161: The art gallery at midnight! The Queen's chess game!

On the other end of the phone, there was a silence of about three seconds.

It was a playful silence, as if she were admiring the final struggles of her prey.

And then.

Scarlett Johansson's voice, carrying a hint of raspiness and laziness, drifted softly through the receiver.

In her voice, not a trace of surprise could be heard.

"I'll send you the address."

"You have half an hour."

With that, she hung up the phone immediately.

No redundant chatter.

Decisive, crisp, and full of control.

In less than ten seconds.

Lin Feng's phone received a new text message.

On it was only an address deep within Beverly Hills.

Lin Feng didn't hesitate for a moment and started the car.

The engine of the aston martin let out a low growl in the silent night, then turned into a bolt of black lightning, disappearing into the darkness.

Half an hour later.

The vehicle stopped punctually at the destination indicated by the address.

Calling this place a luxury mansion would be an understatement.

It was more like a heavily guarded private fortress.

Tall walls cast of black iron and carved with vintage patterns isolated everything inside from the outside world.

Lin Feng had just brought the car to a steady stop.

The iron gate, as thick as a bank vault door, slid open silently to both sides.

It was as if someone had been waiting for his arrival all along.

Lin Feng drove inside.

A small path paved with white pebbles wound its way into the depths of the estate.

On both sides of the road were gardens manicured with extreme precision.

But Lin Feng had no heart to appreciate these things.

His gaze was locked firmly on the building at the end of the path, which looked like a sleeping giant beast in the night.

Finally, the car stopped in front of an elegant building constructed entirely of white marble.

Lin Feng stepped out of the car.

A woman wearing an elegant long black silk dress was leaning against the two massive Roman columns at the entrance.

Scarlett Johansson.

She stood there casually, holding a glass of red wine and gently swirling it.

The liquid in the glass presented an enticing, blood-like hue.

Her red lips were like fire.

Her eyes held a hint of laziness, a touch of scrutiny, and an imperceptible trace of admiration.

Like a queen who had finally waited for the prey she was interested in to step into her trap of his own accord.

"Welcome to my 'hunting ground'."

Scarlett didn't step forward; she simply raised her wine glass as a greeting.

Her gaze swept over Lin Feng's body without restraint.

From his slightly messy hair due to traveling through the night.

To those eyes that, after experiencing a crushing defeat, had not only failed to dim but instead burned with a brand-new flame.

"It seems you've obtained something interesting from Kobe."

Scarlett's tone was full of certainty.

Lin Feng did not answer this question.

He just calmly met her aggressive, scrutinizing gaze.

"What I want to see is not this."

Scarlett chuckled, seemingly satisfied with Lin Feng's directness.

She said nothing more.

She turned around and walked into the depths of the building with elegant strides.

"Follow me."

Lin Feng stepped forward and followed her.

To his surprise.

Scarlett did not take him to a living room or anything resembling a reception area.

She led him into a long corridor that resembled an art gallery.

On both sides of the corridor hung world-famous paintings, each enough to drive countless wealthy people into a frenzy at an auction.

From Monet's "Water Lilies" to Van Gogh's "The Starry Night."

Every single piece was a priceless original.

"Many people think that collecting these is to display wealth and taste."

Scarlett's footsteps stopped in front of an oil painting depicting a battle scene from Ancient Rome.

She didn't look back, only staring at the Roman general on the canvas, mounted on a warhorse, holding a scepter high as he received the worship of ten thousand people.

"But they are all wrong."

"What I like isn't the painting itself."

Her finger lightly traced the face of the general in the painting.

"But the absolute power within the painting that can decide the life and death of countless people."

Her voice was very soft.

But every word was like a small stone thrown into the already turbulent lake of Lin Feng's heart.

Lin Feng's gaze also fell upon the painting.

He understood.

Scarlett wasn't talking to him about art at all.

This was a test!

An interview to see if he was qualified to step into her world!

"Power cannot decide life and death."

Lin Feng spoke, his voice very calm.

Scarlett turned around, looking at him with great interest, her eyebrows slightly arched.

"Oh?"

"Then what can?"

Lin Feng's gaze shifted from the general's face to the bottom of the painting, to the soldiers and civilians prostrate on the ground with fanatical expressions.

"Conquest."

"Only total conquest can make others willingly offer you everything, including their lives."

Lin Feng's answer made the look of admiration in Scarlett's eyes grow even thicker.

She liked this answer.

Because this was not something a mere athlete could say.

This was an answer that could only be given by an ambitious person who also had a profound understanding of 'control' and 'conquest'.

Scarlett spoke no more.

She continued walking forward.

Leading Lin Feng past one artwork after another that would take any collector's breath away.

Modern sculptures.

Classical paintings.

Every piece of art became a tool for her to test Lin Feng.

And Lin Feng's answers surprised her more and more each time.

He did not present himself as a simple-minded athlete.

But as a kindred spirit who possessed the same coldness and the same desire to control everything.

Finally.

Scarlett led Lin Feng to the deepest part of this private art gallery.

Here, there were no more priceless artworks.

Only an empty room with an extremely minimalist decoration style.

In the very center of the room.

There stood only an incredibly exquisite chess board crafted from pure black obsidian and snowy white ivory.

On the board, the black and white pieces were already neatly arranged.

Ready and waiting.

Like two silent armies about to engage in a life-and-death struggle.

"Many people want to see my 'hunting ground'."

Scarlett slowly walked to the side of the board and leaned against the edge of the table.

She picked up the glass of red wine she had been holding and took a gentle sip.

Then, with a playful look in her eyes, she looked at Lin Feng.

"But entering the field isn't that easy."

"You have to first prove that you are qualified to be a hunter."

She extended a slender finger and tapped the black-and-white checkered board.

A charming smile that could drive any man crazy curled at the corners of her mouth.

"The rules are simple."

"Beat me."

This was not just a game of chess.

Lin Feng understood instantly.

This was the ultimate trial of wisdom, control, and psychological maneuvering!

He knew.

Victory on this chessboard would be the only key to unlocking that brand-new power belonging to an Emperor!