Chapter 12

During the meal, everyone chatted occasionally. They had no strict rules about eating, talking, or sleeping. After finishing, a few people took turns clearing the table and washing the dishes, while others moved to the living room sofa with their desserts, waiting for the rest to join.

Once everyone was there, Leon took out the remote control, paused the TV, and began discussing business. He first looked at Wanda, who nodded in response.

"In the past two months, we've gone to the city to replenish supplies. There were intense gang fights, and several gangs we'd robbed before have been eliminated. While this initially had nothing to do with us, they somehow noticed us, and then Hydra found us. I suspect Hydra is connected to these gangs and has been keeping an eye on us."

The reason is straightforward. Despite their efforts to stay hidden, their increasing need for supplies has attracted unwanted attention—something unavoidable. Fortunately, most of these groups are minor threats. Over two years, their strength has grown, so they can largely be ignored.

However, Hydra is different. Although Baron Strucker's faction is weaker than others in Hydra, their foundations are strong, and they have ties to various countries, oligarchs, and governments in Eastern Europe. They don't have to operate in the shadows, but once they're exposed, trouble follows.

Leon took a sip of coffee and placed the cup back on the table. "Don't worry about them for now. Our location is well-hidden, and they won't find us easily. What matters now is that you need more growth."

As he spoke, he looked at everyone, his gaze moving from Wanda to Sergei and the others. "You've each developed your own breathing technique, and most of you have reached the state of 'Total Concentration,' but that's not enough. You still need more time to grow. Armament Haki and Observation Haki are crucial for your journey to becoming stronger, so you can't afford to slack off."

Two years of practice and training with him had transformed this group of ordinary kids into something more. The breathing techniques they learned have great potential, but they have limits. The two haki are different. Over the past two years, Leon had gained the power of the three forms of Haki. In addition to Conqueror's Haki, he also taught Wanda and the others Armament and Observation Haki, which significantly accelerated their growth.

The breathing techniques improve physical fitness, while the haki, when fully developed, can unleash enough power to destroy a town with a single punch—like a walking nuclear bomb. But this kind of power can only be built through hard training and time.

It wasn't their time yet. Even after two years of intense training, Leon himself hadn't reached the level of an Admiral. His cautious nature made him decide to stay hidden for another two years, refusing to come out until he reached that level. During this time, he accumulated rewards from two years of sign-ins, expecting the rewards to be generous—how generous remained to be seen.

No one objected to Leon's plan. Over the past two years, Leon's status among them had grown immensely. His words were law, and no one dared to question him. Besides, these children, who had lost their families and grown up in darkness, loved the life they had now. They trained, grew, played, laughed, and hunted together, living the life they had always dreamed of. What more could they ask for?

Leon rubbed the heads of the two ten-year-old girls sitting next to him, who grinned up at him. After a moment of thought, he turned to Wanda. "You're in a golden period of growth, but you need more nutrients than just food can provide. When I raided the Hydra base, I found a formula for a nutrient solution. Soon, we'll need to get the materials for it."

Wanda's eyes lit up with joy, and she nodded. "I understand."

"Good. You don't need to go to Yekaterinburg for now. Go to a nearby city instead. Sergei will assist you."

"Got it!" Sergei said. Pietro and the others nodded in agreement.

"Alright, in the next few days, I'll show you some new tricks. Your strength is important, but you also need to develop your own skills, mysteries, and moves," Leon said, causing everyone's expressions to change—except for Wanda, whose eyes lit up with anticipation.

"Haha, I'm going to rest now. Today's training was exhausting," someone said, followed by another, "Me too. Good night, everyone."

As the group scattered, clearly uneasy, Leon couldn't help but laugh. Over the past two years, alongside intense training, he had often pushed them hard—maybe even too hard, enough to give them PTSD.

"Aren't you going to rest, Wanda?" Leon asked gently.

"I, uh..." Wanda hesitated.

"It seems you have something on your mind," Leon observed, noticing her expression. With a smile, he stood up and led Wanda towards the door.

Leon and Wanda sat side by side on the wooden railing of the porch, gazing into the distance. The sky was covered by light rain, falling gently under the moonlight. The orange glow from inside the wooden house pushed back the darkness, blending with the fading daylight. The drizzle fell steadily on the soil in front of them, where wooden stakes, scarred from repeated blows, stood as silent witnesses to their training.

Neither of them spoke, simply listening to the soft patter of rain and the distant chirping of insects and birds. After a while, Wanda broke the silence.

"I never thought Pietro and I would have a day like this," she said softly.

"Mhm," Leon murmured in acknowledgment.

"Sometimes I feel really lucky that we ended up at the same base as you, Leon." Wanda turned to look at Leon, his sharp features highlighted by the warm, yellow light. Her heart skipped a beat.

"I can see that Pietro has come out of his despair and is truly happy now," she added.

"And you?" Leon asked, turning to meet Wanda's gaze with a smile.

"Me? Me too," Wanda replied, suddenly flustered. She quickly turned away, her voice barely above a whisper.