Give Me Some Intel
"Hello dear. Can you tell us what happened?"
Caitlyn kneeled on the ground, gently wiped the tears from the corner of Powder's eyes with her hand and asked in a soft voice.
"Van, Vander, he... he..."
Recalling the scene in the Last Drop, pools of blood, the scent of rust, and the groans of the injured...
Powder's face paled, her lips trembled, and overwhelming fear returned, stammering and unable to utter a complete sentence.
Caitlyn saw her emotional instability and reached out to wrap her arms around Powder's shoulders, hugged her tightly, and patted her back.
"Don't be afraid, you're safe with us."
As it turns out, Caitlyn has a knack for dealing with children.
After a while, Powder has stopped crying and calmed down, but she still sniffles every now and then retelling what happened.
"To…tonight, there was … a few guys who came to find Vander... we heard some noise from the basement … they killed everyone in the tavern, and took Vander away..."
Powder's voice choked, paused for a while, and then continued: "Vi and Claggor went to get Sevika and Benzo, and Mylo went to follow those guys..."
"Isn't Vander the boss around here? Abducted in his own territory?"
Catelyn glanced at Jayce, indicating that he should keep his mouth shut, and continued to ask for some details.
Unfortunately Powder didn't see the actual fight to give more information about those people and only had a rough idea of what happened.
Thought Lilin, as he listened, kneeling beside Caitlyn as she hugged Powder, with his hand on her back.
But it's fortunate also. She only saw the aftermath in the tavern which already caused her to be like this. Imagine if she was there when the tragedy happened.
Lilin sighed. It's fine, we don't need to cause emotional trauma to a little girl to gain intel on the enemy.
"We'll have to go to the Last Drop."
Lilin was not in a good mood. He suspects that Vander was probably captured and transformed into a lycan by Singed in the following years. From the interactions with him, he didn't seem like a bad man. Vander is also the father of Vi and Powder. We're going to need all the help we can get.
Jayce wasn't very willing to waste time with strangers, "But what about Caitlyn's parents?"
"I also think the investigation should start with this."
Caitlyn agreed with Lilin.
"First the attack on the Progress Day Conference in the uppercity, and my parents being taken away. Then an abduction of the chem-baron who helped me last time ... I suspect that the person who captured Vander will know something about my parents. Perhaps even the mastermind behind the scenes."
Jayce shrugged, "... Well, it's up to you."
Lilin controlled the armor and closed the mask again, stood up, "Powder, let's go to the tavern first."
...
...
A few minutes later, a group of people rushed to the tavern with the crowd.
This place has long been occupied by gang members. A dozen men were busy treating the injured people in the bar.
However, due to the lack of medical equipment, sanitary conditions, few people with adequate medical skills, and untimely rescue, so far, ten of the more than twenty people were lost, and their souls have returned to the realm of the dead.
As Lilin and his party approached, a voice of anger and impatience stopped them: "The pub's closed. Go back to where you came from."
Because of their armed appearance, both people inside and outside the bar stopped what they were doing, grabbed their weapons, and stared at them.
Most of them focused on Lilin, who was wearing his mechsuit, and didn't pay much attention to Caitlyn and Jayce.
Jayce stood his hammer on the ground, "We're not here to drink."
"I don't give a damn, get outta my way fancy boy." A bald-headed man's impolite voice sounded behind them.
Powder squeezed out from between Lilin and Caitlyn and ran to the bald man, "They are here to help!"
"You're... Vander's girl?"
The man recognized Powder and waved down his crew to continue their business.
Afterwards, he sighed and squatted down, and his tone was calmer: "Why you with these topsiders?"
"I'm asked them for help." Powder bit her lip, "and they're Vander's friends."
"Friends? I didn't know Vander had friends in uptown?"
The bald-headed man gave Lilin, Caitlyn, and Jayce a look, then lowered his eyes and continued to look at Powder.
"You sure they're good?"
Being questioned by the bald head's provocation one after another, Jayce's temper suddenly rushed up, "Hey, look here..."
"Calm down Jayce, we're not here to start a fight."
"We know Vander, you can ask Benzo or Sevika."
She stared at the man.
"We were going to ask Vander a favor, but we saw Powder. and heard that there was an incident, so we came to help.
"But, since you don't seem to trust us, we'll just leave. We'll cause you no trouble."
After saying that, Caitlyn turned and left without hesitation.
Lilin saw through her tactics, tapped Jayce, patted Powder's head, and followed behind Caitlyn. This practice is often used to bargain with merchants.
The merchants clearly know that this is a method of bargaining for customers, but as long as the counteroffer is not ridiculous, they will agree to the price proposed by the customer.
And this method also applies to other things.
Their boss's situation is dire, and Lilin's mechsuit has great visual impact. If they can help, it will definitely make the rescue of Vander much easier.
The man is not a fool, and he knows this too.
Before they walked too far, the bald man stopped them.
"Wait!"
Gottem.
"Is there anything else I can help you with, sir?"
He pondered for a moment, turned and asked Powder, "Are you sure they're good?"
"Of course! Brother Lilin helped me before!" Powder nodded quickly.
When did this happen?
Caitlyn and Jayce were surprised, but raised no questions, now is not the time.
"Fine."
The strong bald man gritted his teeth, stood up and walked to the three of them, lowered his head and bowed, making a sincere request.
"Sorry. After all this, in the Lanes… it's bad. I hope you can understand..."
"It's fine, we want to help. Tell us what you know."