-29- Benzo of Zaun

Vander and his group were gone for three days, taking more than seventy people with them. When they returned, all of them were safe, but many had suffered injuries. Luckily, no one had died.

"Damn it, Vander, if it weren't for you punching that kid away, I might have lost this arm. That little bastard, I already let him go, and he dared to attack me from behind."

"Alright, Benzo, you've repeated that three times already."

"Heck, can I not say it? I almost lost my arm."

Vander, smoking a cigarette, smiled faintly and shook his head as he watched Benzo drinking heavily.

Lowering his head, Vander looked at Powder, who was standing beside him, her large eyes filled with concern.

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

There were still traces of fresh blood on his body, and many wounds, some from being hit with an iron bar and others from being slashed with a knife.

Vander was injured quite severely.

As the boss of the Undercity, he led the charge into battle.

Interestingly, when many of the thugs saw that they had to face Vander, apart from the loyal followers of the Chem Barons, most chose not to confront him.

They were unwilling to fight against the "Father of Zaun."

It's important to note that in the old Zaun, including the Undercity and even parts of the Mid-level, many areas were under Vander's control. This is why Grayson got to know him and did business with him.

Many of them had received Vander's kindness and protection.

"By the way, where's Linwin?" Benzo asked Vander as he put down his glass.

Vander patted Powder's head and then gave her a thorough rub. After this gesture, Powder finally relaxed and ran downstairs to find Vi.

Inside the last drop tavern, the atmosphere was lively. The music player had changed from its usual nostalgic tunes to more cheerful songs.

Vander looked at everyone celebrating and felt a sense of nostalgia. 

While the old days were calm, they often felt dull. But after Vander had a change of heart, the Undercity had come alive again.

"He's probably very busy right now," Vander replied.

"I heard that kid took care of the Black Ice Alliance and a few Barons from the West District," Benzo said with a grin.

"Yeah, their surrender documents are right over there," Vander said, gesturing. He pouted and ended up with some foam from the drink on his mustache. Just like Benzo, Vander was in a great mood.

He realized that he actually enjoyed fighting.

"Vander, look at you now. Your smile is so much brighter," Benzo said, his mouth wide with a grin. The foam on Vander's mustache made him look somewhat comical, but Benzo couldn't help but feel moved. He hadn't seen Vander this relaxed in a long time.

Every time Vander came to visit him, he would vent his grievances and talk about the troublesome things Vi and Powder had done, which gave him headaches.

"Ever since you adopted Vi and Powder, you've been smiling but not as freely," Benzo said. He hesitated for a moment and added, "It's not your fault, Vander. You don't have to carry a sense of guilt for them."

"You're wrong," Vander shook his head, swaying his drink. He smiled and said, "They're my daughters. Even though they can be troublesome at times, I love them deeply."

These were words he would never say to Vi and Powder. 

Never. 

Vander had his pride, and he was the kind of father who struggled to express his emotions. So, he could only share these thoughts with his good friend, Benzo.

Benzo blinked, and in the next moment, he picked up his glass, clinking it against Vander's. His large beard shook as he laughed. He looked at Vander and said, "You're absolutely right. No matter how troublesome they get, it's our responsibility."

"What else could be more exasperating than having one children?" Benzo asked with a wink, grinning widely, and downed his drink in one gulp.

"Of course there is," Vander replied with a smile, "two children."

Meanwhile, in a place unseen by Vander, a little figure was happily skipping down the stairs. Her steps were full of joy. 

Vi isn't a burden to Vander, and she knows it.

Because Vi is strong, and she can help Vander.

But she also believed that she wasn't a burden herself. 

She was his daughter. 

That's what Powder thought.

---

The celebration at the tavern was in full swing, with people enjoying themselves. Suddenly, the tavern's entrance was pushed open, causing some annoyance among the patrons.

Vander was taken aback too, wondering why they were open when he had posted a notice that the last drop was closed during these special times. Who would be foolish enough to push the tavern's door open at this moment?

As Vander and the irritated Benzo saw the newcomer, their expressions shifted from surprise to smiles.

"Ha! Look who's back, brothers!" 

Benzo stood up, his portly frame nudging through the people in front. He held his large cup close to Linwin and said with a loud laugh, "It's the hero of the Black Ally!"

"Benzo, how many drinks did you had?" Linwin said, playfully pushing away the plump Benzo, whose breath smelled strongly of alcohol.

At the bar, Vander raised his glass, wearing a warm smile, and loudly said, "Welcome back, Linwin."

Linwin took a drink from the cup handed to him by someone nearby. After a hearty gulp, he stuck out his tongue and said, "It wasn't too tough, just a few trips outside. But I've got something to tell you, and..."

Before Linwin could finish his sentence, the door that had just been closed was pushed open once more. This time, everyone turned to see who was coming in, and the room fell silent.

Vander, who had been smiling, suddenly had a stern expression. He stared intently at the person who entered, giving off an aura like an angered lion.

The tension in the air was palpable. A newcomer had entered, and he walked in with an air of elegance not typical of someone from Zaun.

"Interesting," he said, looking around. "Black Ally is becoming poorer and more wretched. If this is the stability you desire, then I must say you're mistaken, brother."

As all the eyes in the room fixated on him, Silco remained unfazed. He continued, "What's this? You don't welcome me?"

Beside Linwin, a roar erupted. The drink that had just been filled splashed out as Benzo swung his cup at Silco. He yelled with intensity, "Silco, you motherf***er!"

"You filthy piece of sh**! I don't care if you crawled out of some stinking sewer, but I'm telling you, crawl right back to where you came from. Black Ally doesn't welcome you!"

Linwin: ?!

Oh my god!

Linwin had no idea that Benzo could be so volatile. What a short fuse!

Silco, on the other hand, knew Benzo all too well.

"You're just the same as ever," he said. "You always show up to block the way when you shouldn't."

Benzo couldn't keep his composure. He pointed at Silco, step by step, and shouted, "F*** your mother!"