-192- Captain Graves is firing up!

"Ah, you've arrived."

Waving them in, Linwin gestures for the two standing at the door to come in. After making this motion, he turns his head and places a plate of freshly peeled dried fruits in front of Kai'Sa. He nods towards the balcony, indicating for her to eat slowly out there.

Kai'Sa looks at Graves and Twisted Fate with suspicion. She might have seen these two a few times, but it seems like she hasn't. There's no aura of strength around them.

Eventually, Kai'Sa obediently takes the plate and goes out to the balcony.

The afternoon sun in Piltover is strong, so Kai'Sa sets up a small umbrella on the balcony and sits in the shade, crouching to eat the nuts and fruits from the plate.

Seeing Kai'Sa's actions, Linwin wears a helpless smile. Even though there's a short stool and a lounge chair nearby, she insists on squatting in the corner to eat. Perhaps years of habit have turned it into instinct.

From his view, it makes her look like she's being sulky.

"What do you want Graves and me to do for you?"

Twisted Fate enters and asks directly. Graves chimes in, "Linwin, it's fine for us to help you in Bilgewater, I know you're not a stingy person, and there will surely be good pay. But you want us to take a group of students to Bilgewater? That's a no-go, that place is too dangerous, not to mention the occasional sea monsters attacking the harbor."

Linwin pauses after hearing their words and then says, "Didn't Benzo explain it to you?"

Twisted Fate responds, "He did, but Mr. Benzo didn't make it clear."

Linwin immediately says, "Alright, come, sit down, let's talk."

Graves and Twisted Fate sit in the chairs Linwin had prepared earlier. One puffing on his mustache, the other calmly looking at Linwin.

"I certainly won't let you take the students to Bilgewater," Linwin first addresses Twisted Fate's most worrying concern, "those people are the future of Piltover and Zaun."

Twisted Fate twitches the corner of his mouth, feeling a bit like retorting.

Linwin, you're at most five years older than the students, so the future belongs to you too!

However, it's good not to take those students. If they were taken to Bilgewater, Twisted Fate would say that in a few days, more than half of the students would be clamoring to return to Zaun.

Because life in Piltover and Zaun is too good.

There's an abundance of food, ample supplies, stable order, and people live in happiness. Even the people who are currently living a hard life in Zaun can at least have a full meal.

Eating a full meal is the greatest happiness.

As powerful as Demacia is, that wealthy country can't ensure that everyone has a full meal.

Of course, the combined population of Zaun and Piltover is not even one-fifth of Demacia, but in other words, their land area is also quite small.

Therefore, by the time they arrive in Bilgewater, that godforsaken place filled with blood and violence everywhere, the students of the two cities can't adapt.

But if it were the original Zaunites, Twisted Fate might feel it's acceptable.

He has heard the stories of Zaun, and he knows what kind of world the Zaunites lived in back then. At that time, Zaun had laws similar to Bilgewater.

Order? At that time, Zaun had no order to speak of.

The gang bosses, chem barons, and others each ruled over their own territories, and the poor and weak could only be enslaved and oppressed.

It was not much different from now.

"Those going to Bilgewater won't be students from the two cities, but enforcers."

Linwin raises his hand, and a bottle of wine and three glasses fly over from the liquor cabinet. Grabbing the bottle, Linwin pours himself a glass first, then pours one for Graves and Twisted Fate.

"I need you to negotiate with the current rulers of Bilgewater. I want to acquire a piece of land, and the twin cities need to build a Hextech Station in Bilgewater."

"Do you want to swallow Bilgewater?" Twisted Fate looks at Linwin with a strange expression. He doesn't understand. Bilgewater is a place so poor, Linwin has no reason to be interested in that place.

In other words, Bilgewater's best weapons are discarded weapons collected from around the world, weapons that others don't want and sell cheaply.

"That place has mediocre technological levels, and iron smelting, and the like exist, but it's definitely not comparable to Zaun and Piltover.

No... even putting them together is an insult to Zaun.

Linwin looks at Twisted Fate speechlessly and glances at Graves, who has already started drinking.

Linwin continues, "Bilgewater is too poor, filled with scoundrels and criminals. I certainly wouldn't be interested in such a place."

Twisted Fate nods, "So, is it really just to contact Ionia? If you're just trying to contact Ionia, there's no need for this."

"Linwin, our place isn't as poor as you say." Graves, drinking on the side, interrupts Twisted Fate's words, with a bit of foam on his mustache.

Then, Graves continues loudly, "The higher you climb, the less likely you are to be drowned. Although most people can only live at sea level, in the big maze below, those powerful captains are not poor. They control a part of the dock, and monster hunters and the weak have to supply them. You should know, that's not a small fortune."

Twisted Fate doesn't comment on this.

He is a river nomad, a Shuriman.

Although he has been to Bilgewater, Twisted Fate's understanding of that place is not as deep as Graves, who is a native. After all, Graves was born in the warehouse alleys of Bilgewater, and he certainly understands the situation there.

Every alley can take lives.

Combat can break out at any moment, that's Bilgewater.

The hometown of the outlaw Graves.

"Do you want to occupy a place? Land in Bilgewater is precious, only the most successful captains can control a section of the dock. Do you think it's that easy?" Graves sneers.

"Graves is right, Linwin. This is not something you can get with money." Twisted Fate squints at Linwin and continues, "Unless... you want me and Graves to lead Zaunites and take down a territory."

Bilgewater has no laws; it's a place where only violence can thrive. It's fertile ground for chaos.

"Your speculation is not wrong, Captain Twisted Fate." Linwin nods with a smile, "Noxian warships, two fully armed squads of enforcers, Hextech guns, and Hextech hoverboards—all are available. Don't worry; they are the most elite enforcers, a total of forty-two."

Twisted Fate's eyes light up suddenly.

"But the manpower is still too little, Linwin." Twisted Fate shakes his head again, "Having soldiers who can fight on a ship is not enough. We still need..."

Graves interrupts Twisted Fate again, casually picks up the bottle Linwin placed on the table, pours himself a glass, and after downing it, he says loudly, "Enough, Twisted Fate, it's already enough. You know, we can recruit soldiers on our own."

Graves sometimes inexplicably becomes clever.

Linwin jokes with him, "Graves, no, I should call you Captain now?"

"I like that title, Linwin." Graves grins. He never thought he would become a captain one day. Before this, Graves had been a thief, a ruffian, a bandit, and a gangster, but as a Bilgewater native, it would be a lie to say that he didn't have dreams of becoming a captain! So, at this moment, Graves is excited. Grinning, he says, "So, our job, me and Twisted Fate, is to establish a dock for Zaun in Bilgewater?"

"That depends on your decision, Graves. In any case, my requirement is to establish a Hextech station in Bilgewater. Otherwise, even if a Hextech station is built in Ionia later, without a transit station like Bilgewater, the two continents won't be able to connect, at least not with the current Hextech."

"I understand."

Looking at Graves' eager expression, Twisted Fate is somewhat conflicted.

Captain, huh.

That means we'll have to visit the docks. With the temperament of those people and Graves' character, a brawl is inevitable.

Linwin, however, cheerfully says, "But take it easy; don't go messing with Gangplank. If you and the enforcers really get into trouble, I won't be able to rush to Bilgewater to save you in the first place."

Twisted Fate is puzzled, "If it's just for this matter, Linwin, if you're willing, you could go yourself."

"Are you kidding?" Linwin interrupts Twisted Fate. In a conversation that has been interrupted several times, Twisted Fate shows an annoyed expression.

"These are just minor fights, what do I need to do there?"

Linwin waves his hand, saying with a teasing tone, "The Hextech station in Bilgewater is indeed important, but not important enough for me to make a special trip."

Graves and Twisted Fate nod simultaneously, showing no objections to Linwin's words.

Linwin isn't exaggerating.

After all, could there be a presence more powerful than Linwin in Bilgewater?

For Graves and Twisted Fate, the answer is undoubtedly no.

However, for Linwin, who knows the story well, knows that there might be one or two individuals. Although Gangplank is the king of Bilgewater, ruthless and domineering, the truly powerful existence is on the Serpent Isles, specifically the Buhru people on Serpent's Coil.

If it's not clear yet, that would be Illaoi.

She is a Buhru.

Also, the reason why Bilgewater can hold its ground against the Shadow Isles is because of the Buhru people.

The Harrowing is not something Bilgewater can stop.

Furthermore, the strength of the Four Great Legends of Bilgewater is not to be underestimated. 

At least, Tahm Kench and Nautilus won't be weak.

But, after all, they are legends. If they appear too often, can they still be called legends?

"So, when should Twisted Fate and I set sail?"

Graves is already excited.

He loves excitement, and leading a group of Zaun's enforcers back to his hometown to claim territory is undoubtedly more thrilling than anything else.

"No rush, Captain." Linwin says with a smile, "But it's best to set sail before mid-April."

"I hope that by May of this year, I can send a group of students to Bilgewater to build the Hextech station."

"By the end of this year, excluding the western regions of Icathia, Freljord, and Shurima, I hope that anywhere in the world, people can use the Hextech phone."

Linwin says this with utmost seriousness.

"Then fucking do it!"

Graves clenches his fist and exclaims, "You better prepare the manpower, get the ship and the money ready. Twisted Fate and I can set sail in three days."

Linwin applauds, saying, "Alright! That's quite a spirit, Captain!"

Graves laughs heartily, "Hahaha!"

Twisted Fate, on the other hand, covers his face with both hands in pain.

"Three days... Like hell can they be ready in three days.... That idiot.."

But.

As Twisted Fate lowers his hands, a hint of excitement flashes in his eyes.

Back then, he and Graves were driven out of Bilgewater by a group of people.

And now.

He and Graves are going back.

At this moment, Twisted Fate suddenly hopes that certain people from the past are still alive.

Alive until the day he and Graves step onto the dock.