In Rossi's mind, Jack was initially positioned as the team's muscle—someone who could ensure the group's safety and capture criminals when needed.
Of course, in terms of pure strength, Jack's record wasn't particularly outstanding. After all, many who had retired from the military, even special forces, had become successful police officers. What drew Rossi's attention to Jack's file was Maureen's recommendation. Sure, there were plenty of young people who had endured worse hardships and risen through sheer effort.
But when Rossi conducted a psychological profile based on Jack's file, he found this young man to be rare. Jack was decisive but not bloodthirsty, preferring to use his brain to solve problems.
In the final moments of the bioterrorism case, the appearance of the female assassin clearly caused Jack to lose control momentarily. However, he managed to perfectly restrain his emotions at the last second.
Moreover, his psychological resilience was remarkable. In the [Bronson Tower] encounter, Jack's performance was calmer and more composed than that of a seasoned officer.
The Carla kidnapping case seemed straightforward, with the more experienced officers leading the investigation. However, Rossi easily discerned the little tricks played by Tim and Jack at the end of the report.
To others, they might appear to have abused their power, but to Rossi, it demonstrated Jack's strong sense of justice and flexibility in handling situations.
These traits were evident in his actions of personally bailing out Lawson and subsequently buying his house, as well as in his handling of the Rosalind case.
Kind and upright without being rigid, willing to do good without moral pretentiousness, and never playing the politically correct games that young people are fond of these days—these were qualities that endeared Jack to the older generation of agents who had come through the golden era of the FBI.
The [Southern Front] case and the recent counterfeit money case gave Rossi new insights into Jack—a potential tactical genius with an innate grasp of human nature and emotions.
Finally, there was one quality Rossi admired but could not match: Jack's ability to detach himself and observe as an outsider, quickly separating his empathy from the victims' tragic experiences, and not being influenced by negative emotions for long.
For instance, another Jack Reacher could also remain calm at bloody crime scenes and appear unaffected afterward. However, his experiences led him to sever all ties with friends and family, wandering alone—clearly a form of escape.
Jack was unaware of Rossi's high regard for him. If asked to explain, Jack would find it simple.
He wasn't a maniac; he only shot to kill in two situations: if his life was threatened or if the criminal was utterly heinous, causing him mental unrest.
All that talk of composure and strong psychological resilience was due to the System's attributes boosting his confidence. As long as he wasn't shot in the head, there was nothing to fear. Plus, he had a misleading adrenaline response.
As for being kind and upright without being rigid, that was his mature worldview formed in his previous life. In his old world, such qualities were common among people born in the '70s, '80s, and '90s.
He might admit to some natural talent for understanding human nature, but it was enhanced by his knowledge of TV dramas and his psychology skills.
Regarding the final point, Jack never truly considered himself an American. The victims' suffering might affect him emotionally for a while, but it wouldn't alter his core beliefs or character.
Though he had lost hope of returning to his original world, he found some joy in this one. But aside from the girls he had grown close to and a few friends, he maintained a detached attitude toward the USA. To him, philosophical musings about human nature were for philosophers.
Philosophers were madmen; he didn't want to be one. Instead, he concluded that the suffering of victims was due to systemic issues. If it was a systemic problem, it wasn't his concern as an otherworldly traveler. Earning more money, keeping his girls happy, and retiring early to enjoy life with them sounded much better.
These misinterpretations led Rossi to be highly satisfied with Maureen's recommendation of Jack, even feeling an impulse to groom him as his successor.
So, Rossi made a plan. He arranged for Jack to report to the academy early and enlisted Maureen, Jack's nominal psychology professor, for a special three-month training program.
His goal was to address Jack's weaknesses before he officially joined the BAU, polishing this rough diamond to shine brightly, so the future team members would see his potential and not just view him as muscle.
Jack was unaware of Rossi's intentions. To him, being valued by a future mentor and given special training meant he had to work hard and not disappoint.
Plus, Maureen's daily lessons in professional attire and gold-rimmed glasses, teaching him one-on-one, had a certain forbidden thrill.
Rossi was often busy, frequently leaving the academy as the preparation for his action team reached a critical stage. Maureen handled the theoretical knowledge daily.
But whenever Rossi returned, he brought copious case files and notes from his prison interviews with serial killers.
He would explain these cases from various professional perspectives—criminal psychology, behaviorism, sociology—having Jack apply his theoretical knowledge to analyze them, gradually mastering the basic skills of a profiler.
This intense learning made Jack's days incredibly fulfilling. For three months, except for half an hour of running morning and evening to maintain his fitness, he buried himself in books.
As a result, his mental strength attributes soared, though his physical attributes remained unchanged. His progress in advanced psychology skills was already halfway through.
Though not upgraded, Jack felt his skill mastery was extremely high. He even observed that Rossi might have long been aware of his and Maureen's little secret but didn't care.
This made Jack worry. Once in the BAU, surrounded by psychological experts, wouldn't they see through him completely? Wouldn't there be no secrets among them?
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