Chapter 732: Who Is Tougher?

What on earth is happening?

That black piece of stone actually made Jack Roosevelt, who was tirelessly searching for meteorites for Boulogne Mining, offer a hundred dollars without hesitation. Could it be something valuable?

A meteorite?!

Viri Chuck’s mind raced with the idea, his gaze focused on the stone peeking through the fingers of the other man. Taking a closer look at his old classmate’s expression, it seemed he wasn’t joking.

The black exterior resembled the charred marks of a meteorite after burning through the atmosphere; the more he looked, the more it seemed to fit.

“Chuck? What is that?” Gagor Brown whispered to his colleague.

Viri Chuck whispered back, “Could it be a meteorite?” He thought for a moment and added, “Yeah, maybe a very valuable one.”

He couldn’t understand why Jack Roosevelt was suddenly so fixated on the stone that Ali had given to Lin Mo. There was a significant difference between meteorites and native ores from Earth.

“Lonsdaleite?” As an astronomy major, Gagor Brown knew some things about meteorites, and in fact, the only overlapping knowledge he shared with Viri Chuck from their university days was probably about meteorites.

“I don’t know, but it could be.”

Viri Chuck also hesitated to confirm; it was like hitting the jackpot—only God knew for sure.

They decided not to jump in but instead kept their distance to observe.

……

“No! I won’t sell it!”

Lin Mo shook his head; after all, this was a gift from “Monkey” Abul Hasan Zargalar’s youngest son, representing pure childhood sincerity. There was no way to measure it with money.

“Five hundred dollars!”

Jack Roosevelt immediately raised his offer, thinking that swapping five hundred dollars for a worthless piece of rock was an easy and lucky deal.

Lin Mo’s guide, Saeed, changed his expression. He understood both Chinese and how to say five hundred dollars in English. Could the gift from Abul Hasan Zargalar’s son really be something valuable, like gold ore? He didn’t even consider it could be a meteorite.

Just as he suspected, Viri Chuck nodded discreetly. His old classmate was unwittingly interested in that stone, and it very likely was a meteorite.

Outer space is a boundless treasure trove filled with wonders beyond imagination, even containing many items and special elements not found on Earth.

Some extraordinary extraterrestrial materials not only hold high economic value but also have great research value.

The most famous of these is Lonsdaleite, also known as “meteorite diamond” or “night pearl,” which has a unique carbon atom arrangement in a hexagonal crystal system, making it 58% harder than regular diamonds—a true gift from above.

“I won’t sell it no matter how much you offer. This thing shouldn’t be measured by money.”

Lin Mo shook his head again, unmoved, not even altering his expression.

Those who knew Lin Mo understood that this guy wouldn’t be swayed by a few hundred dollars. Even the intelligence department likely knew that this Major Lin was among the least likely people in all of China to be bribed with money.

“Damn it, how much do you need for me to get that stone from you?”

The muscles in Jack Roosevelt’s chest tensed, and his expression twisted slightly, resembling an angry lion—striking fear in those who looked at him.

He hadn’t given up. If buying it proved ineffective, he would have to use other means.

The quarterback of the football team wasn’t just a muscular giant; he was also skilled in offensive and defensive strategies. This meant Jack Roosevelt’s mind was sharp as well.

Being employed by Boulogne Mining in a supervisory position was a testament to Jack Roosevelt’s talent. If he let a golden opportunity slip through his fingers, it would mean he was unworthy of staying in his position.

Jack Roosevelt was determined to have it, and he was prepared to do whatever it took.

Boulogne Mining’s boss demanded that their department would rather buy something wrong than miss out on the real deal, which could lead to losses that money couldn’t measure. This made Jack Roosevelt stubbornly fixate on Lin Mo, pursuing him relentlessly.

Sometimes, opportunities lie right in front of you, and if you don’t reach out to grab them, you might regret it for a lifetime.

Without waiting for a response, Jack Roosevelt glared at Lin Mo, gradually letting a fierce look creep into his eyes as he said, “One thousand dollars, what do you say? Not satisfied with ten thousand? How about fifty thousand? Listen, I can pay in cash. Kid, if you’re smart, you should know when to walk away with the money. Otherwise, heh heh…” He openly threatened him.

If it were someone else, they might have been scared stiff by this strong man’s predatory gaze, fearing he would tear them apart in the next moment, ultimately yielding under pressure.

The imposing white man exuded an air of dominance; it was a clever psychological tactic.

Not only Saeed but also Viri Chuck and Gagor Brown were stunned, their eyes widening and mouths agape as they watched Jack Roosevelt make increasingly outrageous offers. To them, it was as if he was trying to trade dollars for nonsense; standing in Lin Mo’s position, they would likely have settled for anything.

But the Dragon Knight was no ordinary person and couldn’t be judged by common sense.

“No, get lost! No matter how much you offer, I won’t sell it. Saeed, let’s go.”

Lin Mo’s expression turned cold, not recognizing the other party’s authority. Want to challenge?! The outcome of a commoner confronting a Dragon Knight was always predetermined, even if that commoner was strong.

If Ali’s kind gesture were so easily traded for mere dollars, the little guy would be heartbroken.

It was unforgivable original sin to make an innocent child sad and disappointed.

There was no way Lin Mo would agree to such ridiculous terms from a stranger. Having missed childhood, he cherished this precious innocence even more.

Lin Mo pushed past the hulking white man blocking his path, and despite their size difference, the other man was easily pushed aside by the Dragon Knight’s strength.

Saeed hesitated for a moment, surprised that the man didn’t stop them, then hurriedly followed Lin Mo, quickly leaving this troublesome place.

“Jack! Are you okay?”

Viri Chuck noticed his old classmate’s face shifting from pale to furious, his expression a mix of fear and anger.

“Uh! No, I’m fine! Viri!”

Snapping back to reality, Jack Roosevelt’s chest heaved as if he had just run a marathon, his face reddening, but his heart was turbulent, like raging waves.

He had intended to physically block the other man, yet that East Asian had easily pushed him away with just one hand on his chest, delivering an overwhelming force that he could not resist.

This power was like a bulldozer—impossible to withstand.

“Jack, why didn’t you stop them? That kid might have something valuable.”

Senior geologist Rodriguez panicked as he watched the stone, suspected to be a special meteorite, disappear from sight. He didn’t understand what had just happened.

As a geologist, Rodriguez only focused on his requirements. How to obtain the stone was Jack Roosevelt’s responsibility.

“I know, Rodriguez. I’ll find a way. Don’t worry; before sunset, I’ll have that stone in your tent for research.”

Jack Roosevelt watched Lin Mo and Saeed leave, gnashing his teeth. He realized that had he moved against them, the sheer force of Lin Mo could have turned him and everyone here upside down in an instant.

“White!”

Jack spoke quietly to another person beside him.

“Yes, Mr. Roosevelt!” The response came from a tall, sturdy white man with light blond hair, who was the group leader in charge of security.

“Gather a few people and take out those two.”

Jack Roosevelt glared at Lin Mo and Saeed’s backs like a venomous snake.

Strength is one thing; can it withstand bullets? Can it stop an RPG rocket bomb? He coldly laughed.

Boulogne Mining was never a straightforward company focused solely on exploration and mining.

Many wars around the world stem from such mining companies, exploiting conflicts to crush resistance and plundering resources in a manner that is often all too common. In the conflict-ridden Middle East, which major battle does not have the shadow of Western business conglomerates behind it?

Compared to the rapid economic recovery from domestic reinvestment, the casualties of his country’s soldiers were hardly worth noting; any compensation would easily cover it, while the lives of foreign nationals were trivialized—this deal was lucrative no matter how you looked at it.

Jack Roosevelt showed no hesitation in letting Viri Chuck and Gagor Brown overhear his dark intentions, which made them shiver with fear.

For Northrop Grumman, the world’s fourth-largest arms supplier, such actions were nothing new.

White immediately took out a device resembling a phone, dialed the internal number for the convoy, and issued the order. After finishing the call, he nodded towards Jack Roosevelt and said, “Boss, my people will handle it; don’t worry.”

“Good!” Jack Roosevelt finally showed a satisfied and calm demeanor, turning to Viri Chuck and Gagor Brown. “Viri, Mr. Brown, I’m off to see two holy men. You can go visit Abul Hasan Zargalar’s family. Oh, and I’ll treat you to dinner tonight. By the way, I have good wine and cigarettes! Haha! I even have some marijuana if you want.”