Jinx's mission

Read up to 15 chapters ahead on Patreon - patreon.com/Light_lord

Drop soooome stooones...............

-----

Silco's Office at Last Drop

Sevika hurried in, her face stern and a little cold.

"We've got trouble. The new enforcers are planning a raid."

"Don't worry, Sevika. It's just a routine check," Silco replied, flipping through a stack of papers in his hand, his voice calm and deliberate.

"This isn't just a minor inconvenience, Mr. Viktor!" Sevika snapped, growing more impatient.

"Shouldn't we prepare to fight them head-on?"

Sevika's frustration bubbled to the surface. She turned to Viktor, who was seated nearby, seeking support.

But something about him felt off—like something essential was missing. She couldn't quite place it.

"A decisive battle?" Viktor mused, shaking his head.

"Not yet. Both sides need more time. Timing is critical, and this is not it."

Sevika's frustration deepened as she glanced between the two men, both seemingly indifferent to the urgency of the situation. Her voice rose with annoyance.

"They're practically knocking on the door, and you're telling me we're not going to react at all?"

"See, Silco? She's quick to charge into someone else's house but doesn't bother using her brain."

The teasing voice echoed from above. It was Jinx, her distinct, mischievous tone unmistakable. She sat perched on a beam near the ceiling, her signature blue pigtails swaying as she smirked down at them.

"You two aren't so different, you know."

Silco rubbed his temples, looking up at her.

"I don't recall asking for your input, Jinx."

But she was unfazed. She pointed to her temple with a grin, her bright eyes alive with energy.

"I've got more brains than her, that's for sure!"

"Brains?" Sevika scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain.

"You're the one who causes the most chaos around here. Why Silco tolerates a lunatic like you is beyond me."

"Che! Chaos is where the fun is," Jinx snorted, waving her hand dismissively. She rummaged through her bag before pulling out a hex gem.

"Speaking of fun… check this out!"

She slotted the hex gem into her Gatling gun, which began to hum with energy.

Swish!

The blue glow of the hex gem enveloped the weapon, transforming it. The Gatling gun twisted and expanded, morphing into a massive shoulder-mounted bazooka. The front of the weapon now bore a stylized shark face, its jagged grin menacing and ridiculous all at once.

Jinx aimed it directly at Sevika, a purple, glowing rocket already loaded and ready to fire.

"Care to give it a go?" Jinx taunted, her grin widening.

Sevika instinctively stepped back, a flicker of fear crossing her face. But Silco and Viktor weren't even looking at her.

Their attention was entirely fixed on Jinx's new creation.

"I knew it… I knew you'd pull this off, Jinx!" Silco exclaimed, his usually cold demeanor melting into excitement. His eyes lit up with uncharacteristic pride.

"You're perfect."

Viktor, ever the scientist, examined the bazooka with a critical yet impressed gaze.

"Ingenious design. You've inscribed runes directly onto the original weapon's structure, and the use of hex gems to enable transformation is… remarkable."

Though still impressed, Viktor added thoughtfully, "However, there's room for improvement. From what I see, the design focuses entirely on launching. If there's an obstruction mid-launch, it could be intercepted."

"This is a rocket launcher, Viktor! Who's going to stand in front of this thing?" Jinx huffed, patting the bazooka with an exaggerated expression of pride.

"You remember Jayce's hammer, don't you?" Viktor countered.

"The energy cannon he demonstrated—it can intercept missiles mid-flight."

"Ugh, that guy again," Jinx muttered, her expression souring.

But then, as if a switch flipped, her eyes gleamed with dangerous excitement.

"Whatever. If that's the case, I'll just use two hex gems. Double the power, double the boom! There's nothing I can't blow to smithereens!"

Viktor's lips quirked into a faint smile, though his tone remained measured.

"Theoretically possible, but reckless. A better approach would be refining your calculations. I suggest studying Missile Trajectory: Design and Dynamics of Launch Systems by Professor Heimerdinger. His work on kinetic energy control—especially his treatise Mechanical Dynamics Research—will provide insight into resolving energy interference between dual hex gems."

"Pfft! Books? Boring," Jinx grumbled, rolling her eyes.

But even as she complained, a hint of curiosity flickered in her expression.

Silco chuckled, rubbing his chin. "Jinx, you may not admit it, but you might actually learn something from Viktor."

"Fat chance!" she retorted, hefting the bazooka onto her shoulder with a wicked grin.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some real experimenting to do. See ya, nerds!"

"Why is she like that?" Sevika muttered, rubbing her temples.

"She's chaos," Silco replied, almost fondly.

"But she's my chaos."

Viktor nodded thoughtfully. "And in chaos, there is often brilliance."

Sevika just sighed. "This is going to get us all killed one day."

Viktor was now fully stepping into the role of mentor, much like he had during his time at Piltover College.

"Still reading books?!" Jinx's face twisted in exaggerated frustration at the suggestion, her resistance immediate.

"I think I can figure it out myself!"

"Jinx, we're running out of time," Silco interjected with a sigh. His tone was firm, but his gaze faltered slightly as if reluctant to press her too hard.

"Fine, fine! I'll learn!"

Jinx groaned, flopping the bazooka onto the table in frustration, her expression like that of a sulking child.

Viktor chuckled softly and shook his head. "You like explosions, don't you?"

"Yeah! Boom! That feeling—it's the best!"

Jinx's mood immediately shifted, her negative emotions melting away as she spread her arms wide to mimic an explosion.

"I'll send you the two books I mentioned tomorrow," Viktor said with a small smile.

"They'll help you make your explosions even more spectacular."

"That's more like it! Just two? You could've mentioned that earlier! Why not send me more while you're at it?" Jinx's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Two is enough to start," Viktor replied calmly.

"But there's one more thing you'll need to do."

Silco and Viktor exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them.

Both sighed inwardly, burdened by the strange, tangled relationships in their world—an orphaned daughter now loyal to her father's murderer.

It was a web of contradictions, but it was also their reality.

"Small issue!" Jinx chirped, clearly eager.

Seeing no objection from Silco, she responded enthusiastically, practically bouncing in place.

Viktor's face turned serious as he addressed her directly.

"Tonight, you'll cross the border river. There are two locations in Piltover that must be destroyed. You'll plant the bombs."

"Easy!" Jinx's grin widened.

The prospect of causing destruction in Piltover was music to her ears.

"Sevika will go with you," Viktor added.

"What? No way! I work alone!" Jinx's grin vanished as she waved her hands frantically.

"Mr. Viktor, I'm capable of handling this mission on my own," Sevika said, her tone defiant as she crossed her arms.

Their eyes met, brimming with mutual dislike, before both turned away with a huff.

Silco sighed deeply, covering his face with his hands before addressing them both.

"Sevika, Piltover is under martial law. What exactly do you think you can do against their forces alone?"

"This…" Sevika hesitated, glancing at her mechanical arm. Even she had to admit that her approach was mostly brute force.

Silco turned his gaze to Jinx, his expression softening with an uncharacteristic gentleness.

"Jinx, I need someone to sail the boat and protect you. You're important to me—too important. The last time you were in danger, I…"

He trailed off, his voice unsteady.

"Silco…" Jinx muttered, her usual bravado faltering under his sincerity. She looked down, quiet but clearly conceding.

Silco, ever perceptive, knew this silence meant she had agreed.

"I have the locations and the route mapped out," he continued, handing them identical maps.

"There will be people to assist along the way. Whatever happens, don't hesitate. I want this done perfectly—no excuses."

"I'll make it happen," Sevika said confidently, her tone tinged with a mocking grin.

"Just make sure she doesn't slow me down."

"Don't worry about me, Sevika. Just try not to mess things up!" Jinx shot back, lifting her chin arrogantly as she stormed out the door.

The two glared at each other briefly at the threshold before turning sharply and walking off in opposite directions.

Silco watched them leave, a mix of worry and frustration etched on his face.

"Putting the two of them on the same mission… it's going to be a miracle if they don't sabotage each other."

Viktor smiled faintly, his tone calm.

"They'll be fine. The real danger is here."

Silco glanced at him, noting the scientist's steady composure. It wasn't lost on him that Viktor seemed indifferent to the personal dramas playing out around them, his focus solely on Zaun's future.

"You care about Zaun," Silco mused, almost to himself.

"Maybe even more than I do."

Viktor didn't respond directly, his golden eyes narrowing as he looked toward the door.

"Night has fallen, Silco. The battle we've prepared for is here. It's time for us to move."

Silco nodded, his expression shifting into something resolute.

"Of course. Let's meet the Grey Lady, the one who has kept Zaun under her thumb for decades."

With a shared sense of purpose, Silco stood and led the way, his usual composed demeanor unshaken.

Viktor followed close behind, uncharacteristically leaving his cane behind and striding forward with determination.