Chris and Jack's trading company, still known as "JK," specialized in importing electric three-wheeled motorcycle parts from Seres for Roscoe.
Don't underestimate Margrave, the Kleiner family's home base. In reality, aside from a large ranch used to disguise the printing of counterfeit money, the town was left with only a few basic industries to keep it running.
Small machine shops, gas stations, and even service industries like supermarkets—those essential to sustaining life—were not only unprofitable, but also offered minimal cash flow.
After all, it was a small town of less than 2,000 people, lacking resources or labor, and lacking anything but convenient transportation.
Jack's idea for a contract manufacturing business was perfectly timed. The town, reeling from ruin, was desperate to save itself, and their newly elected mayor coincidentally secured Chris's investment.
Crucially, the IRS provided some help, helping to resolve the port issue. As a result, the private-label "three-wheeled motorcycle" (MTB) quickly revitalized Margrave. While production of 100,000 units annually may seem modest, it's a "big business" with an annual output value exceeding $200 million.
Perhaps due to the townspeople's deep impression of the difficult times following the fall of the Kleiner family, coupled with Roscoe's inherent political talent, the local OEM manufacturing industry continued to thrive, instead embarking on a localized transformation of the "MTB" (MTB).
Leveraging Seris's comprehensive industrial system and dedicated customer service to wealthy European and American clients, the once-simple "MTB" has been transformed.
Its bodywork features a colorful automotive paint job, the cockpit is fully enclosed, and even various upgrade packages are offered, much like a car salesperson.
It had everything, including an expanded battery compartment, power windows, dual-temperature air conditioning, multimedia entertainment, hydraulic lifts, and an enclosed cargo hold.
When Jack first went to Korea, he made a small fortune, part of which he invested in an "industrial upgrade" in Margrave Town. The "JK" trading company then became a subsidiary of Shangri-La.
As a result, the cargo ships bound for Savannah (Georgia's largest seaport) from Seres were no longer just carrying parts for three-wheeled vehicles, but also a variety of electric scooter accessories.
Compared to the tacit rivalry between the two countries' air forces, the partnership between the town of Margrave and an agricultural machinery group in Seres is a true example of "I'll create the presentation, you'll implement it."
The payments were prompt, and the supply chain was comprehensive, meeting every need. There was nothing impossible.
Thus, containers shipped across the Pacific from Seres, disguised as agricultural machinery parts, were delivered to the town, where they were assembled and rebranded into stylish Vespa scooters.
From there, they were loaded back onto cargo ships and eventually found their way onto the streets of France, Italy, and other European countries.
In just a few years, the town's population has grown from less than 2,000 to over 5,000, and even the police department has more than doubled in size.
Chief Stevenson now has over 20 officers under his command, including two detectives, a far more affluent position than before.
After the Dallas case concluded, the Most Wanted team spent a few days in Texas, Hannah's hometown after all, and since they were in Austin, they naturally wanted to visit.
After seeing Hannah's "small" 500-acre farm and learning that she also owned the adjacent ranch, which stretches nearly 3,000 acres, everyone, including Jiejie, had a completely new appreciation for this wealthy woman.
Just as the Most Wanted team, still feeling a bit overwhelmed, were about to board their return flight, Jack received a call from Chris, hoping he could represent him at a celebration in Margrave and help Rosko with a minor problem.
As Jack's friends, the Most Wanted team could now be considered original shareholders in Shangri-La, though their investments were modest, totaling less than 1%.
However, as a private company, Shangri-La's internal returns and dividends were incredibly lucrative, essentially serving as a long-term meal ticket.
While it wouldn't allow Clay to trade his Staten Island home for a mansion on Long Island in the short term, it significantly improved everyone's financial situation.
Of course, aside from Hannah and Jiejie, no one else knew Jack was the actual controller of the company, but they were aware of his close relationship with Chris, now the de facto controller of Shangri-La.
So, Jubal, in a rare act of personal gain, diverted the Bombardier flight to Atlanta.
Of course, the ostensible reason was still to investigate the case, as the Margrave Police Department had already requested assistance from the FBI, hoping to secure the support of the Most Wanted Squad.
After a warm welcome from the "locals" and a taste of local delicacies, the FBI was ushered into the equally newly renovated town police station to discuss the town's recent "little trouble."
(End of chapter)