The Prison-Made Queen novel Chapter 729

He snatched up the assembled gun, his hands flying over it as he ran a rapid function check. Every single component was perfectly seated. Not a single error.

"Good god..." Jacko breathed, staring at Leilani like she had just sprouted wings.

"Ms. Sloan... are you entirely sure this is your first time handling a real firearm?"

She had watched him do it exactly once, memorized the entire sequence, and replicated it flawlessly.

If she was telling the truth, her learning capacity was terrifying.

It was nothing short of a photographic memory.

Slightly embarrassed by his dramatic reaction, Leilani offered a modest nod. "Yes. It really is my first time putting one together."

Jacko threw his hands up in total surrender.

"Ms. Sloan, you are terrifyingly brilliant!"

"I have been in this business my entire life, and I can count on one hand the number of people who can strip and assemble a weapon that cleanly on their first try!"

"You are absolutely worthy of Callahan Langley!"

"Just like him—bold, meticulous, and a total natural!"

Callahan finally spoke up, a distinct note of pride woven into his calm voice. "She's always been a fast learner."

Feeling the heat rise in her cheeks from the praise, Leilani gestured toward the gun. "I only know the absolute basics. I could never compare to an expert like you."

Jacko threw his head back and laughed, his respect for her skyrocketing.

From that exact second.

Jacko's entire demeanor shifted. The evaluating, skeptical merchant was gone, replaced by a man who had just unearthed the crown jewels.

"Leilani!"

The center of gravity was tight, the frame was lightweight, and the ergonomics were superb.

"Right?!" Jacko beamed, looking as proud as a father. He immediately pointed to the next rack. "And look at this! Designated Marksman Rifle. HK MR556. Heavy barrel, free-floating handguard. Slap a mid-range optic on it, and you're driving tacks at mid-to-long range! Judging by your stance and eye discipline, this would fit you perfectly!"

Arnold stood in the background, utterly dumbfounded. He leaned over to Callahan.

"Boss... Jacko did a total 180."

"He wasn't even this enthusiastic when that four-star general came to visit..."

Callahan watched Jacko practically vibrating with excitement as he hovered around Leilani. A faint smile touched his eyes, though his tone remained perfectly neutral. "Jacko has always appreciated raw talent."

Jacko had been in this brutal industry for decades. He was used to seeing rookies tremble the moment they touched cold steel.

Encountering someone like Leilani—someone with a razor-sharp mind who could master mechanics on the first try—was like finding an oasis in the desert.

Honestly, if Leilani hadn't walked in on Callahan's arm, Jacko probably would have tried to recruit her as his personal apprentice on the spot.