The Community's Changes, Step by Step

In the Lian Hua Gang stronghold, inside a somewhat decent room--

Li Ke was looking at a stack of account books before him with a headache. Behind him, Jinx was leaning back against him. Miss Jinx's two fair, slender hands were extended, holding up a book and reading it. Upon closer inspection, one would find that the book was filled with detailed assembly tutorials and principles for various purification devices.

Her long blue braid fell in front of Li Ke, obstructing his vision. Li Ke couldn't help but reach out and loop Jinx's long braid around himself and her, tying them together like a rope.

"Did you understand it?"

About twenty minutes passed like this. The position made Jinx's back ache, and she unconsciously wriggled her small body, speaking out.

"No, I'm having a headache right now too. Territory is easy for us to solve. In Zaun, you can grab territory with just your fists. But in the end, the trouble is still money," Li Ke said, rubbing his brow.

He tilted his head slightly and saw that Jinx had already turned around. Her slender small body was pressed tightly against Li Ke, and her small hands were on Li Ke's shoulders. Her small face was right next to Li Ke's, very close. Li Ke looked at Jinx's profile and couldn't help but smile.

After this period of recuperation, Jinx's dark circles had faded considerably, and her pale complexion had gained a touch of ruddy color. However, she was still very thin, and Jinx's mouth seemed a little protruding?

Yes, it was indeed a little protruding, which gave her a more childlike innocence. She blinked her beautiful blue big eyes, looking at the account book in Li Ke's hand.

Li Ke could feel a softness against his back. As Jinx's body moved, the softness moved with it, easing Li Ke's headache considerably and causing his heartbeat to quicken. Perhaps Li Ke should apologize to Jinx.

She wasn't set in stone, after all. She still had some scale.

"Who told you not to listen to me?" Jinx mumbled when she heard him. "The best solution was right in front of you. Rob! Robbing is the simplest. What Zaunite doesn't do that?"

"That won't do. We're not a gang, and not all Zaunites have to do bad things from birth. What we're doing now is changing all of that, Jinx," Li Ke said, shaking his head and rejecting Jinx's suggestion.

Rob?

No, this precedent couldn't be set.

Li Ke had just set a rule, and after only a few days, he was about to abandon it. What would the people below him think of him?

However, money was indeed a big problem.

The Lian Hua Gang was not a gang that relied on collecting protection fees and criminal profit, nor did they have their own ventures like the Alchemical Baron. Li Ke couldn't connect with Zaun's current industries, mining, smuggling, etc. Furthermore, Li Ke didn't want the Lian Hua Gang to engage in criminal activities.

But now he had about forty people under him. It wasn't a lot, but it wasn't a little either. Li Ke was responsible for their food and drink every day.

Money was truly very important to Li Ke right now.

"Alright, I'll listen to you then."

"Don't just talk about me. What about you? Jinx, how is your experiment going?"

"It's not going well. I'm learning this stuff from scratch. I've never dealt with these things before," Jinx said, burying her face in Li Ke's shoulder. She continued in a muffled voice, filled with loss, "And my experiment requires a lot of money, doesn't it?"

"Don't you have money now?"

"It doesn't matter. You just need to focus on your experiment. Don't worry too much about the money," Li Ke said with a smile. He raised his right hand, reached for his left shoulder, and then pinched Jinx's small face.

Next, Li Ke lowered his head and looked at the ledger again.

Looking at Li Ke's face, Jinx suddenly said, "Li Ke, why don't I go ask Silco for money? He'll definitely give it to me."

"Will that work?" Li Ke was stunned.

The richest person in Zaun was naturally Silco. If Li Ke asked, Silco might give it to him, but he would definitely look down on Li Ke, especially after Li Ke had just made such bold claims to Silco.

But... what if Jinx was the one asking for the money?

Recalling that Silco's private space was full of Jinx's traces, Li Ke felt that this plan might actually work.

No, what's wrong with getting some Gold Coins from his own father-in-law?

Of course, this was just a joke. Li Ke wouldn't actually do that. If he did, Silco would definitely give the money, but the problem was that not only would he be looked down upon by Silco, but it would also be very difficult to bring Jinx back...

Just as Jinx was about to speak, a voice sounded from outside the Tent.

"Boss, Big Sister Sevika is here!"

Jinx immediately stood up, her expression turning sour. She held her long Blue Braid in one hand and swung it as she said, "What does that annoying Auntie want here?"

"Who knows?" Li Ke was also curious.

He stood up, and Li Ke and Jinx walked out of the house together.

Then, they saw Sevika, looking annoyed and leading a group of people.

"Big Sister Sevika," Li Ke stepped forward and greeted her.

Hearing Li Ke's address, a hint of complexity appeared on Sevika's face, but it quickly disappeared. She looked at Li Ke and said, "Silco asked me to deliver these two Boxes to you. Please check them so I can report back."

Sevika truly couldn't understand.

Silco had been threatened by Li Ke just a few days ago, and Jinx, that troublesome girl, still hadn't been brought back. Of course, Sevika was happy that Jinx hadn't returned, but she really couldn't understand why Silco had suddenly asked her to bring people and money to Li Ke.

weren't they enemies with Li Ke?

"Things?" Li Ke didn't understand.

What did she mean?

Silco was sending him things?

"Didn't you ask him for this?" Sevika frowned upon hearing this.

Li Ke was stunned, while Jinx had already squatted down and reached out to open the Box. After lifting the Lid, she immediately exclaimed "Wow" and looked up at Li Ke excitedly.

Li Ke looked down, and his gaze was immediately captivated.

The opened box was filled with Golden Coins.

"This..." Li Ke took a deep breath. Damn, there was no way to refuse this.

Even though he didn't know what Silco's intentions were, he really couldn't refuse!

With this money, the Lian Hua Gang could quickly establish a community and even start some businesses. This money was too important!

So, Li Ke looked at Sevika and said:

"Big Sister, please help me send him my regards. Tell him I'm very grateful and I'll remember this."

Sevika hummed and raised her hand. As she left, she glanced at the Lian Hua Gang's Stronghold.

Recently, many tents had been removed. Most of the Lian Hua Gang members were building houses nearby, preparing to turn this once abandoned place into their New Homeland.

Since it was already around the Junkyard, there was no need to worry about Material or anything else.

After all, the thing Zaunites were best at was creating miracles in a Desperate Situation, using things others disdained to create astonishing items.

Every Zaunite was a Craftsman, oh, except for Vi.

After instructing people to move the box into his room, Li Ke rubbed his hands excitedly.

"Silco gave it to you? Did you go to Silco to ask for money that day?" Jinx was also excited when she saw the money.

She actually had no concept of money. When she was with Silco, whatever she wanted, Silco would give it to her. Even if Jinx wanted things that only Nobles in Piltover could use, Silco would find a way to get it for her.

But when she came to Li Ke, Jinx began to understand the concept of money.

Eating cost money, drinking Juice cost money, eating Snacks cost money, and even the Material needed for Experiments cost money.

Moreover, the Electricity and water at home also cost money!

Otherwise, the power and water would be cut off!

Because of this, Jinx had come to one conclusion:

Li Ke, is poor!

Silco, is rich!

Well, even so, Jinx still preferred to be with Li Ke now.

Because Vi, Li Ke, and Isha were here. Compared to being with Silco, this place made her feel more relaxed.

"I didn't. He sent it over proactively," Li Ke shook his head.

"He did it proactively? That's strange. Why would he send you money?"

"I don't know either," Li Ke said, then suddenly paused.

Looking at Jinx's small face, Li Ke's mouth twitched slightly.

Hmm.

Li Ke might know the answer.

Is there a possibility that this money was originally meant for Jinx by Silco?

No, Jinx is too important to him!

Look at it, she provides the most Emotion Points, she designs and manufactures the gang's weapons, she studies and researches to change Zaun's technology, and now she's even gotten money for herself.

Is she a Menace?

I'll menace your mother!

Unable to resist, he stepped forward and hugged Jinx, wrapping his arms around her and saying:

"It's really great having you here."

"Jinx."

Jinx froze for a moment, so flustered she didn't know where to put her small hands. Standing on tiptoe, being held by Li Ke, she didn't know why he would suddenly do this. But, she immediately narrowed her eyes, curving them into crescent moons, nodded vigorously, and hugged Li Ke back.

Jinx smiled extremely brightly.

"I've already sent the money back, but I really can't understand why you would help Li Ke when he's not with us?"

At the Fugen Tavern, Sevika couldn't help but ask Silco.

Sitting on the sofa, fiddling with a Coin between his fingers, Silco said softly:

"It was just a simple investment experiment."