บท 72: -72- Well.... I don't know
"Yeah, that's right, it's Powder here."
Vi, leaning against the wall, chimed in immediately, "I'm here too."
Linwin recognized Vi's voice. It hadn't changed much; after all, when he left, Vi was already seventeen, well past her voice-changing years.
Powder's voice, on the other hand, took him a moment. But thinking about it, it made sense. When he left, Powder was around thirteen or fourteen. Now, almost reaching adulthood, some change in her voice was expected. If there were no changes, that would be strange.
Vi had grown up, but she was still the "Enforcer of Piltover" that Linwin knew. Except for not having a nose ring, no iconic Vi tattoo on her face, and no strange tattoos on her body. She was now an Enforcer of Zaun.
And Vi's height seemed not too tall?
Linwin initially thought Vi would be much taller than Caitlyn, but in reality, Vi seemed to be around 1.65 meters?
As for Powder, what kind of future did she have after not growing up into Jinx?
Powder had short hair, very short. Super short!
Thinking about this, Linwin chuckled and said, "Haha. Are you two together now?"
Linwin asked a somewhat silly question, but well, he was extremely nervous right now!
It's strange why hearing Powder's voice on Vi's Hextech phone gave him a sneaky feeling. Did he do something wrong to Powder? Although Powder called him many times, calling Vi first didn't seem like a big offense, right?
But thinking carefully, maybe he did something a bit wrong.
"I'm living with Vi now," Powder replied.
"Living with Vi? Are you not staying with Vander anymore?" Linwin asked.
Vi, hearing Linwin's question, explained, "Linwin, Powder is almost eighteen now, and as for me... well, let's not talk about that. Anyway, how could we still be living with Vander? Besides, Vander is extremely busy now; we can't disturb him. He's a super busy person."
Linwin nodded. "You're right."
"When do you plan to come back? Vander said you would return on the next Progress Day," Vi asked, both sisters still holding onto the phone.
"I'll be back soon; there are many things waiting for me to solve there. At the latest, it should be on Progress Day, but don't worry, you'll definitely see me that day," Linwin assured.
"Can't you come back sooner? I..." Powder started to ask but didn't finish the sentence.
"I'll do my best. As soon as I finish the matter here, I'll come back, Powder," Linwin promised. Of course, he also wanted to return as soon as possible.
Linwin's departure from Zaun had many reasons, and a significant one was his relationship with Jayce.
Staying in Zaun meant exposing Jayce to coercion from the upper city's elites, who sought to exploit Hextech phone profits and squeeze Zaun's productivity.
Being stuck between his city and his friend, Linwin chose to leave Piltover to spare Jayce from the uncomfortable situation.
Another reason was Linwin's need to rapidly increase his strength. Dealing with the challenges ahead involved more than just Piltover; the real enemies weren't Piltover but the powerful families at the top.
Linwin made it clear to Vander and Silco that Piltover wasn't Zaun's enemy. The real adversaries were the influential families atop Piltover, and some of them were once Zaunites. Facing external threats, especially from Noxus, Linwin knew that Piltover, sandwiched between two powerful nations, needed the ability to protect itself.
Noxus cared little for others' opinions, openly expressing its ambitions to dominate the continent. Linwin wanted to return, but the circumstances required him to grow stronger first. The ambitions of powerful nations and the potential threats demanded a more formidable Piltover for survival.
In summary, Linwin certainly wants to go back.
Over the past four years, he has often considered just going back, as life in the desert has been incredibly tough. However, he can't do that. Some things can't be postponed, and waiting until later would truly be too late.
Now, he has nearly completed what he set out to do in Shurima. He envisions a future where Shurima will rise again, and on that day, Linwin hopes to exchange a few words with the emperor.
He has dedicated a lot of effort, working over the numerous things he has done, yet no one around him knows the extent of his actions. Sometimes, Linwin contemplates giving up, but when he thinks about Powder, Vi, and the people he met in Zaun and Piltover, he grits his teeth and perseveres.
He delves into the northern desert of Shurima, flying over the dunes, witnessing the once glorious Ascended kingdom, and getting close to the seemingly Void-tainted coastline. In the desert, he battles with a band of cannibalistic thieves and faces strange unknown creatures in the deep sea.
Throughout these years, Linwin has endured injuries, with the most severe incident leaving his lower body completely ravaged. One night in the desert, he literally cried, nearly believing he was turning into another Viktor.
He has no intention of following in Viktor's footsteps in creating prosthetic 'little brother' down there.
The good news is that after a few days, the missing parts of Linwin's body grew back.
He is truly exhausted.
So, once he completes that task, he's heading back to Zaun!
Back to his home.
When the time comes, no one can stop him!
Now, hearing the voices of Vi and Powder, Linwin feels considerably relieved.
It's a hundred times more joyful than seeing Zevi!
The conversation among them continues.
In the night of Shurima, Linwin sits in his tent, legs crossed, a smile on his face, listening to the voices from the Hextech phone. He laughs and says:
"You've actually become the head of weapons department? You're amazing, Powder."
"Haha, of course, I have to be more amazing than Vi now. I'm a department hesd, while Vi, oh Linwin, our Lady Violet is now a constable, a cop!"
"Wait, who do you think you're calling a constable cop?" Vi glares at Powder, displeased.
On second thought, Powder's position is indeed much higher than hers!
"Ah, my bad, I'm wrong.... It hurts! Linwin! Vi keeps bullying me now."
"This is my way of expressing love to you, Powder."
"When I get back, I'll personally teach Vi a lesson to vent your frustrations."
"Really?"
"Of course, when have I ever lied to you?"
"Back when I was a kid, I believed you. I thought you were my big brother, and I couldn't contradict you. But now, Linwin, think about it. How many times have you lied to me?"
"..."
"Powder's right, you should tone down that authoritative tone of yours. Both Powder and I have grown up, really grown up."
"Pfft, only you have grown big, I haven't, Ugh...."
"No, Powder, what are you looking at?" Vi's voice shakes a bit...
Linwin rubs his nose.
The conversation seems a bit off, huh?
But Linwin can deduce something from it.
So Powder is really a small Powder, not a big Powder huh? Linwin doesn't know how to react to this.
About nutrition, Powder should be getting enough, right? Linwin remembers that before he left, Powder had a habit of drinking milk every day.
But why is she still an flat Powder?
Linwin chuckles.
The call goes on very late.
Until Vi's Hextech phone makes a low battery sound.
Linwin, Vi, and Powder's conversation is coming to an end.
"It's already very late," Linwin says.
"I have to go to work tomorrow," Vi adds.
Powder, however, is still a bit unsatisfied. Of course she's not satisfied.
She waited too long for this call.
She missed him so much.
So, Powder says reluctantly, "You better remember to call me again."
"I'll call tomorrow," Linwin promises.
"It better be mine, not Vi's!"
The blue-haired girl jumps up and down, making a face at her sister, who looks completely indulgent.
Linwin nods helplessly, "Alright, alright, I'll call you."
But then, Powder immediately adopts a stern tone, "By the way, Linwin, tell me, why did you call Vi first and not me? You, I've called you dozens of times, haven't you noticed?"
Linwin falls silent.
It's because Powder called so many times that Linwin was hesitant about whether to call her first.
With over forty missed calls, he was afraid Powder would fired up immediately, so he called Vi first.
But how does he explain this to Powder?
Fortunately, Powder gives him a way out.
"Forget it."
"Anyway, next time you must call my Hextech phone!"
In front of Vi, Powder grabs the phone, opens her mouth, and quickly said.
"Okay, I'm hanging up."
"Bye, see you."
"Oh, and I really miss you."
"Bye!!!"
After that, Powder immediately hangs up the Hextech phone.
Facing Vi's playful expression, Powder hums and hands the Hextech phone to Vi, pouting, "What's your deal?"
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Powder says coyly.
"I don't know," Vi replies.
"Go to sleep. I have to make weapons tomorrow." Powder lowers her head, sneaks under Vi's arm like a little mouse, and runs into the bathroom.
After talking so much, there's a slightly dizzy feeling, like a lack of oxygen.
In front of the mirror, Powder touches her own face.
But does a person's face really get hot from talking too much?
Singed never taught her that.
"Well... I don't know."
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