-24- You damn liar!

"Tonight, I'm won't be leaving. I'll be staying with you , but tomorrow morning, I should go find Vander," Linwin said as he sat on the couch. Cooking was his job, but doing the dishes clearly wasn't.

Powder stood on a stool, washing the dishes, while Vi was engaged in post-meal exercise, throwing punches at a wooden post Linwin had crafted a year ago.

Linwin watched Vi's punches. She had excellent rhythm, and her punches were both fast and precise. Vi was a genius when it came to fighting, unlike learning to cook or studying. In the realm of combat talent, Vi far surpassed Linwin.

Vi, like Ekko, is a genius, but Vi is a genius in fighting.

At thirteen or fourteen, she could defeat a group of men several years older than her. How could Vi not be a genius?

Linwin watched her as every punch landed on the wooden stake. To be honest, it was hard to imagine these sounds coming from a teenage girl.

"Tomorrow? How long do you plan to disappear again? And what what are you doing to help Vander? Little guy told me Vander has been expanding his territory recently. Linwin, it's strange, Vander seems different from before."

Vi continued to punch the wooden stake while talking to Linwin.

On the other side, Powder was doing the dishes, not paying attention to the conversation between the 'big guys.'

She was standing on a stool, washing three large bowls with a smile on her face. On a distant surface, her doll was placed.

She didn't need her doll for company while Linwin was around.

Actually, Powder really likes the night because during the night, whether at Vander's tavern or here with Linwin, there is always someone to accompany her.

At Vander's place, Vi would tell her bedtime stories and play around with her before bedtime.

They would pretend to be monsters and play-fight together.

While here with Linwin, she would listen to Linwin tell stories and talk about what he has been up to lately.

Powder really loves this sense of peace.

"Vander wants to be a key figure in Zaun."

"Isn't he already?" Vi asked in confusion.

"When has he become the boss of Zaun? I'm not aware of that."

"He led everyone in charging the bridge before, and everyone listened to him. Doesn't that make him the boss?"

"No, at that time, he was just leading the people of the Black Ally in resistance. Zaun has a lot of people in total, Vi. The Black Ally is just a small part of it."

If Vander had led the entire population of Zaun in the charge against the bridge back then, the situation would have been different. At least Piltover would have taken Zaun's issues seriously. Even if they were arrogant and proud, they would have been scared if the entire city rebelled. They might have even made compromises as a result.

The problem was that Vander didn't have that capability. He was only leading a few folks from the Black Ally and the surrounding area.

After all, most people were content with the status quo. They wouldn't follow Vander to their deaths.

Linwin drank water, looking at Vi and said, "But this time is different. Vander wants to be the boss of all of Zaun, and for that, he needs my help."

"Thud, thud, thud!"

"Thunk!"

Vi remained silent, but accelerated her pace, hitting the wooden post harder with her fists.

"Bang!"

Finally, a strong backhand punch created a deep dent in the specially crafted wooden post. Vi, panting, turned to Linwin and asked seriously, "Is it because of me?"

Linwin nodded, not considering this to be a secretive matter.

Perhaps the reason Vi preferred seeking Linwin after encountering issues wasn't because she genuinely thought Linwin was more important than Vander. She loved Vander, of course. It's just... Vander tended to brush her off, treating her like a child incapable of meaningful conversation. He always lectured her with grand ideas instead of engaging in proper communication. In this aspect, Linwin differed from Vander.

Well, without the system, frankly, Vi could probably beat up several of him. Linwin didn't view Vi as a child.

She was different from Powder.

So Linwin continued, "Well, Vander has a relationship with the Piltovan enforcers. As you've heard from Ekko, he initially wanted to turn himself in and take the blame for you."

Vi stood there, catching her breath after her punches, her anger growing as she listened to Linwin.

Standing on her tiptoes on the stool, her face wearing a displeased expression, she spoke, "He's being unreasonable!."

"You're wrong on this. He is a father and a good one," Linwin waved for Vi to sit beside him.

Once she came over, Linwin continued, "If Vander was born in a prosperous era of Zaun, he would surely be a competent leader. But now... he's an inadequate boss. However, Vi, you mustn't hold resentment against Vander. Don't think he's bad just because of his high-handedness. Though Vander might not be a capable leader, he's certainly a good father."

"I know, but what he was about to do was just too much, Linwin."

"He never considered how I'd feel about this."

Linwin nodded with a smile. This was one of the reasons he acted against Vander.

Vander always aimed for compromises, thinking he could solve everything, but he never thought about how the people he helped would feel.

If he indeed took the blame for Vi, given Vi's personality, she would genuinely resent herself for a lifetime.

Linwin knew that well.

Vi was a girl of this sort.

Linwin put his arm around Vi's shoulder, gently resting her head on his shoulder.

Vi didn't resist.

This was the advantage of having a 100% favorability. Even if she was tsundere, at 100% favorability, she was completely straightforward.

"But now he's realized."

"So, he started putting on his gauntlets again. And this time, Vi, it's not to fight the topsiders to the death. He just wants to protect his two daughters."

"Alright, alright, I get it, Linwin. My bad, okay?" 

Vi sat up straight, turned to look at Linwin, her eyes filled with displeasure.

"Can you stop scolding me whenever you find a chance? I never said Vander is bad. I just... I just think he handled this situation poorly, he should've considered my feelings."

"Shut up, you little brat. If you didn't go stealing with Powder, would this even happen? Also, if I don't scold you now, it'll be hard to correct you when you're older."

Linwin said confidently.

"How can there be someone like you? What do you mean, it'll be hard to correct me when I'm older?"

Vi protested. "You told me to be a reasonable person, but you never act reasonably yourself."

Linwin swiftly gave her a playful tap on the head, and when she was holding her head, pouting at him, he chuckled and said, "Silly, it's because I don't just speak reasonably, I can also use my fists to get my point across."

"Your fists are not as big as mine, so my rules stand. You better follow them."

"Vander manages the Black Ally like this, right?"

"Exactly, but look, it's because he hasn't shown his fists for too long that his rules are slowly being ignored."

"So, tomorrow..." Vi suddenly placed her hands on her chest, making a praying gesture. Her small head shook as her pink hair swayed. Then, she blinked her eyes and whispered to Linwin, "Can you take me with you?"

"Do you know what I'm going to do tomorrow?"

"Fighting, right? I get it, Linwin. I can help you!"

"Wait, what are you two talking about?"

In the distance, Powder had just finished washing the dishes and heard Vi mentioning going for a fight.

"Where are you guys going?" Powder stood there, looking at Vi. "Can I come?"

"Powder..." Vi hesitated.

This wasn't a simple theft; it was going into gang territory for a fight. It was dangerous. After contemplating, Vi firmly said, "No, you're too young."

"Vi, I'm not young! I can help you!"

Powder protested unhappily.

"I said no, and it's final. This time is not about stealing; it's about fighting, and it's very dangerous."

"I have my little monkey; it can help us deal with the enemies."

Seeing it wasn't working with Vi, Powder quickly turned to Linwin and pleaded, "Linwin, take me with you. Please, don't leave me behind. I can help."

"Linwin."

Vi just started speaking, and Linwin shook his head at her.

He looked at Powder and asked, "Do you really want to go with us?"

"Yes!" Powder vigorously nodded.

"Do you want to help me and Vander?"

"I do!"

Vi, becoming anxious, said, "Linwin!"

"Don't worry."

Linwin blinked at Vi.

Vi was puzzled but gave Linwin a stern look.

"I have a plan."

Powder immediately leaped onto Linwin's leg, happily laughing, "Linwin, you're the best!"

Vi, on the other hand, said grumpily, "You better have one."

----------------------

The next day, at the last drop.

At the counter, Greg, Sevika, Vi, and Powder sat together.

Sevika looked expressionless, staring at Powder, who was locking eyes with her.

Greg kept his eyes on Vi.

He had to listen to Vander and Linwin.

They told him to watch over her.

Vi looked at Greg who was almost the size of Vander. Her eyes twitched, recalling what they had agreed on last night...

Vi: "."

"Linwin, you damn liar!!"