"Are you the prey? We are the hunters…"
Early in the morning, a shrill phone ring pierced the silence.
Still half-asleep, Jiang Hai groped around the cluttered bedside table for his phone. When he glanced at the caller ID, he slapped his forehead.
Mayor Wallis? Why was he calling this early?
Casting a glance at Cao Peng and another girl, Xiao Zuo, still asleep beside him, Jiang Hai hung up the call. He groggily climbed out of bed, washed his face in the suite's bathroom, and stared at his reflection in the mirror, recalling the events of the previous night.
There actually wasn't much to remember. Thinking too deeply about it would only invite censorship.
All he could say was that the atmosphere last night had been excellent. The group partied until around eleven before everyone finally dispersed.
Jiang Hai had brought Cao Peng and Xiao Zuo back to this hotel. Fu Yuan and the others were staying there as well, though they had booked a standard room, while Jiang Hai had taken a suite.
As for what happened after they entered the room… that was best left unsaid. They had done many things.
Recalling Cao Peng and Xiao Zuo's bodies, Jiang Hai felt another surge of desire rise within him. He had to admit that the two girls were exceptionally skilled dancers—their bodies flexible and supple, capable of performing almost any imaginable move.
Standing splits, aerial trains, pincer attacks… Jiang Hai didn't even know the proper meanings of these idioms—or whether they were idioms at all. In any case, his Chinese wasn't very good.
After showering, Jiang Hai dressed outside the bathroom. Seeing that the two girls were still asleep, he took out thirty thousand yuan and placed it neatly on the table.
The twenty thousand from last night had already been settled when he left the venue. This extra thirty thousand was something he had specifically prepared yesterday—a reward, considering the rather novel experience.
Once the money was placed, Jiang Hai didn't linger. How they divided it was their business, not his concern.
Leaving the room, he checked the time. It was just past seven in the morning. Fu Yuan and the others didn't have work today, so they could sleep a bit longer. Jiang Hai sent a voice message in the group chat, telling them to meet him at the restaurant, then headed there himself.
After ordering a glass of milk and two sandwiches, he sat down and scrolled through his phone. After a brief pause, he returned Mayor Wallis's call.
He didn't know why the mayor had contacted him, but it was clearly important.
"Hey, Jiang! I'm really sorry—I forgot you went east, haha. I hope I didn't wake you," Mayor Wallis said cheerfully as soon as the call connected.
"You did wake me, but it's fine. I'm already up," Jiang Hai replied with a smile, rubbing his temples. "What's going on, Mayor?"
"Oh, I really am sorry, but this still needs your decision," Mayor Wallis said, his tone not particularly apologetic as he shrugged it off.
Given his relationship with Jiang Hai, waking him up wasn't exactly a major offense.
"Alright, tell me," Jiang Hai said, taking a sip of milk, curiosity piqued.
"It's about the tourists wanting to go hunting…" Mayor Wallis paused briefly, then began explaining.
Winthrop wasn't far from the Alabacia Mountains. As was well known, although the United States had a large population, most people lived in cities due to advanced mechanization. Rural areas outside the cities were sparsely populated.
On top of that, environmental protection had been excellent in recent years.
As a result, wildlife overpopulation had become a recurring issue across the country. Alligators in the south, brown and black bears in the northwest, and wild boars and deer in the northeast—where Jiang Hai lived—were all considered pests.
Jiang Hai vividly remembered last year's deer infestation. He had nearly lost his life then. The head of that massive stag was still mounted in his home—a stark reminder of how dangerous the situation had been.
According to forecasts, this winter would be even colder than last year. Cold weather meant less food, and that meant deer from the Alabacia Mountains were likely to descend in large numbers.
Reports also indicated that wild boar populations had increased significantly this year, meaning both deer and boars could flood down from the mountains together.
Worse still, the movement of deer could attract carnivores that preyed on them.
To prevent chaos, the Massachusetts government had ordered towns near the Alabacia Mountains to hunt deer and wild boar according to set quotas. The goal was to reduce population pressure and create buffer zones in the mountains—avoiding massive property losses or casualties like those seen in other regions.
Mayor Wallis had promptly passed the notice to local households, urging them to hunt before snowfall made things more difficult. However, the message inevitably reached tourists staying at guesthouses.
Many of them, through the villagers, contacted the town expressing interest in participating.
After all—it was hunting.
In this country, aside from the wealthy and powerful, few people ever experienced real hunting. Shooting ranges were common enough, but they were nothing compared to stalking live prey. For frequent visitors to Winthrop, the temptation was overwhelming.
Mayor Wallis found himself in a bind.
Refusing outright would dampen the enthusiasm of these wealthy patrons. Agreeing, however, carried serious risks.
After wrestling with the dilemma all day, he suddenly thought of Jiang Hai—and made the call, unintentionally waking him up.
Jiang Hai listened quietly, then tapped his fingers lightly against the glass.
"It's not entirely impossible."
Mayor Wallis froze. "What do you mean?"
Jiang Hai shared the same concerns. If something went wrong, Winthrop's reputation would be ruined—and Tenglong Manor would likely be dragged into it as well.
But… this could also be an opportunity.
"We can discuss this with the state," Jiang Hai said thoughtfully. "We take the lead in organizing it—as a structured training program."
He explained his idea rapidly.
The town would provide the tourists. The state government would supply firearms and armed personnel—essentially police—for protection and oversight.
Participants would undergo three days of basic training to establish discipline. The town police department already had suitable training grounds.
Anyone entering the mountains would pay a fee, submit a deposit, and sign a contract. Violations would result in forfeiture of the deposit. Profits from the hunting program would be split with the state government; the exact percentage could be negotiated.
Even if the state took 28 percent, Jiang Hai considered it well worth it.
This wasn't just hunting—it was a brand-new tourist route for Winthrop.
More importantly, few tourists would bring their own camouflage, tactical vests, backpacks, or tents. Whether rented or sold, equipment alone would generate substantial revenue. And those participating were all wealthy individuals.
Deer head trophies made from their own kills? Those would sell like hotcakes.
Mayor Wallis was stunned.
He had only wanted a way to satisfy tourists. He hadn't expected such a comprehensive business model.
"As expected of a capitalist," Mayor Wallis laughed. "Alright. I'll speak with the state government tomorrow."
"I'll have Moses Adams come with you," Jiang Hai added calmly.
He wasn't comfortable letting Mayor Wallis face those politicians alone.
Understanding his meaning, Mayor Wallis agreed without hesitation. After a few more pleasantries, the call ended.
When Jiang Hai looked up, he saw that the others had already arrived at the restaurant. Judging by their bleary eyes, they were still half-asleep.
Jiang Hai chuckled softly.
Once you passed twenty-five, it was obvious—your stamina just wasn't what it used to be anymore…
(To be continued.)