-17- Undercurrent

Zaun isn't truly devoid of sunshine. A century ago, Zaun had its fair share of sunny days, back when Piltover's towering skyscrapers were yet to be constructed. Now, Zaun's sunlight comes as charity from Piltover.

In the depths of the Sump, enjoying regular daylight is a rarity. So, whenever the sun showed its face, Vi would drag a certain little bed-loving rascal out of bed to bask in the sunlight. This was based on Linwen's advice – sun exposure helps with growth and overall health.

But today, the little one lounging on the couch wasn't happy. She complained, "I know, I can do it, I can get up. Vi, you can't always do this. I can get up by myself. I'm a big kid now."

"Forget about whether I can wake you up or not, big kid? Powder, you're only ten this year!"

"What's wrong with being ten? When you were my age, you were already asking Vander for independence. Isn't ten a big kid, just as you and Vander said? Now, I want to tell you the same thing, Vi, ten is a big kid too!" Powder rubbed her eyes, holding her rabbit plushie, looking visibly upset.

She certainly didn't dislike Vi; in fact, she liked her the most. She just disliked this stage of Vi—the Vi who woke her up from sleep.

"No, I'm your big sister. I have to take care of you. Linwen said so. Kids need sunlight; otherwise, they won't grow tall. Do you want to stay tiny?" Vi walked to the couch, sat down, and gently caressed Powder's face.

////Can't decide if Linwin or Linwen is better, y'all choose////

Her tomboyish demeanor softened in front of Powder, displaying warmth. However, little Powder was not convinced.

She looked at Vi and grumbled, "Well, Linwen also said that ample sleep is good for growing tall. Why don't you let me sleep a little more? Sunlight isn't necessarily that important."

"No, these are all excuses! Powder, whose words are you going to follow, mine or Linwen's? I'm your big sister!" Vi grabbed Powder, pulling her away, causing the little one to cry out.

"No, I don't want to go out! I want to sleep, let me sleep a bit more!"

"Get up! Finish your breakfast and spar with me. Why sleep so much?"

In the end, ten-year-old Powder lost to her sister.

Sitting at the dining table, Powder was a bit dissatisfied, pouting, "Why fish again? We've had fish for several days now, Vi... I want bread."

"I don't have the money to buy you bread. Vander doesn't either. He says he might be even poorer," Vi picked up a fish from her bowl, held it up high, and then raised her head, opening her mouth, letting the cooked fish slide into her mouth.

Some reddish seasoning, a bit salty, and a slight spiciness.

But even so, the taste was still not very good.

Both Zaun and Piltover, being by the sea, could rely on the sea for food. Not only Piltover but also Zaun benefited from seafood, making fish one of the cheapest meats in Zaun. The fish strips Powder was eating, about the size of a child's forearm, were exceptionally affordable.

A single fish cost only about three copper coins. If one could find a daily-wage job at Piltover's docks, they could earn dozens of copper coins in a day, which would amount to ten or more fish.

But the one bringing food was Ekko.

Vi didn't expect Ekko to bring anything delicious.

Powder looked at the unappetizing, pale fish meat with remnants of uncleaned fish skin and slime in her bowl. She glanced at her sister, pouting but dared not say anything.

If Linwen was cooking, even for this kind of fish, he could make it taste delicious.

But recently, Vi was the one cooking for Powder...

Did she clean the fish meat properly?

"What's wrong?" Vi chewed the fish meat and asked Powder.

Powder felt a bit disheartened. "I miss Linwen. Why hasn't he come back yet?"

"Vi, what if Linwen went to Upper City and started liking it there, so he won't come back?"

Vi raised an eyebrow, "Did you talk to Mylo again?"

Powder nodded, used her spoon to separate the fish meat, picked up a large spoonful, and put it in her mouth. 

She obediently chewed but struggled as she swallowed, her little face turning red, and her throat making gulping sounds.

That was the sound of her desperately swallowing saliva.

That slime was so gross!

It slipped and slid in her mouth, extremely uncomfortable!

Vi didn't notice Powder's distress but expressed her dissatisfaction with Powder and Mylo. She said, "Silly Powder, think for yourself. How many times has Mylo lied to you? How can you still believe him?"

"I'm just..." Powder paused, looking a bit embarrassed, and glanced at Vi. "I'm just scared."

"What is there to be afraid of? Linwen went out for business, you understand? Hasn't he been gone for several days before whenever he went out?" 

Powder lowered her head, the spoon lightly tapping against the bowl, and her small feet swung under the table. She didn't dare to speak.

Should she tell Vi that she was afraid that if Linwen didn't come back, Vi would poison her?

But seeing how happily Vi was eating, Powder couldn't bring herself to say something so cruel.

"But don't worry, Vander came to see us yesterday and said, he already sent Sevika to find Linwen. Soon, we'll be able to see him."

"Okay..."

Powder obediently nodded.

---------------------------

"Hey, Linwen, can you help me carry this down?" a person with a cane smiled at him.

"Of course, Viktor."

"Linwen, Linwen, don't mind Viktor for now, come help me first. My side is more important! Linwen, do you know!!! If my Hextech crystal can be properly processed, the magical energy in it can be used for spatial traversal! You have to help me, Linwen, this is a job for all three of us!" A handsome, muscular young man excitedly approached him.

"Alright, Jayce, I'm coming."

"Linwen, my boy, I need your help to lift these heavy items," a furry little figure tugged on Linwen's pants and said.

"Professor Heimerdinger, you could actually use a trolley... Sorry, my mistake. I guess the trolley's height doesn't fit."

In the University of Piltover, Linwen became a busy person. 

That night, under the assurance of Jayce and Viktor, Linwen became their assistant and, well, a general handyman at the academy.

However, unlike Viktor, whose social skills were close to zero, Linwen... how do I put it? He was very popular, extremely popular.

At first, the students and professors at Piltover Academy were skeptical of this newcomer from Zaun. But after a few days of seeing Linwen always smiling, exuding an aura of warmth, helping them out, both the professors and the students in the academy began to change their perception of this young man.

A scholar, someone focused on learning and not bothered with people and social matters.

So although he was a kid from Zaun...

He was quite polite!

Although he was a kid from Zaun...

He was very energetic!

Although he was a kid from Zaun...

He looked good!

In short, Linwen's innocent face and the gentle aura of a boy next door quickly endeared him to everyone.

And now... Linwen walked over to Jayce's work area.

After Hextech was recognized by the council, Jayce's status and position underwent a major reversal. Currently, three out of seven council members were keeping an eye on Jayce, with two of them having high hopes for him. These two council members were Professor Heimerdinger and Mel, the councilor from the Medarda family.

The other council member paying attention to Jayce, according to what Jayce had told Linwen, was Councilor Bolbok, a person who had undergone technological modifications. He scrutinized Jayce as if he were a set of parts, every gear on him filled with suspicion towards Jayce's arcane arts.

Well, Jayce didn't care.

Right now, he was filled with zeal, all for the purpose of developing Hextech Technology.

"You came just in time, Linwen. Hurry, help me buy some materials from Constellate Avenue."

Seeing Linwen, Jayce's face brightened. His hair was messy, and the area around his eyes had darkened a bit. Not far from him was Viktor, who looked about the same.

The Hextech crystals had stabilized, and now the next step was to utilize the power within. But how should this power be used? That was what Jayce and Viktor were currently researching.

"I'm sorry, Jayce."

Linwen smiled apologetically and scratched the back of his head. He continued, "I have to leave for a while."

"What are you going for? We're at a crucial point in our research!" Jayce said disapprovingly.

"There's a family matter that needs to be resolved back home," Linwen shrugged. Sevika, the silly big sister, was already waiting outside. Linwen hadn't expected her to search the whole city for him. If not for her agile moves, she would have been mistaken for a suspicious person and arrested by the enforcers during the night.

Jayce nodded and walked up, patting Linwen's shoulder. "Need me to come with you? I can help."

Victor was conducting experiments nearby, but his ears were tuned into this conversation. Upon hearing Jayce's confident offer, he silently chuckled.

Help?...

In Zaun, eleven out of ten matters were related to violence. Linwen would be getting into a brawl down there. How could Jayce help him? Victor had to admit, Jayce did have a good physique, but brawling wasn't about physique. This academic genius, a noble man, certainly wouldn't know how to fight.

At least... probably not as well as he did.

"Thanks, but Zaun has its rules. Matters involving Zaunites should be resolved by Zaunites themselves," Linwen said with a smile.

Zaun had its own set of rules.

Jayce nodded, not pressing the matter further. "Then, hurry and come back. Our experiments are more important. With you around, I can save a lot of effort," Jayce said seriously, then proceeded to Victor with an iron stick.

Linwen shook his head and then put on his small bag as he walked out of the academy.

Seeing the irritated expression on the big sister's face standing there, Linwen immediately felt amused.

Jayce and himself, himself and Sevika.

Ha...

This guy Jayce... Isn't he treating himself as a free laborer?