-8- Survival is sought through battle

"Are you serious?" Linwin asked again.

And Linwin clenched his fist, trying hard to restrain his impulsiveness. Otherwise, Vander might have been sent flying by now.

He feared he might land a punch on Vander's big face.

Hand himself over to Piltover?

Was Vander joking?

Linwin knew Vander wasn't as smart as Silco, but he never expected him to be this foolish.

The rift between Piltover and Zaun was unfixable, like water and oil. No matter how much they tried to interact, they could never truly merge.

"Linwin, this is the only solution I can think of," Vander said with a somewhat strained smile.

"This situation has already caught the attention of the Council. Do you think they will listen to you? If they could see the situation in Zaun, then you wouldn't have to charge the bridge! Vander, to them, the one who instigated that operation in Zaun, the one revered among the Zaunites, should die as soon as possible!" Linwin's fist rested on the bar as he stood up, facing Vander. One seated, one standing, yet they met each other's gaze at eye level.

"Perhaps as you said, Piltover folks won't kill you. But if you're really thrown into prison, come back? Are you kidding me? They would never let you out. A casual excuse from an upper-city person can add more years to your sentence. Can't you understand that? And as for your police lady..."

Linwin rolled his eyes dramatically, "Don't even mention it. What influence does the police chief you put so much hope in have in front of the council? Does she really have any say?"

"I know, I understand," Vander lit another cigarette, taking a deep drag, a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other. After blowing out smoke rings, he said, "But other than compromising, I have no other choice."

"Fortunately, I have you by my side now. If it weren't for you, I'm certain I wouldn't be doing this. If I were to leave, they would certainly become restless, but now that you're here. You can help me protect those who have lost family and friends because of me, so Linwin, the Undercity's future..."

"Is there really no other way besides compromising?" Linwin interrupted Vander, preventing him from continuing with what sounded like a testament.

He shook his head, looking at Vander. Suddenly, Linwin thought of Silco, whom he had seen earlier. These two people were so different yet so alike.

Both were fighting for Zaun, both resisted the upper city.

But Vander ultimately chose to compromise, while Silco was constantly plotting in the shadows.

"I went to Silco earlier. Don't you want to know what we talked about?"

At the mention of Silco, Vander's eyes flickered a few times. He pretended not to care and said, "That 'brother' of mine... what is he doing?"

"He's still persisting in his struggle against Piltover," Linwin said in a deep voice.

"He's still the same."

"Vander, Silco's ideas are too extreme. You know I don't agree with his ideas, but he's right about one thing—you're too weak now," Linwin said straightforwardly.

"Weak? Maybe," Vander didn't refute Linwin. A big man, the leader of the Undercity, who had led the people of Zaun to charge the bridge, accepted the title of weakness calmly. He said, "Linwin, a leader has responsibilities. They all believe in me, trust me. But I led them to their deaths."

"I once thought that as long as I led my people across the bridge, our lives would be better... But besides bodies scattered on the ground, homeless orphans, and a Zaun growing poorer... I gained nothing. No, I did gain something."

Vander took a large gulp of his drink. "I'm burdened by guilt, a lifetime of apologies to them, to their children, families, and friends."

Setting the glass down, Vander turned to Linwin, his face calm. "So I'm scared now, Linwin. Am I wrong to be this way? We can't beat Piltover. Isn't it fine like this? A momentary peace under the help of the sheriff. Isn't that good? And these words, I can only share with you and Benzo."

"I've given up the criminal life, but they still look up to me, hoping one day I'll lead them in resisting Piltover again. But I can't carry that burden anymore; those are lives, individual lives."

Vander's voice grew quieter as he spoke.

Linwin fell silent. Was Vander wrong in what he said?

No, he wasn't. And when everyone anticipated Vander leading them in resisting Piltover again, no one considered what he might be thinking, including Linwin.

Were they all eagerly awaiting his response?

Vander's timidity and retreat stemmed from him being acutely aware that he was the prime responsible for those lives. After the Day of the Ashes, Vander was no longer just a rebel; now, he was caught between Zaun and Piltover, striving to maintain order as a guardian teetering on the brink of collapse.

He truly loved Zaun and its people.

But it was precisely because of this that Linwin grew angrier.

Because Linwin knew how the future would unfold!

As long as he didn't swallow the book!

There was absolutely no possibility of reconciliation between Zaun and Piltover.

"Vander, the peace you seek is nothing but a bubble," Linwin said, staring at Vander. "Silco is right; only when you land a punch on the proud faces of those Piltover folks, sending their teeth flying, can you earn their respect."

Vander frowned deeply. "I'm a man with experience, Linwin. I've seen it. In war, there are only losers, no winners!"

"Nonsense! Only losers in war?" Linwin pointed at Vander's face.

Linwin could understand the sacrifices Vander had made for Zaun.

But if Vander thought he could survive by relying on the sympathy of the sheriff and the enforcers, that was absolutely wrong.

This approach, Linwin disagrees. 

Based on Linwin's memories of the League's lore, the future relationship between Zaun and Piltover will only deteriorate further. With the advent of Hextech technology, the gap between the two sides is insurmountable. In that future, Piltover residents will run rampant in the Undercity, insulting Zaunites openly. 

Alchemical technology advancement, is it the will of Zaunites? Not at all. It's because they are forced to do so in order to survive.

And in such a time, only two people can save Zaun. One is the true child of Zaun, Ekko, and the other is Viktor, who abandons humanity and pursues divinity. 

But... even so, according to Linwin's speculation, without a few hundred years, Viktor would struggle to surpass the Hextech-powered Jayce. 

Therefore, Vander is wrong, completely wrong.

"Vander, without war, Zaun will certainly be the loser! Vander, you've maintained order in Zaun, but you can't change the toxic gases in the Sump, the polluted water sources, and the rampant diseases! Within your Black Ally, you protect everyone well. But what about beyond the Black Ally? Are those people no longer Zaunites?"

"Open your eyes and look outside! Is this so-called stability what you desire? Haven't you seen those enormous pipelines? The waste from Piltover flows into Zaun incessantly. If this is the stability you want, then what's the difference between this stability and being a dog?"

"Bang!"

"I have my reasons!"

"Only I understand how powerful Piltover people are. They have weapons, what do we have?"

Vander slammed the table, stood up, and stood in front of Linwin like a wall.

"Weapons? Vander, we can have weapons too."

"I may not agree with Silco's main combat philosophy, but he always remembers his former ideals and is willing to sacrifice everything for them. Now he has manufactured weapons with his people. Though they have it's flaws they are very powerful. But what about you? What have you been doing these years? Have you been a lapdog to Piltover?"

"Vander, Zaun's independence and rise will depend on ourselves. To attain the same status and development rights as Piltover, from what I see now, Silco's ideals are not wrong. We need to make the lofty council members of Piltover understand 'pain' from a personal perspective before we can achieve peace." 

"I won't join forces with Silco, don't worry. But now, I won't align with you either."

"I will protect Vi, Zaun, and... you, in my own way."

Linwin picked up the drink and poured it into the glass in front of him. Then, he raised it and drank it all.

Vander is wrong, but even if he's wrong he's family.

When a family is wrong, you must correct them, not abandon them. 

Now, he must correct Vander's mistake. 

Turn myself in? Ha, that's utterly foolish! There's always a way.

"Crack."

The sound of bones cracking echoed. At some point, Vander had taken down his old gauntlet and stood in front of Linwin, who was about to leave the tavern. He shook his burly neck and made a punching motion.

"I've said it, I'll handle the Enforcers, and what you need to do is protect Vi and Powder."

"Are you trying to fight me now?"

What does it feel like when alcohol hits you? 

It's probably the sensation of the whole world being under your influence. 

Especially after playing the tough guy for a few years.

Right now, Linwin had only one feeling.

Even if Camille, that old lady, appeared in front of him right now with her probably mechanical face, Linwin would punch her.

To test if his fist is stronger or her metal construct.

And now... it's just Vander, with a physical body and ordinary weapons, standing in front of him?

"Then let me wake you up, boss."

Linwin stretched his hands forward, propping them up, and stretched lazily. Then, he looked at the massive man in front of him and said in a deep voice:

"Let me tell you... Vander. Survival sought through compromise leads to the demise of peace. Survival sought through battle leads to the preservation of peace!"

"Peace is never achieved by asking, it's fought for!"