Chapter 386 - 248: Before the Banquet, Dark Tides Surge
The Sikorsky S-92 continued on through the snow, and the "Gold Coast" at the eastern end of Long Island gradually came into view on the right.
Li Wei tilted his head, gazing down through the cabin window.
The steel forest of Manhattan had long been left behind. Through the leaden, swirling snow, the coastline of Long Island was barely visible.
Gale-force winds whipped the raging waves of the Atlantic Ocean, which crashed violently against the black reefs and kicked up shards of ice and white foam several meters high.
And yet, amid this chaos that seemed to be consumed by the might of nature, an expanse of brilliant light appeared up ahead—a completely restricted zone.
It was the Mellon Family’s Long Island Manor.
Li Wei’s vision far surpassed that of an ordinary person. Even from his vantage point in the snow-swept sky, he could clearly see the entirety of the vast estate.
This could no longer be simply defined as a "luxury estate." It was more like a small kingdom, independent of the laws and common sense of the United States of America.
The manor spanned at least several hundred acres. Its sprawling private coastline was securely shielded by towering breakwaters, and the periphery was enclosed by tall, wrought-iron walls that blocked all prying eyes.
A single glance was all it took for Li Wei to abandon any thought of sneaking around inside at night.
His [Vision Obscuration] skill hadn’t been leveled up yet; he could only remain invisible to the most basic cameras. He had no doubt this manor was equipped with full-coverage, high-definition cameras and military-grade infrared thermal imaging systems.
When wealth accumulated to such a staggering degree, it was no longer just a string of numbers in a bank account. It had transformed into absolute power—the power to divide classes, define rules, and even defy the laws of nature.
And according to Elizabeth, this wasn’t even the main branch of the Mellon Family. The estate of the true head of the family spanned tens of thousands of acres, a veritable kingdom within a kingdom.
The helicopter began to slow its descent, hovering steadily over a massive private helipad.
Even outdoors, the ground was heated. Any snow that touched the surface of the helipad instantly melted and evaporated, sending up clouds of white steam. It was as if an "absolute domain" had been forcefully carved out of the frozen landscape.
The roar of the rotors had just begun to die down, the blades not yet at a complete stop, when a security chief in a black overcoat and tactical earpiece strode toward them, flanked by two men.
He first greeted Li Wei and Elizabeth, then walked to the cockpit and handed the pilot a thick clipboard.
"Routine procedure, Captain," the security chief said. "Please sign this top-level security agreement. Until you leave this airspace, the terrain you’ve observed, the architectural structures, and any personnel movements after landing are all considered top secret to the Mellon Family."
The pilot had clearly signed such agreements before. Without a word, he swiftly signed his name.
As Li Wei and Elizabeth stepped out of the helicopter, an attendant immediately opened a large, black, windproof umbrella and held it steadily over their heads.
"Let’s go," Elizabeth said, taking a deep breath. "It’s been quite a few years since I’ve been back."
"How does it feel to be back?" Li Wei asked.
"Normal," Elizabeth said, rubbing her shoulder. "It’s too cold here."
The two walked toward the main building along a stone path, which had been swept perfectly clean and was lined on both sides with flaming gas torches.
As he walked, Li Wei continued to survey the manor’s exterior. The main building was a magnificent French-style castle. Towering Roman columns supported an intricately carved portico, and two enormous Bronze lions stared coldly out at visitors from within the swirling snow, exuding a stern and imposing pressure.
[You have arrived at the ’King’s Palace’.]
[This palace was built from endless Gold Coins and worldly authority; the laws of mortals are void here. It is a place watched over by the Mage’s Tower and protected by the Royal City Guard. Anyone who tries to stir up trouble here must be completely insane.]
Reaching the shelter of the eaves, the attendant with the umbrella stepped forward and gently pulled open the double oak doors for Li Wei and Elizabeth.
The worlds inside and outside the doors were entirely different.
The air was filled with an opulent aroma—a mixture of Caucasian rose, agarwood, and the faint scent of fine cigars. The entire foyer was filled with all manner of antiques and art collections; a single glance was enough to tell they were priceless, authentic masterpieces.
After crossing a foyer that could rival the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Li Wei heard voices coming from the end of a corridor.
"Dr. Harrison, I don’t care what bullshit methods you’re using, or what dogshit you’ve brought from God knows where! I don’t understand it, and I don’t fucking care," came the voice of Alister Mellon. "What the hell is the old man’s condition? He’s right upstairs, so why won’t you let me see my own father? Will he be able to attend the banquet tonight or not?"
Elizabeth’s third uncle, Alister Mellon, was blocking the suit-clad Dr. Harrison and demanding answers.
From the look of him, he was getting desperate.
"I have nothing to report," Harrison said, shaking his head. "Now, if you’ll please step aside, I need to go upstairs."
Alister Mellon ground his teeth, glaring viciously at Harrison like a dog about to bite.
He and his female companion then took a step back, watching as Dr. Harrison went upstairs with a case in his hand.
He turned his head just in time to see Li Wei and Elizabeth walk in.