Solflare: The Painter's Secret-Chapter 178: Legendary Gift

Time passed swiftly, giving no chance for dalliance. Soft footsteps echoed in the halls of the instructors’ building when the Madhouse squad entered.

Inside the main briefing room, a large circular table stood at the center, a series of folded brown envelopes lying on it.

Lu Wang sat in one of the sleek leather chairs, his hands resting on the table.

Hei Luo sat on the left, holding a folder that had Leon Storm written boldly on its back. He lifted his gaze from the pages and rested it on Lu Wang.

"Are you sure they will survive this?" he asked, slowly flipping the pages.

"He survived the Ironhide Lizard nest," Lu Wang stated in a bold tone. "What else can stand against him?"

Hei Luo exhaled softly, closing the folder, then placed it softly on the table.

The curtains at the window frayed upward and brushed against Hei Yang’s skin.

A faint smile tore across his face as he watched Leon approach from a distance, passing through the rain, the hood of the black hoodie covering his head.

He tilted himself slightly, then tapped his fingers. "They are coming."

Within seconds, footsteps echoed from the other side of the door. Three consecutive knocks echoed and vibrated through the walls.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

After the knocking sound faded, the door slowly swung open.

Wu Ze stepped inside, placing her hands at her back and lowering her head.

An Lang entered, went and stood by Wu Ze’s left side, glanced at her for a bit, then replicated her posture.

Then Liu Yan also entered, closed the door behind her, and then walked to Wu Ze’s right, replicating her posture.

With one voice, they all greeted, "Good afternoon, sir."

Hei Yung glanced at them, then gestured for them to sit down.

An Lang moved first and sat in the seat facing the door, where the seat across from it was empty.

Wu Ze sat closer to Hei Luo, but Liu Yan resisted and requested to stand.

Hei Luo frowned but released his muscles, then picked up the second file that was closer to the one that had Leon’s name inscribed on it.

"Go through this before we start." He handed the document to Wu Ze.

She opened it, and the first thing she saw sent a chill down her spine. She raised her head slightly, watched Hei Luo’s face, then lowered her gaze back to the name as she whispered it in her head.

’Tartous?’

She read the details, then passed the document to Liu Yan, and finally to An Lang.

After the document got back into Hei Luo’s hands, another knocking echoed from the door. This time, it echoed once, then the door swung open.

Liu Yan turned her head before anyone could react, then frowned.

At the threshold, Leon stood there, chills running through his spine. He slowly removed the hoodie, then neared the table.

Hei Yung gestured at an empty seat that was closer to his, then made Leon sit. Liu sat closer to Leon, then gave a long sigh.

Minutes bled into hours as the lieutenants briefed the Madhouse squad on their new task, which was to commence the following month.

Just as they were done and ready to leave the building, Hei Yang called out to Leon. "Leon, wait."

An Lang, who was at Leon’s right side, turned as if he was now carrying the name more than Leon himself.

He leaned against Leon’s ear, then whispered, "What did you do in your last task that you’ve become so famous and always get called by them?"

Leon gave An Lang a quick glance, then slowly raised his shoulders. "I have no idea."

An Lang tapped Leon’s shoulder, then walked past him. "We’re heading out. Come when they are done. Or maybe you won’t be joining us anymore. Whatever, we are out."

He walked and placed a hand on Liu Yan’s back, pushing her forward politely.

Hei Yang and Hei Luo closed in on the confused boy, then placed their hands on his shoulders.

Hei Yang removed his hand, then placed it in his pocket and pulled out a golden triangular box. "There is something you’ll need."

Hei Luo also removed his hand, then turned toward the exit. "Bring him along, Yung."

Hei Yung placed a hand on Leon’s back as the two followed the direction Hei Luo took.

The warm afternoon sun shone on the ground, sending evaporated air gushing out as it dried the rainwater.

Wet leaves, now drying up, cracked under boots as Hei Yung, Hei Luo, and Leon reached the Workshop.

"I know you’ll be asking why here," Hei Yung uttered, loosening his hands from Leon’s back, then watched his face.

"Yeah. I was just about to ask," Leon confirmed the speculation, then smiled back.

Countless vehicles loomed at the walls, then ceilings, and at every corner.

But right above the wall on the left was a picture that sent Leon’s mind back to Basalt Mountain.

He paused a step, bowed his head slightly, then slowed his breathing.

When he lifted his gaze back to Longwei’s portrait, he saw the same smile Longwei carried reflecting in the image, as if it had a soul of its own.

Without hesitation, the two lieutenants walked Leon through countless rooms that were filled with vehicles the world had flagged to be extinct.

At the front of a door, Hei Yung handed the golden triangular box to Leon, then held his shoulder. "It’s yours."

"Mine?" Leon asked, shifting glances from the box to the two lieutenants. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Before Leon could add another question, the door in front of them got pushed open, revealing a room that had only one covered object.

"What is that?" Leon asked as they entered, tightening his grip on the box he planned to ask about further.

Hei Luo walked toward the covered vehicle at the center of the room, then held the black cloth.

"Are you ready?" he asked, then pulled the cloth the moment Leon and Hei Yung responded.

The aircraft’s reflective body flashed a bright light in the room. Leon moved forward in slow steps, then placed a palm on it.

"Lieutenant Yung, is this your new private aircraft?" Leon asked, tilting a confused but joy-filled expression to Hei Yung.

Hei Yung stood there with an unemotional expression, then shook his head once. "No."

Leon turned his gaze to Hei Luo, then watched as the man kept on smiling when he glanced at the box in Leon’s hand and the craft.

In a flash, Leon remembered the craft that had loomed over his house, then froze. "Is this the legendary Triarch?"

He stumbled back, then regained his stance and walked back to the craft to assess it.

Hei Yung stood at the back, hands folded on his chest, and mesmerized by Leon’s movement. When Leon paused, compared the symbol on the golden box to the aircraft, and realized they were the same, he turned to Hei Yung.

Hei Yung watched as Leon’s expression shifted. He remembered Longwei’s smile as his final words echoed in his head. ’Do me the honor, brother.’

Hei Yung gave a short exhale, then moved in slow steps toward Leon. He grabbed Leon’s right arm, which held the box, then made him place the box in his left.

"This is a gift from someone you met for a short while, but who knows everything about you and your family." Hei Yung’s words sent tears dripping from Leon’s eyes.

Hei Luo moved aside, folded his hands on his chest, then pressed on the light switch, which brightened the room, making the Triarch more visible.

Hei Yung smiled as he stated in a low but firm voice, "This is for you, Leon Storm."