"Yes, I have them." As Tucker was rummaging through his bag to double-check, a ck Mercedes-Benz pulled up to the curb.


    Byron, dressed impably in a suit and nked by several assistants, strode confidently toward the entrance. His eyes immediately fell on Tucker, with his wrinkled suit, scuffed shoes, and salt-and-pepper hair.


    Byron scoffed internally. A distinguished professor, and he couldn''t even bother to dress himself properly. Anyone who knew would say he was traveling for apetition. Anyone who didn''t would think he was a beggar from off the street.


    "Well, hello, Tucker," Byron said in a snide tone, stopping beside him. "Are we on the same flight?"


    "I believe so," Tucker replied, ncing at Juniper, who had handled all the booking details. As far as he knew, there was only one flight to Moralia Country at this time.


    "Is that so?" Byron''s condescending attitude grew. "First ss, I presume? Excellent. We can discuss thepetition on the ne."


    First ss? Although the girl had promised to cover his travel expenses, Tucker couldn''t bring himself to let her. He had nned to pay her back as soon as he got the reimbursement from the university.


    "Economy," Tucker answered with a cheerful smile. To him, it didn''t matter where he sat. The money for a first-ss ticket could fund a good portion of his research. It just wasn''t necessary.


    "Economy, you say?" Byron''s voice dripped with scorn. "It''s so cramped and stuffy back there. I''ve gotten used to flying first ss."


    Tucker shot him a look. He knew the man was just showing off and didn''t bother wasting his breath arguing.


    "I was thinking of upgrading you, but..." Byron paused, the mockery on his face intensifying, "our positions at the university are different, so our travel allowances are naturally different too. If I moved you to first ss, I wouldn''t be able to get it reimbursed."


    The implication was clear: Tucker belonged in economy, where he could enviously watch Byron enjoy theforts of first ss.


    "No, no, that''s quite alright," Tucker said, puttìng his documents away. He grabbed his suitcase and turned to Juniper Juniper, let''s get going.


    His perfectly good mood had been soured by the old windbag. What was so great about first ss? It was the same ne was he going to arrive any earlier? Weren''t all four wheels going to touch down at the same time? He huffed internally. All this pointless posturing!


    "Okay." Juniper, who had remained silent with her hands in her pockets the entire time, simply nodded.


    The two of them started walking toward the entrance.


    Seeing Tucker Hook so dejected, Byron felt a deep sense of


    satisfaction: First ss? Tucker had probably never even seen the inside of a first-ss cabin in his entire life. And with that kind of limitedo worldview, he wanted topete with him? How pathetic!


    "Juniper, our flight is at two-thirty, right?" Tucker, unaffected, peered at therge departures screen. "Is that our flight up there?"


    "No," Juniper replied calmly after a quick nce.


    "No?" Tucker frowned. "But that''s the only flight to Moralia Country. You better not have gotten the time wrong. We can''t miss thepetition."


    "Don''t worry." Juniper took the suitcase from his hand. "We''re taking a private jet."


    "Oh," Tucker mumbled, then his brain caught up with her words. His voice shot up in astonishment. "A private jet?!"


    Good heavens. How much did that cost? How many years would he have to save up his secret stash of cash to pay her back for this?