Over the next few days, while Leo exchanged messages with Marsen, he also settled into a stable, peaceful life at home.
The mid-level plaza was no longer safe. The gutters were in utter chaos, with smaller gangs being driven upwards to escape the Chem-Barons, like large fish eating small fish, and small fish eating shrimp. This progression meant the mid-level plaza was now overcrowded. These groups immediately caused a considerable stir upon arriving, which was evident from the recent absence of Piltover citizens in the plaza.
As for going to Stillwater Hold?
Don't be ridiculous. Take Jinx in front of the Enforcers? Although Leo didn't know how Silco had managed to suppress Jinx's past offenses, he wasn't about to gamble.
Stillwater Hold connected directly to Piltover; cross the bridge, and you were in Piltover. The "cops" were stationed there, controlling the checkpoint, and every day, enforcement teams inspected Zaunites passing through Stillwater Hold. It was absurd, but that was the reality.
In the face of Piltover, Zaun had no say, let alone autonomy. Stillwater Hold was the prime example.
This was probably why Silco wanted the people of Zaun to unite and stand together against outsiders.
Having your own homeland investigated, searched, and your goods inspected by others—what kind of situation was that?
Over these few days, Leo also learned the name of the little girl Jinx had brought back.
The little girl's name was Isa. She was a child born and raised in the gutters, and the reason she fled to the mid-level plaza would not be explained in detail.
Isa was nine years old this year, a year older than Leo had thought. She was a very, very smart child. One could tell from her young age that she could discern adults' emotions from their faces and react accordingly, indicating she was more mature, intelligent, and resourceful than other children.
And she also possessed astonishing talent: the small toys Jinx made. When Leo picked them up and tried to fiddle with them, he found he couldn't understand how they worked, because these seemingly simple toys, pieced together from trash and scrap metal, had incredibly intricate internal structures.
But while Leo couldn't figure them out, Isa, that little one, could. She could even take apart those "small toys" Jinx made and study their internal mechanisms.
Moreover, she was now learning from Jinx and starting to build her own toys.
In Jinx's words, only people like her and Isa were like Zaun kids. Leo and Vi were the same—idiots who only knew how to use their fists, terribly stupid!
Kids in Zaun should learn to piece together their own future using everything around them.
"Jinx, Isa, dinner's ready!"
In the kitchen on the first floor, Leo placed the food on the table. Although he didn't have much money in his pocket for a variety of seasonings, pan-fried meat patties, seasoned with a bit of salt and pepper, tasted pretty good.
The main staple was bread, not the sawdust-and-crumb-filled bread eaten in the gutters, but a large, somewhat stale, and hard wheat loaf.
Though hard and dry to chew, if paired with a rich mushroom soup, it was just right. Soaking the bread in the soup until it softened slightly, then eating it with the meat patties, made for a decent dinner.
"Coming!"
A high-pitched voice echoed from the second floor. Leo looked up to see Jinx laughing loudly, running barefoot and wearing shorts in front, followed by Isa, her hands outstretched, face full of excitement. She, too, was imitating Jinx, running barefoot, her small expression cool, chasing after Jinx.
Although the house had been cleaned, this was Zaun. No matter how thoroughly it was cleaned, within half a day, the room would be covered in gray dust. Therefore, Jinx's small feet were stained with grayish-black, which made Leo look a few more times.
Pale, tender, with plump toes, the contrast of white and grayish-black...
How to put it...
The contrast was simply wonderful!
"Oh, this again? Awesome! I love meat." Jinx jumped onto the stool, sat cross-legged, grabbed her foot, and swayed back and forth, looking at the food on the table, her small face filled with excitement.
Isa, the little mute, was also very enthusiastic, picking up her knife and fork and shaking them: "Ah ah!"
Jinx released her grip on her toes and reached for the food.
"Slap!"
Leo slapped away Jinx's hand reaching for the meat patty, looking at her sternly: "Did you forget?"
Jinx yelped in pain, pulled back her hand, and blew on her palm, grumbling: "So many little rules."
Though she said this, Jinx wasn't actually annoyed by the rules Leo set for the home. In fact, she felt a little happy inside.
She liked this feeling of being "managed" and "cared for."
It made her feel valued.
So, calling Isa, Jinx led the little mute to wash their hands.
Returning to the dining table, with Leo's signal to start eating, all three lowered their heads, began to eat, and chatted.
"Leo, the latest batch of weapons is ready, but I can't guarantee the quality. Hmm, but they'll definitely work against idiots," Jinx said, chewing on a meat patty with very ungraceful manners.
Isa, beside her, nodded and hummed twice, agreeing with Jinx.
"What about against professional gangs?"
"Don't make it difficult for me, okay? We don't even have decent tools here. Do you really think that scraps picked from a junkyard, assembled by me, can compare to weapons made by others who spent a fortune? Don't be silly."
"I might be a genius, but you're definitely a cheapskate." Jinx rolled her eyes, feeling speechless at Leo's words.
She was already doing an excellent job, alright?
She had assembled a batch of weapons from a pile of junk: simple iron guns that could fire sharp projectiles, grappling hooks that could spring out with surprising speed (though not precise), and rope traps that would ensnare people upon impact. The gadgets she tinkered with were already very impressive.
But to use those things against proper gangs, compared to their weapons?
She'd have to go back to Silco for that, after all, Leo was too poor to even get decent materials.
So it wasn't that she couldn't do it; it was that Leo couldn't!
Isa, supporting Jinx's words, even jumped off her stool, ran to Leo, and pulled out something to hand to him.
"What's this?"
Jinx explained from the side: "It's a smoke bomb Isa made. See that button on the iron ball? Press it and throw it, and it'll spray a thick cloud of paint."
"You make weapons too?" Leo was very surprised.
Leo didn't know much about Isa.
Neither in the League universe nor in Arcane had Leo encountered a character named Isa. Although he had speculated that Isa might be a character appearing in Season 2, Leo immediately dismissed that notion.
How could it be such a coincidence?
However, Leo quite liked Isa.
Because Isa was quiet, smart, sensible, and what's more, with her around, Jinx's mental state improved significantly.
Although Jinx's mental state was already quite good from being with Leo—she'd only had two fits so far—Leo, being an adult, couldn't really settle down and play those little games with her. But Isa was different; she loved playing with Jinx.
Through their interactions, Jinx truly became like an older sister to Isa.
To put it this way, if Leo brought Jinx a sense of security, then Isa brought Jinx a sense of recognition.
And for Isa to have such fondness for Jinx...
Hmm, Leo thought that if he had the same experience as Isa when he was a child, being rescued by a beautiful, eccentric older sister, and then having her help him bathe and sleep together... he would definitely like and cling to that person too.
"That's amazing." Leo smiled and reached out, ruffling Isa's head.
Isa looked up, smiled, then scurried back to her seat, climbed onto the stool, and began to eat dinner. But once at the table, little Isa's face froze, looking at her plate, which now only had a piece of bread with irregular bite marks.
"Huh?"
Wait, where's my big meat patty?
Isa looked at Jinx, and saw Jinx turning her back to her, her side profile showing her mouth moving silently in chewing.
"Ah!" Isa immediately reacted, reaching out to push Jinx.
"Hehe, serves you right for running around everywhere! I've confiscated your meat patty~"
Leo watched this scene and began to laugh.
This feeling... though strange, was really good.
In this unfamiliar and dangerous environment, with Isa and Jinx accompanying him, Leo also felt a sense of home.
Was the place he lived before considered his home?
No, that wasn't it.
Leo smiled, shaking his head. Then, he reached out, divided his own meat patty in half, and placed it on Isa's plate.
Isa's indignant little expression immediately vanished.
Leo looked at Isa, "Eat quickly."
Aren't you touched?
This family, it still relies on me, Leo!
But then, little Isa's next action made Leo's smile freeze.
Isa speared half a meat patty with her fork and reached out to pat Jinx's back.
Jinx turned around, looking at Isa.
Isa moved her jaw, looking cool.
Jinx opened her mouth, and Isa reached out and put the meat patty into Jinx's mouth.
The little one was beaming, very happy.
And Leo, watching from the side: "???"
What about me?