Chapter 145: The Green Spring

As Jack stood by the car, staring blankly at what used to be a large pit but was now flat ground, Jessie gently tugged his arm.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, just feeling a bit uneasy," Jack shook his head.

From time to time, a black Suburban drove by on the dirt road. It looked like the FBI would be busy here for a while. Soon, there might be some tabloids or online media spreading bizarre stories about aliens abducting tourists in the mountains.

Perhaps a nearby town or village, like the one where the Eugene family's vineyard was located, would follow Roswell's example and become a tourist destination famous for alien legends.

Jessie hugged his neck and gave him a deep kiss, softly asking, "Are we going to part ways now?"

Jack took out a small bag from the car. "I'm planning to rest in Las Cruces for a day and leave the day after tomorrow. I'll take you there too. You need to meet up with your friends, right?"

Jessie's beautiful eyes twinkled as she coyly replied, "Francine still needs surgery. I think they wouldn't mind waiting another day for me."

Jack helped her remove her backpack, took out a small bag of gold dust, and put it in the small bag. He then took a gold bar from the tactical backpack given by the SEALs and placed it inside, handing it to Jessie.

"I think this should be enough to cover your college tuition. But I hope you're careful not to let anyone know you have this money."

Yesterday, while they were at the lookout tower, Jessie had confided a lot in Jack, telling him about her modest family background and how she had to work in a restaurant to make ends meet.

Remembering how she handed him that small bag of gold dust without hesitation, Jack didn't mind being generous. He still had four gold bars, plus those in the Firebird's trunk. This haul was worth over $400,000.

This was also why Jack had Jessie sign the confidentiality papers and then got off the helicopter with her—it wasn't for any other reason.

Jessie stared at the small bag in astonishment. Her expression shifted from surprise to disbelief, then to joy, and finally to gratitude.

"Are you trying to be my sugar daddy?"

Jack laughed helplessly. "Take it. You deserve it. You were very brave."

He wasn't lying. Jessie's performance yesterday had impressed him, except for the part where she freaked out about the decapitation.

After packing up the crossbow and other items, Jack drove the Firebird back to Las Cruces.

He first took Jessie to the hospital. Of course, making her friends wait another day was a joke, but they did agree to have dinner together that night.

Jack found a secluded spot to take out the gold nugget and gold dust from the oil drum. Then he checked into the best hotel in town and started making phone calls to let everyone know he was safe.

Even though they knew he was on a road trip and often out of signal range, Zoe and the others were still worried after he had been out of contact for a whole day.

After reassuring his two older sisters, Jack video-called Hannah.

As he recounted his close encounter with the cannibals and showed off the shiny gold nugget, Hannah was both envious and jealous.

"I hate Angela's damn wedding. Why do I have to stay here and endure the torture of a pregnant woman and her future mother-in-law instead of adventuring with you?"

Typical Hannah—always reliable. She had more confidence in Jack than in herself, showing no fear for his safety and only regretting missing out on his road trip and its exciting adventures.

They chatted for nearly an hour before Hannah reluctantly ended the call and went to book a flight. Knowing Jack planned to rest for a day, they agreed to meet in San Antonio, Texas, the night after next.

Feeling slightly guilty for about ten seconds, Jack went out to pick up Jessie.

The day's battles had been thrilling for him. In 24 hours, he had racked up a significant body count.

Unfortunately, despite choosing the best restaurant in town, he couldn't escape the attack of cilantro.

After a delicious meal, they returned to the hotel. As soon as they entered, Jack couldn't hold back any longer. Jessie noticed his eagerness and playfully led him into the bathroom.

——

"If I wanted to join the FBI, how would I go about it?" Jessie asked softly, hugging Jack.

"Stay away from drugs and medication, keep a clean record, pursue a related field, and strive to excel. If you still want to after a few years, contact me then."

"If you need money urgently, exchange a portion of the gold first. Find a trustworthy place to do it. Hide or deposit the rest in a bank. Gold prices will keep rising."

Jessie laughed, interrupting his fatherly advice. "Okay, stop. Just because I called you Daddy a few times last night doesn't mean you have to act like my dad."

"A few times?" Jack raised his voice slightly.

"Listen to your voice now; you screamed yourself hoarse."

——

Certain skills, once mastered, not only become highly effective but also save energy. For instance, ever since Jack mastered advanced driving, he could easily drive hundreds of miles without getting tired.

For an ordinary driver, long stretches of straight road might be monotonous and cause fatigue or distraction. But for Jack, it was an enjoyable experience. He could monitor the road conditions with his peripheral vision and fully appreciate the scenery along the way.

After saying goodbye to Jessie, Jack had a good night's rest—a genuine rest that gave his back a break. Then he set off again early the next morning.

He abandoned his plan to visit Roswell and returned to Interstate 10. Today's journey was long: 600 miles from Las Cruces to San Antonio, almost 1,000 kilometers.

Passing through El Paso, he crossed the border between New Mexico and Texas. The scenery gradually changed from endless desert to patches of green.

In El Paso, Jack stopped to buy a cowboy hat. The city, divided by a river, was interesting. One side was El Paso, and the other was Ciudad Juárez, belonging to Mexico.

This made it a major route for illegal immigrants trying to enter the USA. On the streets, Jack saw many weary "locals," likely having paid a high price to seek a better life.

It's said that many humanitarian organizations distribute aid packages on the roads leading to these border cities, mainly containing lubricants, condoms, and emergency contraception. Quite unique, indeed.

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