Chapter 160: Dawn Had Barely Broken

Dawn had barely broken when Rose Jackson quietly slipped out of bed. The aroma of scallion pancakes wafted from the kitchen—she had added two extra eggs, wanting her younger siblings to have a hearty meal before their journey.

"Elena, wake up. Breakfast is ready." Rose gently nudged her still-sleeping sister, Elena.

Rubbing her eyes, Elena sat up and saw that her eldest sister had already packed their belongings. A cloth bundle held ten boiled eggs, still warm.

"You're up too early," Elena murmured, noticing the dark circles under her sister’s eyes.

Rose Jackson shook her head with a soft smile. "How could I sleep when you're leaving for such a long trip?"

At the village entrance, Adrian Stone’s jeep was already waiting. Rose Jackson held her sister’s hand, her voice thick with worry. "Write to us as soon as you arrive. If you need anything—"

Elena’s nose stung, tears threatening to spill. This was her first time leaving home since her reincarnation, and the emptiness in her chest was overwhelming.

"Don’t worry, sis. It’s not like I’ll never come back," she forced a laugh.

Daniel Ward patted his sister’s shoulder. "Let’s go. We’ll miss the train if we delay any longer."

As the jeep pulled away, Elena turned to look through the rear window. Her sister and three nephews grew smaller and smaller until they vanished into the distance.

"Don’t be sad. You’ll visit during breaks," Daniel reassured her.

Adrian glanced at her through the rearview mirror, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Don’t worry. I’ll visit you often."

"Who asked you to?" Elena flushed and turned away, though she couldn’t suppress a small smile.

The train station was packed. Adrian effortlessly maneuvered through the crowd with two suitcases in hand, while Elena clutched her backpack strap tightly, afraid of getting separated.

"Your sleeper is in Car 6," Adrian handed the tickets to Daniel. "You two aren’t together, so find someone to switch seats."

The train car was stuffy and crowded. Daniel swiftly stowed their luggage and double-checked Elena’s backpack.

"Keep your wallet in the inner pocket. Don’t let it out of your sight," he warned sternly. "There are pickpockets everywhere."

As the train pulled away, Adrian’s figure grew smaller in the distance. A sudden hollowness settled in Elena’s chest.

"What are you staring at?" Daniel handed her an apple. "Lieutenant Stone packed this for you."

Elena took the apple and discovered her backpack was stuffed with snacks and fruit. At the very bottom was a book—Adrian’s well-worn copy of On War.

The next morning, the train arrived at its destination. Daniel carried two large suitcases while Elena followed with her backpack.

"Daniel, the bus stop is over there," she pointed.

Suddenly, Daniel lunged forward and grabbed a man in a cap.

"What are you doing?" the man shouted, struggling.

A girl in a floral dress gasped. "My wallet!"

The crowd erupted into murmurs. The man’s eyes darted around before he yelled, "Help! This man’s trying to rob me!"

Passengers exchanged uncertain glances. Someone muttered, "He’s in uniform… seems trustworthy."

Daniel smirked. "Elena, show them my ID."

Without hesitation, Elena pulled out his military credentials. The bright red seal gleamed unmistakably under the sunlight.

"Take him to the police!" someone shouted.

The man’s face paled. He yanked a razor blade from his pocket. "Back off, or I’ll cut you!"

Daniel dodged with lightning reflexes, twisted the man’s arm, and flipped him onto the ground with a loud thud.

"Daniel!" Elena gasped.

"Don’t worry." He dusted his hands off and addressed the approaching officers. "This one’s a repeat offender."

The girl in the floral dress bowed deeply. "Thank you so much! My acceptance letter was in that wallet!"

Elena helped her up, realizing this journey was turning out far more eventful than she’d expected.