Starting from South America, speeding through the world

Chapter 314 Karen
Potomac, Maryland.

The tree canopy is dense, and the chirping of cicadas comes from deep within.

Sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, dappling the villa.

Zhou Yi stood by the porch, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, holding a newly bought hammer.

There was a crack under the eaves, and he was trying to hammer the last nail in.

The lawn not far away has grown to knee height.

He had just finished mowing most of it that morning, and the lawnmower was still parked outside the garage.

There seemed to be a hare leaping at the edge of the bushes, disappearing into the undergrowth, leaving a swaying trail behind.

Zhou Yi stopped what he was doing, leaned against a pillar, and took out a cigarette.

He didn't rush to light the fire, but instead looked towards the woods behind him.

The shadows deep within have almost no shape, and their undulations are only visible when the wind blows.

Everything felt like a return to childhood.

With a flick of the fingertip, a spark flashed, and white mist dissipated from the mouth and nose.

Zhou Yi squatted down and rummaged through the toolbox to find brushes and paint cans.

I bought it at Home Depot a few days ago; it's a slightly darker color than the old paint.

When it was unscrewed, a pungent odor was released.

He dipped the brush in the oil and applied it evenly to the wooden board.

A gentle breeze carried the faint sound of Spanish conversation, probably from other gardeners.

However, at that moment, the phone in my pocket suddenly started vibrating incessantly.

Zhou Yi casually tossed the cigarette butt into the gravel below the steps and stubbed it out with his boot.

The call was still coming from an unknown number.

Damn it, what's with the mysterious act?

Out of consideration for the previous mission, Zhou Yi patiently answered the call.

"Where are you?"

Lucas's tone was crisp, with his familiar imperious air.

There's the hum of an engine in the background; you can tell we're on the road.

"Haven't you guys learned how to locate mobile phones yet?"

Seeing his reaction, Zhou Yi gave up on trying to reason with him.

There was a half-second silence on the other end, followed by a quick answer.

"You're in Maryland? Potomac, that's a great place."

Zhou Yi scoffed lightly.

"It seems that Prism Gate still hasn't taught you a enough lesson."

"If you're here to show off your technology, then goodbye, I'm very busy lately."

"and many more--"

Lucas raised his voice slightly.

"You need to come to Washington in three days, in your uniform and with your medals."

Zhou Yi remained silent.

Lucas thought he hadn't heard him clearly, paused for a moment, and then spoke with even more emphasis:

"August 2nd, 1 p.m., Pentagon, you must be there."

"What occasion? A circus performance?" Zhou Yi's voice was mocking.

Lucas took a deep breath.

"It was Richard Halvorsen's retirement ceremony."

"Members of the House and Senate, the military, and representatives of the contractors will all be there."

"Of course, James will go too."

Zhou Yi scratched his chin, turned around and went inside.

"Do I need to remind you that I have absolutely no connection with you Defense Intelligence Agency employees?"

“This is not an internal event,” Lucas interrupted him.

"When Director Halvorsen retires, it will be a national event."

"Remember, not everyone is qualified to enter the Pentagon."

Zhou Yi smiled enigmatically.

"You're quite proactive, busy trying to make your presence known to important people."

"What is it this time, Lucas? On your knees in the Pentagon sucking dicks just to get another stripe? Perhaps save some for the Joint Chiefs, they are lining up."

(Zhou Yi's words were very crude and difficult to translate.)

Lucas rolled his eyes, speechless, and immediately forgot all about maintaining his composure.

“Fuck you, John,” he cursed coldly.

"Stop telling me these low-class, stupid jokes." "James wants you here. Maria's mother is still asking how you are doing."

"Most importantly, Isabel is back from Colombia."

"Maybe you could try not to be such a jerk just once."

"Arlington, three days from now. I will see you there. That's all."

After explaining all this, Lucas quickly hung up the phone, afraid that the other end might say something even more shocking.

The phone went dead with a "beep" sound.

Zhou Yi couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

The room was eerily quiet, with only the chirping of cicadas outside the window reminding us that it was the height of summer.

After a long pause, he sighed resignedly and walked into the storage room filled with miscellaneous items.

Brown moving boxes were stacked and haphazardly piled up in the corner.

The one at the very top has the UPS logo printed on it.

The edges were softened by moisture and felt a little sticky to the touch.

Zhou Yi observed for a few seconds, then took out a military knife from his pocket and cut along the tape.

The edges of the fabric were sticking out, with a transparent plastic bag pressed on top.

Among them were medals, their metal gleaming in the dim light.

Zhou Yi squatted down, reached out and pulled out the uniform, unfolded it and examined it for a moment, then stuffed it back in.

Fine.

I'll go and make Jim's 300,000 while I'm at it.

He took out his cigarette case, picked up a cigarette, and lit it with a flint and stick.

The smoke rose slowly and drifted through the room where the air conditioning wasn't on.

The next second—

Suddenly, a series of rapid knocking sounds came from outside.

dong dong dong——!
dong dong dong——!
dong dong dong——!
The rhythm is precise, conveying an undeniable sense of authority.

Zhou Yi frowned subconsciously, put the cigarette in his mouth, wiped the scraps of paper that had stuck to his pants, and walked over.

The door opened, and a strong scent of perfume wafted out.

An elderly white woman, around sixty years old, stood there with stiffly permed curls.

"Oh, you must be new here, right?"

“My name is Karen, and I am a representative of the community homeowners association.”

She feigned surprise and spoke.

Then, they deliberately emphasized the word "association," as if using it to announce their identity.

"Yes, that's right." Zhou Yi narrowed his eyes and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Seeing this, Karen's smile widened even more.

"Welcome to Potomac, a quiet place with friendly neighbors."

"The only requirement is that everyone should abide by the community standards and make this place look clean, uniform, and respectable."

"After all, the property value of 'River Bay Manor' is not low."

As she spoke, her gaze passed over Zhou Yi, looking at the cluttered living room, and then glancing at the bushes beside the porch.

"I noticed that your front lawn doesn't seem to have been mowed yet?"

“The community wants them to stay under six inches so they look neater.”

"Of course, if you need, I can recommend a few reliable lawn caretakers."

"A very nice Mexican guy, fair price, attentive and meticulous."

Zhou Yi turned his head and exhaled a puff of smoke: "I'll handle it myself."

Karen blinked.

Although she didn't receive the expected polite reply, her smile remained unchanged.

"That's good. Also, there's a small rule about where to put the trash cans."

"We usually place it on the side of the garage, not at the main entrance."

"It's just a small detail, but it makes the room look neater."

Karen paused, then took out a business card from her pocket and handed it over.

“I know you just moved here and must have a lot to do.”

"If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime."

"Thank you," Zhou Yi said, then placed the business card on the shoe cabinet next to him.

Upon seeing this, a crack finally appeared in Karen's perfect expression.

She stared at the cigarette between Zhou Yi's fingers, her nose twitching as if she was struggling to hold back:
"Then I won't bother you any longer. I hope you have a pleasant stay here."

(End of this chapter)