Invasion of America

Chapter 66 Robbery
North of Orlando, deep in the Sail Lake Forest Park, a quiet RV campground is hidden among the towering pine trees.

This is a popular place for vacation and leisure. Every holiday, there are always people who drive RVs here to relax for a few days.

Gray Shark rented the camp and transformed it into a secret temporary shelter. The camp has a large open space, making it ideal for small aircraft to take off and land.

The 'Holy Light No. 1', with a wingspan of more than ten meters, is now parked in a large tent in the camp.

As Zhou Qingfeng's exclusive car, this top-of-the-line model is worth five million US dollars and is equipped with a complete control and data system.

The black box faithfully records its recent flight route. More than a dozen high-definition cameras inside and outside and a large-capacity hard drive can store surveillance footage within half a month without any omissions.

Gray Shark sat in an electric wheelchair and plugged the communication interface into the control center of Holy Light No. 1 to retrieve data and video.

When the surveillance footage was read out, the seemingly confusing mystery quickly revealed the truth - Zhou Qingfeng woke up halfway, made an emergency landing in a daze and left alone.

Based on the landing trajectory recorded by the black box, the 'Gray Shark' quickly locked onto the location - Craven near Orlando, a remote town just over 40 kilometers away from the camp.

He opened the electronic map, found the landing point and zoomed in on the screen. Not far away from the landing site of "Holy Light No. 1" was a lonely icon - the gas station convenience store.

The external camera of "Holy Light No. 1" captured the scene of Zhou Qingfeng using the drunk man's mobile phone, so he must have known the existence of the gas station.

Gray Shark turned to look for information related to the gas station and soon discovered from monitoring the police's public channel that an armed robbery had just occurred there.

Four armed robbers entered a convenience store open at night, shot and wounded a clerk, threatened several customers who were present, and stole the cash in the store.

But all four robbers were dead.

The customer who was held hostage quickly escaped during the chaos, and no one called the police. The injured clerk was already unconscious and could not explain the incident after being sent to the hospital.

As for the surveillance cameras, they were all destroyed by the robbers, and there was no footage of anyone killing the robbers. In short, the police are currently confused and have no idea what to do with this case.
According to the police's nature, if they cannot find specific clues to solve the case within three to five days, they will list it as an unsolved case.

At that time, the injured store clerks and the damaged store owners will seek compensation from the insurance company, and after their emotions have stabilized, they will not pursue the matter further.

As for the deceased robber, without a victim, his death was in vain. The local police would not bother to investigate further - this is the usual procedure for handling similar cases.

But the question was, where was Zhou Qingfeng? Gray Shark was particularly troubled by this.

Now that 'Electric Flight' is under investigation and Zhou Qingfeng is wanted, the people from 'Holy Light' are either unreliable or under surveillance and cannot help.

"That kid is so confused that he doesn't even remember who he is. Do you think I, a disabled person in a wheelchair, should go looking for him?"
-
After six hours of interviews, Kelly was released on bail by her lawyer and walked out of the cold gray building of the FBI Miami branch.

The moment she pushed open the heavy glass door of the building and walked down the stairs, a series of flashing lights lit up outside.

A group of media reporters surrounded her like hungry wolves, with the microphones almost touching her face, and asked questions like machine guns.

"Ms. Kelly, where is your company's president now?"

Will Electric Flight Accept a $500 Million IRS Fine?

“Would you ever consider selling the company?”

Reporters' voices were getting louder and louder, trying to grab exclusive news in the chaos.

In the face of the public attention, Kelly not only did not back down, but raised her chin slightly, with a smile on her face.

She said nothing in response to the questions, but gracefully pushed through the crowd and walked towards a black Maybach parked quietly on the side of the road.

In the car, father Jeff Connelly sat in the back seat, looking at his eldest daughter with complicated eyes.

Kelly went to the University of Tokyo for a tour, as if she was attending a coronation ceremony. It was only two months, and she seemed to have been reborn.

She had worked at JP Morgan for half her life and never had this kind of aura - as a senior account manager she had to please others, but now she really had the money and power.

Especially after receiving ***'s on-site investigation, her mind was completely opened up, and she felt that she was no longer a chess piece on the chessboard, but a superior standing at the top overlooking all living beings.

The so-called "powerful and wealthy" of the past suddenly became insignificant embellishments in her eyes. Even her once high-ranking father now seemed limited, confined to the financial world.

Kelly asked her father, "What's going on now?"

Jeff put down his glass and frowned, "There's no news from Victor. Gray Shark cut off contact with us.

Governor Ellison Parker jumped out and accused "Electric Flight" of multiple violations, saying things like threatening national security and illegally collecting data.

The embassy and consulate of the University of Tokyo expressed concern but did not make a clear statement.

He paused, then added reluctantly, "Right now, the most popular aircraft is still the Warthog—or more precisely, the Holy Light One, the one Victor took during his evacuation."

Jennifer took over the conversation and added excitedly: "The National Guard participated in the arrest last night, and someone secretly filmed it.

The entire Internet was going crazy - 'Holy Light One' took off on the spot, its engine roaring, and managed to avoid the blockade of IRS helicopters, slipping away like a dark shadow.

The media called it a 'victorious escape.'"

Kelly pulled her tablet from her purse and tapped the screen with her fingertips, bringing up a shaky cellphone video.

In the picture, the "Holy Light No. 1" was quietly parked on a clearing on a farm. Its eight electric engines suddenly started up, spewing out strong airflows, and the dust and grass clippings on the ground were swept into the sky.

As an IRS helicopter swooped down overhead, trying to block its path, the Holy Light One slid sideways nimbly.

Its fuselage tilted in an easy and elegant arc, effortlessly shaking off the pursuers and disappearing into the night in an instant, leaving only a vague trail.

The comments section below the video is buzzing with activity. The poor are discussing performance specs, while the wealthy are skipping the chatter and calling directly to inquire about prices.

A "Bugatti Centodieci" worth tens of millions of dollars can only be used to show off at auto shows, running laps at lightning speed to attract attention;

A $30 million mansion next to New York's Central Park can only be used to launder money or stay for a few days occasionally to show off wealth;

A thousand-ton luxury yacht, starting at $50 million, equipped with a swimming pool and a private helicopter, can be used to show off in social circles and hold a few parties.

These things are just icing on the cake. Once the situation gets tense, at most they can be auctioned off for some cash before bankruptcy. They are useless.

But 'Holy Light No. 1' is different.

It can fly 1,000 kilometers at a speed of 300 kilometers per hour, supports vertical take-off and landing, and automatically plans its route.

It's not just a decorative vase, but a sharp weapon capable of carving a path out of a dead end. Saving the user's life and freedom is a value far greater than those vain luxuries.

Such a good thing is priced at only 30 million US dollars - potential customers have already contacted the "Electric Flight" factory in "Dongda", eager to purchase this "life-saving artifact".

After listening to her sister's introduction, Kelly was amazed, but she soon asked in confusion: "Wait... when did the price of 'Holy Light No. 1' rise to 30 million US dollars?
I remember clearly that it cost only $5 million - including R&D costs and the premium for hand-making.

Once production increases, there's still a lot of room for cost reduction. So, who sets the price?"

Jennifer shrugged. "Sister, you know, a new model Pagani costs over 20 million, but you can only put it on display, right?
When someone called to ask for the price, I felt that our product couldn't be sold cheaply, so I casually said $30 million."

She paused, glanced at her father, and seeing his helpless expression, she added, "In the end, the customer didn't bargain and just asked when the goods could be delivered."

Jeff Connelly couldn't help but pinch his forehead and rubbed his temples with his fingertips twice, sighing that his second daughter was really a "pricing genius".

It wasn't that he thought the price was bad—quite the contrary, it was too good, so good that it made him want to try it.

The world is overflowing with wealthy individuals, willing to splurge on "one-of-a-kind" luxury goods. Some, however, have illicit funds and constantly hide, fearing capture. They need something they can easily escape—one that can take off vertically, fly fast and far, regardless of terrain. The Holy Light One is tailor-made for these customers.

Zhou Qingfeng personally endorsed and demonstrated the product, and the FBI and IRS collaborated in testing. Is there a better advertising display than this?

Just selling four 'Holy Light Ones' would net hundreds of millions of dollars in profit. This luxury goods business is incredibly easy to do.

The problem is that because "Electric Flight" is caught up in an investigation by the Florida government, Pioneer Holdings, which he controls, cannot invest in it.

"Damn it! The meat is right in front of my mouth, but I can't eat it. It's so painful. How is this farce going to end? I really want to kill that bastard Ellison Parker!"
-
After moving into Lisa's shabby apartment, Zhou Qingfeng spent his time surfing the Internet and eating and drinking.

He cleared out every bit of food he could find in the kitchen—pizza, chips, cookies, even a jar of expired peanut butter that Annie had stashed in the corner of the refrigerator.

In addition to these, he also did something unexpected: he dyed his hair a bold red and used tattoo stickers to make two "big flower arms".

The person who does this job is Anne, a young girl who lives with me and calls herself a stylist.

She was thin, wearing a faded band T-shirt and colorful plastic bracelets on her wrists.

Ever since Zhou Qingfeng nailed her to the wall with a dinner knife and taught her a lesson that morning, her attitude has taken a 180-degree turn, from a foul-mouthed prick to a docile girl next door.

At this moment, she was squatting beside Zhou Qingfeng, fiddling with a bunch of tools, and asked cautiously: "Do you want another nose ring?"

She pulled out a bunch of jewelry from a worn metal toolbox—nose rings, earrings, tongue studs, a dazzling array of colors. "They're temporary. Just clip them on. It won't hurt."

After Annie's hard work, Zhou Qingfeng's image changed completely.

His original black hair turned into a dazzling scarlet, his left arm was the God of Death in Hell, and his right arm was the Virgin Mary in Heaven - the tattoos meandered from his shoulders to his wrists, revealing an unruly wildness.

The contrast in the image of this punk gangster was so great that it completely concealed his original appearance, and even those who knew him best would not be able to recognize him.

"Victor, we have a party tonight, do you want to go?" Anne asked tentatively, with a hint of flattery in her voice.

"There are a lot of people attending, all young people, who can have a good time, eating, drinking, dancing, and... other things."

Zhou Qingfeng ignored her, turned around, looked at his new look in the mirror, and responded indifferently: "I need to get some money first."

To kill Ellison Parker, you need some funds. You can't just go into battle with bare hands, right?

I can't count on the money from 'Holy Light' anymore, I have to think of other ways.

When Annie heard this, her eyes lit up and she came over immediately: "Lisa and I are planning to get some money, you can come with us!"

Lisa came out of the kitchen, holding a cup of cheap instant coffee, and nodded. "Yes, Victor has a great physique, and Asians don't take drugs, so he will definitely fetch a good price."

These two girls are both absolutely poor.

The apartment was so old that it looked like a relic from the last century. There was mold in the corners, water stains on the ceiling, and the floor creaked when you stepped on it.

They rented this place only because it was cheap, but even so, they were two months behind on rent.

They shared a second-hand Prius, whose gas tank was never full, and they had to pool their change every time they filled up the tank.

After the gunfight at the convenience store early yesterday morning, Zhou Qingfeng looted food and daily necessities when he left, and even took the robbers' guns and stolen cash.

But when he counted his spoils, he found that he had only a pitiful amount of $780 - the landlord came to collect the rent in the morning, and the money he had just received was gone in the blink of an eye.

Even so, Lisa and Anne were unwilling to save a penny on socializing. Parties, bars, parties—they would rather starve than squeeze into those noisy circles and show their presence.

So they decided to "make some money."

Lisa took a sip of coffee and encouraged him, "Don't worry, Victor. This job is easy. Just lie down comfortably and you can earn fifty to one hundred dollars quickly.

Sometimes, if you are lucky and encounter special circumstances, you can get thousands of dollars at a time and don’t have to worry for half a month.

If this is your first time, you'll get some special treatment. We'll also get a bonus for referring you. Of course, this bonus is yours.

Don't worry, we are not professional sellers and we won't harm you. At most, we will go there when we are short of money, and at most twice a month.

Would you like to consider it?"

Zhou Qingfeng didn't have any feelings of joy or dislike at the moment. As long as he was sure there was money to be made, he nodded and agreed to go. At most, he asked, "Is it far?"

"It's not far, not far, it's right in the community." Lisa and Annie immediately became excited. They jumped up, grabbed their bags, and rushed into the bathroom to put on some makeup.

Lisa put on bright red lipstick and frowned in the mottled mirror, while Anne took out a tube of cheap mascara and brushed her eyelashes until they fluttered.

A few minutes later, they changed into slightly tight jeans and off-shoulder tops, looking beautiful and sexy.

Zhou Qingfeng didn't pack up too much. He put on the jacket he had taken from the drunk man inside out, put on a baseball cap, put a mask in his pocket, and followed them out the door.

The place to make extra money is indeed not far away.

Downstairs from the apartment building, walking through a bumpy alley and less than a hundred meters away, you will see a low building with a faded sign hanging at the door.

"Lloyd Community Blood Collection Centre".

The edges of the sign were rusty, some of the letters were blown crooked by the wind, and there were a few yellowed posters next to it.

"Short of money for the wedding? Come and sell your blood!"

"Can't pay off your student loan? Don't worry, selling blood can solve the problem."

"Have you prepared a birthday gift for your child? We provide the most convenient solution."

Even with Zhou Qingfeng's current indifference, he stayed in front of these posters for two seconds.

The exterior walls of this place were covered in cracks, the windows were covered in dust, and there was a sense of desolation. There were several dilapidated pickup trucks and bicycles parked at the door, and it was obvious that most of them were poor residents nearby.

When I pushed the door open, a pungent smell of disinfectant hit me in the face.

The hall was narrow and dim, with fluorescent lights buzzing in the ceiling and casting a cold glow on the tiles on the floor.

There were several plastic boxes piled up in the corner, filled with used medical waste bags, and several flyers scattered on the ground, which read "First time blood donation, get an extra reward of $10."

A middle-aged woman sat at the front desk. Seeing someone come in, she looked up lazily and said, "Please show your ID and fill out the form to confirm that you have no issues that make it unsuitable for blood collection."

There were only a few people sitting sparsely in the hall.

A skinny man was slumped in a plastic chair, his arm bandaged, his head bowed and sobbing silently.

Next to him was a young man wearing a dirty sweatshirt, holding an empty water cup in his hand, staring blankly at the wall clock.

There was an old woman in the corner, leaning on a cane, mumbling something in a daze. The air was filled with the smell of sweat, alcohol, and a faint hint of blood, making people feel uncomfortable.

Lisa and Annie were familiar with the place and happily walked to the front desk. They were about to say, "We brought someone new."

I heard a series of gunshots behind me, and a cold voice shouted, "Everyone get down! Looting!"

(End of this chapter)