Chapter 10: Strong Family

Suddenly, Henry's composed face became inscrutably deep. He walked towards his car, stretched his shoulders gently, then raised his face to ask his subordinate standing at attention beside him:

"Is everything arranged properly?"

The subordinate immediately nodded vigorously:

"All set, Young Master!"

Henry didn't drive away immediately. He leaned back in his seat, curled his lips into a silent chuckle, occasionally glancing at a timer.

Stephen, indulging with two girls in the bedroom, suddenly received news that Henry's convoy hadn't left yet. Curious and furious, he hurriedly dressed, intending to go outside and confront them. Suddenly, a major incident occurred at the mansion next door to the Armstrongs.

The sound of an explosion thundered through the air, dust and smoke filled the atmosphere, and flames engulfed an area in bright red fire. The large mansion was instantly blown to pieces, bricks and soil scattered in disarray. The fire spread to the remaining Armstrong mansions, causing everyone in the Armstrong household to scream and hastily try to extinguish the fire.

"That mansion was Stephen's main headquarters, secretly storing hundreds of thousands of tons of contraband. This time, the Armstrongs are bankrupt!"

Henry softly uttered a sentence, then snapped his fingers, signaling his convoy to quickly follow him as they left.

"Stephen, this is the first gift from Lotus Flower to you!"

Stephen knelt before the mansion gate, watching as all the goods he had invested his fortune in were buried under the massive flames. The explosion was so large that it also set ablaze twelve neighboring villas he owned.

"Master... Young Master, Henry didn't just plant bombs, he also secretly had oil spread over the surrounding villas from the air. That's why the fire spread so easily!"

"Dammit! Henry!!!"

Stephen screamed in rage. Was this the 'secret gift' Henry had mentioned?

"Stephen!"

From outside the gate, his father hurried over. Seeing the scene before him, he was utterly devastated. The Armstrong family's wealth was all entrusted to this son. And now, and now...

He kicked Stephen fiercely, causing him to roll on the ground.

"You fool! How dare you provoke Henry, you are audaciously bold! You still have your miserable life, but he will surely come for you soon. Incompetent!"

Henry returned to Lotus Flower, just as the three Laylas had finished sketching the route on the map.

"Mr. Henry, to shorten the time to Mountainview, we have decided to take a shortcut through the mountains. What do you think?"

Choosing this path meant they would be isolated from the outside city. Mountainview was a remote, desolate mountain area, rarely visited by anyone. Not only due to the harsh weather, which could experience all four seasons in a single day, but also because of the presence of various animals and strange tribes.

Many had chosen to explore Mountainview, yet none returned, becoming desiccated corpses.

Henry stared at the sketched paper, a fleeting thought arising in his mind. However, he quickly dismissed it and simply nodded:

"It's up to you! I'm just following to assist!"

With that, he stood up and went upstairs to rest, leaving the three Laylas sitting in silence in the hall.

They would all depart this afternoon. Henry had prepared all the necessary equipment, so Layla needed to acquire nothing more.

After cleansing his palate with a glass of cold wine, Mervyn voiced out:

"Actually, I think we could reach Mountainview on our own strength, without Henry."

Hearing this, Layla immediately shook her head in disagreement. Henry's role in this journey was crucial. Without him, she feared...

She wanted to reveal all the secrets she had painstakingly kept from Mervyn but ultimately decided against it. The fewer people knew, the better. This time, the trip included six members: the three Layla siblings, Henry, Youssef, and Santiago Wilson, one of Henry's most trusted aides.

"Saul! Leave all matters of Lotus Flower to you!"

Henry carefully instructed Saul. Although Saul was very concerned for the Young Master's safety, he dared not argue with Henry's decision.

Before Henry left, Saul boldly pulled him aside to remind:

"How long will this trip take, Young Master?"

Without hesitation, Henry answered succinctly:

"At least two months, at most five months!"

"No way!"

Saul immediately objected. The idea of him being away for so long made him uneasy.

"Young Master being away for so long, I fear Lotus Flower might be counterattacked by enemies! I am old and can no longer fully protect our people!"

His concerns were valid. Outside, many forces envied Lotus Flower, waiting for a chance to strike and plunder.

Henry patted his shoulder, smiling softly:

"We will use a private jet to get to the foot of Mountainview, then walk deep into the forest. It will take less time, rest assured!"

Before Saul could say anything more, Henry turned and walked away, directly boarding the plane. Watching the plane disappear into the distance, Saul suddenly felt a burning unease. A sinister feeling crept into his senses.

He stepped into the church of past Young Masters of Lotus Flower over hundreds of years, gently lighting incense, murmuring prayers. Hoping, Henry and the rest would return safely!

"Serenity Solutions Real Estate in Harmony, sponsored by Centa City, is a standard, classy, refined, and civilized urban area, owning a prime location, shining like a precious gem in Harmony land."

From a thousand meters high, Henry merely smirked. The return date of this trip was uncertain. In fact, Henry had once set foot in Mountainview. However, he had to turn back halfway through.

When Henry was nine, he and his parents took a trip to Mountainview. He does not remember the events that followed. The last memory etched in his mind is of his father carrying him on his shoulders, running desperately out of the forest. When he came to, his father was severely injured, blood dripping. His mother had vanished in the dark Mountainview forest.

This time, apart from helping Layla search for her father's whereabouts, Henry also wanted to uncover why his mother did not return that year.

"Young Master! Prepare for landing!"

Pilot Ronald slightly tilted his head, reminding him and everyone to fasten their seatbelts.

After nearly eight hours in the air, they finally reached the edge of Mountainview forest. From above, Henry saw a smooth, rain-eroded path known as the forest's entrance, a sign of the way into Mountainview.

RI... ri...

The plane slowly landed.

They were about to set foot on the ground when the sky began to pour heavily. The large raindrops thudded against the plane's body, forcing the group to stop.

"Damn it! It seems this place might not be welcoming us!"