Chapter 690: The Return Journey, Part 2

Chapter 690 -441: The Return Journey, Part 2

One looked completely unwilling, his expression as if he were being forced to do something incredibly painful. Every movement was sluggish.

Diego, on the other hand, was grinning from ear to ear.

His eyes sparkled with excitement and his lips were perpetually upturned, as if he were filled with endless anticipation for the Crown Territory.

Lady Penny led the ranch hands all the way from the main ranch house to the bottom of the slope.

Diego was surrounded by a group of Mexican workers.

They whispered to each other in low voices.

Everyone was stuffing various items onto Diego.

Some were little snacks they couldn’t bear to eat themselves, others were small mementos, all filled with care and reluctance to see him go.

Gruus, however, was bent over, nearly burying his head in Lady Penny’s arms, his eyes filled with dependent reluctance.

He clutched the corner of Lady Penny’s clothes tightly, as if his mother would disappear the moment he let go.

Jenny stood by his side.

She spoke softly, trying to comfort Gruus.

It was true what they say.

A mother’s heart follows her child wherever they go.

It seemed mothers were the same everywhere, whether at home or abroad.

Lady Penny watched her son, who was about to depart, and her eyes reddened slightly.

She silently prayed, ‘I hope everything goes well for him in the Crown Territory.’

A gentle breeze blew past.

It lifted a few strands of her white hair but couldn’t blow away her deep-seated worries.

“Time to go!” Feng Shan shouted at the top of his lungs.

Hearing this, Gruus and Diego waved goodbye to their families one last time.

They kept looking back every few steps, their eyes full of reluctance, as they slowly clambered into the car.

Considering the larger number of people traveling this time, the ranch had provided three vehicles, making the space inside much less cramped.

Amid the warm and reluctant farewells, the cars slowly started up, their wheels turning, and gradually left Melon Ranch behind.

They kicked up flurries of snow that lingered in the air for a long time, like a parting gift from the ranch.

Not long after they left the ranch, Feng Shan spotted a person squatting by the side of the road with a backpack beside them.

It was none other than Sheriff Little Tom, looking thin and weary.

He signaled for Bat to stop the car.

Rolling down the window, Feng Shan’s lips curved into a slight smirk as he teased,

“Well, well, if it isn’t Sheriff Little Tom. Are you here to catch a suspect? What’s the matter, couldn’t stand West Yellowstone City anymore? Planning a great wilderness manhunt?”

Little Tom shot to his feet, his eyes wide with anticipation.

He gripped the car window tightly with both hands, his expression twisted with excitement as he spoke.

“Mr. Feng, I want to go with you, to leave West Yellowstone City. I… I’ve had enough of everything here, all the fake faces every day. I don’t want to stay here anymore. Please, take me with you.”

“Why?” Feng Shan asked, confused.

Little Tom’s uncle was the sheriff of this city. At the same time, he was also the one in control of a gang.

You could say he had his feet in both the criminal underworld and law enforcement, wielding immense power in the city.

‘Based on that connection alone, as his nephew, even if Little Tom didn’t want to work hard, he could have coasted by and still lived a decent life.’

‘But now he wants to throw it all away to follow me to the godforsaken Far North Tundra.’

‘This is not a wise choice.’

“My uncle fired me,” Little Tom said, his expression dimming. He slowly shook his head, his eyes full of confusion and helplessness. “I have no idea where to go now, or what path to take. I’m completely lost.”

Feng Shan nodded slightly.

‘I completely approve of what Sheriff Sean did,’ he thought. ‘If I were in Sheriff Sean’s position, I’d most likely have made the same choice.’

‘After all, being a sheriff while secretly controlling a gang is a dangerous game to play on the edge of the law.’

‘And having a nephew bursting with a sense of justice right next to you… is like pouring a ladle of water into a pot of hot oil.’

‘It could blow up at any moment.’

‘West Yellowstone City certainly doesn’t need that kind of unstable element.’

‘But the Crown Territory does.’

The Crown Territory was in its developmental stage; all sorts of order needed to be established.

Someone with a strong sense of justice who was willing to work for it was extremely valuable.

At this thought, Feng Shan’s lips curved up slightly. He looked at Little Tom with a somewhat appraising gaze and said,

“You can come with me, if you want. I’ll give you a task: get to the Alaska Crown Territory on your own. If you can find it, I’ll take you in. I’ll make you the Sheriff of the Crown Territory, and you can exercise your sense of justice to your heart’s content there.”

“Really?”

Hearing this, a spark of hope instantly ignited in Little Tom’s eyes. He asked, his face full of astonishment, as if he couldn’t believe his own ears.

“You can choose not to believe me, of course.”

Feng Shan’s expression was calm.

After speaking, he raised the window and gestured to Bat with his eyes to drive.

As the car started up again, the roar of the engine broke the brief silence.

Seeing this, Little Tom unthinkingly started running after the car, shouting at the top of his lungs as he ran.

“Mr. Feng, I’ll find the Crown Territory! I believe you!”

“Boss, why not take him with us? That kid is pretty interesting.”

Bat, who was driving, glanced at Little Tom chasing the car in the side-view mirror.

He tilted his head slightly.

His gaze shifted from the side-view mirror to the rearview mirror, waiting for an answer.

Feng Shan chuckled, a teasing look on his face. “Because the Petroleum is full. No room!”

Jenny and the others in the back seat all laughed and chided him for being so mean.

Laughter filled the car, breaking the trace of seriousness from a moment before.

Jenny lightly patted Feng Shan’s shoulder and chided, “You’re always teasing people.”

The others chimed in in agreement.

For a moment, a relaxed atmosphere filled the car.

According to the original plan, the convoy should have driven directly to the West Yellowstone City airport.

But halfway there, Feng Shan made a last-minute decision to visit Jenny’s father in the hospital.

The hospital was filled with the smell of disinfectant, quiet and oppressive.

The group walked into the hospital room.

The old man lay on the hospital bed, his face pale.

Due to a cerebral infarction, he had lost mobility and could only lie there, watching his surroundings. He couldn’t speak, nor could he move his limbs.

And yet, even so, the moment the old man saw Jenny walk into the room, his eyes filled with deep affection, as if speaking a thousand words that he couldn’t express.

Feng Shan gently took Jenny’s hand, looking at her softly as he said,

“When you have a moment, handle the discharge procedures for your father. Bring him to the Crown Territory to recuperate. The environment there will be a great help to his recovery.”

“Really?”

Jenny’s eyes were full of surprise, her mouth slightly agape.

She seemed to want to say something but was at a loss for words, a tide of emotion welling up inside her.

Feng Shan pretended to be annoyed, frowning slightly as he feigned a complaint.

“When have I ever lied to you? If you need help getting him there, just let me know. I’ll ask Jeff to bring the Petroleum over.”

“Thank you!”

Jenny said emotionally, tears glinting in her eyes.

Before the words were even out, she stood on her tiptoes and planted a gentle kiss on Feng Shan’s cheek.

Feng Shan was slightly taken aback, but then a gentle smile appeared on his face.

After leaving the hospital, they rushed straight to the airport without stopping.

The Petroleum had already received word and was waiting on the runway.

Mova, dressed in a royal blue flight attendant uniform, stood tall and graceful beside the airstairs.

The well-tailored uniform accentuated her graceful figure.

She wore a sweet smile, her eyes showing a warm enthusiasm as she quietly awaited their arrival.

The cars slowly came to a stop beside the runway.

Feng Shan was the first to open his door and get out, followed by Nash and four women.

Gruus and Diego looked around excitedly, full of curiosity about the private jet they were about to board.

“Boss, we’re going to Great Falls City to return the cars, then we’ll fly back to Fairbanks.”

Bat, Gordon, and two veterans stood by the cars to see them off.

“Have a safe trip, Boss.”

Feng Shan knew the Petroleum had a limited capacity.

It couldn’t take so many people at once.

So, he hugged Bat, Gordon, and the veterans goodbye one by one, then turned and boarded the airstairs.

This was the first time Gruus and Diego had ever been on a private jet.

As soon as they stepped into the cabin, the luxurious decor that greeted them left the two of them at a loss for what to do.

Soft leather seats, a sparkling crystal chandelier, and exquisite wooden trim.

Everything radiated luxury and comfort.