The original plan called for the Most Wanted Squad to depart in about a week, but the sudden announcement that they were leaving the next day caught them off guard.
Fortunately, while they appeared relaxed, they were actually constantly on standby.
To keep everyone on track, Jubal would take on seemingly less important cases to keep them busy, such as during Jack's absence. This,
combined with the intense daily training—though considerably less than Clay's SEAL days, it was just right for the others.
A daily regimen of two hours of alternating aerobic and anaerobic exercise, coupled with Jack's nutritious meals that always satisfied the most discerning palates, transformed everyone, both physically and mentally, in less than a year.
Jubal, a middle-aged man, confessed that his physique had returned to its peak, pre-alcohol age of around 30.
This claim might be a bit exaggerated, considering he'd previously claimed he'd never achieved such pronounced abs as a six-pack.
Aubrey's physique was trending towards Jack's. They were about the same height, but when they stood together, they both wore clothes that made them look thin. But once they took them off, Aubrey was truly skinny.
While he still had some distance from Dr. Reid's apparent lack of activity, the mere mention of his origins on Wall Street made it obvious.
His playboy vibe, drained by alcohol and sex, was quite obvious.
Aside from Clay's hidden injuries from his intense training, this guy had the most issues.
His previous inability to gain weight despite overeating was largely due to a digestive disorder caused by his previous poor sleep habits, in addition to some natural talent.
In comparison, Alice was the most normal of the group. While the FBI had physical fitness requirements for its office agents, they were like the physical fitness test for the University of Tokyo students; a quick workout at the gym beforehand usually sufficed.
This single mother, with her naturally fair complexion, delicate features, and petite frame, naturally exudes the fragility of a Western-style Lin Daiyu.
While Alice's physique isn't quite comparable to that of a Texas-born woman like Hannah, she's lost that sickly look, and her curves have become more pronounced.
She appears more confident, her demeanor more capable, and even has a subtle aura reminiscent of a younger Dana Moger, captivating Aubrey.
There's a common argument that Europeans and Americans have a short shelf life, and that beautiful actresses fade after 30. While even the most beautiful faces can withstand the ravages of time, they can't withstand the ravages of the human condition even more.
Drugs, excessive drinking, and the beloved sunbathing of Europeans and Americans are the true killers of appearances.
Regular exercise, a regular routine, and a balanced diet have made the most wanted criminals squad the stars of the FBI's New York office, members of which are considered worthy of a spot on the internal calendar.
The FBI also cultivates a corporate culture. Like the Fire Department, they hold annual internal votes to organize events, such as long-distance running races or a calendar featuring photos of their own agents.
The calendar is gender-neutral, allowing anyone single to appear. The calendar features 12 months of the year, and whoever appears in that month is called Mr. or Ms. X-Month.
Later, gender equality led to the demise of Ms. X-Month, leaving only Mr. X-Month. If Rossi hadn't raised Jack's clearance level early on, he would have been the most important Mr. July or Mr. August of the year.
Everything was ready. The next morning, before 8:00, everyone loaded up their two armored SUVs and headed for the federal prison again.
The Most Wanted Squad had two armored SUVs: a Suburban and a GMC Yukon, both full-size vehicles. Normally, only one of them was used.
This time, it was a full-scale operation, and Jack had requested that the Bombardier's weapons cache be fully stocked, so it was rare for both SUVs to be deployed together.
Escorting Zhang Mingjun to the airport was the responsibility of the International Division and had nothing to do with the Most Wanted Squad. Their real mission began the moment he stepped into the Bombardier.
But they were all FBI, so there was no need to be too specific at this point. While the new director, Jon Michaels, didn't seem easy to deal with, Jack and the others weren't working for him anyway.
So, instead of waiting directly at the airport, they decided to follow him.
At 8:30 a.m., the defector, Zhang Mingjun, dragged his heavy shackles step by step out of his cell, followed closely by the two North Korean visitors.
"If I remember correctly, wasn't our SWAT team responsible for the escort? Why was it the NYPD's ESU?" Aubrey, waiting outside the prison, wondered at the armored vehicle's livery.
While the ESU was also a special police unit, with equipment and training comparable to the FBI's own SWAT team, Jubal felt it was best to confirm this unplanned situation.
He and Jack called Dana Moger and NYPD Commissioner Frank Regan, respectively.
The response was that due to the mission being brought forward, all FBI SWAT teams in New York were either busy with missions or following their training schedules, so the International Division contacted the NYPD directly.
Normally, such a change should have been notified in advance to the most wanted criminal squad, but Jon Michaels, the International Division Director in charge of coordinating the effort, hadn't done so.
Even the other team members sensed the new director's hostility, with Clay jokingly suggesting they were exploiting the International Division too aggressively.
"If it weren't for Jack's connections, they wouldn't have caught that guy. Isn't this new guy so stingy?"
In reality, Bombardier was funded by higher-ups, so it couldn't possibly be using International Department funds. They couldn't afford it, considering the expense of just maintaining the C-17 currently used by Mike Taylor's field team.
As for the Audi R8, if Jack hadn't caught Zhang Mingjun while hunting for rabbits in the "New Era Technology" case, the International Department wouldn't have gotten any credit for it.
It's just a supercar for under $200,000, a modified one, but still just a toy, barely enough to cover the annual salaries of two Bombardier pilots.
"Ms. Moger said Washington is very likely to let her take on the role of International Department director, ending the chaos that's been going on for months." Jubal put away his phone and relayed the news he'd just received.
"No wonder." The people leaning against the car exchanged glances, each catching a smile in their eyes. No one would be happy to see someone being ousted just a few days after taking the director's position.
(End of Chapter)