-193- Little Sparrow

In the evening, inside Zaun's White Dove Tavern:

"People are all arranged. Apart from the enforcers you want them to take away, the undercover agents have also been dispatched. They should reach Bilgewater in a maximum of five days."

Benzo is wiping a clean glass with a cloth at the bar, speaking to the man sitting in front of the bar.

"Even though our spies aren't as skilled as Piltover's, but I think they should be sufficient for Bilgewater."

Linwin looks up and smiles at Benzo, "Thanks, Benzo."

Benzo rolls his eyes and retorts, "You little brat, are you being polite to me?"

Linwin blinks, "Well..."

Got scolded.

Oh well, that's just Benzo's personality.

In this moment, Linwin recalls the incident when Benzo openly scolded Silco in the tavern.

To this, Linwin can only shake his head with a wry smile, silently lifting his glass. Linwin takes a small sip of the drink.

He wasn't much of a drinker before, but now, with Zaun producing fine brews, Linwin has grown fond of it.

"But Linwin, I'm curious about one thing. Why are you so optimistic about those two guys?" Benzo turns around, hands on the bar, and asks Linwin with a serious tone, "In my eyes, they aren't anything outstanding. That guy named Graves, he's a bit like me, and I know what kind of person I am."

"Can't handle big tasks, unwilling to deal with small ones," Benzo straightforwardly says.

This is also why Benzo hasn't become part of the Zaun leadership.

He knows very well what kind of person he is.

He can't become like Vander.

Even less like Silco.

He is just him, someone without great ambitions, unable to do big things but unwilling to do small things.

A person with lofty aspirations.

"That guy named Twisted Fate is not bad, very capable. And when I say capable, I don't mean his ability to use magic," Benzo says with his arms crossed.

His opinion of Twisted Fate is relatively good.

"Graves is also quite capable." Linwin looks up at Benzo, "He may look careless and reckless, but in reality, Benzo, he's quite cunning."

"And Graves has a strong mentality."

In the background story, Graves endured years of imprisonment without despairing; instead, he became stronger.

It's worth noting that the method used was one the nobles used to torture prisoners. A weak person would break down in a matter of days, let alone enduring such exaggeration for years.

But Graves? Not only did he not break down, but he also carved out a path to freedom with his bare hands, stole a new shotgun, and set out on the road to hunt down Twisted Fate.

This resilience is also the main reason why Graves became a champion.

Being able to endure what ordinary people cannot endure is what makes a champion.

"Do you really believe in them so much?" Benzo asks.

Linwin nods and smiles, "Of course, Benzo, Graves will bring us surprises."

"Well, if you say so, I'll look forward to him bringing us good news." Benzo stops talking.

Benzo quiets down, and Linwin enjoys the fine wine.

But looking at the time, Linwin is ready to have one more drink and then head home.

It's almost dinner time. If he doesn't go back, Kai'Sa will wait for him indefinitely unless Linwin says he won't be home today. Otherwise, with Kai'Sa's personality, she'll go hungry too.

"Ding."

The wind chimes sway, and the tavern's door is pushed open. Subsequently, two young men walk into the White Dove Tavern.

Taking off their hats, one of the young men in a merchant's attire walks towards Benzo with a smile and says, "Mr. Benzo, the merchant ship has arrived at the port. What do you want this time?"

Benzo immediately replies, "I'll make a list for you later."

"Alright, then I'll have a drink first."

"Order whatever you want; it's on me." Benzo generously says.

Placing two cups on the bar, Benzo then asks, "But Thal, you've only been back for a short time, and you're going out again so soon?"

Linwin, drinking on the side, quietly listens to the conversation between Benzo and the young man.

"Not short at all, Mr. Benzo. I've been back for seven days already. For us merchants, time is money, and I've lost a lot of money already." Thal says with a cheerful smile.

"Did you encounter anything interesting on this trip? By the way, the Noxians didn't trouble you, did they?"

Thal immediately responds, "Encountered some small troubles. They suddenly raised the taxes and accused us of smuggling. But with the help of Lord Silco, we managed to leave Noxus successfully."

"Those heartless bastards!" Benzo curses angrily after hearing this.

Thal is speaking lightly now, but Benzo knows that the situation must have been very dangerous at that time.

"Speaking of interesting things."

Thal's eyebrows relax as he laughs, "When we had already left Noxus's port, Noxus sent warships after us. We didn't know what was happening, and they suddenly threw a person into the sea."

Benzo scoffs upon hearing this, "That's something Noxians would do."

Benzo casually asks, "So, that person died?"

"No, we pulled her out of the water." Thal doesn't know how to describe this incident.

Linwin, drinking on the side, laughs and shakes his head.

The person pulled out of the water must be a terrified soldier.

Noxians uphold strength, and cowardice is considered shameful; throwing someone into the sea to be shark food is something Noxus has indeed done a lot.

"Oh, so you brought that person to Zaun? Brought someone from Noxus to Zaun?" Benzo's tone suddenly turns a bit cold.

"Wait, Mr. Benzo, let me explain."

Sensing the unfriendly tone from Benzo, Thal quickly explains, "She's not from Noxus; she's from Shurima."

"She said she comes from a small tribe in Shurima and went to Noxus just to work and earn money."

"I see." Benzo's tone relaxes.

If he's from Shurima, that's fine.

And even if he was from Noxus, being abandoned like this would probably be disheartening for anyone from Noxus, right?

"So, where is the kid you rescued now? Do you plan to have him work with you?" Benzo asks.

Thal pauses for a moment, then answers, "She's a girl."

////Some of y'all might be confused so I'll explain, Thal saying "she" and Benzo didn't notice it and think it's a dude is not my error. In Chinese both "she" and "he" sounds like "Ta", so unless one specifically say it's a girl or see it in words, you won't know if the other people is saying "he" or "she" in Chinese.////

Benzo chuckles, "A woman? Noxians threw a woman into the sea? Why?"

Thal immediately explains, "Because she refused to use magic to harm my merchant ship, so the leading officer threw her into the sea."

Listening to this, Linwin, who has been silent, suddenly freezes.

Thrown off the ship. A girl. From Shurima. Can use magic?!!

What the heck?!!

Linwin immediately turns around, staring wide-eyed at Thal, ready to ask.

But Thal has already spoken.

"Currently, I've introduced her to work at a textile shop. She's very skilled at weaving."

"Name... uh, what was her name again?" Thal looks at his companion.

The companion rolls their eyes dramatically and replies, "Taliyah."

"Pfft!!!"

A sip of drink sprays out, and Linwin wipes the corners of his mouth, standing up.

Benzo looks at Linwin's sudden excitement, puzzled, and asks, "What are you doing?"

"Taliyah? What Taliyah?" Linwin looks at Thal, questioning, "The Taliyah you're talking about, does she have brown hair and little freckles on her face?"

"Huh? Who are you?" 

Seeing Linwin's state, Benzo knows that this is important, so he reaches out, slaps the bar, and sternly says, "Answer his question, Thal. I don't want to say it again."

Thal looks at this young man, who seems to be the same age as him, seemingly familiar but unable to truly recognize him.

Can only quickly say, "Yes, just as you said."

"Where does she live now?"

"Sir, do you happen to know her?" Thal asks with a furrowed brow.

Taliyah is a lovely and kind girl. The reason she was abandoned by the Noxians and thrown into the sea, as Thal said, is because she is too kind-hearted and couldn't bring herself to harm Thal's merchant ship.

Thal certainly couldn't do something to hurt Taliyah.

Witnessing this scene, Benzo immediately steps out from behind the bar, walks to Thal with a stern face, and says with a menacing tone, "Thal! He's Linwin!"

"Lin-Linwin? Councilor Linwin?"

"Quick, tell me, where is Taliyah?" Linwin asks nervously.

He had searched for Taliyah for a long time in Shurima and thought she might have joined Yasuo in Ionia.

But to find her in Noxus? No, no, to find her in Zaun?

This is in his territory!

Knowing that the young man in front of him is Linwin, Thal doesn't hesitate anymore and immediately answers, "Sir Linwin, Taliyah lives in the Dodo Inn on Zaun Avenue."

"Woosh!"

The sound of breaking air echoes, and the next moment, Linwin disappears from the tavern.

Leaving Benzo puzzled, "What's gotten into this kid?"

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

On the other side, Linwin is swiftly flying towards Zaun Avenue.

The Little Rock Sparrow Taliyah...

This brave and kind little sparrow from Shurima.

Now, she will belong to Zaun!

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