Ashley was a very useful helper. Besides, she had already promised to find Supes for him. How could he let her leave so easily?
Ashley paused, her back stiffening slightly. An indescribable surge of gratitude rose in her heart, yet she still found it hard to believe.
Solomon was ultimately just a new member of The Seven, with too little seniority. How could he possibly sway Madelyn's decision?
She took it as nothing more than a kind attempt to comfort her.
Solomon offered no further explanation and turned to leave the office.
As he passed Madelyn's private office area, he glanced at the tightly shut door, a flicker of understanding crossing his eyes.
It seemed Madelyn was still out dealing with inquiries from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the CIA, with no time to return to the tower yet.
Perfect. I'll head to the training ground first and deal with this Supe named Flame.
He considered it privately. Flame had never appeared in the original plot and was one of Vought's reserve Supes. To qualify as a substitute for The Seven, he had to be reasonably strong.
By then, the training ground had already been cleared. The vast space was open and tidy, with all sorts of professional training equipment neatly arranged.
Flame had arrived early and stood quietly in the center, waiting.
Solomon looked over, and a single glance completely resolved the question in his mind.
No wonder the man possessed similar fire abilities yet had failed to replace the retired Lamplighter or secure a reserve spot in The Seven. Even his opportunities to appear in public were pitifully few.
Flame was Black.
Previously, Solomon had found it quite puzzling. Flame's powers overlapped heavily with Lamplighter's, both relying on fire in combat. In terms of compatibility, he could