CHAPTER 40: CHAPTER 40: ENCOUNTERING CALEB YATES ABROAD

Renee Winslow and Jack Yates only stayed in Afronia for two days; they didn’t stay long. After shooting the diamonds, they left and returned to Pryton City in Moravia.

Jack Yates brought her over mainly to buy diamonds for her, purchasing raw stones. After buying them, he handed them over to an internationally renowned design master, instructing the designer to create a custom-made, one-of-a-kind diamond necklace just for her.

Looking at the intricate necklace design on the blueprint, Renee Winslow pretended to be curious and asked, "Did you draw this?"

In fact, she knew he didn’t. Jack Yates had a military background with incredible military skills. Later, he retired to pursue business and had already achieved great success in building his commercial empire. How could he also draw necklace design blueprints?

If he really could do all that, he wouldn’t be human. He’d be a deity.

The reason she asked such a seemingly silly question was simple: she wanted to make Jack Yates happy.

The heart can be cold, but the words must be sweet. This was an experience Renee Winslow had concluded from living and studying alone for many years.

Sure enough, Jack Yates chuckled and looked at her with indulgent eyes: "In your heart, am I that versatile?"

Renee Winslow thought, you certainly aren’t that versatile, but she had to praise him nonetheless.

So she smiled and hugged Jack Yates’ arm, looking up at him with an adoring face: "In my heart, you are indeed that versatile, literate and skilled in combat, and on top of that, you’re handsome and well-built."

Jack Yates grinned from ear to ear and lightly rubbed her head: "Stop trying to butter me up. Just say what you want."

Renee Winslow pouted playfully: "I praise you not because I want something. I sincerely think you’re great. Can’t I just compliment you?"

Jack Yates knew well that her words were mostly insincere, especially the compliments about him. Nine out of ten were not to be believed, but he still enjoyed her flattery. Even knowing she was coaxing and deceiving him, he was satisfied, like drinking poison to quench thirst.

Seeing that he didn’t speak, Renee Winslow felt a bit anxious and quickly changed the subject: "Are we going to Crythia tomorrow?"

Jack Yates: "The day after tomorrow. Let’s rest for a day before going. I’m afraid your body can’t handle continuous long flights."

Renee Winslow hugged his slim waist, buried her face in his chest, and snuggled up to him like a little bird: "Thank you, brother Jack."

During their day of rest in Pryton City, those two Moravian soldiers came over again, and they were actually looking for guidance from Jack Yates.

Renee Winslow couldn’t help but feel surprised: "You’ve been retired for many years, what can you still guide them on?"

What she thought was, these guys who play real-life battle royale games all the time seeking guidance from you seems a bit absurd.

However, she only thought this in her heart and wouldn’t dare say it out loud.

She expected Jack Yates to refuse, but to her surprise, he agreed quite readily.

Renee Winslow felt even more bewildered. From her understanding of Jack Yates after dating him, he wasn’t the type to show off or be a mentor. On the contrary, he was rather reserved, and she had never seen him chatting relaxedly with others.

If it were the days when they were students and these two Moravian soldiers had pestered Jack Yates to teach them military boxing and combat techniques, she could understand Jack agreeing because everyone was young, eager, and willing to do such things.

However, Jack Yates was already a 28-year-old man now, yet he still agreed to guide them; this was a bit unreasonable.

What Renee Winslow didn’t know was that Jack Yates agreed to do it because he wanted her to see his "martial" prowess, wishing to showcase his masculine charm before her.

So Renee Winslow followed Jack Yates, sitting in the Moravian Defense Force major general’s specialized military vehicle, and arrived at the soldiers’ training base.

Upon arrival, she watched the rows of young Moravian soldiers, taking in their erect postures, determined gazes, and familiar military stance.

Renee Winslow was taken aback. At this moment, she suddenly understood the descriptions in martial arts novels where one could tell which sect the disciple belonged to just by looking at their moves. Originally, she thought it was just a writer’s imagination, but now she realized it was true.

Because she immediately recognized that these Moravian soldiers were using techniques from her family’s sect.

Sure enough, the Moravian Defense Force major general solemnly blew a whistle and shouted, "Count off!"

Then, she saw a group of dark-skinned young soldiers shouting in Cathan, "One, two, three, four..."

Facing forward, facing backward, small steps converging, at ease, stand at attention, and the way they held their guns, it was almost immediately noticeable they were from her family’s sect.

Renee Winslow was completely dumbfounded, instinctively turning to look at Jack Yates, and quietly asked him: "Did they all train at our place?"

As soon as she got abroad, she referred to Cathan as "our place."

Jack Yates slightly lowered his head, whispering against her face, "Only their officers trained at our place. These people were trained by their officers." He added, "Eight years ago, I came here to train them."

Renee Winslow: "..."

Then these people started practicing military boxing, and watching them filled Renee Winslow with a sense of pride and excitement.

After the Moravian soldiers were done training, the major general and the head of the armed forces invited Jack Yates for a sparring session.

Renee Winslow tugged at Jack Yates’ sleeve: "Don’t spar with them, in case..."

She winked at him, hinting for him to decline, worrying that if he got hurt or lost, they might not respect him anymore and make things difficult for him.

After all, these people respected strength. They would only respect you if you were stronger, but if you were weaker, they might devour you.

Jack Yates smiled and patted her head: "Don’t worry, just sit aside and cheer for me, shout loudly."

So Renee Winslow sat aside, watching Jack Yates spar with them. First, they competed in shooting, deciding the winner over two rounds, both won by Jack. Next, they competed in freestyle combat, and again, Jack won against the two of them.

Renee Winslow didn’t cheer. She found it awkward. No one else brought their girlfriend to cheer them on, only she was there to support Jack, which might disturb the morale.

Though she didn’t cheer, her eyes were on Jack the entire time, especially when he was shooting. She didn’t blink, watching him pull the trigger and fire.

After the competition, the Moravian Defense Force major general and the head of the armed forces took Jack Yates to the military tent to discuss some practical combat techniques.

Renee Winslow didn’t follow inside. Firstly, she wasn’t interested in military warfare, and secondly, the men’s tent, especially those dark-looking men, had a rather strong smell.

She wandered around the empty training base since it was just an open space and wouldn’t involve any military secrets. Moreover, those soldiers had already left and gone back to their respective tents to rest, so she felt somewhat at ease.

However, as she was walking, she suddenly heard a "Cuckoo Cuckoo"—a sound imitated by a person, clearly a Cathan.

Following the sound, Renee Winslow saw someone wearing a Moravian soldier’s hat, hiding their face, beckoning to her from behind a tree.

Feeling puzzled yet curious, Renee Winslow walked over, not afraid of encountering harm since Jack Yates was around.

But as she approached, she discovered the person hiding behind the tree was Caleb Yates, and she immediately froze in place.