Jinx's Mission

Silco's office at The Last Drop.

Sevika rushed in, her expression icy.

"We have trouble. The new councilor is going to raid this place."

"Don't panic, Sevika. It's just a routine inspection," Silco said unhurriedly, flipping through a piece of intel in his hand.

"This is urgent, Butler. Should we fight them?"

Sevika was impatient, unlike her calm superior. She turned to Viktor, who was sitting nearby, seeking help.

Though she felt he was different from usual, she couldn't quite pinpoint what was missing.

"A fight? Not now, at least. Both sides need time," Viktor shook his head.

Seeing both of her superiors so nonchalant, Sevika grew anxious, a frustrated look on her face.

"They're practically at our doorstep! Can't we do something?"

"See, Silco? She only knows how to burn down other people's houses. She doesn't use her brain at all."

At that moment, a childish female voice, laced with mockery, came from the ceiling above Silco's head.

"You two are pretty much the same in my eyes."

Silco rubbed his temples, his gaze moving upward to Jinx, who was casually swinging her two blue pigtails.

"I'm much better at using this than she is."

Jinx pointed to her head, her nimble eyes darting left and right.

"Oh, please. You cause the most trouble," Sevika said with disdain, wondering why Silco valued this lunatic, Jinx, so much.

"Hmph, I even researched this. Want to try it?"

Jinx huffed, her face stern, and shoved a Hex Gemstone she'd stolen from Jayce's lab into her Gatling.

Swoosh!

Blue light enveloped the Gatling, transforming it into a shoulder-mounted rocket launcher. Inside the barrel, a purple, shark-faced rocket was aimed directly at Sevika.

No one paid attention to Sevika, who had recoiled in fright. Viktor and Silco's gazes were fixed on the rocket launcher in Jinx's hands.

"I knew it, I knew you really did it, Jinx! You're perfect!" Silco's eyes widened, too excited to speak clearly.

"A clever design! Drawing Runes on an existing mechanical gun and then using a Hex Gemstone to achieve a change in form."

Viktor instantly understood the principle but still expressed his astonishment.

The other party was young enough to be Silco's daughter, yet possessed such talent. She was truly worthy of Lord Ryan's praise.

"But there's still room for improvement. Your current design likely only allows for aiming and firing, and it'll be intercepted if there's an obstruction mid-flight."

"It's a cannonball! Who'd dare stand in front of it?!" Jinx patted the rocket launcher, making an extremely exaggerated expression.

"You should have seen Jayce's hammer that day. The energy blasts from his hammer can intercept missiles."

"Oh, right..."

Jinx's face fell, but then her eyes gleamed dangerously.

"I don't care! At worst, I'll put two of those... whatchamacallit... gemstones in it! As long as it's powerful enough, I don't believe there's anything it can't blow up!"

"Theoretically possible, but I'd suggest you delve deeper into Missile Trajectory Studies, a design analysis of missile launchers by Professor Heimerdinger. Or books on kinetic control, like Mechanical Dynamics Research, an article I wrote at the Academy when I had nothing to do. It can help you solve the problem of two gemstones' energy clashing."

Viktor was perfectly playing the role of a mentor, which was precisely what he did at Piltover Academy.

"I have to read books?!" Jinx's face turned green when she heard this, full of resistance. "I think I can do it myself!"

"Jinx, we don't have time," Silco sighed.

He looked at Jinx with a resolute gaze, making her look away, a little embarrassed.

"Fine, fine! I'll study!"

Jinx dejectedly tossed the rocket launcher aside, her face showing the reluctance of a child.

Viktor chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You like explosions, don't you?"

"Yeah! Boom! That spectacular feeling, it's amazing!"

At the mention of explosions, Jinx's negative emotions immediately vanished. She even spread her hands to mimic an explosion.

"I'll send you those two books tomorrow. They can make your explosions even more dazzling," Viktor said with a smile.

"That's awesome! Why didn't you say so sooner? Only two? Can I have more?" Jinx's eyes sparkled.

"Just these two for now. You'll have to accomplish something first for the rest."

Viktor and Silco exchanged a glance. Seeing the plea in the other's eyes, they couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

What a complicated relationship. The daughter of an enemy and her father's killer developing feelings for each other. How strange...

"No problem!"

Seeing that Silco didn't object, Jinx excitedly agreed.

Viktor didn't care about this tragic "father-daughter" romance; his heart was only for Zaun. He looked at Jinx with a serious expression:

"Tonight, you'll have to cross the border river and blow up two locations."

"Easy!"

Jinx replied readily upon hearing they were going to blow up Piltover.

"Sevika will go with you."

"What? No, no, no, no, I can go by myself!" Jinx's eyes widened, and she waved her hands repeatedly.

"Butler, I think I can handle it alone too." Sevika's face held a rebellious look.

Their displeased gazes met in the air, then quickly moved away with resentment.

Silco covered his face with his hand, looking at his two subordinates with weariness. He first turned his head to Sevika:

"Piltover is under city-wide martial law right now. What ability do you have to blow them up?"

"This…"

Sevika opened her mouth, glancing at her mechanical arm. It seemed she really only had the ability for a frontal assault.

"Jinx." Silco looked at her with doting eyes, "I think you need someone to pilot the boat and protect you. You're very important to me; last time, you almost got into danger, and I really need you!"

"Silco…"

Jinx looked at Silco's sincere gaze and lowered her head, responding with silence.

But Silco, who knew her well, understood this was her implicit agreement.

"In my hand are the locations you need to bomb, and the route map for this mission. There will be people to meet you along the way; don't hesitate, no matter what you see. Neither of you makes things easy for me, so work together this once. I want to see perfect results."

Silco handed them two identical maps and spoke earnestly, giving his instructions.

"I will. Jinx, don't you dare drag your feet." Sevika grinned and promised.

"Tch, just make sure you don't mess up when it comes down to it."

Jinx proudly raised her head and walked out the door with Sevika. At the doorway, they both snorted at each other before turning to leave.

"When those two work together, it's never perfect in the end." Silco sounded a little worried.

"They're safe. The danger is with us." Viktor chuckled.

He couldn't quite understand Silco's emotions. Viktor could feel that Silco cared more about Jinx than he did about himself.

What a strange emotion…

"Yes… the danger is with us. Butler, you don't need to be so stubborn with me here." Silco sighed.

Viktor shot him a sidelong glance: "Silco, you and I are alike. My love for Zaun is no less than yours. Night has fallen, the battlefield is chosen, we should depart."

"My apologies, I forgot about Piltover's rising star. Let's go, let's meet Madam Grey, who has oppressed Zaun for half a century."

Silco's expression held sympathy and a touch of resonance as he stood up first and walked out the door. Viktor followed closely behind, not using his usual cane, but striding out the door.