When I went home for Chinese New Year, I spent a million times more money on my foreign wife.

Ten Gulfstream private jets landed at Sheremetyevo International Airport.

On both sides of the runway, the Russian military lined up two rows of fully armed soldiers.

Black beret, black uniform, holding an assault rifle.

Military boots pounded on the frozen asphalt, row upon row, stretching from the runway all the way to the end of the apron.

Ivan arrived at the airport with a convoy of more than twenty armored cars.

The convoy was stopped at the third security checkpoint.

"Make way! I'm Ivanovic! I've come to pick up my son-in-law!"

Ivan rolled down the car window and yelled at the sentry.

The sentry saluted and remained motionless.

"Sir, the highest command has issued a Level 1 security order. The west runway of Sheremetyevo Airport is now completely closed. No unauthorized vehicles are permitted to pass."

Ivan's expression changed.

Level 1 Security Order.

Only one person in the entire Russian nation can issue such an order.

"The Emperor...issued the order personally?"

The sentry did not answer.

On the tarmac, a convoy of six all-black bulletproof off-road vehicles drove into the inner circle of the runway. The vehicles bore no military insignia or unit numbers, only a small, gilded flag—the insignia of the Emperor's private guard.

The captain of the private guard stepped out of the car, straightened his uniform, and stood at the end of the red carpet to wait.

The main engine compartment door opens.

Chen Yang stepped off the gangway.

Two hundred Black Kite mercenaries filed out of the following planes and lined up on both sides of the red carpet.

The captain of the private guard stepped forward and bowed.

"Mr. Chen, the Emperor has entrusted me to convey his greetings."

The captain handed over a dark blue velvet box.

"This is a gift from the Emperor to the Chinese business representative. The Kremlin gates are always open to you."

Chen Yang took the box but did not open it.

"Please thank your master for me."

Chen Yang handed the box to Lei Zi behind him.

"Boss, the Emperor's sincerity is more than enough." Lei Zi took the box and lowered his voice.

There's no need to be moved. This is a transaction.

After saying this, Chen Yang glanced around the perimeter of the tarmac.

Three hundred meters away on the top floor of the terminal building, two people in airport uniforms were holding telephoto lenses. The sound of the shutter was drowned out by the wind, but the satellite had locked onto their position.

Lei Zi heard a report from the Black Kite intelligence team through his earpiece.

"Boss, there are two Western intelligence agents on the top floor of the terminal. Their passports are fake; their real identities are CIA field agents from Motown. They filmed the entire process of you disembarking the plane, and the photos have already been sent back to Langley headquarters."

"Let them take the pictures."

Chen Yang took two steps forward.

"If I take a clear picture, it will save them the trouble of finding out what I look like later."

-

Langley. CIA Headquarters, United States.

A set of high-definition photos was projected onto the large screen in the conference room.

In the photo, an Eastern youth in a black trench coat steps off a private jet. Behind him are two hundred fully armed mercenaries. In front, the Emperor's personal guards stand in formation to greet him.

"who is he?"

The bureau chief stared at the screen.

"Chen Yang. Chinese nationality, 25 years old. His public identity is the legal representative of the Ice City Snow Palace Group."

The intelligence analyst flipped through the files in his hand.

"We have very limited information. Two years ago, this person was just an ordinary resident of a small town in Northeast China. He had no business background, no family tycoon support, and mediocre education."

"and then?"

"Then, within eighteen months, he became a key figure in a conglomerate controlling hundreds of billions of dollars in cash flow. He was the behind-the-scenes boss of the Black Kite International Defense Group and the son-in-law of Ivanovich, an energy oligarch from Russia."

The analyst closed the file.

"The most crucial intelligence—the highest levels of the Chinese government have just issued a letter of appointment, granting him the title of 'plenipotentiary spokesperson for foreign commerce'."

"Eighteen months? From zero to hundreds of billions?" The bureau chief slammed his coffee cup on the table. "That's impossible. Investigate his financial chain thoroughly. I need a complete report on where every penny came from and where it went within seventy-two hours."

"Chief, we've tried. His funds are going through offshore accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands, with a quantum level of encryption we've never seen before. The technical department can't crack it."

The meeting room was silent for five seconds.

The bureau chief stared at Chen Yang's face on the screen.

"Notify the European station to fully monitor all of this person's activities in Mo City."

-

Sheremetyevo Airport tarmac.

The captain of the Emperor's Guard gestured for them to proceed, pointing to the six all-black bulletproof SUVs.

"Mr. Chen, please get in the car. We will escort you to your accommodation."

Chen Yang didn't move.

His gaze passed over the convoy and landed on the outermost iron fence of the tarmac.

Outside the iron fence, a pink Lada SUV was parked haphazardly on the side of the road. The door was open, and a woman in a white haute couture trench coat leaned against the car, her long blonde hair blowing in the cold wind.

Katyusha.

She waved to Chen Yang.

Chen Yang walked across the red carpet, bypassed the bulletproof convoy, and headed straight for the iron fence.

The captain of the guard stood there, stunned.

Lei Zi followed and waved to the captain.

"The proprietress is here. You guys leave first."

Chen Yang climbed over the iron fence.

Katsushala opened the passenger door.

"Get in the car."

Chen Yang bent down and climbed into the pink Lada. The interior was cramped, and his knees were touching the glove box.

"Why would you choose this over any of the armored cars in the entire city of Mori?"

"You drive, I'll ride in your car."

Katyusha closed the car door, walked around to the driver's seat, and got in. She turned the key, and the engine gave a coughing, rattling sound.

"There's borscht simmering at the manor. I made it myself. I've been waiting for you for three days."

"Just borscht?"

"And rye bread and pickles." Katyusha shifted gears. "You have a problem with that?"

"no."

Katyusha floored the accelerator.

The pink Lada sped off, its tires skidding on the ice, its rear end arcing out of the way and leaving the Black Kite escort convoy far behind.

Lei Zi was pressing his earpiece in the car behind.

"For all units, the boss's wife is driving. Don't follow too closely; she doesn't like being stared at. Maintain a 300-meter distance and clear the road along the way."

-

Ice City. Snow Palace International Global Center.

Chen Yue sat in her top-floor office, with seven monitors spread out in front of her.

The dedicated line phone rang.

"Ms. Chen Yue, the second batch of cargo ships on the Bingyang route has passed through the high seas inspection area and is expected to arrive at the port of Mocheng in 48 hours."

"Received. Notify the Far East Heavy Industries base that the third batch of cold-weather equipment will be loaded onto the ship two days ahead of schedule."

Chen Yue hung up the phone and picked up the next document.

A message popped up on the encrypted phone on the table.

It was posted by Chen Yang.

"We've arrived. Everything is normal. Stay home."

Chen Yue placed her phone face down on the table, picked up a pen, and signed her name on the next acquisition contract.

The sound of the pen tip falling was crisp and clean.