My Manor

The U.S. government is highly effective at protecting private property.

If the police, FBI, CIA, or other authorities enter your property without a search warrant, it constitutes illegal entry.

However, the strength of self-defense against illegal entry varies from state to state. It's not as simple as the legends suggest—where you can shoot and kill an intruder on sight. That's not the case.

Generally, in order to legally shoot and kill an intruder in self-defense, there are a few requirements. First, the intruder must be armed and pose a direct threat to you. If the intruder is unarmed and doesn't pose a threat, shooting them would be considered murder.

Second, you must notify the police before taking action. If you see someone breaking into your home, you are required to first call the police and explain the situation. Additionally, there must be surveillance cameras in place. In this scenario, you can only shoot if the police instruct you to do so; otherwise, it would still be considered murder.

Third, if you do shoot, the first shot must be aimed at the intruder's arm or leg, disabling them and stopping their ability to harm you. If you shoot again, it would still be classified as murder.

So, in the United States, most firearms are used for deterrence, not as instruments for shooting. It's not easy to use a gun, especially for law-abiding citizens. In fact, many view guns as decorative.

But no one is immune to fear. When Robbins-Garcia displayed his firearm, the once-loud group of people immediately fell silent and took a step back. The only sound in the area was the scream of the man whose arm had been dislocated by Jiang Hai. For a moment, the entire scene felt eerily quiet.

"Boss, what's going on?" Robbins-Garcia asked, glancing at the people outside with confusion.

"These people are here to cause trouble," Jiang Hai replied with a smile as he pulled on the man's arm.

"Wow, wow, wow, no need for that, we're just here to discuss business. Don't you Chinese say that even if a deal falls through, there's still honor? There's no need to point guns at us," said the middle-aged lawyer, who had already backed away when the conflict started, now approaching with a serious expression and a peculiar accent.

"Three million for 50% of my estate? Ha, if you're not here to cause trouble, who would believe that?" Jiang Hai replied with disdain. He had expected this. As his estate grew more profitable, he knew there would be many eyes on him—some from consortiums, families, and even the U.S. government. His plans were in place to deal with these entities. If it came to the government, he would simply hand over the research reports from the institute. Beyond that, they couldn't take control of his territory.

As for the conglomerates, he had $400 million in oil futures, which acted as his protection.

He had never imagined these small-time criminals would dare to create problems for him. They were just like dogs—whether wild or domesticated, they could be dealt with at any time.

For someone like Jiang Hai, these people were beneath notice. But now, they dared to challenge him?

It was like excelling in a field, only for a child to come up and slap you in the face. It made Jiang Hai deeply frustrated.

"Fine, fine, if you don't want to sell, just say so. No need to escalate this," the lawyer said, raising his hands. He had only come to negotiate, not to fight.

"Hey, should I apologize to you? You really have no shame," Jiang Hai replied, laughing at the lawyer's words. He then turned to Robbins and instructed him, "Call the police, let them deal with these guys."

Before Robbins could make the call, however, a police car appeared in the distance.

It wasn't surprising. Jiang Hai was the God of Wealth in Winthrop, both the financial backbone of the town and an investor in its tourist development. To most residents and government officials, he was the second-most important person after their own families. Jiang Hai's manor was heavily patrolled by police, and with so many people gathering, the tension quickly drew attention. The sirens blared as the police car arrived.

Upon seeing the police, the gangsters became visibly anxious. Many of them, though not their leaders, were afraid of the authorities.

"What's the situation?" the two officers asked, eyeing the gangsters blocking the entrance to Jiang Hai's estate. They quickly stepped out of the car, guns drawn, and addressed the standoff.

"Mr. Police, you've come just in time. Someone's committing a crime here. This person tore off our friend's arm. You must uphold justice for us," the middle-aged lawyer said, winking at the thugs to step aside before walking up to speak with the officers.

To his surprise, the officers ignored him. They instead walked straight to Jiang Hai, nodding respectfully before asking, "Mr. Jiang, what's going on?"

The gangsters and lawyer were stunned. They knew Jiang Hai held high status, but they never expected the police to show such deference to him.

"These people came to cause trouble, and this guy tried to barge in. I just held him back," Jiang Hai explained, releasing his grip on the man's arm. As soon as he let go, the man collapsed to the ground, howling in pain.

The man had not only suffered a dislocated shoulder but also broken bones in his arm and wrist, rendering his hand limp.

"Oh, I can see these are not good people. Everyone, squat down and put your hands on your heads. We'll sort this out at the station," one of the officers declared, making the gangsters and lawyer freeze in disbelief.

They were used to making excuses, but now, both the police and Jiang Hai seemed to have the upper hand.

"Sir, is it really appropriate for you to do this? Our people are injured, and now you want us to squat down?" the lawyer asked, looking frustrated.

"You're the one who tried to invade someone else's private property. You deserve this," the officer replied. "And this man's hand did enter Mr. Jiang's estate. Don't try to claim it was all done with good intentions. If his hand got dislocated, that's on you. Understand?"

The officer's words made Jiang Hai feel strange, almost as though he was the villain in the situation. When had he gained enough influence that the police would speak on his behalf?

The officers' actions weren't entirely surprising. In the U.S., although police are part of government agencies, they are essentially employed like private-sector workers. And Jiang Hai, as the biggest taxpayer in Winthrop, contributed significantly to their salaries. The more he paid, the more they earned. And with the hundreds of millions in taxes he would pay next year, it was clear that Jiang Hai was their primary source of income. They weren't taking any chances when it came to him.

"Abusing your power! I'll sue you!" the lawyer shouted in outrage.

"It's up to you," the officer replied nonchalantly, used to hearing such threats.

Just as the situation seemed to stall, several more police cars arrived, their sirens blaring.

The officers were quick to respond when they heard that the God of Wealth was in trouble.

The gangsters looked around nervously at the surrounding officers, and the middle-aged lawyer, seeing how things were unfolding, sighed deeply. It seemed the plan would have to change.