Landlord in the Arctic

Setting aside the slightly messy surroundings, this type of container home was remarkably space-efficient.

The container’s frame was made of high-strength steel, giving it excellent strength and rigidity. It was designed to withstand the weight of cargo and the various stresses of transport, ensuring the structure’s stability.

After being converted into a house, this stable structure meant that unlike ordinary homes, it didn’t need internal load-bearing walls or pillars. This made the space feel more open and airy.

In a corner of the house, a staircase wound upwards to the second floor.

Feng Mountain had just lifted his foot, ready to step onto the stairs and check out the second floor.

Tom, who was busy pouring coffee for everyone off to the side, caught a glimpse of this from the corner of his eye and was startled.

He hurriedly put down the coffee pot, trotted over, and quickly blocked the entrance to the stairs. With an awkward expression on his face, he stammered.

"Feng, there’s nothing to see on the second floor. The layout is pretty much the same as the first."

Just then, a delicate, slightly lazy, and sultry woman’s voice drifted down from upstairs.

"SpongeBob, what are you doing? Mr. Octopus and I are about to catch on fire! Hurry up and put it out!"

"..." Hearing this, Feng Mountain instantly understood why Tom had tried to stop him.

He couldn’t help but mock him inwardly.

’Old coot.’

’Not much to look at, but you sure know how to have fun!’

’And here he is, role-playing SpongeBob versus Mr. Octopus.’

Under Feng Mountain’s teasing gaze, Tom’s old face instantly flushed as red as a ripe tomato.

He turned and mumbled something under his breath toward the second floor, then said sheepishly to Feng Mountain.

"Buddy, that’s not important. The important thing is to tour the container home."

"Alright, SpongeBob." A faint smile played on Feng Mountain’s lips. After the quip, he turned away from the stairs.

The two walked around the house. Feng Mountain was very interested in the container home and kept asking all sorts of questions.

Tom’s answers were hesitant. He could barely handle the simple questions, but when it came to anything slightly more technical, he could only stare blankly, unable to respond.

Overall, this container home used several types of insulation and was officially claimed to be able to withstand extreme temperatures as low as -60 degrees.

But Feng Mountain wasn’t satisfied with this vague answer. Not getting the information he wanted, he couldn’t help but frown.

"Forget it. Give me the supplier’s contact number. I’ll talk to him."

Tom looked troubled and shook his head. "Little Barry is away on a business trip at a trade show. It’ll be a few days before he’s back. How about I have him come find you in Crown Territory? That way, you can discuss the details in person."

"Alright!" Seeing that everyone was more or less rested, Feng Mountain clapped his hands. "Alright, everyone, let’s get going. We can still make it in time for breakfast."

The group left the container home.

Yves handed the sleeping Fiona to Feng Mountain, then slipped into the cockpit to perform the pre-flight checks.

After confirming everything was safe, he signaled for everyone to board.

As Feng Mountain settled into his seat, a familiar sense of comfort washed over him.

After a full day of rushing back and forth, peppered with numerous small incidents, a tide of exhaustion now washed over him.

The low hum of the propellers was like a gentle lullaby. Cradling Fiona, his eyelids grew heavy, and he slowly closed them.

「An unknown amount of time passed.」

Feng Mountain was awakened by a slight movement in his arms. He slowly opened his drowsy eyes to see Fiona’s small figure perched by the porthole, staring intently at the night sky outside, her little face full of curiosity.

At that moment, the P750 was flying smoothly at an altitude of several thousand meters, like a giant silver bird soaring through the vast heavens.

Outside the porthole, the bright moon hung high like a brilliant lamp, its watery light gently spilling over the layers of clouds.

The clouds took on various shapes. Some were fluffy like cotton candy, others rolled on and on like ocean waves. Bathed in the moonlight, the scene was dreamlike, as if a magnificent scroll painting were slowly unfurling before their eyes.

Fiona stared out the window without blinking, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and wonder. She was completely captivated by the sight, unable to tear her gaze away.

Watching her, Feng Mountain felt a smile unconsciously touch his lips as warmth filled his heart.

He gently sat up and hugged Fiona a little tighter, following her gaze out the window to immerse himself in the beautiful night view from high above.

"Uncle, are we going to the Fairy Tale Kingdom?"

Feng Mountain nodded. He pointed toward the distance beyond the clouds and said gently, "Mhm, that’s the Crown Territory. It has running steeds, herds of cattle and sheep, Polar Bears, and Taiga Wolves. There are also steaming hot springs, all kinds of fruit trees, and beautiful snowy mountains."

As he spoke, the plane slowly descended, gradually passing through the thick cloud layer. The bright, dreamlike scenery vanished in an instant, and darkness fell once more.

The sudden change frightened Fiona a little. She instinctively curled up, snuggling tightly into Feng Mountain’s embrace.

Just then, Yves poked his head out of the cockpit. "Boss, we’re about to arrive at the Crown Territory. Should I notify Jenny and the others?"

Feng Mountain smiled. "No need. Before we land, do a loop over the Crown Territory. Let Fiona see her future home."

"Roger that!" Yves shot his daughter a glance, then turned back to piloting the plane.

The P750 smoothly flew over the rolling, snow-capped mountains on the outskirts of the camp.

It was the first time for Ma Wei and the other four to set foot in the Crown Territory. This unknown land filled them with curiosity, and they all simultaneously turned their gazes to the windows.

On the earth shrouded by the pitch-black night, a patch of brilliant lights, like a glittering pearl, suddenly appeared in their line of sight.

Those lights were like a flower of hope blooming in the darkness, outlining a warm area on the vast land.

The sudden spectacle instantly lit up the faces of the group, their gazes a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.

While quietly explaining things to Fiona, Feng Mountain also made sure to speak to Ma Wei and his group.

"Look, that’s the living area. Over there is the pasture, and that’s the hot spring. Behind it is the plantation. Those individual trees on the ground are the fruit trees. Oh, and Uncle Nash’s tribe is by the river. There’s a little girl there just as cute as you are. I’m sure you two will become good friends."

Following Feng Mountain’s introduction, the plane slowly landed on the runway.

The roar of the engines gradually faded, and the world around them returned to a momentary peace.

Before the group could even get off the plane, five or six beams of light pierced the darkness like sharp swords. Feng Jun, Wawa, Paine, Frank, and Calio appeared at the edge of the runway on snowmobiles, moving like lightning.

Fiona hid timidly inside Feng Mountain’s fur coat, peeking her little head out to cautiously observe her surroundings.

Dark, cold, and desolate. This place was completely different from the sunny Baird Town. In her eyes, it looked more like a mysterious and gloomy castle from a witch’s fairy tale.

"Brother Feng!" Feng Jun trotted forward and immediately spotted Fiona hiding in Feng Mountain’s arms.

His eyes lit up, and he quickly pulled a piece of chocolate from his pocket, offering it to her. His face was wreathed in a friendly smile. "Hi, little beauty. I’m Uncle Feng Jun."

"Call him big brother," Feng Mountain said with a laugh, snatching the chocolate and handing it to Fiona. Then he gave Feng Jun a light smack on the head.

"Boss, hope you had a smooth trip!" Peyton strode over, then suddenly saw Ma Wei coming out of the cabin and cried out in pleasant surprise, "Ma Wei! My God, you’re here too!"

Then, his gaze shifted past him, and he saw more familiar faces.

"Gunpowder! Bat! Scar!" Seeing Peyton and his two companions, Ma Wei and the other four were also overjoyed, their eyes shining with excitement.

"Let’s go, let’s go! Back to the camp first. There’ll be plenty of time to catch up later!" Feng Mountain himself didn’t mind, but it was Fiona’s first time in the Crown Territory, and her clothes weren’t enough to withstand the -40 degree temperature. If they stayed out here too long, the child could easily get sick.

Everyone hopped onto the snowmobiles. In an instant, engines roared to life, and the large procession sped off toward the camp.

As they entered the area covered by the Fire Seed, a wave of warmth washed over them.

For some reason, Feng Mountain felt a sense of comfort.

...