Twin Cities: Who says scientists can't be conquerors?

Chapter 51 A Complex Misunderstanding

In fact, Vi was already awake in Hilko's office.

It wasn't that she was physically strong enough to withstand those high doses of hypnotic drugs. Rather, it was because Marcos, unwilling to be completely controlled by Hilko, deliberately resorted to trickery—

After entering Stillwater Prison under the pretext of "routinely collecting information on inmates by law enforcement officers," Marcos met with Vi in cell 516.

He wore a mask, preventing Wei from seeing his face.

Furthermore, when forcibly injecting Wei with a hypnotic drug, they deliberately only injected half of it.

In this way, even though he knew in his heart that Hilko would eliminate this potential threat to both of them as soon as he handed over Vi, he was still able to avoid the problem.

But at least we can imagine that if Hilco changes his mind, he will have to face an enemy who hates him to the bone, and there will inevitably be some chaos and turmoil.

Marcos felt that although doing this was meaningless, it would at least give him some relief.

So he did just that.

But no matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn't figure out why Hilko not only didn't kill Vi immediately, but went even further—

After revealing his inner turmoil and complexities to Vi without any concealment, Hilko made up his mind to be the "role model" that Aaron had spoken of, and so he...

Release Wei!

Indeed, the ruthless killer Hilko finally experienced the same feelings as his old friend Vander on this night:

The bonds of family are so precious.

Once you've had it, no one would be willing to give it up again.

Back then, Vander was willing to go to jail for Vi and Jinx, and didn't struggle at all against the harassment from the law enforcement officers.

Now, Hilko is willing to completely abandon the life principles he once held dear for the sake of his two children.

He might be worried that others would see his "weakness," or he might simply be too immersed in his memories.

So even in the end, he still did it himself, placing Wei, who was wearing a hood, on the cart and quietly tossing her into the pile of weeds next to the Fugen Tavern.

As he left, he talked on and on, mostly about Aaron and Jinx, as if offering some kind of self-redemption.

I tried to be the "model person" that Aaron talked about, and I also gave up on killing Jinx's twin sister.

You see, even though I didn't do well before, I'm trying my best to maintain our relationship now, aren't I?

Soon, a relieved Hilko left.

But Wei, whose head was covered in the grass, could not calm down for a long time.

What did she hear?

The murderer of his father turned out to be his adoptive father's friend? Now he is repenting because of his children, recalling the helplessness he once had?

No, this has nothing to do with me.

After Wei pulled off the hood, she sat blankly in the grass, her understanding of the world collapsing and being rebuilt.

What she cares about most is Jinx, the one Hilk mentioned!

Vi didn't even have time to ponder the changes in her impression of Hilko; all that remained in her mind were the descriptions Hilko used when mentioning Jinx:

Blue hair, quirky and clever, likes to tinker with gadgets...

Wei had a vague, inexplicable intuition.

She felt like she must be going crazy.

Why couldn't I help but think that the "daughter" that Hilko mentioned with such pride was my...sister?!

"Then I wandered aimlessly, hoping to try my luck and find you."

Under the moonlight, Vi cupped Jinx's face in her hands and chattered on and on.

Although she was grinning, her tears were intertwined with Jinx's, forming a continuous thread that dripped down in the quiet night.

"This is Zaun. Although I haven't been back for nine years, many places are still so familiar. For example, some of the shortcuts you liked to take, and some of the places where you secretly graffitied."

"And then, quite unexpectedly, Bao Bao, I met you!"

Wei choked.

She wanted to say that she was really lucky.

He was inexplicably taken out of prison, then inexplicably released by his enemy, and finally even coincidentally ran into his sister whom he wanted to see most.

But looking at Jinx's current state and remembering what Hilko had said before, she didn't know how to continue.

Yes, it seems that Hilko wasn't lying to himself.

The little sister who used to always follow me around and would break down at the slightest thing has now not only lost her name "Baobao" but has also become the adopted daughter of my enemy.

Now she calls herself "Jinx"—the nickname she used to hate the most.

Is it even necessary for me to show up then?

Thinking of this, Wei couldn't help but sigh again.

The reason she didn't come out and acknowledge Jinx earlier, and is now trying to avoid mentioning her name, is precisely because of this.

Seeing Jinx maintain her basic composure despite her excitement, Vi felt that there was indeed an inexplicable barrier between them.

The name of the barrier is "strangeness".

and……

"who is she?"

Vi pointed at Caitlin, who had been watching the whole thing unfold, and couldn't help but frown:

"While I have no intention of forgiving what happened to Hilko, I can understand that you probably didn't have a choice at the time."

"But how could you bring a law enforcement officer to Zaun?"

"Have you forgotten why Vander was ambushed and forced into shackles?!"

"ha?"

Caitlin was caught in the crossfire and pointed incredulously at herself:

Are you talking about me?

"Yes, it's you!"

Vi had been confused for a long time because of Hilko's confession, wondering whether she should persist in her most direct hatred for her father's killer.

Caitlin, dressed in her law enforcement uniform, has clearly become an outlet for her emotions.

Vi blocked Jinx, who wanted to explain, behind her, assumed a fighting stance towards Caitlyn, and spoke through gritted teeth:

"Don't think I don't know you Piltover scum."

"I was injected with a drug by a group of law enforcement officers today before I was caught and brought to Hilko's hands!"

"Speak! Are you in cahoots?!"

Wei stepped forward, making no attempt to conceal what had happened to her that day.

She raised her fist, as if she was about to smash the utterly innocent Caitlin's skull open at any moment.

"You want to use Hilko to kill me!"

"I've come to terms with it. Hilko is, after all, a Zaunite; we can settle our scores later. But you...you Piltover people, you're the real, damned demons!"

……

Upon hearing Jess start coughing again, Sheriff Marcos, who was standing next to him, immediately handed Jess his breathing mask.

Without close inspection, no one would notice that this lighter and more protective mask is not the one that law enforcement officers collectively purchased.

Rather, it was a gadget invented by a kind-hearted person for miners in the underground mining area, from some "illegal merchants" from Zaun.

"Cough, thank you."

Jess nodded and saluted Marcos.

After putting on the mask, he clearly felt that his breathing was much easier, and the smog that had been causing his lungs pain was not so terrible anymore.

This way, he can search for the missing persons and the murderer in Zaun more easily.

Just over half an hour ago, amidst the complaints of other members of parliament, the vote on postponing tomorrow's "200th anniversary celebration of Progress Day" was successfully passed thanks to the joint efforts of Jess and others.

Now, apart from a few individuals who are very concerned about the attack and the missing persons, the other people in the know are racking their brains trying to figure out how to inform the public of this news tomorrow.

It's important to understand that, thanks to Noxus's backing in recent decades, the people of Piltover have become accustomed to a stable and prosperous life.

Even the events of Zaun storming the Bridge of Progress more than a decade ago have been largely forgotten by Piltover residents.

No one knew what kind of public discontent would result from the sudden announcement of the postponement of the Progress Day celebrations.

Of course, Jess isn't paying attention to these things right now.

He felt immense pressure and just wanted to find Caitlin and the others as soon as possible.

Ideally, we could catch Urgot directly!

He had already thought it all out. Given the other party's repeated provocations against Piltover's laws and social stability, he would use every means to make that villain spend the rest of his life in jail!

"Relax, Jess, don't rush."

Mel's voice suddenly rang out, coming gently from Jess's other side.

"You are doing the right thing, don't worry about not doing it well."

"Thank you, Mel."

Jess interrupted Mel's words of comfort.

He shook his head, a hint of heartache inadvertently showing in his eyes.

"You shouldn't have come here with me."

Jess reiterated his previous advice: "Why don't you just go back?"

"Even though Aaron is an exceptionally talented young man, Zaun is still a very dangerous place overall, and you're just a..."

"What am I?"

Mel suddenly frowned.

She took a half step back, creating distance between herself and Jess, and proudly raised her head.

"I am Mel Middarda."

"The Middarda family never shrinks from difficulties!"

"Now that I've decided to support your idea, I must support it in practice; I must come here and fight alongside you!"

After saying that, seemingly not wanting to embarrass Jess, Mel immediately leaned close to Jess and whispered in his ear:

"And don't I still have you, my knight?"

"ha!"

Upon hearing this, Jess instantly felt his entire body surge with electrical energy.

He smiled and straightened his back, wanting to show that his chest was indeed very reliable.

But before he could finish these actions, Chief Marcos, who had been silently watching him and Mel's public display of affection, suddenly screamed and jumped up as if he had seen a ghost!

Without hesitation, Marcos pulled out a pistol from his waist and started firing wildly at a spot in front of him.

As he fired, he roared maniacally:

"Impossible! This is impossible!!"

"She can't possibly still be alive!!"