Vi, She's Here

The Sump had been anything but peaceful lately. The Upper City had already seen two major incidents, straining relations between Piltover and Zaun once again. This time, the Sump hadn't bothered to hide its other side from Piltover.

For the past few days, ordinary residents of the Sump had stayed home and kept out of sight. Even so, gang members would force their way into their homes, claiming they were conducting safety inspections while ransacking the place. The ones with sticky fingers would take whatever they could find. The residents of the Sump were furious, but dared not speak up.

Piltover's enforcers hadn't directly intervened in the latest incident in the Sump. They knew full well that whatever had happened in the depths of Zaun was serious and dangerous. Without a direct order from their superiors, they weren't about to risk their lives just to carry out their daily patrols.

How much did they get paid in a month, anyway? Was it worth risking their lives?

To the Zaunites themselves, this incident was simply another display of Silco's methods after taking power. Since he had risen to the top, Zaun had changed completely. It had grown richer, but it had also grown more chaotic.

As long as power remained in his hands, he didn't care what his subordinates did—especially when small gangs fought among themselves. In fact, Silco would even deliberately encourage it, using the smaller gangs' hatred for one another to divert their hatred from him and preserve his position and power.

And amid all this, a new gang appeared in the Sump.

A group of young people who had once belonged to the Black Alley banded together. Armed with weapons that looked battered but were surprisingly effective, they began rapidly claiming territory and building their own power base.

On the territory they seized, they often left behind graffiti of a blue-and-pink flower.

But no one paid it any mind. New gangs appeared in Zaun every day.

On the second floor of the Fugen Tavern, Silco faced Sevika, anger in his voice.

"Tell me, how many days has it been now?"

"Ten," Sevika answered, head bowed. Most of the graffiti on her face had faded, but some traces remained. That dead brat Jinx had drawn on her with a glow pen, and the damn thing had lasted far too long.

Silco picked up a document from the Western Glow Factory and frowned as he read the records. Then he asked Sevika, "Where are they?"

"They're no longer in the Sump. I've searched everywhere I could think of. We've turned over every household, even the orphanage. There's no sign of them."

"I thought you weren't the sort to make excuses. But what is this? This is the second time."

Silco tapped the desk with his fingers, set the document down, and looked at Sevika. "You've searched the Sump. Then search the Mid-level Plaza. If they're not there, search the Dance Hall. Do I have to hold your hand and teach you how to do such a simple thing?"

Sevika fell silent. After a long pause, she raised her head and met Silco's gaze. "And then what? If we can't find Jinx at the Mid-level Plaza or the Dance Hall, are you going to send people to search the Upper City too?"

Silco said nothing.

His good eye narrowed. His voice turned cold. "Am I to take it that you have a problem with me?"

"Isn't it obvious? Ever since that brat grew up, whenever she causes trouble, you're the one cleaning up after her. Do you really think she sees you as her father? Or have you become so attached to your daughter that you can't live without her?" Sevika took a deep breath and faced Silco. "At a time like this, you're going to send people to the Mid-level Plaza and the Dance Hall to look for her? Our smuggled goods are still in the lockup in the Upper City, and plenty of our people are in prison."

"Silco, what matters more to you, her or Zaun? Do you even remember what you told me back then?" Sevika asked the question she'd wanted to ask for years.

Ever since Jinx had grown up—no, she hadn't really grown up yet. Jinx was still just a kid.

But because she was a kid who was always getting into trouble, Sevika had more than once been left to deal with the messes Jinx made. Whenever Jinx caused trouble and failed to clean up after herself, Silco always sent Sevika to take care of it.

Fuck this. Do you think I'm a goddamn roll of toilet paper?

"Enough." Silco looked at Sevika with eyes as cold as a snake's.

"I'll forgive you this time—for the sake of that arm." Silco glanced at Sevika's hand, then continued, "But if there's a next time, you won't be standing here talking to me."

Silco looked Sevika in the eye. "I mean it."

Silco's threat left Sevika silent.

But she quickly spoke again. "Is that so? Then I wonder what choice Jinx will make when the time comes."

"Choice?"

Was Sevika asking whether Jinx would choose Li Ke or him?

Silco scoffed and answered casually, "She's only with that boy for the moment. That's just how she is—playful and carefree."

"But I'm not talking about Li Ke."

"What do you mean? Explain yourself." Silco frowned.

"Vi's back," Sevika said coldly.

At Sevika's words, Silco's pupil contracted sharply.

On a street in the Black Alley, Caitlyn paced back and forth with her hands behind her back, her head lowered and worry etched across her face.

Should I give up on her?

No, I can't. I brought her down here, so I have to take her back.

But what can I do here in Zaun, all by myself?

Caitlyn hated the power that came with the Giramann Family. She believed everyone was equal, but now, without her family's influence, she couldn't do a thing.

Caitlyn was torn when a weak voice came from a nearby corner.

"Can you stop pacing back and forth in front of me? It's annoying, got it?"

"What should I do?" Hearing Vi's voice, Caitlyn hurried over and crouched down beside her.

Vi opened her eyes and coughed. "What should you do? How would I know?"

As she spoke, Vi's expression suddenly turned distant. She looked past Caitlyn, her gaze unfocused and her voice soft. "I shouldn't have left you behind..."

Caitlyn froze. She took out a towel and pressed it against Vi's abdomen, speaking gently. "It's okay. I can tell you're a kind person."

As Caitlyn said this, Vi's eyes slowly closed.

When Vi slipped unconscious again, Caitlyn stood up, unsure what to do.

But as Caitlyn stood there in a daze, a group of people suddenly came out and surrounded them.

They wore ragged clothes, and it was obvious they were Zaunites, but they seemed different from the people Caitlyn had encountered along the way.

They were thin, but looked to be in good spirits. The young man at their head had brown hair and looked especially well. He isn't suffering from Shimmer poisoning?

As they closed in, Caitlyn quickly drew her gun and aimed it at them.

"Stop!"

"I'm Enforcer Caitlyn!"

Caitlyn spoke nervously.

For some reason, at a moment like this, she suddenly remembered Vi saying that the Zaunites would eat her alive after they'd just left Stillwater Prison.

"An enforcer?"

"Don't worry, officer. We mean no harm." The young man at the head raised his hands and took a step forward.

"I said stop! Take another step and I'll shoot!"

"Wait, please hear me out!"

"I'm Malson, a friend of Vi's. The person behind you is Vi, right?"

"We know her."

Caitlyn froze and blinked.

The young man at the head—Malson—looked sincere.

Seeing that, Caitlyn slowly lowered her gun.

"She's injured," Caitlyn said.

"I know. I've been following you this whole time."

"I know how to treat her. Weila, Manzu, help Vi up. We need to get back," Malson ordered.

Caitlyn stood quietly to one side and didn't stop them.