On the way back with Isha, Li Ke wore an uneasy expression.
Actually, before going to Fugen Tavern, Li Ke had already considered how his conversation with Silco might turn out. The odds of failure were practically certain. After all, if Silco could be persuaded that easily, he wouldn't be Silco. For Zaun, he was a madman who wouldn't even spare his own life.
There was no way to make someone like that give in through talking things out.
How come other transmigrators could just yap away until the "villain" saw the light, but things turned out differently for him?
Back in the room, if Silco hadn't been wary of Li Ke's strength, he would have made a move. Li Ke's senses were now far sharper than an ordinary person's, and he could spot the slightest hint of unease on someone's face at a glance. So when Silco kept feeling around beneath the table, Li Ke immediately realized there was a gun down there.
What else could it be? Was Silco feeling around down there for ages because he had to scratch his crotch?
So in the end, Li Ke had still relied on force to make Silco submit.
But Li Ke hadn't expected to almost be persuaded by Silco himself as they talked. The Godfather of Zaun had actually shown him a vulnerable side?
In the animated series, the only person Silco ever showed weakness to was Jinx, right?
So, he had to admit, not only had Li Ke failed to persuade Silco to work with him, but he had almost gotten drawn in himself.
The Godfather of Zaun was showing you his weakness, making it clear that he wanted you to come help him. Who the hell could resist that?
Silco really did have a lot of charisma.
That was one of the reasons Li Ke hadn't attacked him.
There were several reasons not to kill Silco—
First, if Silco really died, Zaun's Alchemical Barons would be left without a leader. They'd fight each other over territory and the power Silco left behind. Those shortsighted bastards would definitely turn on one another.
Zaun would descend into total chaos. Li Ke could, of course, become Zaun's serial killer and take them out one by one, fighting anyone who refused to comply. But could he really kill every last one of them? If so, what the hell would be the point of rebuilding Zaun?
Second, keeping Silco around would greatly benefit Zaun's development. He had the political skills and iron-fisted resolve to help. Li Ke wanted to make Zaun better, and sooner or later he'd have to deal with Piltover's councilors. But he knew nothing about politics and could easily be taken advantage of by those people, so he'd have to leave that to Silco.
Third, naturally, there was Jinx. There wasn't much room in her heart, and she couldn't afford to lose even one person.
A hand tugged at his. Li Ke looked down and saw Isha watching him.
"It's okay. I'm not upset, so don't worry, Isha."
Li Ke patted Isha on the head and smiled.
But then he remembered something and quickly said to Isha, "There's something I need your help with when we get back, though."
Isha tilted her head. "?"
......
At the Lian Hua Gang's hideout, Li Ke and Isha had walked back. When they reached the tent, no one was there, but Jinx and Vi soon showed up together.
The two of them entered the large tent. Jinx walked ahead, with Vi at her side, and Vi looked considerably more relaxed.
Remembering what Li Ke had told her, Isha grabbed a pen and ran over to Jinx. When Jinx saw her, she happily crouched down and opened her arms to Isha.
"What are you going to draw? Let me see."
The two adorable girls, one big and one small, huddled together, while Li Ke went over to Vi.
"Made up?"
Vi glanced at Li Ke and gave a wry smile. "No. She's still mad at me, but she's willing to talk to me now, as long as I call her Jinx instead of Powder."
"What's the difference? Whether you call her Jinx or Powder, she's still your sister."
Vi pressed her lips together, looking as if she wanted to say something. She shook her head, then immediately nodded, caught in a complete tangle.
But she quickly grabbed Li Ke's arm and asked, "What did you say to Silco?"
"You're not on his side like Powder, are you?"
"The world isn't just black and white, and people aren't simply good or bad, Vi." Li Ke thought for a moment before replying.
"Maybe you're right, but he killed Vander." Vi looked at Li Ke with utmost seriousness, gritting her teeth. "He also turned Powder into what she is now. I want revenge, Li Ke."
"Vi, Silco wasn't the one who turned Powder into Jinx." Li Ke shook his head.
Even now, Vi still refused to admit that she was the one who had driven Jinx to a breakdown, not Silco.
Although Silco had also been the spark that set Jinx on the path to becoming who she was.
No. It should be said that things had already started spiraling out of control when Vi heard about the treasure from Ekko and took off to steal from Piltover.
Vi's expression shifted, and she looked frustrated, but Li Ke quickly said, "Let's drop it. Anyway, Vi, are you planning to stay here, or go to Piltover with that Piltover Cop?"
"Of course I'm staying here. Powder's here. Why would I go to Piltover by myself? Am I crazy?" Vi looked completely baffled, not understanding what Li Ke meant.
Li Ke smiled.
Good. The timeline really had changed. Vi and Caitlyn didn't have a strong bond yet, and Jinx hadn't gone crazy in front of Vi. So Vi wasn't planning to go to Piltover to take the civil service exam and become a Piltover Enforcer.
As long as Vi didn't get the wrong idea, things would be fine. He was only worried she'd hit it off with Caitlyn, lose her head, and follow her to Piltover.
If Vi left, Jinx would definitely go off the rails too, and Li Ke didn't want to see that happen.
There was still time to change things. A lot could still be done differently.
"Then let me officially welcome you back, Vi," Li Ke said.
"Don't give me that, Li Ke. I'm not agreeing to make you my Boss." Vi frowned.
Her strong-willed nature and lack of restraint were both ingrained in her. Maybe Silco's description of Vi had been spot-on.
The reason she was acting this way was that, back when she and Li Ke had been together, she had always been the one in charge. She had been the team's Boss.
Now she'd feel awkward about acknowledging Li Ke as her Boss.
Even though she didn't know how Li Ke had become so strong, she couldn't help feeling a little unconvinced. Just a little.
"Suit yourself," Li Ke said casually. He didn't care about Vi; he cared about Jinx.
If Vi weren't Jinx's emotional anchor, then honestly, Li Ke wouldn't care where she went.
If she hit it off with Caitlyn and got swept off her feet, that wouldn't be his problem either.
Ignoring Vi, Li Ke walked over to Jinx.
As soon as he got close, he saw Jinx with her arms and legs wrapped around Isha, holding the little girl in her lap and teaching her to draw with her tongue peeking out.
"You want to see fireflies? No problem. I can make some, and they'll even explode! What? You want to see real fireflies?"
"That might be tricky, Isha. We'd have to go catch real fireflies up in the Upper City, and we might not even find any."
"But I know a place with fireflies." Jinx chattered away to Isha.
"What are you two talking about?" Li Ke sat down behind Jinx and leaned over to look at Isha's drawing. There was a weird-looking firefly on the paper in her hands, with especially big eyes and fangs. Most importantly, it was blue.
At the sound of his voice, Jinx leaned backward, her soft body sinking right into Li Ke's embrace.
From Vi's point of view, Jinx was holding Isha, and Li Ke was holding Jinx.
It looked just like a family of three!
But—wait!
Where was she?
The sight made Vi feel awful. No, that spot where Li Ke was sitting should have been hers!
Jinx tilted her head back to look at Li Ke and grinned. "Isha wants to see fireflies, so I was thinking of going to catch a few."
"Are there still fireflies in Zaun?"
"Sure. The Wildfire Gang has some. I'll just ask them for a few. If they won't give them to me, I'll take them." Jinx said.
Li Ke laughed and secretly exchanged a look with Isha.
Little Isha grinned, her expression triumphant.
She'd helped Li Ke.
She didn't want to see any fireflies. She liked the "toys" her big sister tinkered with much more. But this was what her big brother wanted.
So Isha would, of course, do as he asked.
Before you continue