They Hated Me in My First Life, But Now I Have the Love System
Chapter 317: Morning, Officer

Chapter 317: Morning, Officer

“Morning,” the man replied, narrowing his eyes. “Where you headed?”

“Lumna,” Abuchi said, pulling out a small wad of cash in foreign currency. “No questions. Just space in the back. For five people.”

The man raised an eyebrow. “Foreign cash, no questions… That’s suspicious.”

Abuchi smiled faintly. “It’s also profitable.”

The man paused, then gave a small shrug. “Fine. Where’s your crew?”

“They’re coming,” Abuchi replied, already turning away, eyes scanning the surroundings.

The man nodded but watched him carefully as Abuchi walked off and melted into the crowd.

Back at the corner, Abuchi rejoined the group. “He’s in. We need to move now before someone else shows up.”

Everyone tensed but nodded. It was time.

As they began walking, Nnenna moved ahead slightly, turning the corner first, and then froze.

She stopped so suddenly, Karen almost bumped into her. “What’s wrong?” she whispered.

Nnenna didn’t respond right away. Her eyes were locked on a man dressed in all black, one of the guards who had been chasing them since Marka. He was leaning casually against a cargo truck, deep in conversation with another man.

Her heart pounded in her chest.

That’s one of them. He’s here. They’re still tracking us.

Her instincts screamed danger.

Without hesitation, she shook her head firmly at Karen, who was just rounding the corner behind her. Nnenna raised a subtle hand and gestured for everyone to walk back slowly, quietly. They couldn’t afford to draw attention now.

Karen frowned but followed her lead, confusion written across her face.

From the back, Abuchi called out in a hushed voice, “Why are you coming back? Keep moving.”

“No,” Nnenna said, stopping in her tracks. “We can’t go forward. Something is very wrong.”

Karen stepped up, clearly irritated. “What are you talking about, Nnenna?”

Nnenna turned to face them all. “Let’s find another person to take us across, someone who has already crossed the border.”

Karen’s brow furrowed deeper. “Why? What difference does that make? Do you know how hard it is to find someone like that on short notice?”

“I know,” Nnenna said calmly, but her voice had a quiet strength. “But it’s safer. If we go to someone already over the border, we don’t have to risk walking right into a trap. I just… I have a feeling. Please trust me on this.”

There was silence.

Then Abuchi nodded. “She’s made her call. Let’s do that. We’ve come this far, no reason to doubt her now.”

John gave a small shrug and added, “She hasn’t been wrong yet.”

Even Ekene looked thoughtful before quietly agreeing, “Alright.”

Karen, however, looked like she wanted to argue, but with the rest of the group already turning to leave, she could only click her tongue in frustration and follow behind, muttering under her breath.

The group moved quickly but quietly, weaving through the thick trees as they skirted the edge of the border. They had no time to waste, and luckily for them, the guards stationed at this section of Jupe’s border were some of the laziest in the kingdom.

Underpaid and overworked, most of them didn’t take their job seriously. Some even dozed off, barely glancing at the patrol paths.

Thanks to the heavy foliage, the crew remained unseen.

Once they were far enough from the patrolled zones, they paused, catching their breath while Nnenna and John kept watch.

Their eyes scanned the road ahead, hoping to spot a returning cargo vehicle. Finding one going toward Lumna would be harder, those were usually loaded right at the border.

But luck was on their side.

In less than an hour, a rickety cargo truck rolled down the road, its bed empty, engine humming softly. A single driver was behind the wheel, humming to himself, unaware of the group hiding just off the path.

John stepped forward, raised his hand, and called out, “Sir! Wait!”

The driver startled slightly and slowed to a stop, looking around warily. “Who’s there?”

“We’re travelers,” John said, stepping out of the trees with his hands raised. “Can you take us to Lumna?”

The driver blinked. He was polite, but clearly confused, and slightly suspicious. “You need a cargo heading out from the border. I’m just coming back now.”

“We know,” John said quickly. “We’ll pay you. Whatever you normally charge, double it.”

That got the man’s attention. “Double?”

“Two times the usual fee,” John confirmed, serious and steady.

The man hesitated for a moment, sizing up the strange group of five dusty travelers appearing from the woods. But in the end, money spoke louder than questions.

“…Alright,” he said with a nod. “Get in.”

They didn’t waste time. One by one, they climbed into the back of the cargo truck, ducking low and pulling the old tarp over their heads.

The driver glanced once in the rearview mirror, shook his head, and muttered, “What kind of people wander the woods and pay in double? I must be dreaming…”

The journey began.

They passed through several checkpoints on their way to Lumna.

The driver, with his kind smile and innocent face, greeted every guard like they were long lost friends. “Morning, officer,” he would say cheerfully, tipping his cap. The guards barely glanced into the back of the truck. A polite driver with an empty cargo? Nothing suspicious here.

Each time they were waved through, the crew quietly let out a breath of relief.

But after the fifth checkpoint, the tension inside the truck snapped.

Karen, who had been holding in her frustration, finally couldn’t take it anymore. She sat up slightly, her voice sharp but low enough not to draw attention. “Nnenna, why did you make us go through all that stress? We could’ve just gone with the first cargo. All because of your ‘instincts’? Come on. That was reckless!”

She spoke like a strict older sister scolding a younger one. The kind of tone that came from both concern and bottled up anger.

Nnenna didn’t flinch. She looked at Karen calmly, her voice steady.

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