"Linwin, how strong are you really?"
On the way back to the alley, Sevika couldn't help but ask Linwin. She continued, "Those people were humans who consumed alchemical potions, right? You alone took on so many of them? And they had guns."
Hearing her, Linwin thought, 'What's the use of guns?'
Those folks who had consumed Shimmer 2.0 had such speed that even the enforcers with guns might struggle to aim accurately. Even if they hit, it might not be a fatal wound.
Anyway, Linwin didn't believe Piltover lacked advanced weaponry.
As a city of progress and innovation, Piltover had plenty of skilled craftsmen, not just the ones Linwin knew.
But Sevika's question piqued Linwin's interest, so he teased her, "Why, are you surprised? Did I scare you?"
Sevika rolled her eyes at Linwin. The tough big sister conveyed that she was truly fearless.
As long as it could lead to Zaun's rise, Sevika wasn't averse to sacrificing. She was even willing to die on the path to glory for Zaun.
That was why she now had opinions about Vander.
That timid, peace-loving Vander wasn't the person Sevika would follow.
She looked at Linwin before her, soft-spoken but decisive when needed. That was the person Sevika wanted to follow.
"I'm not sure if that stuff qualifies as an alchemical potion, but anyway, it's not a good thing."
Sevika nodded, watching Linwin suddenly head towards another direction. She questioned, puzzled, "Where are you going? Have you been away for a few days and can't find your way home? The alley is this way."
Linwin waved his hand, not turning back, and loudly said, "Wait a moment, I'm going to find some water to wash my hands and clothes."
"Is that necessary?"
Sevika said, puzzled.
"The two at home, Vi might like me this way, but Powder definitely won't. She hates the smell of blood."
"..."
Linwin continued while walking, "I don't want her to come to me and hesitate because my body is covered in blood. It's been a week since I last hug her. Do you know how hard that is?"
Linwin was speaking the truth.
He had liked Jinx, the character, even before he arrived at this world. When she was just released, he bought her with Crime City skin that year. That was the first time Linwin spent money on League of Legends. And now in this real world, the difference between Powder and Jinx was really, really huge.
But whether it was Jinx or Little Powder, Linwin liked them both very much, and he loved the latter.
The crazy girl from his memories was gone, but Linwin valued the present one more.
Because she was real.
She was mischievous, lively, full of little ideas, although her clothes were always playfully dirty, her face was soft. When Linwen picked her up, she liked to bury her head in Linwen's shoulder and hug his neck with her two little hands.
When she needed Linwin's help, she would sneakily call him 'big brother Linwin'. When she didn't, she would just call him Linwin.
But whenever she sees Linwin, there's a sparkle in her eyes, that trust and liking for Linwin make him feel appreciated.
So. As a guardian other than Vander, Linwin needs to do what a guardian should do.
Upon hearing Linwin's words, Sevika thought, '...'
Suddenly, the tough big sister had a surprising realization.
A very astonishing realization.
Vander could make Linwin work for him, damn! Could it be that those two little girls are the core of this?
Sevika always thought those two were a burden, but now she looked...
Huh, a burden?
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At the same time, in the Undercity.
The normally bustling the last drop tavern was unusually quiet.
The black market gangs that usually rooted in the Undercity were nowhere to be seen.
And Tavern had been closed for three days now.
In these three days, the Hounds' manpower had been mobilized everywhere. The activity had the enforcers only daring to come down in groups. For these days, whenever enforcers appeared in Zaun, they were never in groups of less than six.
They walked in groups, carrying guns, on the streets of the Undercity or other areas.
Anyone could see, Zaun was about to fall into chaos.
"Vander, do you intend to unilaterally break the contract between us?"
In the basement of the tavern, Vander put on a black leather jacket, carefully trimmed his beard, and on his waist hung a pair of old-fashioned brass knuckles.
Vander looked calmly at the policewoman sitting across from him. She was obviously not at ease, with her hands clasped together on her lap, her face showing clear anger towards Vander, something he understood.
After all, he was the one who broke the contract first.
"Grayson, this time it's my fault, but I can't hand over the culprit to you."
"What? You promised to give me an answer in five days. Is this the answer you want to give me? Vander, I helped you delay five days with the councilors! This isn't the answer I want."
Grayson had a headache and raised her voice at Vander.
"Moreover, this doesn't seem like you, Vander. Where's the you who longs for peace between Zaun and Piltover? Where did you go these days? I've seen everything you've done. Are you planning to rally them again and charge the bridge one more time? What exactly are you thinking in your head? Do you want to cause senseless sacrifices? Is this really what you want?"
Vander shook his head and said earnestly to Grayson, "I know what I'm doing, Grayson."
He looked at Grayson. This police chief had indeed been helping him all along, so Vander felt deep remorse towards her.
Good people shouldn't be bullied, but reality is cruel.
Good people are always bullied.
Just like now, Vander disappointed Grayson.
He calmly said, "Peace between Zaun and Piltover, can you truly believe in this statement, Grayson?"
"But at least we worked together to keep Zaun and Piltover at peace for many years!"
Grayson retorted angrily.
"But it's a facade, Grayson!"
"Just like this time, it was indeed my people's mistake first. However, you've seen it too. No matter how you restrain the enforcers, they still harm innocent Zaunites. And my position has been challenged because of this."
"The discrimination between the Upper and Under cities has not diminished but intensified over the years!"
Vander spoke sincerely, looking at Grayson. "Originally, I thought about turning myself in. But someone woke me up. If I did that, I would not only hurt my two daughters but also betray the trust of my brothers and sisters who have always believed in me."
"I can't abandon my family once again."
"You!" Grayson pointed at Vander, her chest heaving, too angry to speak.
She had never expected that when Vander asked her to wait for five days, the final outcome would only be one of two: either arresting Vander and plunging Zaun back into chaos, which would also affect Piltover, or the current situation where Vander sought to unite Zaun and hold sway.
Weren't these two outcomes essentially the same? Damaged were the interests of Piltover!
Would Grayson even consider such an outcome? It seemed bizarre! While she indeed held goodwill toward the Undercity people, Grayson was ultimately from Piltover and prioritized the interests of Piltover.
So Grayson really wanted to give Vander a punch, but she held back.
After years of working together, she knew Vander's temper.
Looking at Vander's expression, Grayson could only silently withdraw her hand, dropping both hands. She said with a hint of helplessness, "But by doing this, you will only worsen the relationship between the two cities."
"You will also be targeted by the Council."
Grayson spoke to Vander slowly, "You want to be a hero, fine. The council members may allow heroes to appear in Zaun, but they absolutely can't be living heroes. What you're doing is dangerous."
"Spies will endlessly appear in Zaun, and they'll seize the opportunity to kill you. You must have seen that."
Vander fell silent.
Spies, huh? The incident where someone's body was displayed on the streets of Zaun the day after offending major families in the Upper City was not uncommon.
But what of it?
Vander had personally killed several Piltover spies, to say the least.
Silence lingered for a few seconds.
Grayson looked at Vander and sighed.
She knew Vander. When he believed a path was viable, he wouldn't easily yield.
And reality confirmed what Grayson had anticipated.
Vander took out a cigarette, lit it, took a drag, and exhaled the smoke. He smiled amidst the smoke and said, "It's okay, Grayson."
"I never hoped to achieve my ideal in this lifetime. I never expected to see Zaun's independence in my lifetime, so the one to witness Zaun's rise a century later doesn't have to be me."
"The laughter and celebration, that's for them."
"The blood and struggle, that's for us."
His voice was firm and composed.
An old awakened lion, is still a lion.