"You're not heading back to the tavern, Lin Wen."
"I know, Sevika. When did I say I was going back to the tavern? I never intended to go back."
Lin Wen turned around, looking surprised at Sevika, who was also staring at him. Upon hearing his words, an expression of bewilderment appeared on her otherwise cold and emotionless face.
"Lin Wen, you don't need to go see them directly. Shouldn't your priority be finding Vander?"
"The situation with Fiden has been troubling him for days, and now with Silco involved, shouldn't you inform Vander first? He needs to be prepared in advance. Silco isn't an easy opponent."
"But you're here, aren't you?"
Lin Wen had already cleaned himself up before coming back, stowing away his white robe and mask into his backpack. He had cleaned his hair and the bloodstains from his hand
"I'd appreciate it if you could go tell Vander for me that I've dealt with Fiden's matter and I'll come see him later."
Lin Wen's tone was cheerful. "Vander will understand my actions. As for you, you won't understand. After all, you don't have someone you care about, so you wouldn't understand my relationship with Vander."
Sevika listened and turned to leave, but after a few steps, she stopped.
"You, you're really something, you little...."
Sevika gritted her teeth, muttering quietly.
Turning around, she saw a metal house not far away—Lin Wen's personal territory.
At this moment, the guy who had easily killed one of the gang boss of the Undercity was now sneaking around like a thief, approaching his metal house stealthily.
He seemed to be acting like a thief.
Observing his seriousness, Sevika felt that when Lin Wen was doing this, it was as if it was more important than killing Fiden.
Sevika truly couldn't understand.
Handling two little girls like this, was it really necessary.
And not just that, it wasn't that Sevika was growing cold-hearted.
It was that Lin Wen was just too strange.
Zaun wasn't devoid of family bonds, and Zaunites certainly valued relationships. It was precisely because they lived in such a harsh environment that family and emotional bonds were highly valued.
However, Lin Wen, he indulged the two of them like this. When they grew up, Vi and Powder, without Lin Wen, could they still adapt to life in Zaun?
Sevika, being the third hand of the tavern, often interacted with the two little ones. So, she was very clear. Vi was doing alright, given her nature and being the older sister, she had already made a name for herself in the streets. But Powder, under Lin Wen's favor, had almost forgotten the survival rules of Zaun!
This was not acceptable.
Sevika silently observed.
Linwen pressed his ear against the door, eavesdropping on the conversation inside.
He was listening so intently.
Noticing Sevika's gaze, Linwen raised his hand, beckoning her to leave.
"That's enough. The future of Zaun, each one more unreliable than the other."
Sevika gritted her teeth and left.
Meanwhile, Lin Wen continued eavesdropping on the sounds inside the room.
"Vi, can you play with me for a while? I'm so bored."
"Powder, didn't we play earlier in the morning?"
"But now it's already afternoon."
"Powder, I want to practice boxing. You play by yourself. How about working on inventing your useful little gadgets."
Accompanied by thumping sounds, indicating punches hitting a soft surface.
"It's called Little Monkey, it's my buddy."
"Little Monkey needs you to play with her."
Lin Wen listened to the noises inside, hearing Vi's soothing tone akin to consoling a child. He could easily imagine Vi's expression.
When facing Powder, Vi had a different demeanor than with outsiders. She would shed her prickly demeanor, softening her voice and even her facial expression.
Vi always showed her gentle side to Powder and her feisty and willful side to Lin Wen.
This probably was the difference between a big brother and a little sister.
Actually, Vi was really beautiful.
Even with her weird and "rebellious" slicked-back hair, her features were stunning. Despite trying to act boyish, she remained a young girl, and currently, she was just a thirteen-year-old.
"Thump, thump."
Lin Wen knocked on the door forcefull
"Quiet, Powder."
Vi whispered, but Lin Wen's heightened hearing caught it.
He nodded in satisfaction.
Their sense of danger was intact, and it seemed the two hadn't gone outside; they were listening to his instructions.
That was good.
After knocking heavily on the door, apart from Vi's warning to Powder, no other sound came from inside.
So Linwen knocked again.
Hmm, still no response.
This proved that Ekko and the girls had established a prearranged code for opening the door.
Seeing this, Linwen took out his key and proceeded to open the door.
As the metal grille was pushed open and a rusted lock was unlocked with the key, Linwen pushed the door open. First, he tilted his head back, then gently raised his hand, easily holding the little fist that was coming at him, pulling it forward as she stumbled towards him.
"Just met, and you want to punch me. Tell me, have you been planning this for a long time? Really itching to give me a punch?"
Lin Wen snorted and, with his head lowered, looked at the girl in his arms. The teenage girl with oily hair hadn't bathed for three or four days, and a disagreeable odor emanated from her pink hair.
But Lin Wen was used to it. Let's emphasize again, Zaun lacked water—water, water, wate
Adding to that, Linwen's place was just a timely emergency spot, so washing the face and brushing teeth were possible, but a bath? Ha, that was something only doable at the last drop.
"Tsk, too bad I didn't land the punch."
She bumped the back of his head forcefully against Linwen's chest. Vi hummed and stepped forward, leaving Linwen's embrace. Then she saw Linwen half kneeling.
On the couch, her younger sister was smiling, showing all her teeth. She leaped from the couch, barefoot, and pounced straight at Lin Wen. Her eyes brimmed with trust in Lin Wen.
She wasn't worried at all that Lin Wen wouldn't catch her.
And Lin Wen didn't disappoint little Powder's trust. He extended his hands under her armpits and lifted her up.
"Have you been eating well?"
Lin Wen assessed her for a moment. Yes, Powder seemed to have gained a bit of weight.
Was it due to the rapid growth stage? Or was it because of overeating and little exercise.
"Yes, but Vi's cooking is really bad."
Vi immediately said, "Powder, you didn't say that when it was just the two of us."
"What if I said it and you wouldn't cook for me."
"How could I ever let you go hungry?"
Vi spread her hands, looking at Powder and Lin Wen, speechless.
Well, although she didn't get a formal hug from Lin Wen, the recent one was pretty good too. After all, this time it seemed like she was the one who hugged Lin Wen first, right?
Thinking about this, Vi stood proudly, arms crossed, watching Powder and Lin Wen.
But soon, she heard Lin Wen's voice.
"What are you standing there foolishly for?"
Lin Wen held Powder with one hand, and as usual, she used her little hands to grip Lin Wen's neck. Lin Wen's other hand was reaching out towards Vi, and his face held a gentle smile.
Vi was a bit tsundere, to be honest.
No matter how much of a tomboy she appeared, that was just an act.
Lin Wen was well aware—Vi was indeed a strong, kind, and pretty girl. But no matter how strong she was, she also yearned to have someone she could act spoiled with.
Back then, there were no conditions for that. The only person Vi could act spoiled with was Vander. But Vander had so much to deal with every day, and Powder was always clinging to her. Consequently, Vi gradually stopped seeking comfort from others.
But when Lin Wen appeared, a Lin Wen who was two years older than Vi and superior to Vander, and really, really nice to her...
Remember, Vi was still a girl.
Of course, she also wanted to be pampered.
So when Lin Wen gained Vi's trust over three years...
"Who needs your hugs?"
A feigned complaint.
Someone promptly moved forward, opening their arms and wrapping them around Lin Wen's waist.
Lin Wen smiled, holding the two people most important in the world to him.
This was a scene he would always encounter whenever he returned after being away for a few days.
It was as usual.
Just a bit smelly.
"So smelly."
The faces of Vi and Powder turned red instantly. Powder, especially, was desperate to get down from Lin Wen.
She hadn't showered for almost a week; of course, there would be a smell. But Lin Wen, how could he say it!
And Vi?
She blushed even more, but this blush was accompanied by shyness and anger.
With one sentence from Lin Wen, Powder pushed his face forcefully with both hands, while Vi used her hands to squeeze Lin Wen, seemingly wanting to give him a hard time.
The two sisters were both shy, but their attitudes toward Lin Wen were completely different.
One wanted to escape, the other was rebellious.
Alright.
"You two little stinkers, no fighting."
"I'm not a stinker. I just, I just haven't taken a bath," protested Powder, disgruntled.
Vi was more straightforward. Her face still red, she looked up at Lin Wen, gritting her teeth. "Lin Wen, you jerk!"