My Manor

Jiang Hai listened carefully to Moses Adams while scanning through the records on a man named Jiang Rui.

"This Jiang Rui does have a record of entry and exit. The last footage of him was captured the day before yesterday—one day after the attack here. On the surface, he's just a tourist, and there's no traceable record beyond that."

Today marked the third day since Jiang Hai was attacked. The first day was spent at the police station, and by the second day, news had somehow spread. That day, numerous people, including Zhang Dehai and others, visited his manor to check on him.

Selena Gomez and Pra Walton both called, but Jiang Hai turned them down.

No way—he would feel too awkward facing them now!

Other acquaintances, such as Tie Niu Aneva, who supplied him with fish fry, and Baker Gerard from the research lab, also reached out. Some close friends even offered to visit, but he politely declined. It was only then that Jiang Hai realized just how many people he had unknowingly befriended.

That evening, he went to see Billy Wallen. Upon returning, he called Moses Adams, preparing to investigate the mastermind behind the attack.

However, the findings weren't very promising. On paper, Jiang Rui had a military background in China. Born in 1973, he enlisted in 1991 and retired in 2004, after which he disappeared for a while. Rumor had it that he became a mercenary in the Middle East before returning to China in 2010. Since then, there had been no trace of him—until this year when he suddenly surfaced in the U.S. as a tourist. No one knew his true purpose, but Jiang Hai was certain: Jiang Rui was here for him.

"Are you really sure this guy is the mastermind?" Moses Adams asked, staring at the seemingly polite man in the photo. The information was easy to obtain, but Jiang Hai's certainty made him skeptical.

"No, he's not the mastermind—just another blade. Forget it, let's not dwell on that for now. I'll check with my sources in China. How's the situation with the case?" Jiang Hai shifted the topic.

"No issues. We have solid evidence. The people who attacked the manor are definitely going to prison. Those who blocked the road will likely be arrested, though their sentences won't be too long. But once they're inside, we can make our move."

Jiang Hai now had two 'vicious dogs.' The first was Azarina—his trust in her had skyrocketed from zero to eighty after this incident. That was the threshold for his trust, and based on the current circumstances, she had earned it.

The second was Moses Adams. He was perfectly aligned with Jiang Hai's interests, knowing exactly when to act and how to ease Jiang Hai's burdens. In return, all he wanted was money—something Jiang Hai had in abundance.

In the U.S., wealth could get you nearly everything, and Jiang Hai had more than enough. Moses Adams' loyalty was a direct result of that. Of course, Jiang Hai wasn't naïve enough to entrust him with his deepest secrets, but for handling matters solvable with money, Moses was reliable.

"This case is big. It'll be expensive," Moses Adams remarked, closing the report and shrugging.

Before he could finish his sentence, Jiang Hai had already picked up his phone and made a transaction. Within a minute, a notification popped up—$20 million had been wired to Moses Adams' account.

"The rest is yours," Jiang Hai stated casually.

Moses Adams' eyes instantly lit up. This was the kind of boss he loved—one who never held back when it came to money.

"Understood, boss. I'll handle it." He stood up respectfully before giving a final report and taking his leave.

Once Moses left, Jiang Hai picked up his phone and called Qi Li. Investigating Jiang Rui was a hassle, but if Qi Li helped, unexpected information might surface.

"Hello? What made you think of calling me?" Qi Li's voice came through almost immediately, sounding excited. From the background noise, she was likely at home watching TV.

"Are you home?" Jiang Hai asked.

It was a little past 8 a.m. for him, meaning it was around 9 p.m. in China.

"Yeah, just watching TV." Qi Li had just finished a shower and was in a great mood. These past few days had been particularly rewarding for her.

Jiang Hai's beef had become the centerpiece of her restaurant, just as she had envisioned. Branded as "the best beef in the world," it was proving to be a huge success. Even the highest-grade Wagyu from Japan paled in comparison. Since ancient times, China had prided itself on being the best, and its people loved competing for the top spot in everything. Now, with this title, Qi Li's restaurant was drawing massive attention.

Once people tried the beef, they found it was genuinely delicious. Some understood its quality, while others simply followed the hype.

Traditionally, Chinese cuisine categorized beef into four uses: stewing with sirloin, braising beef shank, stir-frying or grilling regular cuts, and using offal for hot pot. Marble patterns and eye cuts weren't widely recognized. Thanks to Qi Li's marketing, people were now learning about them—but at a price.

A 7.5-ounce premium steak from Jiang Hai's ranch (about 4.7 pounds) sold for ¥1,488. Diners could either have the chef cook it tableside or serve it plated. Two steaks—a single pound—cost nearly ¥3,000.

The wholesale price from Jiang Hai's ranch was ¥2,400 per pound. With labor, rent, utilities, taxes, and "additional expenses" factored in, there wasn't an outrageous profit margin. Still, the combination of quality, branding, and pricing made it irresistible to China's elite.

Wealthy patrons dined at Qi Li's restaurant daily. Out-of-town visitors had to book appointments. Celebrities and influencers flaunted their meals on social media, driving the hype further. Even the media took notice, attempting to sensationalize the "sky-high beef prices," but their usual strategies failed.

Unlike overpriced "luxury" seafood scams, this beef had traceable origins and was undeniably top-tier. The media, finding nothing to criticize, switched to praising it instead. The result? Qi's stock price surged 20% within days, silencing dissenting shareholders and cementing Qi Li's success.

Her mood had been soaring ever since. Now, hearing Jiang Hai's call, she happily chatted with him.

"The beef is great, but I need your help looking into someone—Jiang Rui. I'll send you his details later," Jiang Hai said, wiping imaginary sweat from his forehead. He had no doubts about the beef's success, but he wasn't calling to celebrate—he needed information.

"Jiang Rui?" Qi Li asked, unfamiliar with the name.

"Yeah. He was a soldier and a mercenary. Now he's in the U.S. for something… He mentioned another boss back in China. I need to find out who."

Though Jiang Hai spoke lightly, Qi Li immediately sensed the weight behind his words. Her expression turned serious.

"Got it. Give me a day—I'll find out everything," she promised.

"Then I'll leave it to you." Jiang Hai smiled. With the Qi family's extensive connections, tracking someone down—especially uncovering their backers—wouldn't be a problem.

After hanging up, Jiang Hai exhaled deeply. If he was going to uproot his enemies, he had to eliminate them completely.