Chapter 12: Chapter 11
(I will upload a second chapter soon... pay up and feed me your stones, i need more clout)
It was the next day since that first meeting with Councilor Medarda. But my talks with Councilors weren't done yet, but this time it was with Councilor Kiramman. She had reached out to me asking me to come to her home for dinner to discuss this group of bandits.
"How many people live here? Aren't there only three of them?" Jinx says annoyed. Her and I were outside of the massive gates of the Kiramman home. It was a massive mansion that honestly made me a little annoyed too. This home could fit all of the orphans of the Undercity, but instead it houses three people and all their staff serving them.
"Of course I don't like how Piltover works. But at our current state we can't do anything about how Topside treats the Undercity." I tell her knowing exactly why she doesn't really like Topsiders.
"What? You thinking what I'm thinking?" She looks at me excitedly.
"I can tell I'm most defiantly not. But what did you have in mind?"
"Well of course, we take over Piltover! I'm sure we can do it if we use just the amount of force." She plots.
"Please do not mention ideas of a coup once we are inside. If we want to show Topside that the Undercity people need help, the first thing we need to do is make them trust us."
"... Fine." She pouts while crossing her arms.
I knock on the massive doors that was soon opened by Tobias Kiramman. "Ah, Dire you're here." He says with a polite smile on his face
I shake his hand as I mirror his smile "It's good to see you again Tobias."
"Likewise, come inside both of you." He says noticing Jinx.
"Thank you for the invitation. You do not mind if I bring my friend as well, do you?" I ask him.
He shakes his head "Of course not. There's plenty here."
I hear Jinx quietly grit her teeth together. I place a hand on her shoulder to calm her as Tobias takes us to where his wife is. While at the party a bit ago I was able to chat with Tobias and make acquaintances with him as well as his wife. It's clear from talking to both of them that Tobias is the social one while his wife Cassandra is the business one. And while Caitlyn inherited most of her father's physical traits like his blue hair she has her mother's business attitude.
"Darling." Tobias called out opening a door to a massive hall. "Dire is here along with a friend of his."
We all walk in to see Councilor Kiramman along with the family daughter Caitlyn. All three members wore nice suits and dresses so I'm glad I had dressed up formally as well, though Jinx still looked out of place as she still wore her regular clothes. "Councilor Kiramman. I must say you're home is quite beautiful."
"Thank you Dire. But please, call me Cassandra while in my home. I don't quite like bringing business here anyway."
I chuckle "Isn't that the entire reason I'm here?"
She does a little chuckle of her own "Here it's just favors among acquaintances." She says as we shake hands. "You remember my daughter Caitlyn?"
I nod at her as her and I greet each other. I then gesture for Jinx "This is Jinx. She's going to be coming along with me to help."
Cassandra looked at Jinx, seemingly analyzing her worth. "Very well, I'll trust your judgment. Come, we can discuss the matter while we eat." She says waving her hand for us to follow.
As we walked Caitlyn managed to slip next to Jinx "How old are you?"
Jinx started counting her fingers before placing one on her chin in fake thought "Jeez... It's been so many years I couldn't count them all. At least ten." She says smirking at the youngest Kiramman.
Caitlyn huffed a little before looking Jinx up and down "You appear to be twelve, at most early thirteen." She then turned to me "Are you sure it's fine bringing her along?"
I shrug "Of course. There's no one else besides my Shadow to have my back." I tell her figuratively and literally. "She's good with a gun and handy with explosives."
"I'll have you know I'm an excellent shot. I've been training most of life with a rifle."
"Oh that's right. The Kirammans are known to go for hunting trips in the nearby woods. Though shooting targets and bandits are very different things."
Caitlyn looks away a little angry knowing I was right. "Still--"
Jinx interrupted her "We get it girl, you're rich and you can shoot things. Anything else to say?"
Her burst surprised Caitlyn. She was about to say something till her mother called for her. She left the two of us a little behind the three as there was now a slight awkward tension. But luckily that died down when we arrived in yet another massive room. A large table was in the center that the three Kirammans sat on one side while Jinx and I sat on the other.
"Now tell me Dire, have you ever been to the Southern continent?" Cassandra started.
"Shurima? No, not yet. But I fully intend to explore the world and Shurima when I have the time." The continent is split into three different biomes. The massive jungles of eastern Shurima, to the massive desert that nearly spans the entirety of the continent to the mountainous region of Targon in western Shurima. "Is that where these so called bandits are?"
"No, they are only a few days travel from here, but they do not live in the desert. But once every few weeks a trade caravan goes from here to the Shuriman city of Nashramae. Of course that means it's quite prominent to raids."
"I thought this was job to take care of the bandits?" I ask her.
"Do not worry I'm still hiring you to take care of that. But I'm not the only one that rallies on this caravan for trade in the southern continent. In fact the entirety of the council besides Professor Heimerdinger uses this to establish trades with the many groups of nomads in the desert."
I snort amused "So you're giving me the opportunity to not only earn favor for you, but for nearly the entire council?"
She smiled and drank from a glass of wine that was given to her by a servant "Sounds promising doesn't it?"
"Well, of course it does. I hardly have a reason to decline. How long does it take for the caravan to get from Piltover to Nashramae?"
"That's the big thing. The trip if not strayed from it's usual course takes a little under a month."
I was quiet for a bit before finishing for her "And that's not including the amount of raids we might get."
"Yes." She says looking at me intently.
I had to think hard. It would most likely take a month, possibly more. If the entire thing takes two months to get there and back Silco and Swain would no doubt be suspicious of me. But then I remembered the obvious. It was the biggest mistake on Swain's part and that was that his connection to Silco and his Shimmer is me. I started to chuckle knowing that if I just straight up left the city Silco would just think Noxus are liars to their word.
I was about to answer Cassandra when a servant announced that dinner was served. Jinx gasped as trays of food were brought out. From large roasts to bowls of salad if a family of three ate this much each day, I would expect them to be very fat.
Of course Jinx started grabbing all sorts of dishes in a frenzy of hunger "Can she eat that much?" Tobias asked looking at the sheer amount of food she grabbed.
"Oh she can. It's honestly impressive to watch." I say filling my one plate with food. "And to answer your question Cassandra, you can tell the caravan people they can expect me there."
Her smile grew wider "Excellent." We were about to discuss further plans but Tobias asked we didn't talk business while eating. We chatted about things mostly me talking to the two adults while Caitlyn and Jinx continued to banter between each other.
"Man, that was some cooking." Jinx breathed out leaning in her chair nearly to the point of tipping over.
"Yes, it was delicious. You can give our thanks to your cooks." I continue specifically pointing it towards their servants not them. I mean, they didn't cook it.
"I will. But know that we should finish talking about your long trip." She nodded as she stood.
Everyone else stood as servants took the leftovers and dishes. Or rather, not leftovers as Jinx proceeded to take them herself, pilling all the food she could into a large bowl. The result was a bowl nearly too heavy for her to carry. Tobias went away saying he was going to do some reading and said goodbye to me and Jinx. Caitlyn then proceeded to do the same thing. She said goodbye to Jinx and I and wished us luck on our trip as she walked off with an itch of envy on her face.
I followed Cassandra as Jinx stayed behind fiddling with her spoils of food.
.....
Jinx's POV:
"Hah! Gottcha!" I say finally managing to fill a bowl I took with whatever food was left. I lifted it but it was far heavier than expected. I put it down and chuckled before looking towards the nervous servants looking at me I give them a salute as I laugh "You can take the empty plates now peeps!"
They get to work as I lift the bowl with a heave "Hey Dire! Can you get a Shadow or whatever to hold this?" I say looking around till I realized he wasn't anywhere.
In fact, the servants left as they close a door meaning I was completely alone in this massive house. I groan as I start to walk around calling out Dire's name. As I walk I walk past an open room with what looks to be somewhere people talk business so I walk in. Unfortunately the only thing there was the Kate girl or whatever her name was.
"What are you doing in my room?" She demanded.
"Wait, this is your room?" I laugh looking around. "The place looks like a museum."
She crosses her arms "It's high-up. I don't expect someone from the Undercity like you to understand."
That struck a cord as I could feel my brows tighten "Listen girl. You don't know a thing about me or what I've been through. I bet you don't even know what it's like to have to actually fight for anything."
She huffs "I know what struggling is! I've been training for years to become an Enforcer..." She kept rambling but her voice was going in one ear and out the other. But I got the jest of it and it bored the hell out of me.
I decided to interrupt her by groaning loudly "Sheesh you're so boring! But then again you're a Topsider so I imagine for you lot up here it's like a hero story."
"What makes us so different then?!" She yelled at me.
I look at her seriously "Drive."
"Drive?" She says quietly at me.
I put the bowl of food on the ground as I walk up to her "Yeah, Drive. I fight for a reason, a purpose. You fight to rebel against your parents."
"What? No I don't--"
"So why do you struggle, huh? You wanna help out Topside do ya? Cause they have so many terrible problems." I sarcastically tell her. She is silent as I walk back to my bowl of food and pick it up again and walk away from her. But just before I leave I look at her "The only help Topsiders need is for someone to pull them out of their own asses."
I then leave without turning back. Stupid Topside. The place is crawling with liars and backstabbing losers. The bloody sheriff of the Enforcers is under Silco's control. As I walked around I wasn't calling for Dire this time, rather reviewing myself.
I mean sure, Silco took me in when Vi abandoned me but he's the one that started everything in the first place. He was the one that took Vander and killed Benzo. He was the one that flooded the Lanes with Shimmer, causing deaths by the dozens. If it weren't for him I wouldn't be alive but if it wasn't for him I would've never... I wouldn't have...
"Killed us Jinx? Is that what you couldn't finish?" I hear Mylo's voice say behind me.
I didn't say anything back, since I knew it was true. But after a bit I replied "Oh great. Look's like you're back."
"Heh, that friend of yours can't protect you Jinx. But chances are you'll get him killed like you have everyone else."
"Shut up." I grumbled. "I won't kill him, I've already saved his life before."
"And? Either you'll kill him, or he'll see you for the killer you are and leave you."
"He's a killer too."
"Yeah but he's only killed strangers. You're his opposite. Everyone you've killed were your own damm family. I guess opposites really do attract." He laughs. I ignore him and keep walking "So what? You going to stick with this guy and go to Ionia? Trying to be a big hero huh? You honestly think you deserve that? What about me? Claggor? Vi?"
I stop walking "I know I don't. But it doesn't matter how many times I say I'm sorry it won't do a thing."
"Right. Because you don't deserve a lick of forgiveness."
"Not right now. So I'll earn it. I'll save a hundred times the four of you I killed. Even if I die I'll earn your forgiveness." I vow as I start walking again.
I could see Dire step out of a room along with the Council lady. He looked at me and waved as I picked up the pace to catch up to him. As I walked I heard Mylo's taunts get quieter as I got closer to Dire but I could make out Mylo say one last thing: "Then try not to Jinx this up as well..."
.....
Dire's POV:
"Everything will be ready tomorrow morning. You won't have to worry about food and water or somewhere to sleep while travelling, but you're expected to pay for yourself while in any towns." Cassandra told me as she escorted me to the exit of her home.
"That's fine." I tell her as Jinx catches up to us. "You ready to head out?"
"About time." She groans.
I chuckle "Here, let me." I say grabbing her massive bowl of food since for me it's nothing. Cassandra and I had sought everything out from pay to any expected troubles. It was a simple escort job for the most part. Jinx and I would be with a group of hired guards for the caravan to help escort it to Nashramae. Though Jinx and I would leave for a moment to deal with the group of bandits before rejoining the caravan group. Shouldn't be too difficult.
Cassandra took us to the door as we said goodbye before leaving and making our way back to the inn. Jinx was disheartened when she found out the food in her bowl was cold now but she still ate it. "Hey Jinx, come here." I call for her.
She bounces over to me as I put a hand on her head. "What are you doing?" She stares at me confused.
"Hush, I need to concentrate." I say closing my eyes. For my own little gift I gave Jinx her own little piece for protection.
With it I was able to do something I had wanted to gift Jinx as thanks for saving my life back with Igris. She gasped as shadows started to pour from my palm and cover her which started to harden into a lighter form of the metal that I usually produce. I opened my eyes to see her body covered in black leather-like armor. Though it's not as strong as my armor it's far lighter.
"Could you always make clothes?" She chuckles as she looked at herself.
"It's protection. But that's not all. Where are your guns?" I ask her.
"Pow-Pow's over there and Zapper's here." She answers pulling out Zapper with a spin.
I beckon for her to pass them to me as I do the same thing to Zapper. Due to it being a non-living thing I can go further, replacing the parts of it with my far stronger metal as it became black in color with it's usual blue glow now dark red. I gave her it as I walk over to do the same thing to Pow-Pow. "What'd you do?" She asked looking at Zapper.
"Made it better. Now it doesn't use ammo so we don't have to constantly stop for supplies. As long as I have enough energy you can fire more powerful shots as much as you want." I tell her as I enhance Pow-Pow to do the same thing.
"Mm, sweet. Though I liked how they looked before."
"Use some crayons or something. Or did you leave them all at Viktor and Jayce's lab?"
She shook her head "I always carry some with me. Usually need them constantly anyway. Hey, is this like your Shadows?" she asks gesturing for her new armor "Is it gonna like... disappear and I'll be left naked?"
I laugh "No, the stuff is a completely solid object." As she checks out her improved weapons I said "We should rest. It's a big day tomorrow."
"Yeah. I've never actually left Piltover before." She says putting her things away.
"Are you nervous?"
"Nope! I'm excited! Let's see if the world is ready for Jinx's grand reveal!" She proclaims holding her arms out.
.....
"So? How is it?" I ask Jinx as we walk over to the southern gate of Piltover, which is where the caravan group should be.
Jinx and I had our armor and weapons ready. She placed many pouches and belts all over her new armor to hold the many explosives and devices she had. And of course, Zapper was strapped to her left thigh while Pow-Pow was strapped around her shoulder and hanged on her side.
"It's good. Honestly I feel kind of badass wearing this." This morning she made me improve her armor, with added gloves, boots and even a hood as she disliked a helmet. Then she pimped her things out herself by drawing various symbols and animals in bright colors all over her guns and armor. At first I thought it would ruin the look but honestly it improved it quite a bit. She looked like an unpredictable badass. "Is this why people wear armors? To look cool?"
I chuckle "Well, I'm pretty sure that's a massive part of the reason. But I reckon it's mainly to stop something from killing you." As we walked I then asked "Have you told Silco about you leaving for nearly two months?"
"I told someone to tell him that I'll be going on a vacation." She replies completely uncaring.
I shrug "Hopefully he doesn't think Noxus kidnapped you. That could lead to problems in the future."
"Don't care" She shrugs.
We make it to the gate where a large convey of caravans waited for us. As I looked around someone approached us "You must be Dire." I turn to see a dark skinned man wearing clearly not Piltovan armor approach me when I nodded he held out his hand "My name is Haiker. I'm the leader of the caravan group here."
"Good to meet you Haiker. How are things here? We ready to go?"
He nodded as he turned to walk as we followed him "We've got a total of seven caravans. Two are headed for the town of Bel'Zhun which is on the way to Nashramae."
"How many people are here?" I ask as I notice a large number of people looking from guards to merchants.
"Thirty guards including myself. Then there are twenty six people that are merchants, caravan drivers and other non-combat individuals."
"Only thirty? Is that enough to protect this much cargo?" I ask him even though I could simply increase that number with my Shadows.
"Councilor Medarda had personally lowered the number of guards when she heard you were going us. She said 'With him, I doubt we even need guards at all' but I found that silly... no offence." He quotes turning away unable to notice the grins Jinx and I gave each other.
She holds up her hand for a high-five "Lets do it!"
We high-five as we hear Haiker calls out "Alright! Let's get this going!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone