Chapter 2
The children's hearts were filled with hope and anticipation, though they had no one to talk to. They had heard the sounds of gunfire, screams, and explosions fade away. Each child's heart raced with worry. Then, they heard footsteps approaching and held their breath.
When Leon finally appeared through the iron gate, their anxious expressions turned to excitement.
"You did it," one of the children whispered.
Seeing their hopeful faces, Leon's usual coldness softened into a gentle smile. He held the key to the door and unlocked the iron gates of their room one by one.
There were about a dozen children, the oldest around fourteen and the youngest only eight. Leon remembered that there should have been more than thirty.
The children followed Leon cautiously, their eyes wide with trust and hope. They clearly saw him as their protector.
"We need to get out of here," Leon said. Though he had the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit, he knew that if he fought his way through the base and revealed his abilities, he would become a target. Support would arrive soon, and this was no place to stay.
Most of the children were orphans or had been sold. They were quickly convinced of Leon's leadership due to his maturity and strength, and they followed his orders without question.
Under Leon's guidance, they explored the base. It was well-equipped, with plenty of food and vehicles. They even found a desk safe containing gold bars, cash, and coins. The haul included twenty-three gold bars, $300,000 in U.S. dollars, and some rubles. These were clearly the base leader's possessions, left behind in the rush.
They also gathered food—bread, vegetables, frozen meat, and a box of nutrient solution. They loaded everything into a large truck and set off with the children, speeding down the road.
It was almost early morning. Outside the base, it was pitch black with heavy snowfall and a mountain range in the distance. Leon, who had learned to drive in his previous life, quickly adapted to driving the large truck, despite the differences in visibility and handling compared to smaller vehicles.