-22- A feigned complaint

"You're not heading back to the tavern, Linwin."

"I know, Sevika. When did I say I was going back to the tavern? I never intended to go back."

Linwin turned around, looking surprised at Sevika, who was also staring at him. Upon hearing his words, an expression of bewilderment appeared on her otherwise cold and emotionless face.

"Linwin, you don't need to go see them directly. Shouldn't your priority be finding Vander?"

"The situation with Fiden has been troubling him for days, and now with Silco involved, shouldn't you inform Vander first? He needs to be prepared in advance. Silco isn't an easy opponent."

"But you're here, aren't you?"

Linwin had already cleaned himself up before coming back, stowing away his white robe and mask into his backpack. He had cleaned his hair and the bloodstains from his hand

"I'd appreciate it if you could go tell Vander for me that I've dealt with Fiden's matter and I'll come see him later."

Linwin's tone was cheerful. "Vander will understand my actions. As for you, you won't understand. After all, you don't have someone you care about, so you wouldn't understand my relationship with Vander."

Sevika listened and turned to leave, but after a few steps, she stopped.

"You, you're really something, you little...."

Sevika gritted her teeth, muttering quietly.

Turning around, she saw a metal house not far away—Linwin's personal territory.

At this moment, the guy who had easily killed one of the gang boss of the Undercity was now sneaking around like a thief, approaching his metal house stealthily.

He seemed to be acting like a thief.

Observing his seriousness, Sevika felt that when Linwin was doing this, it was as if it was more important than killing Fiden.

Sevika truly couldn't understand.

Handling two little girls like this, was it really necessary.

And not just that, it wasn't that Sevika was growing cold-hearted.

It was that Linwin was just too strange.

Zaun wasn't devoid of family bonds, and Zaunites certainly valued relationships. It was precisely because they lived in such a harsh environment that family and emotional bonds were highly valued.

However, Linwin, he indulged the two of them like this. When they grew up, Vi and Powder, without Linwin, could they still adapt to life in Zaun?

Sevika, being the third hand of the tavern, often interacted with the two little ones. So, she was very clear. Vi was doing alright, given her nature and being the older sister, she had already made a name for herself in the streets. But Powder, under Linwin's favor, had almost forgotten the survival rules of Zaun!

This was not acceptable.

Sevika silently observed.

Linwen pressed his ear against the door, eavesdropping on the conversation inside.

He was listening so intently.

Noticing Sevika's gaze, Linwen raised his hand, beckoning her to leave.

"That's enough. The future of Zaun, each one more unreliable than the other."

Sevika gritted her teeth and left.

Meanwhile, Linwin continued eavesdropping on the sounds inside the room.

"Vi, can you play with me for a while? I'm so bored."

"Powder, didn't we play earlier in the morning?"

"But now it's already afternoon."

"Powder, I want to practice boxing. You play by yourself. How about working on inventing your useful little gadgets."

Accompanied by thumping sounds, indicating punches hitting a soft surface.

"It's called Little Monkey, it's my buddy."

"Little Monkey needs you to play with her."

Linwin listened to the noises inside, hearing Vi's soothing tone akin to consoling a child. He could easily imagine Vi's expression.

When facing Powder, Vi had a different demeanor than with outsiders. She would shed her prickly demeanor, softening her voice and even her facial expression.

Vi always showed her gentle side to Powder and her feisty and willful side to Linwin.

This probably was the difference between a big brother and a little sister.

Actually, Vi was really beautiful.

Even with her weird and "rebellious" slicked-back hair, her features were stunning. Despite trying to act boyish, she remained a young girl, and currently, she was just a thirteen-year-old.

"Thump, thump."

Linwin knocked on the door forcefull

"Quiet, Powder."

Vi whispered, but Linwin's heightened hearing caught it.

He nodded in satisfaction.

Their sense of danger was intact, and it seemed the two hadn't gone outside; they were listening to his instructions.

That was good.

After knocking heavily on the door, apart from Vi's warning to Powder, no other sound came from inside.

So Linwen knocked again.

Hmm, still no response.

This proved that Ekko and the girls had established a prearranged code for opening the door.

Seeing this, Linwen took out his key and proceeded to open the door.

As the metal grille was pushed open and a rusted lock was unlocked with the key, Linwen pushed the door open. First, he tilted his head back, then gently raised his hand, easily holding the little fist that was coming at him, pulling it forward as she stumbled towards him.

"Just met, and you want to punch me. Tell me, have you been planning this for a long time? Really itching to give me a punch?"

Linwin snorted and, with his head lowered, looked at the girl in his arms. The teenage girl with oily hair hadn't bathed for three or four days, and a disagreeable odor emanated from her pink hair.

But Linwin was used to it. Let's emphasize again, Zaun lacked water—water, water, wate

Adding to that, Linwen's place was just a timely emergency spot, so washing the face and brushing teeth were possible, but a bath? Ha, that was something only doable at the last drop.

"Tsk, too bad I didn't land the punch."

She bumped the back of his head forcefully against Linwen's chest. Vi hummed and stepped forward, leaving Linwen's embrace. Then she saw Linwen half kneeling.

On the couch, her younger sister was smiling, showing all her teeth. She leaped from the couch, barefoot, and pounced straight at Linwin. Her eyes brimmed with trust in Linwin.

She wasn't worried at all that Linwin wouldn't catch her.

And Linwin didn't disappoint little Powder's trust. He extended his hands under her armpits and lifted her up.

"Have you been eating well?"

Linwin assessed her for a moment. Yes, Powder seemed to have gained a bit of weight.

Was it due to the rapid growth stage? Or was it because of overeating and little exercise.

"Yes, but Vi's cooking is really bad."

Vi immediately said, "Powder, you didn't say that when it was just the two of us."

"What if I said it and you wouldn't cook for me."

"How could I ever let you go hungry?"

Vi spread her hands, looking at Powder and Linwin, speechless.

Well, although she didn't get a formal hug from Linwin, the recent one was pretty good too. After all, this time it seemed like she was the one who hugged Linwin first, right?

Thinking about this, Vi stood proudly, arms crossed, watching Powder and Linwin.

But soon, she heard Linwin's voice.

"What are you standing there foolishly for?"

Linwin held Powder with one hand, and as usual, she used her little hands to grip Linwin's neck. Linwin's other hand was reaching out towards Vi, and his face held a gentle smile.

Vi was a bit tsundere, to be honest.

No matter how much of a tomboy she appeared, that was just an act.

Linwin was well aware—Vi was indeed a strong, kind, and pretty girl. But no matter how strong she was, she also yearned to have someone she could act spoiled with.

Back then, there were no conditions for that. The only person Vi could act spoiled with was Vander. But Vander had so much to deal with every day, and Powder was always clinging to her. Consequently, Vi gradually stopped seeking comfort from others.

But when Linwin appeared, a Linwin who was two years older than Vi and superior to Vander, and really, really nice to her...

Remember, Vi was still a girl.

Of course, she also wanted to be pampered.

So when Linwin gained Vi's trust over three years...

"Who needs your hugs?"

A feigned complaint.

Someone promptly moved forward, opening their arms and wrapping them around Linwin's waist.

Linwin smiled, holding the two people most important in the world to him.

This was a scene he would always encounter whenever he returned after being away for a few days.

It was as usual.

Just a bit smelly.

"So smelly."

The faces of Vi and Powder turned red instantly. Powder, especially, was desperate to get down from Linwin.

She hadn't showered for almost a week; of course, there would be a smell. But Linwin, how could he say it!

And Vi?

She blushed even more, but this blush was accompanied by shyness and anger.

With one sentence from Linwin, Powder pushed his face forcefully with both hands, while Vi used her hands to squeeze Linwin, seemingly wanting to give him a hard time.

The two sisters were both shy, but their attitudes toward Linwin were completely different.

One wanted to escape, the other was rebellious.

Alright.

"You two little stinkers, no fighting."

"I'm not a stinker. I just, I just haven't taken a bath," protested Powder, disgruntled.

Vi was more straightforward. Her face still red, she looked up at Linwin, gritting her teeth. "Linwin, you jerk!"