"Phew, the weather here is so different from Winthrop! It's comfortable, though the sun is a bit strong!" Qi Jie exclaimed as she stepped off the plane, shading her eyes from the high sun and chuckling.
Jiang Hai smiled at her remark, then crouched to tie ropes around the collars of Little Yellow and Little White. In truth, the ropes were purely symbolic—both dogs could easily break them with a tug, or even pull a person along if they wanted. The purpose was simply to give the impression to onlookers that the beasts were restrained.
"Boss, Belyak has prepared our accommodations. We still need to buy guns and supplies, but those aren't difficult to obtain here," Azalina said with a smile, striding over gracefully with her long legs. Jiang Hai had already arranged for the plane, but it hadn't arrived yet.
Since he was traveling with two dogs and preferred private flights, Jiang Hai had chartered a private jet to California. This limited the number of companions he could bring. He had originally planned to bring the mountain lion as well, but the snake and alligator were hibernating, and he didn't know how to wake them safely. Wild animals also weren't suitable to travel on a plane that wasn't his own.
So this time, only Little Yellow and Little White accompanied him. He had considered bringing Qiuqiu, but given Qiuqiu's strength in Winthrop, Jiang Hai left it behind. With Galina and Qiuqiu guarding his mansion, and Belle monitoring his operations outside, he was confident no one would dare to cause trouble.
The small expedition team consisted of Jiang Hai, Azalina, Aller-Sara, Qi Jie, Valerie Shelley, Relis Carter, and Belyak Trotsky, who was already waiting. For this mission, it was more than sufficient.
"Okay, tell the crew to enjoy themselves in Los Angeles these few days. Let's go!" Jiang Hai said, patting the heads of Little Yellow and Little White before leading them out of the airport.
The others followed, leaving the terminal behind.
California—the Golden State—had initially attracted immigrants during the westward expansion with its abundant gold mines. Situated on the western Pacific coast, it is famous for its sunshine, though summers are harsh; winters, however, are ideal for hibernation.
Most Chinese people would be familiar with the state's landmarks: Los Angeles, the City of Angels; Hollywood, the film industry; Silicon Valley, a hub for tech giants; and San Francisco, home to a major Chinese-American community. Even if they hadn't visited, they would have seen Hollywood movies or TV shows set here.
Many assume Los Angeles is the state capital, but in fact, Sacramento holds that title—the home of the Sacramento Kings. Jiang Hai and his team, however, were in Los Angeles, where there was little need to visit Sacramento. Their main purpose here… was leisure, though the real objectives lay elsewhere.
Los Angeles is both a city and a county. Los Angeles County includes the city itself and many smaller cities like Long Beach, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Torrance, Pasadena, Lancaster, Palmdale, Inglewood, Downey, West Covina, Norwalk, and Burbank. Most of these have populations around 100,000, except Long Beach, which exceeds 400,000. Los Angeles proper boasts over 3.6 million residents.
Exiting Los Angeles International Airport, Jiang Hai immediately spotted Belyak in the departure hall. Dressed in a black tracksuit and hat, the East Slav stood out among the crowd. With long, flowing blonde hair, a slender figure, and a straight posture, her athletic yet delicate frame drew attention, though her aura warned others not to approach.
Jiang Hai smiled at the sight of the woman nicknamed "White Rabbit" and walked over.
"Hey, boss, you're here too!" Belyak greeted him warmly, glancing casually at the rest of the group.
"Everything arranged?" Jiang Hai asked.
"Of course, no problem," Belyak replied, linking arms with Jiang Hai as they headed toward the airport exit. Several men in the hall glared, irritated by their presence, but none dared approach—especially with Little Yellow and Little White nearby.
Outside, Belyak had arranged an MPV for them, an Alphard—a solid choice in the world of luxury minivans. After settling the dogs inside, Jiang Hai started the engine and merged onto the highway. In the U.S., most highways are toll-free, though some private roads require payment, particularly those leading to wealthy estates.
Jiang Hai had planned to stay for over a week. First, he had never explored California before; second, they needed to finalize purchases of weapons, vehicles, and other supplies. Rather than renting a city-center property, Belyak had booked a villa in Beverly Hills, west of Los Angeles.
Beverly Hills offered spacious luxury, its own mayor, police, and fire department. Home to Hollywood stars and the wealthy elite, the area boasted lavish villas. Celebrities such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, and David Beckham had all lived or lived here. Jiang Hai knew David Beckham purchased his villa in 2007, preferring the commercial vibrancy of the U.S. over England.
The car soon arrived at the villa. A two-story detached house, the property covered 600 square meters with 300 square meters of living space. It included three garages, a private front lawn, and an outdoor swimming pool. Jiang Hai admired the tranquil surroundings.
Inside, the first floor featured a living room, dining room, kitchen, and large bathroom, along with two storage rooms. The second floor held seven rooms: a master suite, some with bathrooms and kitchenettes, plus six additional rooms equipped with showers, large beds, air conditioning, and TVs.
Jiang Hai nodded in approval, patting Belyak on the shoulder. Belyak smiled, sensing his satisfaction.
"Wow, this villa is incredible! By the way, how much would it cost to buy one?" Qi Jie asked, examining the property with admiration.