American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 290 Northeast Golden Youngest Dog and the Self-Sufficiency Plan
"Contrary to what you think, from the very beginning, my idea was how to make this project profitable and achieve self-sufficiency in revenue."

McCormick had lost count of how many times he had been shocked by him today; he could only wait for him to continue.

Lin Yu-an continued to explain, "The live stream and tour plan of the polar bear habitat that I mentioned to Scout earlier was not just for driving traffic and conversions on my social media."

"That was just the first step, the initial brand value incubation for December, a top global IP."

"Once tens of millions of fans around the world fall in love with this unique little guy through my lens, we will officially launch this foundation."

"This foundation will be co-chaired by the two of us on the board of directors. It is a non-profit organization (NPO) and enjoys full tax exemption under the law."

"Its funding sources will be diversified."

"The $40 million I promised will serve as its seed funding."

"Donations from fans around the world. Do you remember the donation channel I mentioned? That's not a small matter. When an IP with tens of millions of fans starts accepting donations and all funds are open and transparent, the annual cash flow may exceed your imagination."

"There's also sponsorship from corporations and celebrities. Scout is right, environmental protection and animal rights are the most politically correct labels right now."

“I will leverage my connections at CAA to invite top luxury brands, tech companies, and Hollywood stars to become sponsoring partners of our foundation. For them, this is not only charity, but also a perfect brand marketing opportunity.”

"The last point, and the most crucial one, is the licensing of IP derivative products."

A shrewd glint flashed in Lin Yu'an's eyes: "The name and image of December will become a registered trademark. We will license it to top toy companies to produce its plush toys."

"Licensing it to Disney to make animated films about it. Licensing it to game companies to develop mobile games featuring it as the main character... the revenue from these IP licensing deals will continue to grow."

“All of this income will be invested in this non-profit foundation. And the foundation’s expenditures will only go in three directions.”

"Maintain the highest standards of operation for the Arctic Home in December."

"Funding all Arctic biological research projects for you, Dr. McCormick, and your future team."

"To provide financial support to other outstanding Arctic conservation projects around the world."

Lin Yu'an put down his pen, turned around, and looked at McCormick, who was completely speechless with amazement at his grand business plan.

"So, McCormick, do you understand now?"

“My initial plan was not to spend money to support a princess, but to build a huge business ecosystem that can generate its own revenue and give back to the community.”

"And you are the co-founder of this company, and the chief scientist forever."

These words completely shattered McCormick's understanding of traditional investment in scientific research. He never imagined that he could make money from research projects while conducting research!
She looked at the man before her, who had not only solved her current predicament but had also planned an incredibly clear path for her and for December.

She opened her mouth, but found that any words seemed so pale and powerless at this moment.

In the end, she could only step forward and, to Lin Yu'an's astonishment, give him a deep hug filled with admiration and an indescribable sense of affection.

"Lin... thank you."

In the days that followed, a legend quietly emerged at Merrill Airfield in Anchorage that astonished all veteran pilots.

Lin Yu'an did not return to Wiesman. Instead, he moved into McCorz's apartment, using this cozy place in the southeastern foothills of the city as his temporary base of operations.

His life was divided into two distinct parts.

Every morning, before dawn, he would drive his Subaru in his Macintosh to the FBO lobby at Merrill Airport.

He set himself an almost insane list of tasks for qualifying for a long voyage.

Within seven days, they must not only completely tame the Turbo Beaver, but also obtain all the necessary permits to legally control it.

Furthermore, we must overcome the hurdle of instrument rating to become a true all-weather pilot.

Only in this way can he be qualified to embark on that epic voyage to his own kingdom as quickly as possible.

He booked an instrument flight instructor in Anchorage with extensive Turbo Beaver flight hours.

Thus began a high-intensity battle to conquer this top-of-the-line aircraft.

first day.

When Hawke Jennings first saw Lin Yu-an and the brightly colored Turbo Beaver in the hangar at Merrill Airport in the early morning, his mind was filled with professional scrutiny.

Hawke's voice was devoid of any emotion. "Mr. Lin, I need to make something clear first. I've heard about the rumors surrounding your talent."

"So over the next three days, we will be conducting the most intensive aircraft type conversion and high-performance flight training. Can your body and mind keep up?"

"We can start anytime, Instructor," Lin Yu'an replied simply and calmly.

That day, they flew for a full eight hours.

Hawke presented all the performance limits of the Turbo Beaver to Lin Yu'an in the most brutal way.

From high-angle climbs at maximum climb rate to simulated sideslip approaches after single-engine failure. From simulated forced landing site selection over glaciers to extreme short-field landings utilizing propeller counter-rotation capabilities.

Lin Yu-an's performance turned Hawke's initial scrutiny into surprise.

the next day.

The focus of the training is emergency response.

During the flight, Hawke simulated dozens of possible malfunctions without warning.

He would suddenly shut down the main avionics system in the turbulent waters of the valley, forcing Lin Yu'an to fly using the most primitive backup instruments.

They will also manually set incorrect navigation data during blizzards, testing Lin Yu'an's cross-checking and error correction abilities.

Lin Yu'an's reaction could no longer be described as excellent; it could only be described as terrifying.

He seemed to need no thought; every bodily reaction was like muscle memory that had been practiced a thousand times.

His calmness and precision sent a chill down the spine of Hawke, a veteran test pilot who had seen countless life-and-death situations.

In the evening of the third day.

When they successfully completed their final challenging crosswind landing and brought the aircraft to a stable stop in the hangar, Hawke solemnly signed his two names in his flight logbook:

"High-Performance Endorsement" (high-performance aircraft endorsement).

“DHC-2T Type Proficiency Endorsement”

After signing the papers, he looked at the young man beside him who seemed to have barely even caught his breath and said slowly, "Lin, there's nothing more I can teach you about this plane. You've completely mastered it."

In three days, Lin Yu'an completely tamed the beast.

The next four days were an even more breathtaking sprint to the limits of instrument rating.

Lin Yu'an practically lived and worked in the airplane and the full-motion simulator, wearing the simulated goggles that blocked his view, completely immersing himself in that instrument world filled with only cold data and invisible radio waves.

He spent two days flying through all the airports around Anchorage, learning the instrument approach procedures. He spent one day accumulating all the long-distance ferry solo flight experience required by FAA regulations.

He even deliberately flew into a predicted clear-sky turbulent area during a solo flight to personally experience and learn how to maintain accurate instrument readings in turbulent conditions.

The last day.

After finishing his final night flight instrument training at 4 a.m., Lin Yu-an, carrying Hawke, who was also exhausted from his frenzied state, arrived at the FAA testing center in Anchorage.

The examiner he booked was the top examiner with the highest review qualifications, who flew in from FAA headquarters.

The oral exam lasted a full three hours. The examiners' questions were tricky and insightful.

The practical flight test was conducted in Anchorage during the worst weather of the day, with thick clouds and snow showers covering the sky and visibility extremely poor.

This became the perfect stage for Lin Yu'an. He drove the Turbo Beaver and plunged into the vast sea of ​​clouds.

In that white world filled with uncertainty, every action he took was like playing the most precise symphony.

When the Turbo Beaver, under the astonished gaze of the examiners, made a perfect instrument landing, piercing through the clouds and appearing at the end of the runway, the outcome of the test was no longer in doubt.

Finally, the examiner signed "Instrument Rating" on the brand-new temporary driver's license.

He handed his driver's license to Lin Yu'an, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Welcome to this club, pilot."

When Lin Yu'an walked out of the office with his driver's license, a testament to countless hours of hard work and dedication, it had been exactly seven days since he began his first type conversion training.

Three-point endorsement — GET
High-performance endorsement — GET
Transition Proficiency Certificate — GET
Instrument Rating (IR) — GET
Total flight time - 114 hours.

In seven days, he accomplished what ordinary pilots take a year or even longer to achieve, becoming a true all-weather pilot capable of flying any part of the world.

However, even in such a suffocating training program, Lin Yu-an still unswervingly reserved a piece of time for himself.

Every afternoon from 3 pm to 6 pm.

No matter how tired he was from the day's flight training, or how strict Hawke's teaching was, Lin Yu-an would always finish the day's training on time at 3 p.m.

He will pilot that turbo beaver back to Merrill Airfield from an altitude of 10,000 meters.

He arrived at the Arctic Biological Research Center on time, carrying the food he had prepared himself that morning for December.

This period was his only chance to breathe as he transitioned from a ruthless conqueror of the skies to a gentle father.

His arrival was like a ray of sunlight precisely thrown into stagnant water, completely changing the oppressive and dull atmosphere of the quarantine zone.

The depression and anorexia that plagued Lin Yu'an in December miraculously disappeared the day after he returned.

Its appetite is astonishing. Every day at 2:50 pm, it will stand guard at the entrance of the quarantine area without fail, like a child waiting for its father to come home from get off work.

When she sees Lin Yu'an's familiar figure, she immediately lets out a joyful "woof" sound, like a white snowball rolling into his arms, using all sorts of ways to act cute.

Lin Yu-an, during these short three hours of family time each day, spent with December, rolling and wrestling on the artificial snow.

He taught it how to use its claws to pull out the fish it had hidden under the ice. He would throw the ball into the cold, deep pool and watch December swim and play.

This once cold and scientifically-driven quarantine zone has been transformed into a joyful paradise for fathers and daughters.

December's dependence on him grew day by day.

But strangely enough, it gradually began to show an unprecedented closeness to McCormick, a woman who appeared every day and always with good intentions.

Sometimes, when Lin Yu-an and McCormick stand together discussing December's health data, it will come over and affectionately rub its huge head against their legs in turn.

Lin Yu-an's influence extends far beyond this.

His innate and powerful affinity for all animals made him the king of the entire research center's animals in just seven days.

Every day, before he went to visit December, he would take a detour to inspect the other animal areas.

The harbor seals in the isolation channel, who always looked down on humans, would curiously pok their round heads out of the water when they saw him.

The emperor penguins in the penguin enclosure would even waddle over to him and let him stroke their smooth feathers.

Even the grumpy, one-ton walrus would become as docile as a big cat in his presence.

Lin Yu'an enjoyed this feeling. Every day he wandered among these vibrant creatures, feeding the sea lions, teasing the walruses, and petting the furry Arctic foxes.

This unique experience also led Lin Yu-an to a deeper and more subversive reflection on his long-held beliefs about "animals and freedom".

He had always believed that for any wild animal, returning to nature and having absolute freedom was its best destiny.

Any form of captivity is a form of deprivation and cruelty.

This was the fundamental reason why he initially insisted on rewilding December.

But now, when he comes here every day and sees the animals living carefree, healthy and happy lives in the research center, his thoughts begin to waver.

He once saw an orca that had lost half of its tail fin due to being entangled in a fishing net. In a huge pool, it played with a ball with its keeper in a uniquely elegant manner. In its eyes, there was no pain, only pure joy.

There is also a snowy owl with cataracts due to a genetic defect. Although it can never hunt in the wild, it has its own warm nest and a steady mate here.

Are they free?
No, from a physical perspective, they are permanently trapped here.

But are they happy?

Yes, they are alive, and thriving. They have no natural enemies, no hunger, and no disease.

What if the price of freedom is death? Is that freedom still worth blindly advocating?

Lin Yu'an began to understand that the concept of freedom might not be absolute.

It has completely different meanings for different individuals.

For those strong, wild individuals who can survive the cruel laws of nature, returning to the wild is their best destiny.

But what about other individuals who become weak due to congenital or acquired reasons?
For example, the killer whale in front of him that has lost its tail fin, the blind snowy owl, and December, who left a deep impression on him and can never return to the wild.

Forcibly pushing them back into the free world they can no longer adapt to is not salvation, but a more irresponsible and hypocritical abandonment.

This thought, like a bolt of lightning, cleaved through all the fog in Lin Yu'an's mind.

Involuntarily, another small, furry face with black and yellow stripes appeared in his mind.

A few days ago, he and McCormick saw that... in that secluded, dark isolation cell.

Similarly abandoned and deemed worthless, Siberian tiger cubs—in China, they are better known by another name: the Northeast Tiger.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

(Hehe, it would be great if I had the princess, the prince, and the monthly pass.)
(End of this chapter)