The goddess—now a little green bird—was surrounded by a crowd of women.
Jinx, Isha, and Vi were all clustered around her, with Ekko and Marsen on the edge, plus Zeri—who'd only just gotten back because she was fast enough to serve as a "messenger"—and others.
They were all excitedly staring at Janna, who was curled up inside a tiny house Jinx had made.
That little house had originally been something Jinx built while playing pretend with Isha, but with Janna using it now, it didn't feel out of place at all.
"Are you really Janna?" Jinx was the boldest. She reached out and poked Janna's body directly. Vi immediately tried to stop her, but Jinx was way too quick.
With a blue-painted index fingernail, Jinx rubbed the little bird's head, her face full of excitement.
"Jinx, don't do that, that's Jan—" Vi stammered anxiously, afraid Jinx's behavior would offend Janna.
For Zaunites—especially those born and raised down in the Sump—no matter how vile a person might be, once they heard the name "Janna," they would still feel respect and gratitude.
"It's alright, Vi. I like Jinx very much," Janna said gently, letting Jinx touch her.
She truly did like Jinx.
Because Janna wasn't human. Even though she helped humans and cared for them, she was still a god. She had lived for so, so long—so long she couldn't even count it anymore. Across endless years, she'd seen too many people and too many things, and everything Jinx had done as she grew up… in Janna's eyes, it didn't really amount to much.
She had seen the most despicable Pilties, and she had seen Zaunites who were noble and unyielding.
And in Janna's eyes, there was something in Jinx that she liked very much.
That something was—
Refusal to submit.
A small body holding explosive energy—within Zaun, that was genuinely rare.
"Really?" Jinx tilted her head, braced her waist against the table, and leaned forward to peer at Janna.
"Of course. Back when you were still called Powder, I already knew you," the goddess said.
Hearing that, Jinx turned to look at Vi, her eyes full of provocation. "Hear that, Vi? Put away that busybody instinct. The goddess Janna likes me, not you."
Vi's mouth twitched. She wanted to say something, but in the end she chose silence.
Still… Vi was happy too.
Because Janna had called her name. The goddess knew she was Vi.
"Why are you so small? The book said you were a huge green bird, and it said you can turn into a person. Were the wall paintings you?" Jinx fired off several questions in a row.
Janna answered them one by one.
"Faith power? No problem. Logan will help you with that," Jinx declared outright, making the decision for Logan, thumping her chest like she was the lady of the house.
She wasn't stupid. She understood exactly what her status was in the Spirit Blossom Gang now, and she understood exactly what her relationship with Logan was.
The reason she still hadn't outright said it wasn't because she was shy or unwilling—it was just that they were too familiar. She'd seen Logan running around in split-crotch pants, and Logan had seen her missing teeth with a runny nose. It was… really too familiar.
"Jinx, do you like Logan very much?" Janna suddenly asked.
And the moment Vi heard that question, she slapped a hand over her face and closed her eyes.
Here it comes!
Behind them, Zeri's face turned red. She thought girls should talk about this kind of thing… though, did the goddess count as a girl?
"Of course! Logan is the best! I like him so much, and he likes me so much too. We like each other, Janna!" Jinx's excitement shot even higher. She raised her voice and started enthusiastically explaining to Janna just how great Logan was, how great he was, how great he was—
"…"
————
On the other side of the room, Logan and Silco sat facing each other, drinking peach wine.
Logan's home wasn't like the Forgen Tavern—there was basically no high-proof liquor here. One reason was that Logan didn't have the connections to get it easily, and another was that there were a lot of women in the house, so strong alcohol wasn't really suitable.
This sweet peach wine was pretty nice. Jinx would sneak a sip now and then—Logan knew, but he didn't stop her. Even Isha could drink this. More than wine, it was basically fruit juice.
"I've already said my part. It's exactly what you saw, Silco. Next, we need to prepare for the Divine Restoration Plan. If Janna can regain her strength—"
"But will she really stand on our side?" Silco cut Logan off, lifting his eyes to him.
Did Silco have resentment toward Janna?
Of course he did—so much of it. But when Janna said those words to him, a large part of that resentment had dispersed. Even so, Silco wasn't about to place the revival of Zaun on the shoulders of a god.
Because for Silco, after everything he'd done… if the happiness and future at the end of the road were something a god fought for on his behalf, then what did all those things he'd done along the way amount to?
Of course, thinking it through carefully, Silco still hoped Janna would help Zaunites. Even if that meant everything he'd done—the extremes, the sins—made him carry the blame and become Zaun's villain… what he cared about more was Zaun's benefit.
If his sacrifice could be exchanged for Zaun's independence and peace, for prosperity and flourishing… then he was willing.
"Janna said she won't interfere with us striking back." Logan looked at Silco. "So in your imagination—what does the final ending for Piltover and Zaun look like?"
Silco lifted his cup, drank, and sat in silence as he continued sipping. After a moment, he spoke:
"I don't want to do anything to Piltover. I only want an agreement from them—Zaun's independence. If necessary, I think we can absolutely cooperate with them. Of course, if we can make them suffer a loss, embarrass them… that would be best."
"Seriously? You don't want to kill them all?"
"Don't make me sound that evil, Logan." Silco rolled his eyes, then continued, "I did a lot of extreme things, but in the end it was all for Zaun's independence. Besides, there are good people in Piltover, and Zaun once benefited from Piltover too. Kill them all?
"Leaving aside whether we could've done that before—right now, can we even do that? And in your eyes, do I look like some dictator warlord? I'm just a businessman, and I happen to have the part-time job of being a politician."
"Then it's simple. I'll sum it up with something Vi says all the time."
Silco was curious. "Oh?"
"Throw the first punch—then ask every question while you're throwing it," Logan said with a grin.
Vi's line was incredibly useful. Don't worry about anything else—hit first, make it hurt, show the muscle, and then think about what comes next in the negotiation.
Because our relationship with Piltover is bad. That's just how it is.
"That suggestion is good. A bit crude, but effective." Silco nodded, accepting it.
Then he elegantly lifted one leg over the other, fingers interlaced and resting on his knee, and said, "Now it's my turn."
"Logan, starting today, Sevika will listen to you. I'll have her bring part of my people into the Spirit Blossom Gang.
"Of course, you can refuse them. Quite a few of them have bad habits. If they come in and something happens, I think you'll end up giving me face.
"They'll cause you plenty of trouble. So you can keep them on the outer edge of the Spirit Blossom Gang. A lot of things can be handed off to them."
"For example—things the Spirit Blossom Gang shouldn't be seen doing." Silco looked at Logan, his gaze meaningful. "Because even now, not every Zaunite will obey."
"Some people need to take a beating before they'll listen."
"Alright. I get what you mean." Logan smiled slightly, an image already forming in his mind.
Mm… when necessary, having Silco's people carry clubs to deal with troublesome residents… that really was workable.
Silco nodded, stood up, and looked like he was about to leave.
But Logan stopped him again.
"Wait. There's one more thing."
"More?" Silco paused mid-motion, then sat back down and looked at Logan.
"Yeah. And it's… important."
"Silco, I need to ask you for someone," Logan said seriously.
A lot of Zaun's problems had been solved. So now… it was time for Vander to come back. Logan didn't know whether Singed had succeeded with his modifications, but he had to go and see.
Because Singed didn't look like someone easy to deal with.
"Go on," Silco said.
"That is—"
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