Chapter 27: A Vacation Before the Storm
The island didn't feel real.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Jack wasn't running, hiding, or thinking about danger. The air was warm, the sea stretched endlessly in shades of blue, and the soft sound of waves hitting the shore felt almost… peaceful.
Too peaceful.
Jack stood near the balcony of the villa Leo's mother had arranged for him. Her words still echoed in his mind—
"First, enjoy yourself here… then go to the town."
At that time, he had just nodded. No questions, no arguments.
And now?
Now he understood why.
"This place is insane…" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.
Palm trees, private beach, crystal-clear water, and not a single problem in sight.
"Well," he smirked, "if danger wants me, it can wait. I deserve this."
Jack didn't waste time.
Within an hour, he was already on the beach, shoes gone, sleeves rolled up, walking straight into the water like he owned the ocean.
"Ahh—THIS is life!" he shouted, stretching his arms dramatically.
A random tourist nearby looked at him like he had just escaped a hospital.
Jack waved at them like a celebrity.
"Yes, yes, no autographs today," he said confidently… even though no one asked.
Later, he tried everything.
Jet skiing? Done.
Swimming? Obviously.
Trying to impress people with fake "professional swimmer" skills? Absolutely failed.
At one point, he attempted a dramatic dive—
—and landed like a falling coconut.
Splash.
A kid nearby started laughing.
Jack came out of the water, wiping his face, completely serious.
"That," he said, "was intentional."
The kid laughed harder.
Meanwhile…
Far away from this peaceful nonsense—
Chaos.
Pure chaos.
Natasha wiped the sweat from her forehead as she stood in the training area.
Jhosan was already exhausted, sitting on the ground like his soul had left his body.
Nick was pacing back and forth, frustrated.
And Smith?
Smith was… there.
Just standing.
Watching.
Doing nothing.
Natasha crossed her arms.
"Are we training," she said sharply, "or are we babysitting?"
Jhosan groaned. "I vote for babysitting. Less pain."
Nick ignored him and looked at Smith.
"You're just going to stand there?"
Smith shrugged. "I'm observing."
Jhosan immediately sat up. "Observing WHAT? Our suffering??"
Natasha stepped forward, eyes narrowing.
"We are preparing for something serious," she said. "And you're acting like this is a vacation."
Cut to—
Jack, somewhere on the island, sipping a coconut drink with sunglasses on.
Nick ran a hand through his hair.
"This is exactly the problem," he said. "We're training, pushing ourselves, and he's just—"
He gestured dramatically at Smith.
"—existing."
Smith blinked. "Existing is important."
Jhosan clapped slowly. "Wow. Deep. Truly inspiring."
Natasha sighed, clearly losing patience.
"Listen," she said, voice cold, "we don't have time for this. If you're not serious—"
"I am serious," Smith interrupted calmly.
All three of them paused.
For a second… it felt different.
But then—
Smith added, "I'm just not dramatic about it."
Silence.
Then—
Jhosan stood up and pointed at him.
"I KNEW IT. He's one of those quiet dangerous types."
Nick narrowed his eyes. "Or one of those useless mysterious types."
Natasha didn't say anything… but her expression clearly said she was deciding which one he was.
They resumed training.
Natasha was sharp and precise.
Nick was focused.
Jhosan was trying… and failing… but trying.
And Smith?
Still watching.
Still quiet.
Still unreadable.
Back at the island—
Jack was now lying on the sand, completely relaxed.
"Maybe I should stay here forever…" he said lazily.
A pause.
Then he looked at the sky.
"…Nah. Too boring."
He sat up, a small smile forming.
"Let's enjoy a little more… before everything gets messy again."
And somewhere far away—
Things were already getting messy.