Chapter 60: Noxus invitation
The last drop, ZAUN
*Clamor*
*Rustle*
*Chatter*
Ever since the proposal for war, the last drop has been a bustling hub within Zaun. Civilians, criminals, gang members, Mercenaries...etc. All sorts of people all over Zaun gather here, in hope of seeking revenge, battle, or even profit under the banner of Vander.
Several people huddle there, pretending to order drinks at the counter, but they all have hidden agendas. Two little girls stood out from the rest of the big, burly looking men.
*NOM*
*NOM*
A hungry, laughing, and crying Powder is currently going through all sorts of emotions as she devours her food.
"WAH *SOB*, VI *BURP*, HAHAHA, WAH *SOBS* I THOUGHT YOU DIED WAHHHHHH, *BURP*"
*BONK* Vi slightly slaps the back of Powder's head.
"OWW!" Successfully stop her little fiasco, making her rub the little bump with tears brimming her eyes.
"Can you do one thing at a time, please? Laugh, cry, or eat, PICK ONE!" Vi pretended to be mad and reprimanded her, but her docile smile betrayed her action.
*swallow*
*choke*
"But...but...you almost died...WAAAHHH *SOBS*" After gurgling down the mug of juice, Powder bawled her eyes out once more as she threw herself to Vi.
Helplessly, Vi could only caress the little girl, waiting for her to calm down.
Vander on the side watching the interaction with a doting, fatherly smile.
Yes, this life, this kind of life is what he had long been yearning for, just relaxing in his retirement house while his children, grandchildren, or even great-grandchildren have a good, stressless life.
But.
The world, this world is not always sunshine and rainbows. These precious moments are only definite, if he wants to ensure his family's happiness, he can only be bathed in blood, so that his descendants don't have to.
His wills and determination straightened further at the thoughts.
'This battle, I must win!'
When Vander was immersed in his thoughts, he didn't realize that two individuals had entered the bar, two particular people.
…
"*whistle* This place looks good." Samira whistles as she glances at the bustling atmosphere. This type of place is her favourite! Drinking, eating, fighting; these sorts of activities turn her on the most!
"Yo, Cap. Let me play with them." Samira turned to her side and ask Indari. Although she could do whatever she wants normally, as they are similar in strength, and Indari can't really stop her, but since this is an important mission from the empire, she couldn't afford to be as leisure as before.
Indari emotionlessly glanced at her.
"Later, after we finished the job," Indari spoke out, as he walked toward the counter, taking an available seat, which coincidently right next to the two sisters.
"Hey, go and eat your food, it's getting cold."-Vi
"But...but... What if you start dying the moment I take my eyes away, WAAAHH"-Powder.
Indari watched the two with no emotion on his cold face, but deep inside, he was shocked.
'How? That girl with pink hair managed to learn Arcane? How? I thought it was a forgotten technique!' Indari thought unbelievably, techniques that harvest Arcane energies are rare in this world. Only the legendary continent (Ionia), has the ability to teach others, but even then, it's exceedingly rare.
Yet, in this shit of a place, a girl managed to harvest Arcane energies? How could he not be shocked? Even the empire has strict restrictions on Arcane's techniques, only the high echelon people have the right to learn them!
'Should I torture her for the info?' Indari inwardly thought, but quickly shook his head.
Although tempted, he's not going to risk his mission for an uncertain reward with many loopholes, if she manages to learn such an ability, meaning someone or something is backing her up, someone that possibly be stronger than him, plus Arcane is a mystery to him, there might be some hidden techniques that he doesn't know, making it even riskier.
Meanwhile, if the mission fails, his head would guarantee to be on the guillotine. So, weighing the options, the risk outweighs the rewards, it's not worth it.
"Hello, gentleman, how can I help you today." While Indari was in deep thought, a cold and heavy voice woke him up from his stupor. He suddenly finds the atmosphere turned strange.
...
Vander was happily cleaning the mug with a towel, suddenly he noticed a strange man, sitting down at the counter. Although strange, he didn't think much, this world is strange to begin with; but what irked him is the fact that the man had been staring at his daughters with an intense gaze.
His face turned dark, walking toward the man.
"You don't look like you are part of this community, good sir. So, I suggest your behaviour in check." When Vander finished speaking, his entire aura burst out, the once-bustling bar suddenly went quiet as all the customers within, simultaneously turned and stared dagger at Indari.
"Powder, Vi, go to your room,"
Vi nods as she hurriedly drags Powder along from the scene. This is not the fight for her, not yet at least, she could only hope Vander for the best.
'Please be safe...' She turns her head to take one last look before closing the door.
…
"Damn you, do you think we afra-…" Samira finally had enough, they were here for a mission not to be bullied, and with her hot-headed nature, she quickly burst out.
But...
"SAMIRA!" Indari yells at the top of his lung as he leered at Samira as if telling her not to take another step.
"We're not here with hostile intents, please calm your men, Vander." Indari faced Vander, he pulled out a badge from his inner armour. Revealing a silver look badge with a menace looking logo within.
Vander was initially surprised at the sight of the badge, he might not be all-knowing, but he at least knew what the badge represents, the Noxus empire!
Vander turns his head and nodded at one of his men, turning back to Indari, he flashed a big smile.
"HAHAHA, friends from afar, what could our Zaun have anything for your esteemed empire to travel all the way over here? Vander jokes, but he's having turmoil in his inner thought.
It isn't easy to travel from Noxus to shurima's continent, they coming here specifically must have special meanings, but what...?
[AN: Search "League of legend map" you can see the reference I'm talking about.]
Seeing that the atmosphere turned for the better, Samira and Indari lowered their battle intents, they had thought they would have to fight their way out.
"I want to have a deal with you, maybe go somewhere private?"-Indari
"Hahaha, I'm not into man, if you have anything to say, let's discuss it right here."-Vander.
Indari frowns in displeasure, even if he has a good temper, that doesn't mean he tolerates people looking down on him.
"Then, I'll get straight to the point, our Noxus empire would like to invest in your "skirmishes" " Indari emphasized the last word to mock at him. Compared to the big empire like them, the little civil war that will happen in Zaun is really just a peanut!
"Oh? Tell me more about it." Vander inquires, pretending to be surprised. He has been in this business for a long time, how could he not know what the guy is thinking?
'tcch, just like the rest of them.' Indari smirked inwardly. Seeing that they have the initiative, he held his nose high and said,
"We will send troops and humanitarian aids to help you with your rebellions how about it? Interest?"
'They sure got the new fast..." Vander thoughts, he's not surprised at the news of their rebellion being leaked, after all, even the walls have ears, much less people that he had already announced to; but how the Noxus took immediate action to the news, surprised him.
"Oh? What is in it for you?"
"Nothing."
"So, you are telling me that you want to provide help with no profits in return? HAHAHA" Vander burst out laughing, this is the biggest joke he heard all day!
"What's so-…"
"Not interested." Vander waved his hand. If it was before the Vi's incident, he might have considered the options more carefully.
The reason why he starts the war is not to overthrow the kingdom, but to make a point. That's why he doesn't care if the news gets leaked; as matter of fact, he wanted it to be leaked. To send a message to the councillors.
'if you are not going to help us, WE WILL!' Win or lose, he already had achieved his goal, it doesn't matter. The councillors are smart enough to figure out the situation and will fix their current governing issues, if not, a similar war will happen again, sooner or later.
The only drawback was his daughters. If he dies, they will live a miserable life. He's too attached to his kids that he couldn't bear to let them suffer. Luckily, they met a certain individual. According to his daughters and his research, the boy's name "Jayce" should be trustable, and is extraordinarily strong, at least strong enough to shelter Vi and Powder, and that is all it matters.
"What-...?" Indari stuttered, this is not the outcome that he had thought. He angrily stood up and slammed on the counter.
"Do you know what you are doing? What are you missing out on?"
"I said. Not. Interested."
"Now get out of my shop, before I force you to." Vander glared back at him, his men in the surrounding also picked up their gears, preparing for battle.
"DAMN YOU, DO YOU THINK WE'RE AFRAID OF YOU BASTARD?" Samira shouted as she took out her sword and her gun.
"WAIT!" Indari hurriedly stops his partner as he looks back at Vander.
"We'll leave."
"HEY, INDA-"-Samira
"I SAID, WE'RE LEAVING. DO YOU NOT HEAR ME, YOUR CAPTAIN?" Indari turns his head as he leers at her.
"tccch, you fucking pussy." Flipping him off, she stomps her way out of the bar.
"I hope you don't regret this, Vander," Indari said one last time before walking out.
The entire bar turns quiet as they all look at Vander, waiting for his order.
"Do you want them killed, boss?" One of the underlings spoke out, his words soon riled up his fellow mates.
"Yeah boss, give us an order. We will get their head within no time! HAHAHHA"
"Vander, just kill them already!"
"KILL!"
"KILL!"
"KILL!"
Vander's already in a bad mood, hearing them shout just makes it worse.
"SHUT UP! ALL OF YOU." His shout successfully ceased the clamour.
"Leave them alone, if they bite first, we will act accordingly. Otherwise, just sit still, you fucking maggots."
…. *silent*, then
"BUAHAHAHA! AYE BOSS!" They all burst out laughing,
Vander saw them laughing, feeling dejected, 'Am I still the boss?'
"Hmm, seem like I'm being looked down in," Vander say loudly as his aura surged, a pair of gauntlet materialized on both of his fists. He pounces toward them with a wicked smile.
"WAIT WAIT BOSS, OWWWW!"
"SORRY SORRY SORRY"
"MOMMY!"
…
Outside.
"You are fucking pathetic Indari. Did the promotion get into your head? You soft bitch." Once they left the tavern, Samira spat at Indari with some mean words. With the same momentum, she unsheathed her sword from the back as she swung at him.
*CLANG* The sound of two collided weapons.
"What do you think you are doing, attacking an officer higher rank than you? Samira?" Indari said with cold eyes.
"You've changed, Indari." Samira sheathed her sword to her back; her eyes contained some complicated emotions.
She took out a coin from her pocket and flung it at him.
"I'm going back by myself." She walks off.
Indari took a hold of the coin, he just stared at it, emotionlessly. He too walked away in a certain direction.
...
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