Chapter 130: A Blowout

In his previous life, Jack had been quite the traveler in his youth. Work had taken him to numerous places, exposing him to a variety of cultural landscapes and natural wonders. But unlike in this car-centric country, his travels back then were mostly via high-speed trains or airplanes. The freedom of road-tripping like he was now was a novel experience.

He had the System to thank for this. Without the combat and survival skills it provided, he wouldn't have had the confidence to travel alone. This world's USA was far more dangerous than the "beacon" country of his past life.

Still, Jack preferred this world. It wasn't just because of the System; the quality of the girls here was unbelievably high. Take, for instance, the lively brunette who had suddenly appeared on the roadside, energetically waving her arms.

"Hey, we need help!"

She had long, dark brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Her white sports tank top struggled to contain her bouncing assets, and her tight jeans showcased two long, strong legs. She exuded the vibrant energy of an athletic young woman.

Quite the sight, Jack thought as he gently applied the brakes, pulling over to the roadside and smiling as he leaned out the window.

"What's the trouble?"

The girl stared at Jack's face for a moment, seemingly taken aback, but quickly regained her composure.

"Our car just had a blowout and flipped over. Can you help us?"

Jack carefully scanned the surroundings, using his heightened senses to ensure this wasn't a setup for a robbery or ambush, then nodded and got out of his car, removing the key as a precaution.

To the left of the road was a small slope covered in pines and shrubs, where an old white JEEP Wagoneer had tipped over. Nearby, four young people—two guys and two girls—were engaged in a heated discussion. They looked like white college students out for a trip.

"Hey, guys, I found someone to help." The brunette waved to her friends.

"What happened here?" Jack asked, frowning as he examined the situation. Both front tires had blown out, and one of the front wheels was tangled in barbed wire.

A guy with glasses and a slightly sullen expression, who appeared to be the driver, waved his right hand in frustration.

"Someone must have dropped a barbed wire fence in the middle of the road. I didn't have time to react, and the car lost control."

"You're lucky no one got hurt. Any injuries?" Jack looked over the five of them and saw that they seemed to be alright.

"No, Evan wasn't driving fast. We were just shaken up," said the brunette, rubbing her forehead, looking somewhat downcast.

Jack followed the skid marks back and pointed to a tree about eight meters away.

"Did it happen there?" he asked, walking toward the tree.

"What did you find?" The brunette followed him.

Jack bent down and removed a piece of barbed wire from the base of the tree. "This wasn't an accident. Someone set a trap here."

"Fuck, is this how the locals welcome guests?"

"Damn bastards!"

The others, who had curiously followed, began cursing loudly.

"Hey, man, can you help us get the car back on the road?" A young guy in a yellow shirt, who seemed more outgoing, scratched his head and asked with a smile.

Jack looked at where the SUV had tipped over and shook his head. "I can't help with that. My car has enough power, but the slope here is too steep. You'll need a tow truck to pull it up properly."

"Shit, what a bad day," the guy with glasses kicked a small rock in frustration. His red-haired girlfriend quickly grabbed his arm, whispering comforting words.

The brunette seemed to be the most decisive of the group. She pulled out her phone and, after confirming there was no signal, addressed her friends.

"Listen, we need to find a landline. There was a gas station on the road we came from. I'll go check it out. Who wants to come?"

"Actually, I have an idea," Jack interjected, sensing something was off and deciding to help them out.

"I passed that gas station earlier. I saw an old tow truck there. Maybe we could use it. I also have repair tools in my car. If we can get your SUV up, I can patch the tires enough to get you out of this place."

"Wow, that's amazing. We can't thank you enough, man." The guy in the yellow shirt exaggeratedly winked at the brunette, seeming to hint at something.

The brunette, who seemed preoccupied, forced a smile at his antics.

"Can we ride with you? If the tow truck doesn't work, at least you could take us to where there's cell service or a landline to call for help."

"Sure," Jack shrugged. "But my back seat is full. Only one can sit in the front. If you're worried, he can come," he said, pointing to the guy in the yellow shirt.

"No way, I'm not leaving my sweetheart." The yellow-shirted guy grabbed the girl in the blue crop top beside him, showing off their youthful, fit bodies as they started cuddling.

The brunette rolled her eyes, looking fed up with their display of affection.

"I'll go with you. Let's leave them here to wait."

"Alright." Jack didn't mind, but he did offer a word of caution. "You should all stay together here. Whoever set up the trap might have bad intentions."

The guy with glasses ignored Jack's warning and pulled a crumpled hand-rolled cigarette from his pocket, while his girlfriend's eyes lit up in anticipation.

The guy in the yellow shirt waved enthusiastically as they drove away, not seeming to care much.

"No worries. It's only noon. We can have a picnic while waiting for you. We'll save some food for you."

Jack and the brunette got into the car, started it up, and turned around, heading back the way they came.

"You and your friends seem really close," Jack began, sensing that she was feeling down and wanting to make conversation.

"Huh?!" The brunette seemed to snap out of her thoughts, just realizing he had spoken.

"Yes, they are my best friends. I recently went through a breakup, so they dragged me out here to cheer me up."

"Don't mind Scott; he just wants me to move on," she explained, referring to the guy in the yellow shirt, who had earlier tried to push her into Jack's car.

Jack chuckled, shaking his head. "No worries. Sorry to disappoint, but I have a girlfriend. I'm Jack, by the way. Jack Tavoler."

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