Chapter 18: Old Connections
By the time they arrived at the estate gates, the sun was already setting, casting a warm golden glow over the horizon. The once-busy entrance was noticeably quieter, with fewer trucks than yesterday. Instead, the area was now occupied by sleek SUVs, luxury sedans, and pickup trucks, all neatly parked in rows.
Richard immediately noticed the change in atmosphere—there were more security guards stationed at the gate, some carrying pump-action shotguns while others had handguns holstered at their sides. The mood felt serious, almost like a corporate fortress rather than a family estate.
Jack slowly approached the main gate, rolling down his driver-side window as one of the armed guards stepped forward. The man gave a sharp look inside the vehicle, scanning both Jack and Richard, before nodding to another guard stationed at a booth.
With a metallic clank, the gate unlocked, and the guard waved them through.
Jack drove in casually, as if this whole security process was nothing new.
Richard, however, raised an eyebrow. "Damn... why the strict security?"
Jack chuckled, keeping his eyes on the road. "Ahh... Grandpa's executives are here. They're delivering their weekly sales reports, expense sheets, and inventory summaries. It's the usual routine, but whenever they're here, security's always a hassle."
Richard leaned back in his seat, glancing around at the estate's large courtyard. He could already spot guards patrolling the perimeter, some stationed near the parked vehicles while others stood near the entrance of the mansion.
Jack turned onto the concrete driveway leading up to the mansion, steering the vehicle to the left, which sloped gently upward. As they ascended, Richard noticed a group of men gathered on the grassy yard, sitting around a large metal table with a massive umbrella in the center.
There was a mix of old and middle-aged men, some fat, some thin, all laughing and conversing over what looked like cups of coffee and stacks of documents.
Richard nodded toward them. "Those the executives?"