Just moments ago, Powder returned to the basement and found Vi chatting with Claggor and Milo about Vander.
She nervously jogged to Vi's side, "Vi!"
"What's up? Why so flustered?" Vi tried to suppress her temper upon hearing her sister's call and spoke in a calm tone.
"Vander, he..."
Vi furrowed her brows, crossed her arms, and turned away, "Don't mention him to me right now."
Powder pointed outside with her small hand, a bit urgent, "I'm talking about something serious!"
"What happened? Take it slow," Claggor walked up to Powder and asked.
"A few customers came to the store just now. Vander saw the leader, and his expression changed. I've never seen him look like that before..."
"Tch, I thought it was something else." Vi disdainfully muttered, rolling her eyes. "With the way he is now, he doesn't care about anyone..."
Before she could finish her sentence, a loud crash of breaking wood echoed from upstairs, as if something had been smashed to pieces.
Immediately after, a series of screams and mixed noises of overturned tables and chairs reached their ears.
Vi's heart skipped a beat, "What's going on?!"
"It seems like there's a commotion upstairs..." Claggor carefully listened to the noise above.
Milo scratched his head, his face full of confusion, "But can a commotion make such a loud noise?"
"Could it be those people you mentioned earlier? Let's go out and check. If there's trouble, we need to help," Vi walked to the door, signaling Claggor and Milo to follow, and glanced back at her eager sister.
"Powder, you stay here. Don't go anywhere," Vi instructed.
Powder pouted, a bit displeased, lifting the metal device with animal patterns she had in her hand, "Why not? My nail bombs are powerful, you know..."
Claggor, on the side, couldn't help but interject, "Um, Vi, it seems quiet outside."
"So fast?" Vi raised an eyebrow, not paying much attention to Powder following behind.
As soon as she opened the door, a strong smell of rusty blood infiltrated their nostrils.
Vi, who grew up in Zaun and was used to fighting and injuries, knew the scent of blood well.
Her heart skipped a beat, sensing an ominous premonition.
"Shh, keep it down," Vi gestured to the three behind her, then crouched, tiptoeing down the stairs to the ground floor.
Claggor signaled to Milo and Powder to stay in place, and he followed Vi cautiously.
As soon as Vi peeked out, the first thing she saw was blood everywhere and people lying unconscious.
Chaos.
Vi's pupils slightly contracted. She immediately recognized these were Vander's subordinates.
"This..." She was shocked and couldn't find words.
The noise just now lasted only a few seconds, and the injuries on these people were evidently caused by a quick and powerful force.
What kind of monster could take down more than 20 adults, previously used to brawls, armed and strong, in just a few seconds?!
Then, she noticed a figure, entirely purple and non-human, dragging an unconscious person out of The Last Drop.
"It's Vander..." Vi murmured, identifying the person being dragged.
Her eyes turned red in an instant. Without considering anything else, she clenched her fists and was about to rush over to fight the monster.
"Vander... Uh uh..."
However, before Vi could reach, Claggor covered her mouth, pulling her back into the house's underground room.
"Why are you stopping me, Claggor!" Tears uncontrollably streamed down Vi's face. "Vander has been taken away!"
"Calm down! That thing could take down over 20 people in seconds, even Vander couldn't beat it. What's the difference between you going and sending yourself to death?" Claggor's mood was heavy, but he appeared more composed.
"What?!" Both Powder and Milo exclaimed at the same time.
Vi, stopped by Claggor, slumped to the ground, holding her forehead and sobbing, "I must save Vander..."
"Vander is our father too." Claggor glanced at Milo, then gently patted Vi's shoulder to comfort her. "We have to rescue Vander."
"But we can't do it on our own..." Milo looked melancholy. "We need to gather strength."
"Yes, we can find Benso. Sevika didn't come tonight. We can also call her and her people..." Claggor suggested.
"That's it!"
With that said, the group quickly divided their tasks.
Milo, slender and agile, tracked the group that abducted Vander. He aimed to discover their destination.
Meanwhile, Claggor went to Benso's general store to enlist his help, while Vi went in search of Sevika.
Powder, appearing melancholic, didn't utter a word. She went to her table, a sadness evident in her eyes. Carefully, she packed several of the makeshift explosive devices she had crafted into a satchel.
Milo decided to head out first to avoid losing the trail of those people. Vi and Claggor prepared their weapons—a baseball bat, a homemade signaling flare, and a couple of screwdrivers.
As they were about to leave, Vi noticed Powder, fully prepared, staring intently at her.
Vi, lifting the weight of concern, told her, "You're not coming with us this time, Powder."
"Why?" Powder frowned, genuinely puzzled.
"It's too dangerous..."
Powder sniffled and looked at Vi earnestly, "I'm not afraid!"
"This time is different."
"But family should stick together, that's what you said!"
"I think I should know what I said..."
"I want to fight; I can help!"
"You're not ready!"
With time running out, Vi glared, her tone growing impatient.
Powder, faced with her sister's sternness, teared up with sapphire eyes.
Seeing her sister's distressed expression, Vi sighed and gently caressed Powder's cheek.
"I only have you left. I can't lose you, Powder."
Saying this, Vi took out the signaling flare from her satchel and handed it to Powder, "Hold onto this. If bad people come, run. No matter where you are, light it up, and I'll find you. I promise."
She bent slightly, pressing her forehead against Powder's, savoring the tenderness of the moment.
Afterward, Vi walked over to Claggor by the door, glancing back at Powder's lonely figure. A medley of emotions surged within her.
With a resounding "bang," the door closed, and Vi vanished from Powder's sight.
A long-suppressed sense of grievance overwhelmed her. Tears welled up in her eyes, cascading down her cheeks and gathering at her chin, drop by drop.
Why... Why...
I can help too...
Powder sat curled on the floor, burying her face in her knees, tears streaming down her face.
"I can help, I really can. I won't mess things up again...
"Even if it's just running errands, finding Benso or Sevika, I can do it. Why..."
Amidst her tears, a sudden image flashed in her mind.
Choked with emotion and joy, she thought, "Yes, yes! Li Lin, he's Vander's friend. He'll definitely help Vander!"
End of the chapter.