"Hey! Mylo, happy Progress Day!"
In the Zaun police station, as soon as she arrived, all the Zaun enforcers had left early, leaving only those familiar with her inside.
Sevika wore a sheriff's hat and smoked a large cigar, tapping it on the table. She gave Powder a stern look.
Around Sevika's waist hung a kinetic blade crafted by "her," a powerful weapon made using shimmer and hextech.
"Mind your manners, Powder. This is a police station," Sevika said discontentedly, patting the table.
She was the person Sevika feared the most, mainly because Sevika couldn't quite handle her. The memories of dealing with kids in the past made Sevika a bit uneasy.
"So what? I'm not a criminal, and you have no authority to arrest me."
In the police station, dressed in a stylish denim blue jacket, tight black pants, and jingling boots, she stood there with a mischievous smile, spreading her hands as she continued, "I'm here to visit family. Where's my sister? Out again?"
"Powder, it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and Vi is usually patrolling the streets at this time. Aren't you aware of that?" Mylo coughed from the side.
"Oh, is that so? If it is, just pretend I didn't ask. I might have forgotten," Powder said nonchalantly.
Ignoring Sevika's disapproval, Powder continued to sit on the table, facing Sevika. The two locked eyes, one with an annoyed expression and the other smiling mischievously.
"Are you trying to provoke me?" Sevika's mouth twitched.
"Not at all! It's just that I've missed you so much," Powder said, blinking her big, beautiful eyes. She leaned forward, attempting to hug Sevika's waist, but Sevika quickly avoided it, leaving Powder pouting.
"I don't particularly miss you," Sevika said coldly, rejecting any attempts at interaction.
The expression on Sevika's face clearly conveyed a refusal to communicate.
"Only I need to miss you, and that's enough," Powder said carefreely.
Mylo, standing on the side, was in a dilemma. Clearly, he didn't mind Powder coming to see him privately, but he preferred her visits after he finished work, not during his working hours.
As for Sevika?
Her attitude was evident—she wasn't against Powder, but she simply wouldn't engage with her.
But Powder understood. Sevika didn't dislike her; Sevika just didn't know how to get along with her.
Then the unpleasant topic began.
Powder spoke, Mylo occasionally added, and Sevika maintained a dead expression.
As Powder prepared to leave, she stood by the elevator, one foot in and the other out, hand on the door, saying to Sevika and Mylo, "Well, I have to go now."
Sevika visibly relaxed.
The little troublemaker, now a force to be reckoned with in Zaun.
Not just because she had support from Silco and Vander, but because of who she was—a mischievous troublemaker. Those peculiar but powerful weapons... Sevika found it hard to comprehend.
A few years ago, Powder was a little girl playing with dolls in a tavern. Now, she could create powerful magical cannons?
Sevika shook her head in disbelief.
Then, Powder's voice echoed again.
"Oh, by the way!" Powder jumped up. "Remember to tell Vi for me. Lin Wen called me. He said he'd be back within these few days."
With that, Powder quickly entered the elevator, vigorously pressing the buttons.
When she heard heavy footsteps, and Sevika's face appeared, Powder, with a big laugh, made a V sign, winked playfully, and in a deliberately high-pitched voice, said, "Bye-bye!"
"!!!"
"Powder!"
"Explain yourself. Who's coming back? When?!"
Sevika shouted loudly.
"La la la!" Powder left only this sound behind.
"Forget it, Sevika," Mylo approached, trying to console her. As someone who had watched them grow up, Sevika was like an elder sister to them.
Turning around, Sevika looked at Mylo, eye to eye, took a step forward, and with a solemn tone, said, "Call me Sheriff."
"Sheriff."
Mylo quickly responded.
But, at the same time, deep inside, he felt both frustrated and a spark of anticipation.
He knew who Powder was talking about. Powder would only get this emotional about two people—Vi and Lin Wen.
Big brother, he's coming back!
————————
In Zaun's Council Hall, Vander had just finished sorting through a stack of documents. He picked out one sheet, tore it to shreds, and chose to ignore the request from Piltover to open the pipelines again.
"Open the pipelines, and then you'll discharge your waste into Zaun?" Vander spat, and beside him, Silco, wearing glasses, was busy organizing diplomatic documents.
As if sensing Vander's gaze, Silco spoke, "Demacia also wants to establish a Hex station. They say they can provide us with some special stones."
"Wait, Demacia?" Vander walked over to Silco, surprised. "I remember Demacia as a nation that strictly prohibits magic."
"Yes." Silco didn't look up but continued organizing the documents.
After spending a long time in this role, Silco has lost some of his aggressiveness. The scars on his body are now concealed with some makeup, and Silco no longer looks like the godfather of a criminal organization. Instead, he resembles a refined inventor.
Moreover, with improved meals, Silco has gained a bit of weight.
"But the question of prohibition or unprohibition ultimately boils down to interests, Vander," Silco remarked.
"After the magic-tech loophole," Silco softly said, "They call the Hextech phone a technology magic. Technology first, magic second. So, according to them, it's technology they can use, not the magic they need to restrict."
Vander nodded, asking, "What's your plan?"
"It's not great. While Demacia's anti-magic stones are valuable, we don't have many mages around here. So, rather than the anti-magic stones, I'm more interested in their iron smelting technology. Unfortunately, Vander, they're not willing to sell it to us."
Silco set aside the documents, took off his glasses, and massaged his temples.
"Moreover, we are fostering good relations with Noxus. Building a Hextech station for Demacia at this time would damage our 'friendship' with Noxus."
"Hm," Vander fell silent.
Knowing Silco well, Vander understood the implied meaning behind Silco's words.
So he asked Silco, "What if the Demacians are willing to share their iron smelting technology with us?"
"Then they can also be friends of Zaun," Silco looked up, smiling at Vander.
Vander shrugged.
See, that's Silco for you.
In his eyes, there's only Zaun.