Li Ke's Ragtag Team

"So, your encounter with her was just an accident?"

Malson looked at Jinx, then at Li Ke, always feeling something was strange.

This was very strange.

First, why had Li Ke become so strong? He had easily defeated the people Malson feared in just a few moves. Second, why was Jinx, that terrifying lunatic, obediently following Li Ke?

No, wait. Compared to Li Ke's sudden surge in strength, Jinx actually listening to Li Ke was what shocked Malson the most!

Among the gang members in the Gutter, who didn't know that the Zaun Godfather had a blue-haired psycho under his command?

How many gangs, how many barons, how many gang members had met their end at that woman's hands? The Wildfire Gang had even openly declared her a madwoman and had clashed with Jinx multiple times.

Moreover, the gangs also secretly spread rumors that whenever Piltover up top caused a major disturbance, there was an eighty percent chance it was related to this madwoman. And now, this madwoman was leaning against Li Ke's back, using her fingers to pick up snacks and pop them into her mouth.

Malson truly couldn't imagine how Li Ke had managed this—making a madwoman quiet down.

"Jinx, take her to take a bath first." Li Ke didn't know what Malson was thinking. He reached back and patted Jinx's shoulder.

Because the little one sitting quietly on the sofa at the moment was leaning forward and backward, her expression clearly showing extreme drowsiness. Glancing at the time, Li Ke realized it was already past nine in the evening.

"Help her take a bath?" Jinx instinctively wanted to retort, but then, as if remembering something, she nodded and agreed, "Alright, alright, I'll do it."

As if finding some amusement in it, she jumped off the stool and beckoned to the little girl, "Hey, kid, come here."

The little girl heard Jinx call her and, without a word, got off the sofa, pulled her hat down further, and quickly followed Jinx.

She stepped forward, intending to grab Jinx's leg, but Jinx reached out and pressed on her head, "Don't get too close to me, I just showered yesterday."

The little girl, who had extended her hands, froze. Her eyes dimmed slightly, but Jinx's next action and words made her eyes light up again.

"Hey, Little Mute, do you like my tattoos? I'll let you in on a little secret, these tattoos aren't real, but if you like them, I can draw one for you too, the same style as mine." Jinx touched the cloud pattern on her abdomen. With a slight push, the pattern faded considerably.

"I really like drawing."

She then reached out and vigorously ruffled the little girl's head.

Li Ke heard Jinx's words and immediately showed a surprised expression.

What? They were drawn on?

Don't even mention it, Li Ke really didn't know Jinx's tattoos were drawn on. He had thought Jinx actually had tattoos. After all, for children in Zaun, tattoos weren't forbidden. It was quite normal for underage children to have a few tattoos.

But it was good that they were drawn on. Drawn-on tattoos wouldn't affect one's chances of passing the civil service exam.

Huh, wait, why did I suddenly think about the civil service exam?

The civil service exam, wouldn't that require going to Piltover?

That's game over. Jinx lost that right from birth.

Li Ke's expression was strange, his thoughts wandering for a moment.

Speaking of which, Li Ke didn't like tattoos either. How many decent people would like Rune Mages?

But temporary tattoos were different. They were a bonus for flirtation~

Seeing Jinx leave, Malson's courage grew. He took a deep breath and looked at Li Ke, "Li Ke, I have something to say."

"Please speak."

"I don't know how you got so strong, but Li Ke, I want to ask you for a favor." Malson looked at Li Ke seriously. He hesitated, then continued, "I want to follow you."

"Follow me?" Li Ke understood Malson's meaning. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, Malson interrupted him.

"You've seen it all. Ci Mu Gang is finished. Mark died by your hand, and me? I can't survive in the Gutter alone. Guys like me can only band together for warmth and do whatever it takes to survive.

Otherwise, I'll just be a cog manipulated by the Power Holders. But I've had enough of that life, Li Ke, I've really had enough."

Malson reached up with his good hand and clutched his hair. He squeezed out a few words from his throat, "You're different. The strength you possess now is enough to claim a territory, establish your own faction, and become a Boss."

Zaun is a place where might makes right. Money and power are controlled by one thing: strength.

"Just me alone? And you?" Li Ke frowned. He looked at Malson and saw a continuous stream of emotional energy surging from Malson, increasing the Energy Bar of the Soul Blossom.

Although the quantity and quality were far inferior to what Jinx had offered, it still far exceeded the energy Li Ke could absorb from others.

Li Ke suddenly had an idea. Perhaps "emotions" released by himself could increase the Energy Bar more?

Then it wasn't strange that Jinx could increase it so much.

Jinx was too "pure." In her world, there were only three types of people: strangers, the dead, and family.

She wouldn't care about strangers, and she couldn't interact with the dead. So, family was the only outlet for Jinx's emotions. Was this why Jinx became Li Ke's Top Supporter?

If the source of the Soul Blossom's Energy Bar increase was indeed what Li Ke thought, Then perhaps Li Ke really needed to consider what Malson said.

Establishing a faction was a way to expand his external influence, increase the Soul Blossom's Energy Bar, and increase the number of Advents.

The reason Li Ke could sit comfortably in this room now was because of the Soul Blossom. It was his Capital.

If it was as he thought, then he really should start preparing for his own crew.

Because Li Ke had no intention of serving Silco. He wouldn't join Silco's camp just because he was on good terms with Jinx. At the same time, Li Ke also had no intention of joining Piltover like Vi.

There were too many discussions online about whether Silco was right or wrong. A quick browse of related forums would reveal posts evaluating Silco. People's opinions were polarized, but the summary was that Silco did want to lead Zaun to regain its dignity, but at the same time, his extreme actions had indeed brought disaster to the people of Zaun.

He allowed the Alchemical Barons to oppress the people, his gaze fixed on the distant future, while ignoring the cries for help ringing out beside him.

Yes, the big shots only look at the "long term" and the "results," but Li Ke wasn't a big shot.

He cared more about the present.

Li Ke looked up at Malson, sitting up straight. "Tell me your thoughts, Malson. I'm listening."

"You're not alone. Do you remember Weila and the others? And Manzu, they're all still alive, struggling to survive in various gangs. I can go find them, and we'll all be your people, working for you. We can rebuild a new Black Alley." Malson added earnestly, "What happened this time made me realize something. Perhaps the Wildfire Gang was right. We can learn from the Wildfire Gang's philosophy."

"But just having people isn't enough," Li Ke shook his head.

Zaun didn't lack people willing to die for a cause; it lacked strength.

Weapons were the most important thing.

Malson thought for a moment, narrowing his eyes. "Are you referring to weapons?"

"What else?"

"..."

Malson's expression turned strange. "But don't you have her by your side? Is there any smarter, more capable weapon manufacturer in our Zaun than her?"

Right.

Didn't he have Jinx right here?

Li Ke nodded, telling Malson to gather the people first. If the numbers were sufficient, he would consider it carefully.

Upon hearing this, Malson immediately stood up.

"Malson, your injuries aren't healed yet. Aren't you going to rest for a couple of days?" Li Ke tried to stop him as Malson prepared to leave.

Malson refused, however.

His reason was--

"I'd better not, Li Ke. You didn't see the look Jinx gave me earlier, did you? If I stay here, it's not impossible for her to come out tonight and shoot me."

"Jinx has changed. She's no longer the gluttonous child we knew. She's Jinx now, Silco's Jinx. I don't know how you get along with her, but in any case, you should be careful..."

"Alright, Malson."

Li Ke impatiently interrupted Malson, saying softly, "Whether she's Jinx or not, what does it matter? If she's good to me, then I'll be good to her. Does it have anything to do with what her name is, whose person she is, or what she's done?"

"Even Vander, he would love Jinx."

"You can go now. Come find me after you've done what needs to be done."

Li Ke didn't want to explain to Malson. He naturally knew Jinx had done many wrong things, but was Malson's own record clean?

My own record isn't clean either.

No, in Zaun, very few people's records are truly clean.

Even Vander had made many foolish mistakes.

What's more, it's not too late for anything.

If Vi can forgive Jinx, who are you to say no?

Malson looked at Li Ke. Seeing Li Ke was serious, he retracted his words, nodded, and left.

Meanwhile, at the corner of the second floor, Jinx, who had been eavesdropping for a while, looked down at the little one who had put on her T-shirt when she heard silence from downstairs. Her clothes looked like a dress on the child, reaching down to her calves.

Although thin, Jinx wasn't short, standing at 164cm.

The child was looking up at her. Seeing this, Jinx snorted twice and reached out, vigorously ruffling the child's wet hair, preventing her from seeing her current expression.

The little girl lifted her head forcefully, not understanding why Jinx suddenly did that.

She was very smart; otherwise, she wouldn't have escaped from the Alchemical Baron. Thus, after only a day together, she knew one thing: Jinx only ruffled her head when she was happy.

Now, she had ruffled her head.

Seeing Jinx smiling, smiling gently with clear eyes, the child also opened her mouth, showing Jinx her gap-toothed smile.

Jinx frowned and pretended to be disgusted, "You have such an ugly smile. Where are your front teeth?"

Despite saying that, she ruffled the child's head a couple more times.