Silco's office at The Last Drop.
Sevika rushed in, her expression grim.
"We have trouble. The new councilor is going to raid this place."
"Don't panic, Sevika. It's only a routine inspection." Silco flipped through an intelligence report in his hand, speaking unhurriedly.
"The fire's at our doorstep, Butler. Should we fight them head-on?"
Sevika was impatient by nature and nowhere near as composed as her boss. She turned an imploring gaze toward Viktor, who sat nearby.
She felt that something about him was different from usual, but she could not put her finger on what was missing.
"A decisive battle? At least not now. Both sides need time." Viktor shook his head.
Seeing that both of her superiors looked utterly unconcerned, Sevika grew anxious, irritation written across her face.
"They're already at our door. Can't we at least do something?"
"See, Silco? All she knows is how to burn down other people's houses. She doesn't know how to use her brain at all."
At that moment, a young girl's mocking voice came from the ceiling above Silco.
"You two look about the same to me."
Silco rubbed his temples and looked up, spotting Jinx lounging overhead, her two blue pigtails swaying.
"I use this better than she does."
Jinx pointed at her head, her lively eyes darting around.
"Please. You cause more trouble than anyone." Sevika looked disdainful, unable to understand why Silco valued a lunatic like Jinx so highly.
"Hmph. I came up with this. Want a taste?"
Jinx scowled and snorted, stuffing the Hex Gemstone she had stolen from Jayce's laboratory into her Gatling.
Whoosh!
Blue light enveloped the Gatling, transforming it into a shoulder-fired rocket launcher. Inside the tube, a purple rocket with a shark face was aimed directly at Sevika.
No one paid any attention to Sevika, who staggered back in fright. Viktor and Silco both stared fixedly at the rocket launcher in Jinx's hands.
"I knew it. I knew you really did it, Jinx. You're perfect!" Silco's eyes widened, and he was so excited that he could barely speak properly.
"What an ingenious design. You inscribed runes onto an existing mechanical firearm, then used a mounted Hex Gemstone to transform its form."
Viktor saw through the principle at a glance, yet he still voiced his amazement.
She was young enough to be Silco's daughter, yet she already possessed such talent. No wonder Lord Ryan had praised her.
"But there is still room for improvement. Your current design can probably only aim and fire, and it can be intercepted if something blocks its path."
"This is artillery! Who would dare stand in front of it?" Jinx patted the rocket launcher and pulled an absurdly exaggerated face.
"You should have seen Jayce's hammer that day. The energy cannon fired from it can intercept missiles."
"Uh..."
Jinx's face fell, but then a dangerous glint flashed in her eyes.
"I don't care. At worst, I'll install two of those gemstones. As long as it's powerful enough, I don't believe there is anything it can't blow to pieces!"
"Theoretically, that would work. But I suggest you study Missile Trajectory Studies in depth, Professor Heimerdinger's analysis of missile launcher designs. Or books on kinetic energy control, such as Mechanical Dynamics Research. That was an article I wrote at the academy when I had spare time. It can help you solve the problem of two gemstones' energies clashing."
Viktor perfectly assumed the role of a mentor. After all, that was what he had done at Piltover Academy.
"I have to read books too?!" Jinx's face turned green at the thought, her expression full of resistance. "I think I can handle it myself!"
"Jinx, we don't have time." Silco sighed.
He looked at Jinx with unwavering resolve, making her turn her head away in slight embarrassment.
"Fine, fine! I'll study!"
Jinx dejectedly tossed the rocket launcher aside, her face wearing the unmistakable reluctance of a child.
Viktor chuckled and shook his head. "You like explosions, don't you?"
"Yeah, boom! That dazzling feeling is amazing!"
The moment Jinx heard the word "explosions," all her negative emotions vanished. She even spread her hands wide and mimed an explosion.
"I'll bring you those two books tomorrow. They can make the explosions you design even more brilliant." Viktor smiled.
"That would be awesome! You should've said so earlier. Only two books? Can you bring a few more?" Jinx's eyes lit up.
"Start with these two. As for the rest, you'll have to accomplish something for me first."
Viktor exchanged a glance with Silco. Seeing the plea in the other man's eyes, he could not help but sigh inwardly.
What a complicated relationship. The daughter of an enemy had developed feelings for the man who had killed her father. How strange.
"No problem!"
Seeing that Silco did not object, Jinx eagerly agreed.
Viktor did not care about the twisted father-daughter drama between them. Zaun was all that occupied his mind. He looked at Jinx solemnly.
"Tonight, you need to cross the Boundary River and blow up two locations."
"Easy!"
Hearing that she was going to blow up Piltover, Jinx readily agreed.
"Sevika is going with you."
"What? No, no, no, no! I can go by myself!" Jinx's eyes widened as she waved her hands repeatedly.
"Butler, I think I can do it alone too." Sevika wore a defiant expression.
Their displeased gazes met in midair, then quickly turned away from each other in resentment.
Silco covered his face with one hand and looked at his two subordinates with exhaustion in his eyes. He first turned to Sevika.
"Piltover is under martial law right now. What ability do you have to blow them up?"
"Well..."
Sevika opened her mouth, then glanced at her mechanical arm. It seemed she truly only had the ability to charge in head-on.
"Jinx." Silco looked at her fondly. "I think you need someone to pilot the boat and protect you. You're very important to me. You nearly ended up in danger last time. I need you!"
"Silco..."
Jinx looked into Silco's sincere eyes, then lowered her head in silence.
But Silco, who knew her well, understood that this was her way of agreeing.
"I have the locations you need to bomb, as well as the route map for this operation. People will meet you along the way. No matter what you see, don't hesitate. Neither of you gives me much peace of mind, so work together for once. I want to see perfect results."
Silco took out two identical maps and handed one to each of them, giving his instructions earnestly.
"I will. Jinx, don't hold me back." Sevika grinned as she made her promise.
"Hmph. Just make sure you don't mess up."
Jinx haughtily lifted her chin and left with Sevika. At the doorway, the two of them snorted coldly at each other before turning and leaving.
"Whenever those two work together, it never ends perfectly." Silco looked worried.
"They'll be safe. The danger is beside us." Viktor smiled.
He could not quite understand Silco's feelings. Viktor could sense that Silco cared for Jinx even more than he cared for himself.
What a strange emotion.
"Yes. The danger is with us. Butler, you don't need to stubbornly stand your ground here with me." Silco said with a sigh.
Viktor shot him a sidelong glance. "Silco, you and I are the same kind of people. My love for Zaun is no less than yours. Night has fallen, the battlefield has been chosen. It is time for us to depart."
"Sorry, I forgot about Piltover's rising star. Come on. Let's go meet Madam Grey, the woman who has suppressed Zaun for half a century."
Silco's expression carried sympathy and a trace of empathy. He rose first and headed for the door, with Viktor following closely behind. Instead of taking the cane he usually carried, Viktor strode out the door in great steps.