Dinner was cooked by Logan. Because of his size, Vander chose to sit on the floor—pure "I'm tall so I do what I want."
Even though he didn't need to eat, Vander still insisted on having dinner with his family. Watching the grown-up Vi and Powder, the smile on that monstrous face of his never faded for a second.
Little Isha was tucked against Jinx, sitting nicely and eating, and on Jinx's other side sat Logan.
Vi sat beside Vander. In less than a day, his "little sweetheart" of a daughter was already finding him annoying—she leaned as far away from him as she could, stabbed up a piece of fish steak with her fork, and chewed, chew, chewed. She was annoyed, but she had to admit it: Logan's cooking was way better than hers.
Watching Jinx feed Isha and pack her little bowl full of food, curiosity rose on Vander's face. He couldn't help asking, "Logan… who's that little girl?"
As he spoke, a horrifying thought sprouted in Vander's mind.
No. No, that's impossible.
Impossible, impossible!
My Powder is still so young—how could she already have a daughter?!
That bastard Logan… earlier he said there was an even bigger surprise waiting for him—don't tell him that's what he meant?
If it really was what Vander was thinking, he'd kill Logan even if it cost him his life!
That animal!
"She's Isha," Logan said, having no idea what Vander was imagining—if he did, he'd be speechless to death. "Jinx picked her up outside. She's like a little sister."
If Logan had known, he would've cursed Vander out just like Vi did—what the hell was in that old man's head?
Dog shit?!
Jinx was still a kid!
What did Vander think Logan had been enduring for?
At night, the feeling of a slender, pale, smooth little foot draping over him—did Vander understand what that was like?
It was because Jinx was still young—still a minor—that Logan had been holding back this whole time.
Jinx leaned down closer to Isha, flashed a V-sign beside Isha's head, smiling as she said, "We look alike, right?"
Then she rubbed her cheek against Isha's face. "Isha, from now on, he's your dad too. Call him Dad."
Isha nodded, looked at Vander, and made a little babbling sound.
Vander was a bit stunned, but he still gave Isha a gentle, warm smile.
And the funny part was—despite how terrifying Vander looked, Isha wasn't scared at all. Seeing Vander smile at her, she smiled back, showing her little tooth-gapped mouth, giggling happily.
Even without taste, Vander still ate a bit. Watching Vi and Powder eat so enthusiastically made it hard not to. Luckily Logan had made a lot—so many dishes the table was packed.
Right then, a voice sounded.
"Boss—Doctor Singed is looking for you!"
It was Marsen.
Logan paused, then called out, "Bring the doctor in."
A moment later, Singed came in with Marsen accompanying him. Seeing everyone gathered around eating—especially Vander—Singed found the scene bizarre, almost absurd. He'd never imagined one of his creations would sit at a table and eat.
And yet… it somehow felt strangely warm.
Then something seemed to cross his mind. His gaze dropped, loneliness filling his eyes.
But he quickly returned to normal and looked at Logan. "Am I here at a bad time?"
A family dinner, and he barged in to interrupt—what was that?
"It's fine, Doctor," Logan said easily. "Have you eaten? If not, eat with us."
Singed reflexively wanted to refuse, but when he looked at the food on the table, he hesitated.
"Isha, go get a bowl," Logan said.
The little one hopped off the stool without a word, pattered into the kitchen, and came back with a bowl, bringing it straight to Logan.
"Come on, Doctor—don't be polite," Logan said with a smile. "We're on the same side now. Get over here."
Singed nodded, stepped forward, and removed the scarf covering his mouth, revealing a frightening face.
But with Vander sitting right there, Singed's face didn't even register anymore. Next to Vander, even Silco looked like a handsome man.
"I actually have something I want to talk to you about," Logan said warmly to Singed.
Vander immediately understood what Logan was about to bring up.
"Go ahead," Singed said.
He picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of meat, and ate. His face was badly burned, yet the way he ate still looked refined—pure bearing.
Not like Jinx. Cute as a button, face innocent as can be—then she ate like she'd been starving for a week.
Chicken drumstick in the left hand, fish in the right—"refined" was never going to have anything to do with Jinx in this lifetime.
"It's about Viktor," Logan said. "We want Viktor to come to Zaun."
Singed's eyes shifted as he looked at Logan, surprised. "How do you even know about my relationship with him?"
Logan bringing up Viktor on purpose meant Logan knew there was a connection. It made Singed feel like he had no secrets at all in front of Logan.
"Janna," Logan said, grinning and showing his teeth.
Singed nodded.
Not far behind them, inside a little shelter where she was resting, Janna's body jolted. A small blue bird head poked out, staring at Logan's back. The beak opened as if to say something… then closed again.
Fine.
Say whatever you want.
Logan—seriously, is there anyone better at talking than you?
The goddess retreated back inside, awkward—but… maybe she was getting used to it?
At this point, even if someone told her she'd done something else ridiculous, she didn't think she'd be shocked anymore.
"Viktor is a genius," Singed said, his tone turning wistful. "A genius no less than Jayce. No—there are areas where he's even smarter than Jayce. I've never met anyone more outstanding than him."
Singed had seen Viktor when he was young and taught him quite a lot. From teenager to young man, Viktor had turned out even more exceptional than Singed expected.
But Viktor's temperament was too soft. He didn't fight for things, didn't compete. Maybe it was the disability he was born with—it made him deeply insecure.
Truly… no one understood Viktor better than Singed.
Jinx immediately pointed at herself. "And what about me?"
Singed paused. "...Alright, fine. You and Ekko are geniuses too. But how do I put it… your hands-on ability and creativity aren't inferior to Viktor's. It's just that Viktor knows far more than you do."
"Jinx, you lack systematic teaching. Growing wild isn't a good thing," Singed said plainly.
"Alright, that's enough," Jinx said, already lowering her head and continuing to shovel food. "I'll just pretend you're praising me."
"Logan," Singed went on, "it's possible to get Viktor to come to Zaun. He's always cared about Zaun. But there's one problem—his body."
"He doesn't have long to live."
"Shimmer can't extend his life. Shimmer activates cells—forces division and reinforcement. But Viktor's condition is like a candle in the wind. Shimmer can make him rally for a while, but it burns what little life he has left."
"That's fine," Logan said. "Doctor—we have Janna. What I'm hoping is that once Viktor comes down, you can… talk to him. Guide him a bit."
Inside the little shelter, Janna silently raised a wing and covered her tiny head, pretending she hadn't heard a word.
"Guide him?" Singed echoed, confused by Logan's wording.
Logan cleared his throat. "Right—Doctor, the way we're… inviting Viktor down is very Zaunite. You've been in Zaun a long time. You get what I mean, right?"
Saying "going up to Topside to steal a person" out loud… honestly, Logan couldn't quite bring himself to phrase it that way.
Singed's gaze sharpened slightly. He understood.
He nodded. "No problem, Logan. I'll talk to him. After all, I'm still relying on you for my own matter."
"Whatever you need me to do," Logan said, "just say the word."
"Then one key question," Logan said. "Doctor—are you Zaunite now, or Piltover?"
Singed answered calmly, "Whatever you need me to be, that's what I am."
Logan smiled and nodded. "Pleasure working with you, Doctor."
"Pleasure working with you."
Logan was practically delighted.
Piltover… you're truly finished.
Once Viktor comes down, with Singed talking him through it, and with Viktor's natural kindness… if he joins Zaun, then how strong will Zaun become?
How high will Zaun's future ceiling reach?
And that wasn't even counting Viktor—who hadn't come down yet—and it wasn't even counting Heimerdinger, Ekko, Zeri, and the rest…
Just look at this table alone!
Vi and Vander—the ones who could fight.
Jinx—monstrously gifted.
Isha—full of promise.
Singed—an unprecedented pioneer in biology.
And Logan—the man backed by a god.
Piltover was supposed to become Runeterra's future center?
The center of the universe?
Heh.
Who the rightful Twin Cities really belong to—let's just wait and see.
Pilties—
Time will prove everything.
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