Chapter 20 - Tailed again

"Wha... What did you say?" Ekko thinking he had just hallucinated.

Lilin repeated it with a smile, "I'm a mechanic... um, craftsman, would you like to be my apprentice?"

Jayce looked suspiciously at the little kid with thin arms and legs, not even half his height.

With such a small body, even holding wrenches and hammers is a problem. Why?

Even if you are looking for someone to do odd jobs, there's plenty of choice in the training district in the southern urban area of Piltover. To hire a child in the bottom city who haven't even learned mechanical theory?

Jayce couldn't figure it out.

Lilin continued:

"Of course, you will be compensated. I can give you a daily salary of 10 silver cogs to start, which is far higher than the market price. Even the working-class citizens of the upper city rarely have such a salary.

"If your parents agree, the Kiramman family can still provide food and housing, and this will not restrict your freedom."

Ekko lowered his head, his hands fidgeting. He was a little overwhelmed.

" I can only repair some gadgets, I don't know..."

To be honest, hearing Lilin's conditions, Ekko was apprehensive.

Although he is young, he is not stupid.

His parents taught him a saying since he was a child: No pie will fall from the sky.

There must be a purpose for Lilin to do this.

But what it is, he who does not yet know his future cannot guess.

"It doesn't matter, as I said, an apprentice. I can teach you mechanical theory. The Kiramman family is also a family of craftsmen. There are many famous craftsmen to teach the apprentices."

"Hey, Lilin...isn't this a little impulsive..."

Jayce was interrupted by Lilin before he finished speaking, "I know what I'm doing."

In fact, it was not a whim that Lilin wanted to take in Ekko as an apprentice, but he had this idea for a while.

A young man who learned without a teacher, and even developed a device that can control time using only a primitive crystal shard.

Lilin thinks that Ekko's talent in the field of science might actually be higher than that of Jayce and Viktor.

If he was given a better environment and education, he might have invented the "z-drive" device earlier.

Then, in addition to the system, Lilin will have another card up his sleeve to deal with future crises.

"What do you think?"

After hesitating for a long time, Ekko couldn't make up his mind, so he turned to Benzo, who had just recovered from the shock.

"Bboy, what are you looking at me for?" Benzo scolded and walked up to Ekko and slapped him on the head, "Why don't you hurry up and agree?"

"...Ah?" Ekko covered his head in pain, "But...is that okay?"

Benzo gave him another whack.

That is the Kiramman family, many would die for a chance to work there.

"The boy's got a screw loose today. Bow to your teacher."

"Teacher, teacher..." Ekko subconsciously shouted to Lilin.

"Just call me Lilin." Lilin's expression was slightly embarrassed, "Don't call me teacher, it makes me old."

"Then... I'll call you Big Brother Lilin."

Ekko scratched his head inexplicably, feeling that everything was like a dream, unreal.

"Hahaha...your parents would be proud of you Ekko!"

Benzo looked more excited than Ekko.

At first, he let this little guy help in his shop out of friendship with Ekko's parents.

But after a while, Benzo, who had no children, regarded Ekko as his son.

His "son" has grown so quick, his "old father" is naturally happy.

"In that case, let's go back to Piltover." Lilin waved to Ekko.

"Eh? Are you leaving now? What about my parents?"

Benzo pushed him to Lilin's side, "I will tell your parents."

"And Violet, Powder, Claggor and Mylo..."

"I'll let Vander inform them." Benzo glared at Ike, his tone getting more and more impatient.

"There's no need to worry so much. You're free to come back when you want."

Lilin laughed and said, took out 10 silver cogs from the bag and handed them to Ekko.

"By the way, I know that you hitch rides to Piltover on top of the Rising Howl, it's too dangerous. I'll reimburse you for the cost of your ride in the lift in the future.

"It doesn't matter if you don't want to go back to Kiramman house with me today, you can come to me when you're ready... but it's better to wait until after the Progress Day. I should have more free time then. "

Benzo, who was beside him, had a full smile on his face, and shook Lilin's hand tightly, "This is great Lilin."

"We'll be on our way then."

After telling Jayce to collect the hex crystal and the shards, the two left the store together.

...

...

In the alley in front of Benzo's grocery store, four figures hid in a dark corner.

After sneaking out of The Last Drop, Violet followed Lilin and Jayce with Powder, Claggor, and Mylo.

Violet originally thought that the two Uptowners would take the screaming machine back topside.

But I never thought that they would come to Benzo's shop.

"What's the matter? Benzo seems to be very happy..." Claggor squinted as he looked into the store.

Mylo pouted, "Probably cause he ripped them off."

"Okay guys, they're coming out, careful not to get noticed!" Violet quickly reminded, as Lilin and Jayce leave the store.

"It looks like they're going back to Uptown. I think we should go to the howl from the trail first and wait for them there," Mylo suggested.

"Good idea."

Violet turned to look at his sister behind him.

"Powder, we gotta climb quick. We don't have much time. If we don't catch their lift, we won't be able to find them."

"I, I'll try my best!" Powder took a deep breath.

"You can do it, I believe in you."

Violet smiled and patted her on the shoulder, then nodded to Claggor and Mylo, and ran ahead to lead the way.

"If we get this gig, Vander won't treat us like kids..."