The Cheater

Bilgewater has two very famous ports, one called "Blood Harbor."

There's always a risk of sea beast attacks around Bilgewater, but over the years, hunting and processing these giant creatures has gradually spawned many lucrative industries.

Sea Hunter Ships drag them back to port, where people then butcher them into meat, oil, hides, and scales—even bones and teeth—to be sold in the increasingly prosperous dockside market.

"Blood Harbor" earned its name as a slaughter dock because of this; vast numbers of sea beasts are killed here, and even the waves can't wash away the unending greasy blood seeping between the wooden planks.

The merchant ship Jia Ruo was on docked at the other one, "White Harbor."

"White Harbor" got its name much more mundanely, simply because it's covered in white bird droppings every day.

After loading forty to fifty barrels of fresh water and several baskets of vegetables onto the ship, the vessel's supplies were complete.

Then, all the sailors were divided into two groups, led by the captain and the first mate respectively, to take turns guarding the ship or going ashore to amuse themselves.

Jia Ruo and Neeko were among the first group to disembark with the captain.

"Let's go."

The captain waved his hand grandly, leading everyone into the city of Bilgewater.

Ding~

The captain flicked a Golden Siren Coin at Jia Ruo. This currency circulated in all coastal areas.

"Brat, take this. It's my treat. Don't underestimate it..."

The captain stood by the Bounty Board in the middle of the alley, examining it closely.

(In Bilgewater, the closest thing to law and order is the Bounty Board. The names listed there are the most wanted villains in Bilgewater, ranked by the bounty price per head.)

"Right now... it can buy one four hundred and sixty thousandth of Gangplank's life, hahaha!"

Gangplank is the universally acknowledged, cunning, and ruthless King of Pirates, his fearsome reputation reaching far and wide.

He is Bilgewater's underworld emperor, known as the Scourge of the Seas.

It's said that the Grand General of Noxus himself swore to see Gangplank torn to shreds with his own eyes, because he stole the "Leviathan," Swain's warship and the pride of the Noxian navy.

As for who dares to put a bounty on Gangplank in Bilgewater, it's himself: he often sends people to increase the bounty, publicly challenging all of Bilgewater.

On the Bounty Board, besides the wanted posters for various villains, are also posted Bilgewater's four great terrifying legends: the Ghost of the Blood Harbor, the Tidecaller, the River King, and the Abyssal Titan.

Jia Ruo, having transmigrated, knew that these four legends corresponded to four heroes in League of Legends.

But he didn't expect that he would soon meet one of them...

Next, the captain led everyone into a casino, and the sailors immediately scattered, heading to different gambling tables.

Jia Ruo and Neeko turned one Golden Siren Coin into ten with ease from a few card tables: Neeko could easily see everyone's hidden cards.

Fearing trouble, Jia Ruo didn't get greedy and had Neeko stop after a small win.

Although Jia Ruo had been in Runeterra for a long time, he had never used currency, nor did he even know the purchasing power of a Golden Siren Coin.

Of course, he could now afford to buy one forty-six-thousandth of Gangplank's life.

Suddenly, the gamblers all crowded around a card table.

Neeko, full of curiosity, wouldn't miss such an event and pulled Jia Ruo along to join the onlookers.

There were four people at the card table. Two had already stood up and left dejectedly.

Only two men remained, sitting opposite each other.

The man on the left wore a similar short vest to Jia Ruo, open at the chest to reveal the solid muscles of his abdomen. He was chewing on a large cigar, leaning back in his chair.

Just by looking at his appearance, one could tell he was a tough guy.

The other man had medium-length hair braided into small pigtails. His hands were crossed on the card table, and a calm smile played on his lips.

The reason people had gathered was that when these two were calling bets, the chips had already piled up to one thousand eight hundred Golden Siren Coins.

Even though Jia Ruo didn't know the value of one thousand eight hundred Golden Siren Coins, it was certainly not a small sum.

"Let's reveal the cards then, whoosh~"

The man on the left exhaled a large cloud of smoke. It was a deep, resonant voice.

"As you wish."

Bang!

The four hidden cards of both men were simultaneously revealed and slapped onto the table.

In an instant, the noisy chatter of the other gamblers fell silent.

Because all four of the hidden cards held by these two men were four Aces!

The man on the left reacted quickly, picking up the Shotgun he had placed by his feet earlier.

This Shotgun was no ordinary weapon. Judging by its massive bore, Jia Ruo was sure his hand could fit inside.

Boom!

As the man raised his hand, a smoke bomb landed at his feet. At the same time, the man with the pigtails tossed up a rain of poker cards.

Smoke instantly filled the air.

The entire casino descended into chaos, people pushing each other in confusion, their faces streaming with tears from the smoke.

Jia Ruo shielded Neeko behind him, hiding in a corner.

Could this be Graves from his younger days? The title "Outlaw" really suits him.

Recalling the massive shotgun and smoke bombs, Jia Ruo couldn't help but speculate.

BANG!

This time, it was a deafening gunshot, the tough guy firing into the air.

"Get lost if you don't want to die!"

The man with the small braids flipped over a card table in front of him. "Don't block the way, gentlemen."

Both of them rushed towards the casino exit at the same time.

They looked at each other and smiled.

Because they both felt a sense of unspoken understanding from the other, as if they were old friends of many years. Yet, this was their first meeting.

The two of them burst out of the casino. The thugs reacted and chased after them.

Immediately, the entire street erupted, the loud gunshots echoing through it.

Merchants' stalls were scattered everywhere, and people on the street ducked down, seeking cover.

Clearly, this wasn't their first time encountering such a situation.

Many gamblers who were eager for trouble also rushed out of the casino.

"Beat him up!"

They cheered.

Meanwhile, those who owed the dealer money or had drawn a bad hand took this golden opportunity to slip away.

Jia Ruo and Neeko also got separated from the captain in the ensuing chaos, so they headed towards White Harbor, preparing to return to the ship.

Neeko was very excited, chattering non-stop to Jia Ruo along the way. She had never experienced anything like this before.

But Jia Ruo didn't know that he had just witnessed the first meeting of a criminal duo.

He had guessed half of it correctly. The tough guy was indeed the Outlaw Graves, and the other man was a young Twisted Fate.

Neither of them had grown their beards yet, so it was no wonder Jia Ruo didn't recognize them.