Whatever Vander and Vi talked about in that room, Van and the others had no idea. But judging by the way Vander doted on his daughter, Vi was probably going to get through this just fine.
That left Mylo and Claggor to suffer instead. Van had one in each hand, pinching the backs of their necks so hard both of them were baring their teeth in pain.
"Didn't I tell you two to keep an eye on Vi? Then why the hell did you go along with her stupid stunt?"
"We... we couldn't help it! She was the one forcing us!"
"So she's an idiot, and that means you have to be idiots too?"
It wasn't until Mylo was up on his toes from the pain that Van finally gave a cold snort and let go with his merciless iron grip.
"Gah... She's the boss. If we didn't go, she definitely would've punched us."
Mylo rubbed the back of his neck, grimacing as he muttered his complaint.
"So you're scared of her, but not me. Good for you."
"Was it really that bad this time?"
Claggor rubbed his neck too and spoke in a low voice. Just now, it had hurt too much for him to say a word.
"Uh..."
For a moment, Van didn't know how to answer. He still didn't even know what a councillor was... but with half a building blown to hell like that, there was no way this would be easy to settle.
"Don't worry. Vander will handle it."
After a moment of silence, Van decided not to pile too much more pressure onto the younger kids.
Then he noticed Powder standing off to the side, hugging Blitz and staring down at the floor. He walked over and ruffled her messy blue hair.
"It'll be fine. Don't worry."
Creak.
Just then, the basement door opened. Van had barely turned around before Vander tossed a large sack of goods at him.
"What's all this?"
"Come with me. We're making a trip to Benzo's."
Vander shot Mylo and Claggor a hard glare, said nothing more, and headed straight out through the back door of the Last Drop.
"You lot stay put until we get back."
Van shifted the sack onto his back in a more comfortable position, gave the others one last warning, and followed after Vander.
The walk was quiet the whole way. They had almost reached Benzo's shop before Van finally tested the waters and spoke.
"You holding up?"
"About what?"
"Uh... you know. Things with your daughter and all that."
"That part's fine. Everything else is a mess."
Vander sounded irritable, and his tone was rough. Van had every reason to suspect he hadn't used that same tone with Vi.
"Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on her?"
"Vander, she's a living person. It's not like I can tie her to my belt!"
"I don't care. You still failed."
"Oh, cut the crap. I'm not taking that one."
Vander stopped outside Benzo's shop, snatched the sack from Van's hands, then turned and ordered, "Guard the door. Don't let anyone in."
"I'm not going inside? You dragged me all the way here just to stand guard?"
"Heh."
Ignoring Van's grumbling, Vander pushed open the door and went in.
...
...
"Silco?"
"That's right... Silco has to be behind this somehow."
Vander rubbed his injured right hand, his face clouded with worry, and let out a deep sigh.
"I don't know what he's after... but I can't let him have his way."
Benzo opened his mouth, about to say something, but the noise outside cut him off.
"Move!"
The young Enforcer shoved Van, but Van stood there with his arms crossed in front of the door without budging an inch.
"Are all the men in topside this soft?"
"Hmph."
Humiliated by Van's taunt, the Enforcer snorted and pulled a collapsible baton from behind his waist.
"I'll say it one more time. Move."
Van looked at the iron baton waving in front of his face and stayed expressionless. He didn't even blink.
"What's that? You steal your grandma's cane to scare people?"
"You—"
"Stand down, Marcus."
A steady female voice rang out. The young Enforcer called Marcus heaved angrily a couple of times, his lips twitching, but in the end he just let out a muffled grunt and stepped back.
"I'm Sheriff Grayson. Vander's inside, isn't he?"
"Sheriff?"
Van gave the plain-looking woman in front of him a second look.
"Van, let them in."
Vander's voice came from inside. Van stopped blocking the door, stepped aside, and pushed it open.
"This lady's going in too?"
"Lady?!"
"Marcus."
Grayson snapped the name sharply.
"Don't start trouble."
The woman's authority was clearly real. Marcus still looked furious, but he obediently put away the baton he had just been about to pull again.
"I'll warn you once, trencher. Don't mistake ignorance for courage."
Marcus glared at Van as he spoke. Van just nodded carelessly.
"Mm-hm. I've learned so much."
"Let's talk business, Grayson."
Vander had no interest in the pointless clash between hotheaded youngsters. In fact, the moment he saw Grayson come personally, his mood had already sunk to rock bottom.
"So. What brings you here?"
"You already know. We're investigating the explosion in the Academy District."
The Academy District?
Van was a little surprised. The place had looked so lavish he had assumed it was already part of some rich neighborhood. So that had only been Piltover's Academy District?
The gap between topside and the Undercity really was ridiculous.
"Oh? So you know what the culprits looked like?"
"Exactly what that wooden head of yours is imagining!"
Marcus strode up to Vander and spoke without the slightest restraint.
"Wooden head?"
Vander showed no interest at all in the young man's provocation. Instead, he turned to Benzo with a faintly amused look.
"Does my head really look that wooden?"
"Well... sometimes, a little."
That careless attitude finally pushed Marcus over the edge.
He yanked off his breathing mask and jabbed a finger at Vander.
"Listen here, you old—"
"Marc—"
"Van!"
Just as Grayson was about to stop Marcus from getting even more out of line, Vander barked sharply instead.
"Put it down."
Grayson turned and saw that the boy who had blocked them at the door now had his hand wrapped around a huge wrench lying on the table. His eyes were narrowed, his pupils burning with a vicious light that seemed to glow red in the lamplight.
The look in his eyes felt familiar to Grayson. She was sure she had seen that kind of expression on someone before.
"Put it down."
Under Vander's stare, Van reluctantly let go of the wrench. But his sharp gaze never left Marcus.
"The young ones should step outside and cool off."
Grayson shot Marcus a look, her expression hard and the message unmistakable.
Marcus grudgingly put his mask back on and shoved the door open to leave. Van lifted a foot, about to follow him out.
"Van, you stay."
Grayson turned to Vander in surprise.
"Don't worry. The boy can be trusted. Besides..." Vander took a sip of his drink and curled his mouth into a faint smile. "If I let him out there, your lackey's the one who'll be in trouble."
[End of chapter]