"So, your encounter with her was just an accident?"
Marsen looked at Jinx, then back at Leo, always feeling that something was strange.
It was truly strange.
Firstly, how did Leo become so strong? He had effortlessly taken down the very people Marsen feared. Secondly, how could Jinx, that terrifying lunatic, obediently follow Leo?
No, wait a minute, compared to Leo suddenly becoming strong, Jinx actually obeying Leo was the most astonishing thing to Marsen!
Who in the Under City's gangs didn't know about the blue-haired lunatic under the Zaun Godfather's command?
How many gangs, how many Barons, how many gang members had been lost at the hands of that woman? The Wildfire Gang even openly declared her a maniac and had clashed with Jinx multiple times.
Moreover, the gangs secretly whispered that whenever Piltover caused a major commotion, it was probably related to that crazy woman. And now, that crazy woman was leaning against Leo's back, leisurely popping small snacks into her mouth.
Marsen simply couldn't imagine how Leo managed to do this—to make a lunatic calm down.
"Jinx, take her to wash up first." Leo didn't know what Marsen was thinking. He reached back and patted Jinx's shoulder.
Because the little one sitting quietly on the sofa was now swaying back and forth, her face clearly showing extreme drowsiness. After checking the time, Leo realized it was already past nine in the evening.
"Help her bathe?" Jinx instinctively wanted to refuse, but then, as if realizing something, she nodded and agreed: "Alright, alright, I'll do it."
As if finding some amusement in it, she jumped off the stool and beckoned to the little girl, "Hey, kiddo, come here."
The little girl, hearing Jinx call her, got off the sofa without a word, pulled her hat further down, and quickly followed Jinx.
She stepped forward, about to hug Jinx's leg, but Jinx reached out and pressed her head: "Don't get so close to me, I just showered yesterday."
The little girl, who had extended her hands, froze, her eyes dimming slightly. But Jinx's next actions and words made her eyes light up again.
"Hey, little mute, do you like my tattoos? Let me tell you a little secret: these tattoos aren't actually tattooed on. But, if you like them, I can draw one for you too, just like mine." Jinx touched the cloud pattern on her abdomen. With a slight rub, the pattern visibly faded.
"I really like to draw."
She then reached out and vigorously ruffled the little girl's head again.
Leo heard what Jinx said and immediately looked surprised.
What? They were drawn on?
Honestly, Leo really didn't know Jinx's tattoos were drawn on. He had thought Jinx actually had tattoos, after all, for children in Zaun, tattoos weren't prohibited. It was perfectly normal for minors to have a few tattoos.
But, it's good that they're drawn on. Drawn-on tattoos don't affect one's chances of passing civil service exams.
Huh, wait, why am I suddenly thinking about civil service exams?
To take a civil service exam, you'd have to go to Piltover, right?
Then that's out the window. Jinx lost that right from birth.
Leo's expression was peculiar; his thoughts had drifted far off for a moment.
Speaking of which, Leo also disliked tattoos. Few decent people would like rune mages, right?
But temporary tattoos are different... they're a fun bonus~
Marsen, seeing Jinx leave, grew bolder. After taking a deep breath, he looked at Leo: "Leo, there are some things I want to say."
"Please speak."
"I don't know how you became so strong, but Leo, I want to ask you for a favor." Marsen looked at Leo earnestly. He hesitated, then spoke: "I want to work for you."
"Work for me?" Leo understood Marsen's meaning. He opened his mouth to speak, but Marsen interrupted him.
"You've seen it yourself, the Stab-Eye Gang is finished. Mark died by your hand, and me? I can't survive alone in the gutters. Guys like me can only band together with others, doing everything we can to survive.
Otherwise, we'll just be screws manipulated by those in power, but I'm sick of that life, Leo, I'm truly sick of it."
Marsen's uninjured hand went to his head, tugging at his hair. He squeezed a few words from his throat: "You're different. The strength you possess now is more than enough to claim a territory, establish yourself, and become a boss."
Zaun is a place where the biggest fist has the loudest voice. Money and power are controlled by one thing: strength.
"Just me? And you too?" Leo frowned. He looked at Marsen and saw a continuous stream of emotional energy flowing from Marsen's body, adding to the Soul Lotus's energy bar.
Although the quantity and quality were far from what Jinx provided, it was still far more than the energy Leo could absorb when coming into contact with others.
Leo suddenly had an idea. Perhaps... the "emotions" released towards him could increase the energy bar even more?
Then it's no wonder Jinx contributed so much...
Jinx was too "pure." In her world, there were only three kinds of people: strangers, the dead, and family.
She wouldn't care about strangers; she couldn't interact with the dead. So, family was the only outlet for Jinx's emotions. Was this why Jinx became Leo's top contributor?
If the Soul Lotus energy bar's increase really worked as Leo thought...
Then perhaps, Leo really had to consider what Marsen said.
Building a force would expand his external influence, increase the Soul Lotus energy bar, and increase the number of his "descensions."
Leo could sit comfortably in this room right now all because of the Soul Lotus; it was his capital.
If it was truly as he thought, then he really should start preparing his own crew.
Because Leo didn't plan to work for Silco. He wouldn't join Silco's faction just because of his good relationship with Jinx. But at the same time, Leo wasn't going to join Piltover like Vi either.
There are too many people debating whether Silco is right or wrong online. Just browse a few related forums, and you'll see posts evaluating Silco. People's opinions are polarized, but the summary is that Silco indeed wanted to lead Zaun to regain its dignity, but at the same time, his extreme actions truly brought disaster to the people of Zaun.
He allowed the Chem-Barons to oppress the populace, focusing on the distant future while ignoring the cries for help around him.
Yes, important figures only look at "long-term" and "results," but Leo was not an important figure.
He cared more about the present.
Leo looked up, straightened his body, and looked at Marsen: "Tell me your ideas, Marsen. I'll listen."
"You're not alone. Remember Willa and the others? And Manchu? They're all still alive, struggling to survive in various gangs. I can find them. We'll all be your people, working for you. We can rebuild a new Black Alley." Marsen earnestly added: "This incident made me realize one thing: perhaps the Wildfire Gang's people were right. We can learn from the Wildfire Gang's philosophy."
"But just having people isn't enough." Leo shook his head.
Zaun didn't lack people willing to die; it lacked power.
Weapons were the most important.
Marsen thought for a moment, narrowing his eyes: "Are you referring to weapons?"
"What else?"
"..."
Marsen's expression grew peculiar: "But don't you have her by your side? Is there anyone in Zaun smarter or more capable of manufacturing weapons than her?"
Oh, right...
Isn't Jinx right here?
Leo nodded, telling Marsen to gather the people first. If the number was sufficient, he would seriously consider it.
Marsen, upon hearing this, immediately stood up.
"Marsen, your wounds haven't healed yet. Aren't you going to rest for a couple of days first?" Seeing Marsen about to leave, Leo tried to dissuade him.
But Marsen refused.
His reason was—
"No, Leo. Didn't you see the look in Powder's eyes just now? If I stay here, it's not impossible for her to come out at night and shoot me."
"Powder has changed. She's no longer the greedy child we knew. She's Jinx now, Silco's Jinx. I don't know how you get along with her, but in any case, you need to be careful..."
"Enough, Marsen."
Leo interrupted Marsen somewhat impatiently, saying softly: "Whether she's Powder or Jinx, what does it matter? If she's good to me, then I'll be good to her. Does it matter what her name is, whose side she's on, or what she's done?"
"Even Vander would love Jinx."
"You can go now. Come find me after you've done what needs to be done."
Leo didn't want to explain to Marsen. He knew, of course, that Jinx had indeed done many wrong things, but was Marsen's own slate clean?
My own slate, Leo's, isn't clean either.
No, in Zaun, few people truly have clean slates.
Even Vander made many foolish mistakes.
Moreover, it's not too late for anything.
If even Vi can forgive Jinx, who are you to say she can't be forgiven?
Marsen looked at Leo, saw that he was serious, retracted his words, nodded, and left.
...
At the same time, at the corner of the second floor, Jinx, who had been eavesdropping for a while, heard the silence downstairs. She then looked down at the little one who had changed into her T-shirt. Her clothes, worn by the child, looked exactly like a dress, reaching down to her calves.
Although very thin, Jinx wasn't actually short; she was about 164-165 cm.
The child was looking up at her. Seeing this, Jinx hummed twice and reached out, vigorously ruffling her wet hair, preventing the child from seeing her current expression.
The little girl struggled to look up, wondering why Jinx was suddenly doing this.
She was very smart; otherwise, she wouldn't have escaped from the Alchemy Barons. Therefore, after only one day of being together, she knew one thing: Jinx only ruffled her head when she was happy.
Now, she was ruffling her head.
Seeing Jinx smile, a gentle, clear-eyed smile, the little girl also opened her mouth, showing Jinx her toothless grin.
Jinx frowned, feigning distaste: "Your smile is so ugly. Where's your front tooth?"
She said this, but her hand on the little girl's head vigorously ruffled it a couple more times.