"Chris had Asperger's Syndrome from a young age. You could simply understand it as a severe form of autism. His mother couldn't bear the psychological strain and left, abandoning him and his brother."
"Their father was an old-school military man who believed the world was inherently harsh, and Chris needed to learn to adapt. He subjected Chris to bright lights, loud noises, and rigorous combat training to make him more like a 'normal' person."
"Eventually, both brothers joined the military. Chris's brother went overseas for service, while Chris, due to his mental issues, stayed close to their father. This continued until one day, they received news of their mother's death."
"Chris and his father, deeply affected, attended the funeral to pay their respects. However, their mother's current husband, unaware of their situation, angrily demanded they leave. Chris had a breakdown, leading to a confrontation with the family."
"Tragedy followed. The police who arrived at the scene shot and killed Chris's father. Chris was sent to prison, where he met the second person who would change his life—a veteran accountant who had served the Gambino family for 40 years."
"In the end, due to the inaction of the IRS, the old accountant was kicked out of prison and protective custody, only to be silenced by the Gambino family. After learning of this, Chris used a thermos to knock out a guard and successfully escaped from prison."
"Hm, that Stanley thermos must have been of good quality; I see he still carries it around."
As they drove to the airport, Jack narrated the entire story, and Hannah listened intently, engrossed in the tale.
"What happened next?" Hannah asked, offering a kiss as a reward for the story.
Jack, savoring the moment, continued.
"After escaping, Chris tracked down the Gambino family's stronghold in Lavallette and killed nine people, including 'Little Tony' Bazano, avenging the old accountant."
"Raymond King, the IRS official whose inaction had led to the old accountant's death, was monitoring 'Little Tony' Bazano and his associates at the time. Chris, after listening to his remorseful confession, spared him and walked away."
"That's incredible. I can't wait to meet that accountant. And Justin, is she really a top-notch computer expert?"
By the time Jack finished the story, they were already on a flight to Chicago. Hannah's sympathy for Chris had turned into admiration, making Jack a bit jealous. That "Batman" character, always with a stoic face and no culinary skills, what's so great about him?
"Justin is the best computer expert I've ever met. I even asked her to help you with the Kleiner Foundation matter."
Jack had almost forgotten about poor Abby Sciuto, the goth girl. She had been too busy lately, probably because there was some movement in NCIS. He wasn't sure if this would lead to future interactions with the Navy.
Traveling with Hannah, they couldn't settle for economy class. Since they were on a red-eye flight, first class was nearly empty, allowing them to share whispers and affectionate moments without interruption.
The only downside was that Jack couldn't carry his gun. Checking it wasn't safe either, so he left his FK7.5 at home. Chris's Pan America RV was practically a mobile armory, so they wouldn't lack weapons if needed.
This time, the trouble Chris encountered was reminiscent of a movie plot Jack had seen in his previous life, though with some differences. According to the information Justin had sent, after they returned to Chicago, Chris decided to avoid overly dangerous clients.
Especially after learning about Jack's extreme aversion to drug dealings, Chris chose to steer clear of money laundering for drug cartels, shifting his business to legal or relatively gray areas.
For instance, he took on a small job auditing a high-tech company. This company, specializing in AI and prosthetics, was ambitiously preparing to go public. However, during an internal review, they discovered serious financial discrepancies.
Chris, in just one day and night, traced the missing $60 million. But as he delved deeper, an unexpected event occurred: the company's CFO 'accidentally' died. Now, Chris and a female accountant who discovered the discrepancies were being hunted.
And so came the call that interrupted Jack and Hannah's evening plans.
"I bet that girl is a beauty," Hannah speculated, showing the same curiosity Jack often did.
Jack looked at the information Justin had sent, nodded, and handed his phone to Hannah.
"She's not as stunning as you, but she's definitely a rare beauty, like a movie star. Just a bit short. I thought the height difference between the Hunters was already striking. Won't it be awkward if they're together?"
Hannah playfully punched him. She had envied the height difference of that couple, thinking she was too tall to look cute hanging on Jack. His comment made her mind wander to all sorts of imaginative scenarios.
The plane landed at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Jack and Hannah rented a Malibu and headed to Aurora, 60 kilometers away. This time, Hannah drove while Jack, sitting in the passenger seat, called Ray King.
Though the original plot was filled with intense action, where Chris single-handedly took down enemies, Jack wasn't about to treat this as some infinite game world. He couldn't go on a killing spree and expect to walk away unscathed while maintaining his career as a cop.
Jack, with his cautious nature, always thought about how to explain his income sources, even when dealing with something like Bitcoin. To live openly and legitimately in a world governed by stable societal rules and logic, he wanted to keep his background spotless.
At least until he built a robust network to protect himself and those around him, he couldn't afford to act recklessly.
Luckily, with the IRS's help covering his tracks, Jack could avoid trouble. Despite the sly old man's veiled threats and inducements to join the IRS, Jack was tempted but reluctant to give up his system.
Maybe it was Jack's intervention triggering events earlier or some other factor causing a butterfly effect. Even though the old man had started planning his succession, for now, Jack didn't have to worry about dealing with a politically correct female investigator, as depicted in the original plot.
While Jack couldn't join the IRS, he wondered if he could introduce a trustworthy successor to King. This would benefit both him and Chris, especially since the IRS was one of the top-tier agencies for dealing with aftermaths.
Jack hung up the phone and let his imagination run wild. At worst, he could help King extend his tenure, giving him more time to secure his position. He even had a good candidate in mind.
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Read Ahead
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