-30- Brother

"See? I said we had to meet in private, but you didn't believe me. You thought you could calm him down. But now, how are you going to resolve this situation?"

Silco paid no direct attention to Benzo and remained calm on the surface. However, he clenched his fists tightly behind his back.

If it were just Benzo talking like this to Silco, he would most likely end up as a miserable pawn floating down some waterway.

But since they had agreed to cooperate and were on Vander's turf, Silco couldn't afford to lose his temper. 

He cast an annoyed glance at Linwin and said softly, "So you need to resolve this quickly, at least make him shut up. It won't be good for you, for me, or even for him if you don't."

Silco had come to work with the Black Ally, not to pick fights. 

Being publicly berated by Benzo in front of so many was understandably infuriating. 

Linwin tried to restrain the agitated Benzo, but Benzo's anger flared up again upon hearing Silco's response.

He bared his teeth and raged at Silco, "Silco, you damn dog of a traitor, what gives you the right to stand in front of me and speak so arrogantly?!"

"Resolve me? Make me shut up? Let me tell you right now, if you don't leave this place immediately, I will personally break your legs and send you off!"

Benzo turned to Linwin, shouting, "Linwin, don't try to stop me. I'm going to kill him myself."

Silco's gaze grew colder by the moment.

Linwin tried to restrain Benzo but found himself in a complex situation. 

Silco and Vander were brothers, and in theory, Benzo and Silco should have a similar bond. But looking at Benzo's hostile attitude towards Silco, it seemed to be more than just a simple grudge.

Confronted by Silco's cold gaze, Linwin couldn't help but send a curious look his way.

What on earth had this guy done during his time in the Black Ally, making the usually benevolent Vander, to expel him from the Black Ally?

"Alright, Benzo," Vander spoke up, attempting to defuse the situation.

"Vander, you mustn't listen to this guy's nonsense. He can't say a few good words if his life depended on it," Benzo said, clearly irritated.

"It's alright, he came with Linwin," Vander replied, lifting his hand and giving the order, "Sevika, have everyone leave."

Sevika rose and nodded silently. Soon, the tavern emptied, leaving only Linwin, Benzo, Silco, and Vander, who had just emerged from behind the bar.

Vander placed a large hand on Benzo's shoulder and shook his head. "Benzo, you should leave too."

"Are you out of your mind? What if he tries to attack you? Have you forgotten who caused your injuries? It was him!" Benzo protested, his displeasure apparent.

His animosity towards Silco was indeed substantial. 

Yet, in the past, he and Silco could sit at the same table, discussing their ideals while enjoying drinks. However, now, their relationship had become irreparably strained.

In Benzo's eyes, Silco was no longer a Zaunite from the Black Ally; he had betrayed Vander, betrayed the Black Ally. 

If Silco knew Benzo's thoughts, he'd likely just sneer.

Benzo's mind is as foolish as his appearance.

A traitor? 

The real traitor is Vander.

Vander has betrayed him, not the other way around.

"Go. Let's not think if Silco can pose a threat to me, plus, Linwin is still standing here," 

Vander insisted. Benzo had to consider the fact that Silco's physical strength wasn't much of a threat to him. 

He glared at Silco like a final warning and then said to Vander, "You be careful. Watch out for his tricks. He's the kind of guy who employs underhanded tactics."

Linwin released Benzo, who left the premises with a final angry shove directed at Silco.

After being pushed, Silco stumbled but quickly regained his balance. He simply patted the spot where Benzo had pushed him and remained silent.

Once Benzo had left, the tavern was left with only three individuals. 

Silco and Vander exchanged a meaningful look. After a brief moment of hesitation, Vander finally spoke up. "Silco, why are you here?"

Facing Vander's gaze, Silco spread his hands and began, "I've come to regain the respect I've lost, Vander. I've lost too much."

"What more respect do you need? I've already ensured the Black Ally gave you plenty of respect. Silco, you shouldn't be so greedy," Vander responded.

"I'm not seeking your respect," Silco replied, shaking his head in Vander's direction. He then pointed upwards and said to Vander, "I want their respect."

Vander glanced at Linwin and frowned. "Did you tell him about our plans?"

"Plans? That's funny. What kind of plan is that?"

Without waiting for Linwin to speak, Silco took the lead. He gazed at Vander with an icy and stern expression, speaking forcefully.

"You're making a grand display, taking your people into the baron's territory for a big fight, and trying to unite all of Zaun. Is that your plan? Well, even if it is, what are you doing it for? To protect two insignificant little girls?" Silco replied sternly.

"Mind your mouth, Silco," Vander warned as he heard Silco refer to his daughters as insignificant. His initial remorse towards Silco dissipated completely, and he approached Silco like a raging lion, containing his anger.

However, Silco remained unfazed and continued, "Not to mention that even if you can get them all on the same side, what makes you think they'll actually follow your orders? You use force to suppress but show kindness to everyone, preserving goodwill."

"Vander, if loyalty were enough to succeed, we shouldn't have failed back then."

Linwin stood on the side and found Silco's words quite reasonable. Silco was quite the master of persuasion.

Vander, though, shook his head, saying, "War will only..."

But he stopped halfway through his sentence,. 

Silco immediately burst into laughter, pointing at Vander while addressing Linwin, "You see, he's still the same. This is what you mean when you say that he had already figured it all out?"

"Your actions have already begun, and you're half way there, yet he remains indecisive."

Silco shoved Vander with both hands and exclaimed, "Vander, when will you change this habit of wanting to take back arrows that have already been fired? It's laughable!"

"When we were on the bridge back then, if you hadn't stopped us, we would have charged across that bridge."

"But what about all those who died? Silco, what about those Zaunites who lost their lives? Not to mention that getting across the bridge doesn't mean we would have succeeded."

"That is what they wanted! They followed us to cross the bridge and they were ready for the worst, but you, as the leader, halted the operation halfway."

"You thought your decision saved the remaining half of the Black Ally, but it was you who got scared! You harbored those kids out of guilt for their lost parents, but you're the real cause of their suffering!"

"Because of your decision, the people who followed us all died in vain. Our carefully planned operation ended up with nothing, and Zaun remains Zaun, Piltover remains Piltover. And you hide in the Undercity, thinking you can trade with topsiders for their pity?"

"Peace obtained through begging is just a fragile piece of paper, and it can be torn apart with a thought, Vander!"

"Wake up! You can test me, challenge me; I don't care. But you can't abandon me!"

Silco advanced, pointing accusingly at Vander, who was still reeling from his outburst. Vander slumped against the bar, hands on his head, unable to speak.

"I've never betrayed, never! The one who betrayed Zaun isn't me; it's you!"

Silco pointed fiercely at Vander's chest, continuing, "There was a time when we shared the same vision? We both dreamt of freedom for Zaun, Vander!"

His words left Vander breathless. Had he been atoning for his own mistakes all these years? He'd been educating Vi, using his past wrongs, and trying to guide her.

But there was one thing that had always been right. There could be no more death.

At that moment, a hand reached out and grabbed Silco's shoulder, calming him down. Linwin sighed and then forcefully pushed Silco backward, toppling him over the table and spilling several bottles of alcohol.

The tavern fell silent.

In a moment, Silco was on his feet, wet and drenched. He ran his fingers through his hair, formed a topknot, and held his wounded hand to his mouth. He closed his eyes, drinking the blood-mixed alcohol, and then looked at Linwin.

Linwin stared back at him. Silco's words included some of what Linwin had said to Vander before, but part of it conflicted with his own thoughts.

Linwin sighed inwardly.

Silco and Vander, these two men could both be right.

As Linwin had considered earlier, if their personalities complemented each other, they could truly be the fathers of Zaun. Vander had become a dove after witnessing the cruelty of war, and Silco became even more firmly entrenched as a hawk after witnessing the brutality.

One was too "soft," and the other was too "hard."

"Bringing you here wasn't meant for you to vent your frustrations," Linwin told Silco, annoyed.

"It's necessary to vent; if I don't let it out, it's tough for me to cooperate with him," Silco said calmly, rolling up his sleeves and looking at Linwin with a calm face. It was as if Linwin hadn't thrown him out a moment ago.

"But I was indeed rude; I apologize," Silco said, then walked past Linwin and approached Vander.

"We once had a same dream, brother. I must say I've resented you at times, but I've always respected you. Until you joined forces with the topsiders, became their lapdog, and seemed to forget all the hardships we've been through."

"But now, it seems like you're awake, so perhaps we have a chance to move forward together again, don't we?" Silco, changing his earlier frenzy, spoke calmly.

He extended his hand, offering it to Vander.

"Brother."