บท 220: Chapter 220: Pioneer Airlines
Singapore, also known as the Lion City, is located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, at the entrance to the Straits of Malacca. Over 5 million people are crammed into an area of just over 700 square kilometers.
This country, which is less than half the size of Los Angeles, has an economic output roughly half that of LA, but its population is nearly half again larger. And Los Angeles is already the second largest city in North America, second only to New York.
Their flight arrived late. After dropping off their luggage at the Shangri-La Hotel, it was already past 8 PM. Famished, Jack eagerly dragged JJ out to sample the local cuisine.
Both were visiting the city for the first time. The night lights of Marina Bay were dazzling, and the durian-like Esplanade stood out prominently. They could also see the Merlion in the distance, constantly spouting water.
They randomly picked a street stall and sat down. Jack ordered a pile of food from the surrounding food trucks, quickly filling the small table to the brim.
Hainanese chicken rice, with rice cooked in chicken fat, was particularly fragrant. It was served with chunks of chicken and sweet soy sauce, along with ginger paste and chili. The taste was excellent.
Jack didn't know if this dish was actually related to Hainan, but it tasted similar to white-cut chicken.
Laksa, a local specialty noodle dish flavored with coconut milk, curry, and chili oil, was next. JJ took one bite, and her face turned red to the ears.
Fortunately, the spiciness didn't linger too long. She soon hesitantly took a second bite, then a third and fourth.
The black pepper crab was also good. Jack thought he could replicate it back home. Unfortunately, their appetites were limited, and they could only regretfully look at the other food carts, saving them for another day.
Being in Southeast Asia, the fruits here were not to be missed. Mangosteen was one of the easiest tropical fruits for Americans to accept, and it was rarely seen in North America.
Its sweet and sour taste made JJ very happy, though she was a bit clumsy at peeling it, staining her hands with red juice.
Jack also bought her durian-flavored ice cream. Seeing her enjoy it, he secretly laughed. This required a gradual approach. Tomorrow he'd get her durian cake, and the day after, she'd probably be ready to accept the fresh fruit king.
It's like letting those who dislike swallowing try jasmine tea first. The logic was the same.
The conference that started the next day was nothing special. A bunch of old professors made the two young people stand out, and several lecherous old men occasionally tried to chat up JJ.
But once JJ showed her FBI badge, they quickly backed off. Apparently, the FBI warning was effective beyond just movie intros.
Jack couldn't quite figure out JJ's attitude these days. During the day, attending various meetings and lectures, she treated him like an ordinary colleague, showing no favoritism, and even solemnly thanked him for handing her a bottle of water.
But at night, she wore either sexy dresses or shorts and camisoles, boldly hooking her arm through his, getting tipsy on fruit juice at the waterfront park.
After drinking too much, she would snuggle up to his cheek, and every night when Jack took her back to her room, her eyes were so sticky they could pull threads, yet she never invited him in for a drink.
Feeling somewhat PUA'd, Jack was hurt and could only return to his room to study diligently. Two days of meetings flew by, and for some less important sessions or those they weren't interested in, they simply skipped them.
After all, there were plenty of fun places here. The Ferris wheel in Los Angeles was less than 60 meters high, while this one was nearly three times that height, standing 165 meters tall. The view from the top was fantastic.
Sentosa Beach had a nice view, but for Los Angelenos, it wasn't particularly attractive. However, the spa was great, and JJ loved it, enjoying oil massages for two consecutive days. The difference in skin quality compared to Hannah was becoming her obsession.
Jack said if she invited him in for a drink sooner, whether it was tea, coffee, or champagne, this little problem would have been solved long ago.
The night safari by the beach was unique, housing over 900 animals in a small area, divided into different zones. In minutes, they could walk from a tropical rainforest to the African savannah.
Jack felt this visit was worth it, enjoying the cool night breeze while JJ hugged his arm almost the entire time, feeling cold and cozy.
Unfortunately, just as Jack was about to retaliate against JJ's PUA tactics, Rossi called.
A "LDSK" (Long Distance Serial Killer) had appeared in Des Plaines, northwest of Chicago, with three shootings in two weeks. Six victims were shot in the abdomen, and one had died.
The local community was in a panic, and the Illinois FBI was helpless, having to ask the BAU for help. Rossi took this case very seriously because the BAU had never caught an "LDSK" through profiling.
This was both a challenge and a perfect opportunity for the team to prove their worth. Rossi and Hotchner were very serious about it, urging them to return quickly. They had already taken the Gulfstream and departed.
The problem was that December to February was Singapore's peak tourist season. JJ canceled their flight two days later but couldn't find a recent direct flight back. They had no choice but to choose a newly launched flight from an unknown airline.
The flight had a layover in Tokyo, taking nearly 20 hours in total. It was exhausting, but it was the fastest way back.
Seeing the small McDonnell Douglas MD-80 in the terminal, Jack felt a headache coming. No wonder they had to layover in Tokyo; this small plane didn't have the range to fly directly across the Pacific. Who knew how bumpy the ride would be?
The plane bore the words "Pioneer Airlines," confirming it was an unknown airline.
Unlike the road trip before, Jack had truly embraced the concept of traveling light this time. Without a gun, he didn't even bring a suitcase to check.
But compared to another Jack Reacher, he did at least bring a backpack, with a few changes of clothes, a travel hygiene kit, a small bottle of mosquito repellent, and some miscellaneous small items.
JJ didn't bring much either, but as a woman, she had a few more clothes and bought a few pretty dresses before leaving, packing a suitcase for check-in.
Perhaps because the plane was small or it was a regional flight, there was no first class, but there were a few business class seats.
Jack now had a bit of money, and the tickets were frighteningly cheap, so he paid for an upgrade for both of them. He now slept very little and wanted a quiet reading environment.
But upon boarding, he regretted it. Despite it being peak tourist season, this red-eye flight was still almost empty. The business class was empty, and the economy class had only a few passengers, with less than 20 people in total for a hundred seats.
Upgrading didn't affect his diligent study at all.
With a mentality of not wasting money, Jack glanced around at the flight attendants. Well, it was indeed an American airline. Except for one who looked younger, the rest were middle-aged women.
Writer's block, better stock up on some drafts honestly, I won't dare slack off again.
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