Jack George stared, momentarily stunned, before attempting to communicate telepathically. "Mr. Lone, can you hear me?"

James Lone replied, "I can hear you."

Delighted, Jack George exclaimed, "That's fantastic! Your abilities are impressive, Mr. Lone. What should I do next?"

James Lone laid out his plan. "You will take your men back to Saint Martin Town. I'll provide you with supplies to sell. Water, food, weapons, clothes, medicines—whatever you need, you can count on me to deliver. Rest assured, the quality will be guaranteed. We'll split the profits 55-45."

Jack George's spirits soared. "Thank you, Mr. Lone! But let's skip the 55-45 split. How about 80-20 instead? Since you're handling the delivery to Saint Martin, I can't take that much."

His tone was humbly submissive; Jack had dealt with various leaders for years and knew well how to navigate relationships with those in power. Keeping the other party satisfied was essential if he wanted to benefit from their dealings. This principle held true even in apocalyptic times.

James Lone was pleased with this display of humility. Clearly, Jack George was a savvy businessman who understood the dynamics. "Alright," he said, not refusing the offer.

Jack George quickly inquired, "Mr. Lone, do you have any further requirements?"

He understood that nothing came without a price, and Lancy George was merely the bridge between them. Whether a stable relationship could be built depended on his ability to meet James's needs. After all, supplies were power!

James Lone responded, "Three things. First, I need to know everything happening in Saint Martin and with Team 910."

Jack George nodded, "Sure! I'll send trusted people to gather information."

James motions, "Second, I want the power fruits. If you can acquire them, the more the better."

Jack George was taken aback, cautiously saying, "The power fruits... Team 910 has those, but Bruce Scott has made it clear they're strategic materials and not for sale..."

James Lone smiled, "Nothing is off the table; it's just a matter of price. You focus on finding them; leave the pricing to me."

Jack was cautious, asking, "Mr. Lone, what price range are we talking about?"

James Lone replied dismissively, "One power fruit can be exchanged for ten thousand steaks or one hundred thousand bottles of pure water. Essentially, if you bring me the fruits, we can negotiate almost anything."

Jack George was dumbfounded. His instinct was skepticism, but remembering James's diverse abilities—especially his unique inventory capacity—he began to see the possibility of such an exchange. It occurred to him that he might have hitched his wagon to a genuinely formidable ally.

"Too much! That's way more than necessary! But with Mr. Lone's word, I know what to do. What's the third request?"

James Lone continued, "Third, keep an eye out for attractive women. If you find any, contact me."

After uttering this, James directed his thoughts toward Jack George.

Jack George's aura remained steady, no wobble in the green light that surrounded him. "No problem. Finding women isn't hard; finding beautiful ones, that's where it gets tricky. In peacetime, it was easy, but now it's more challenging."

Throughout this exchange, the glow around Jack George remained calm.

James Lone had to admit he had been overly cautious, viewing a rich man's mindset through a poor man's lens. The elite of the previous world seemed largely unconcerned with matters of romance.

James was pleased and concluded, "Once you complete the tasks, those two handguns will be yours. Now go."

Jack was elated but still asked cautiously, "Can I see Lancy now?"

James chuckled. "No problem. I'll bring her to you. Once everyone is asleep, I'll arrange for your meeting."

Joy surged through Jack George. He had feared James might concoct excuses to keep them apart. But it seemed Lancy truly was with him...

Jack's eyes narrowed. This old man would have to push his efforts further!

As a shrewd businessman, Jack was thinking far beyond James's immediate plans. The key question remained: how strong is James Lone? If he truly was a powerful mutant, perhaps they could build something substantial in this chaotic world!

If that were the case, numerous opportunities would arise. From James's standpoint, Lancy George was a hostage, ensuring his cooperation. But from Jack's perspective, Lancy represented a bond between them.

If James Lone turned out to be a formidable enemy, Jack George would become the "kin by marriage." Given that James had plenty of women around, there must surely be one who could be a legitimate partner for him. The stronger Jack became, the higher Lancy's position would be in James's eyes, allowing her to live a better life.

Even thoughts of future grandchildren danced in Jack's mind; he could eventually support them and help inherit James Lone's empire.

Believing humanity could overcome the apocalypse, as proven by the 910 Division's power, Jack George felt resolved and invigorated as he issued commands, "Brothers, we don't need to go to Dill Holiday anymore. Linkon is dead, and without the access code, we can't get in. Tomorrow, we head back to Saint Martin Town!"

Disappointed murmurs flowed through the men, but acceptance followed. Though they lost some manpower, the spoils from Linkon's crew constituted quite a fortune.

Unbeknownst to Jack George, alien forces were on the rise. He was oblivious to the fact that any effort he made would be rendered futile against the impending extraterrestrial threat.

In this current situation, James Lone simply wanted to survive. Concepts of legacy or kinship never crossed his mind.

James Lone had no knowledge of Jack's ambitions either; it didn't matter. All he needed to ensure was that Jack retained goodwill toward him.

Returning promptly to the sanctuary, he slipped into Lancy George's room and awakened her again.

Lancy blinked, still groggy, and upon seeing James, she shyly lifted the covers and said, "Master, I've showered."

James couldn't help but chuckle. He hadn't realized she had such a playful side. He ruffled her hair jokingly. "What are you thinking? Get up. I'm taking you to see someone."

"Who could it be at this hour?" Lancy asked, bewildered, feeling as though he had returned for something more intimate.

"Jack George." James pulled the sheets back impatiently. "Get moving."

Lancy, now wide awake, trembled, "Who?"

"Your father, Jack George. I've made arrangements with him," James clarified.

Tears of joy streamed down Lancy's face as she rushed forward to embrace James. "My dad is alive! Really? He's alive! This is wonderful!"

James comforted her.

She was far from calm, hurriedly putting on her clothes and following James through the walls of the sanctuary.

James summoned his gravity distortion powers and whispered, "Hold on!"

With Lancy on his back, he leapt swiftly through the treetops, returning quickly to the temporary stone house.

James noticed that some of Jack George's men had already fallen asleep and said, "You need to enter the stone house alone."

Slightly shaky with excitement, Jack George stood, addressing the night watchman, "I need to step outside for a moment."

The guard looked concerned. "Boss, it's too dangerous out there. Can't it wait until morning?"

Jack George waved his hand. "It's better if I go out. I'm just not used to it yet."

The night watchman hesitated again. "Should I accompany you?"

"No, you should stay here and keep watch. The safety of the group is more important. I'll be back soon. I just need to relieve myself, and it might take a bit longer. Don't worry; I have my gun."

After efficiently dismissing the watchman, Jack George stepped outside, forcing himself to take a few slow breaths. Once he was certain the guard couldn't see him, he quickened his pace, heading straight for the stone house.

The entrance to the stone dwelling silently opened, and Jack George stepped into the glow inside. There stood James Lone with a woman—his daughter, Lancy George!

"Lancy!" Tears instantly filled Jack's eyes as he called out.

Lancy turned her head, and with joy overwhelming her, she rushed over. "Daddy! Daddy!"