In a clinic somewhere in Bilgewater, Old Hansen finished treating Twisted Fate and turned to leave the room. Ren followed him out.
"Thanks for this, Old Hansen."
"What's with all the politeness? Those two are sturdy lads; these injuries won't give them much trouble. Just tell them to get plenty of rest."
He was an old acquaintance. Back when Soro was still alive, they always came to Old Hansen whenever someone was sick or injured.
"You know how chaotic it is tonight. For safety's sake, you should probably close up and rest early, too."
Old Hansen caught the unspoken meaning. Ren wanted to book the whole place, telling him to lock up so no one else would come barging in.
The payment Ren had offered was more than generous. Old Hansen thought it over and was just about to agree when—
"It's already late, and it's still a mess out there. The three of us will have to impose on you for the night," Ren said, reaching out to shake his hand in thanks.
Old Hansen felt the coin pressed into his palm. From the texture, the pattern, and the weight, he knew—it was a Golden Kraken. Already on the verge of agreeing, a kindly smile spread across Old Hansen's face, and he gripped Ren's hand, giving it a firm shake.
"My boy, we've known each other for so many years. I practically watched you grow up, so don't you worry about a thing. You all can stay right here and recover. It'll be dawn soon enough. You get some sleep, and in the morning, you can try my cooking. My stew is to die for."
After a bit more small talk, Ren returned to the sickroom. He passed on the doctor's instructions and was about to find a bed himself when he saw Twisted Fate's dark expression and Graves, who was chattering away nonstop beside him. Announcing that he needed some air, he left the room.
Good lord, that man can talk, Ren thought, closing the door. He's been going on like that the entire way from the sea.
As the door clicked shut, Ren caught the hidden smile playing on Graves's lips and finally understood. He was doing it on purpose. Seeing that Twisted Fate was going to be fine, he was now deliberately pestering him so he couldn't rest. Add on the "Just Released From a 10-Year Prison Sentence" buff, and he was probably having the time of his life watching Twisted Fate look so exasperated and utterly trapped.
Grabbing a bottle of amber ale, Ren sat down at a table and thought back to what happened with the System while they were at sea.
'Ding'
'Participated in the downfall of the Pirate King and personally eliminated Gangplank.' Reward granted:
Acquired [Intermediate Combat Aptitude · Blue]* Acquired [Intermediate Self-Healing Body · Blue]* Acquired [Resilience · Blue]* Acquired [Intermediate Mental Resistance · Blue]* Acquired Magical Knowledge [Heal · Blue]* Acquired Combat Skill Legacy [Haymaker · Purple]*
The System had actually done a nice job. When he'd gotten the fire resistance earlier, he had been thinking it would be great if there were colors for rarity, just like in a mobile game.
Sipping his beer, Ren studied the System. The general breakdown was as follows:
The rarity tiers for Aptitudes, Traits, Knowledge, and Legacies, from lowest to highest, were: White → Green → Blue → Purple → Orange → Gold → Red → Prismatic
The power level divisions were roughly: Mortal → Elite → Transcendent → Hero → Grandmaster (Archmage) → Legendary → Demigod → God
The Intermediate Mage's Notes he'd gotten from the vault contained deeper, more esoteric magical insights and practical experience, along with [Meditation Method · Blue] and a few new spells:
Offensive: [Lightning Bolt · Blue] Utility: [Perception · Blue], [Mark · Green] Lifestyle: [Cleanse · White], [Water Breathing · Green], [Detoxify · Green]
Since acquiring the notes (which existed in his mind, not as a physical book), he had already taken advantage of the downtime during the night to learn Perception and Mark.
Perception expanded a mage's senses. Currently, Ren's range was a 200-meter radius, though he figured it would increase as his understanding and proficiency grew. This sense was different from sight; it was like a whole other visual experience. He could "see" with his eyes closed, a bit like the protagonist of The Matrix.
Of course, the world wasn't made of code. In Ren's perception, he saw the essence of magic and soul. Most normal people were humanoid figures of faint white. Gangplank had been shrouded in black, from which Ren could sense rage and other negative emotions, with a purple flame burning in the center of his chest.
Graves was a bright, passionate red, with a green flame—Elite—burning in his chest. Twisted Fate was a steady purple, with a blue flame—Transcendent—in his chest. Ren himself was primarily red, with a skeleton of black and something like golden meridians forming his shape. A green flame burned in his chest as well.
Ren guessed the main color was the essence of one's soul, and it could probably shift with emotions. The color of the flame in the chest likely corresponded to power level. Ren was currently Elite, and his flame was green. Twisted Fate, with his mystical cards and teleportation magic, had a blue flame, making him Transcendent. Gangplank had a purple flame, marking him as Hero-tier.
Of course, this was all just a guess. And even if it were true, he couldn't blindly trust the colors to define a person's actual combat ability.
Take Graves, for example. He had a green, Elite-level flame, but could you really say he was just Elite? That was only because he was unarmed right now. Give him a good gun and see what happens.
Equipment, combat experience, and willpower had a huge impact on a person's strength. In the Ruined King storyline from his past life, Graves was given a Sentinel of Light weapon and went off to fight Viego. If he were only Elite-tier, would Lucian have ever let him join the fight?
Take Ren himself. Geared up in the treasures from Gangplank's vault (those obsidian gauntlets were top-quality), he was confident he could take on Twisted Fate. So what if he was Transcendent?
As for the skills, Mark allowed him to place a magical tag on a person or object. The duration depended on the amount of mana used, but even a minimal-cost mark would last a day or two. On its own, it wasn't that impressive, but when paired with Perception, it was incredible. His Perception range was currently 200 meters, but if someone was marked, he could sense their presence from over ten thousand meters away, though the signal would grow fainter with distance.
And the [Resilience · Blue] trait he'd gotten earlier was a constitution-type ability, making him physically tougher and more durable.
[Haymaker] was very similar to the game skill. As he took damage from enemies, he would accumulate a type of energy called 'Grit.' He could then channel this Grit to deliver a devastating, all-out punch that released a shockwave, all while granting him a shield that resisted a certain amount of damage. Whether to wait until his Grit was full or use it early depended entirely on the situation.
By the time Ren finished his review, he had also finished his beer. He got up and went back to the room, finding that the two injured men had already fallen asleep. Ren found a spare bed and drifted off as well.
==========
The next day, near noon, Old Hansen woke the three of them up for a meal.
"I was going to call you in the morning, but you all looked so peaceful. I held off on breakfast, but the stew's just finished."
"Thank you, sir."
"Old Hansen, now that you mention it, I'm starving," Graves declared. "Let's see just how good this 'to die for' stew of yours really is."
"Haha, go on and eat! I guarantee you'll be thinking about this stew the next time you're out at sea."
Ren and Twisted Fate followed Old Hansen into the living area to eat.
He wasn't kidding—the stew smelled incredible. Twisted Fate even carried a bowl back to the bedroom and started eating next to Graves, who was still lazing in bed. The smell successfully roused him.
In the living room, after the three had eaten their fill, Old Hansen brought out three bottles of beer. "A little won't hurt, but try not to drink too much," he advised before leaving them to their own devices.
The three of them drank and chatted about everything under the sun. After a while, Ren steered the conversation to more practical matters.
"Last night, you two said you were heading to Piltover to get a gun and make some money. I'm planning on heading home myself and could use a guide and a bodyguard. What do you think?"
"Oh? So you're not from around here," Graves noted. "You don't look like a Piltie, though."
"I'm fuckin' from Zaun."
"Haha, now that I believe," Graves said, taking a huge gulp of beer before getting up to find more.
Twisted Fate, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up. "Traveling together is no problem. You saved our lives yesterday. I'd say that makes us friends."
Graves returned with a crate of beer and chimed in. "Yeah, let's go together. But forget the bodyguard stuff. You were just a small-time pirate, how much money could you have? Once we get to Zaun, I've got an idea. We can team up and go get rich in Piltover."
He continued, "And what's this about a guide? A Zaunite who became a pirate doesn't know the way home?"
"I never wanted to be a pirate," Ren explained. "I was kidnapped by that bastard Soro when I was a kid. On the ship, I never took part in raids or navigation. I was the bookkeeper."
"As for money," he said, his tone serious, "I'm not kidding, you two. I'm rich. Like, very, very rich."
"What's with the tongue twister?" Graves scoffed. "How old are you? What'd you do, find a pile of money on the street? Or did someone leave their vault open?"
Twisted Fate, however, mulled it over. "Soro's crew was wiped out, and you're the only one left. You were also the bookkeeper… so all the crew's assets are with you. You're a lucky one. But is it really that much? I wouldn't have guessed. Soro kept his stash well hidden."
"See, this is why Twisted Fate's the smart one," Ren said with a smile, pointedly glancing at Graves.
Graves immediately blew up, waving his bottle. "The hell you mean by that look, you son of a bitch? Watch it, or I'll smash your head in."
"Here, let's have a drink," Ren said, clinking his bottle against Graves's and downing it in one go.
That threw Graves for a loop. After a moment of stunned silence, he downed his own beer. Beside them, Twisted Fate raised his bottle to his lips, pretending to drink but really hiding a smile.
After that, Ren told them everything: why Soro had kidnapped him, his magic storage, Gangplank's vault, the treasure… The two of them listened, completely dumbfounded.
"Never heard anything like it," Twisted Fate said. "So you're a mage, too. We'll have to exchange notes sometime."
"Holy shit, brother, you're amazing! We're rich!" Graves yelled.
Ren's face went stern. "Who's your brother? And what's this 'we'? I'm rich."
Graves mumbled, "It's a life-or-death bond…"
Even Twisted Fate couldn't help but chime in, "It is a life-or-death bond. But he was the one who saved us."
Graves took a swig of beer and sidled up to Ren. "You said you needed a guide and a bodyguard. This bastard here makes for a decent guide. As for the bodyguard…" He pounded his chest. "I can take on ten guys. Give me a gun, and I'll take on a hundred."
"I brought this up because I value your skills. Don't worry about that."
They clinked bottles and all took a drink. Ren continued.
"Actually, I need more than just a guide and a bodyguard. I'm hoping that once we're back in Zaun, you'll come work for me instead of running off to Piltover with some get-rich-quick scheme."
Seeing that neither of them said anything, clearly waiting for him to finish, he went on.
"Why did you two team up to make a fortune? Why the big plans? For money, right? Money, I have. You've spent enough time with me to see I'm not a stingy person."
"Besides, working for me shouldn't be too hard for you to accept. After all," Ren said, looking pointedly at Graves, "we have a life-or-death bond. We're brothers, aren't we?"
"You two were partners for years, and Graves was locked up for a decade before that. You cleared up your misunderstanding yesterday. So, changing your source of income, trying a different line of work… it's a fresh start, isn't it?"
"Try a new life, get paid handsomely for it… what's not to like? If you don't like the new job, you can just quit."
Ren fell silent, giving them time to think, occasionally raising his bottle for them to drink together. After a while, the two men looked at each other, nodded, and agreed.
Twisted Fate mused, "I haven't been to Piltover in years, and I didn't stay long last time. I'd like to really see the 'City of Progress' this time. And Zaun, too."
"I'll give you a proper tour of Zaun," Ren offered. "As for Piltover, you can look around and do some reconnaissance for me."
"I'd like you to organize and lead an intelligence department for me. And to open a casino in Piltover as a front."
Twisted Fate's interest was piqued. "Intelligence and a casino? Interesting," he said, clinking bottles with Ren.
Graves watched them, then leaned in to clink his bottle against theirs and join the drink.
"Hic—He's running a casino, so what do I get to run? And let me tell you right now, if you expect me to be his bouncer, I'm not doing it."
"Don't worry, I won't. Zaun is a special case. I'm planning on starting a gang, and I want you to run it. When the time is right, I'm going to purge the Chem-Barons. We can figure out what to do with the gang after that. Bottom line is, I won't treat you unfairly, brother."
Ren slung an arm over Graves's shoulder as they drank together.
"Damn right! I'm with you!"
"By the way, since you're so rich, get me a gun I can use for now. Once we get back to Zaun, find some contacts and get me a proper one from Piltover."
"Of course. You just wait." Ren took a drink, and something came to mind.
He summoned a shotgun from his magic storage—one he'd taken from Gangplank's vault—along with a bag of ammo, and tossed them both to Graves.
"This one looked decent enough. You can use it for now. We'll get you a new one once we're home."
Then Ren threw out four large sacks of coins, two for each of them. One was filled with Silver Serpents, the other with Golden Krakens.
"Here, use this for now. Graves, that's all the ammo I have, so you'll have to figure out how to get more."
"Don't you worry about the ammo," Graves said, already inspecting his new toy. "This is my bread and butter. I'd lose the money before I run out of bullets."
"I'm going to head out for a bit, too," Twisted Fate said. "See what the situation is outside, maybe look for a ship. So, boss, when are you planning on heading back to Zaun?"
"As soon as possible. We'll leave once you two have recovered."
Graves and Twisted Fate shared a look and grinned. "Don't worry about the injuries. A few scrapes like this are just another Tuesday for us. We're good to sail."
"Alright. Once you've got your ammo and found a ship, I need you to come with me tonight to meet someone. I have some business with her."
Meeting their curious gazes, Ren said, "We're going to see Miss Fortune." Here is the translated passage:
Chapter 8: Preparing to Set Sail for Home
In a clinic somewhere in Bilgewater, Old Hansen finished treating Twisted Fate and turned to leave the room. Ren followed him out.
"Thanks for everything, Old Hansen."
"Don't be so formal. The two of them are tough, these injuries won't give them much trouble. Just tell them to get some proper rest."
He was an old acquaintance. Back when Soro was still alive, anyone who got sick or injured came to Old Hansen for treatment.
"You know how chaotic it is tonight. For safety's sake, you should probably close up early and get some rest yourself."
Old Hansen understood the implication. Ren wanted to book the whole place, telling him to shut the doors so no one else would be showing up. The pay Ren had offered this time was more than generous, and Hansen was just about to agree when Ren spoke again.
"It's late, and it's a mess out there. The three of us will have to impose on you for the night," Ren said, reaching out to shake his hand in thanks.
Hansen felt the coin Ren pressed into his palm. From the texture, the pattern, and the weight, he knew it was a Golden Kraken. Already on the verge of agreeing, a kindly smile spread across Hansen's face. He clasped Ren's hand and shook it warmly.
"My boy, we've known each other for so many years. I practically watched you grow up. Don't you worry about a thing. You all stay here and rest up. It'll be dawn soon enough. Get some sleep, and in the morning, you can try my cooking. My stew is to die for."
After a bit more small talk, Ren returned to the sickroom. He gave the two of them the doctor's instructions and was about to find a place to sleep himself when he saw Twisted Fate's dark expression and Graves, who was chattering on endlessly beside him. Ren announced he was going out for some air and left the room.
Gods, that man can talk, Ren thought. All the way from the sea to here, he hasn't shut up for a second.
As he quietly closed the door, Ren caught the hidden smile playing on Graves's lips and finally understood. He was doing it on purpose. Seeing that Twisted Fate was going to be fine, he was now pestering him relentlessly, not letting him rest. Add on that 'Just Released From a Ten-Year Prison Sentence' buff he had going, and seeing Twisted Fate's speechless, inescapable annoyance… Graves had to be having the time of his life.
Grabbing a bottle of amber ale, Ren sat at a table and thought back to what had happened with the System out on the water.
'Ding'
'Participated in the downfall of the Pirate King and personally eliminated Gangplank.' Reward granted:
Acquired [Intermediate Combat Aptitude · Blue]
Acquired [Intermediate Self-Healing Physique · Blue]
Acquired [Tenacity · Blue]
Acquired [Intermediate Mental Resistance · Blue]
Acquired Magical Knowledge [Heal · Blue]
Acquired Combat Skill Legacy [Haymaker · Purple]
The System had done well. Back when he'd gotten the fire resistance, he'd been thinking it would be nice if there were colors to distinguish rarity, just like in the mobile games he used to play.
Sipping his beer, Ren studied the System. The general breakdown was as follows:
The rarity for Talents, Traits, Knowledge, and Legacies was color-coded, from lowest to highest: White → Green → Blue → Purple → Orange → Gold → Red → Prismatic
Power levels were roughly divided as such: Mortal → Elite → Transcendent → Hero → Grandmaster (Archmage) → Legendary → Demigod → God
The Intermediate Mage's Notes he'd gotten from the vault contained deeper, more esoteric magical insights and practical experience, as well as [Meditation Method · Blue] and a few spell schematics:
Offensive: [Lightning Bolt · Blue] Utility: [Perception · Blue], [Mark · Green] Lifestyle: [Clean · White], [Water Breathing · Green], [Detoxify · Green]
Since acquiring the notes (which existed not as a physical book but in his mindscape), he had already taken advantage of the downtime during the night to learn Perception and Mark.
Perception expanded a mage's senses. Currently, Ren's range was a 200-meter radius, though he figured that would increase with practice and understanding. This sense was different from sight; it was like a separate visual experience. He could "see" even with his eyes closed, a bit like the protagonist from The Matrix.
Of course, the world wasn't made of code. In Ren's perception, it was composed of the essence of magic and soul. Most normal people were humanoid shapes of faint white. Gangplank had been shrouded in black, from which Ren could feel negative emotions like tyranny, while at the center of his chest was a purple flame.
Graves was a bright, passionate red, representing his courage, with a green flame burning in his chest.
Twisted Fate was a steady, calm purple, with a blue flame at his core.
Ren himself was a humanoid figure with a red core, a black skeletal structure, and something like golden meridians. A green flame burned in his chest.
Ren guessed that the main color was the essence of one's soul and that it could fluctuate with emotions. The color of the flame in their chest was likely related to their power level. Ren was currently Elite-tier, and his flame was green. Twisted Fate, who wielded strange card magic and teleportation, had a blue flame—Transcendent-tier. Gangplank had a purple flame—Hero-tier.
Of course, this was all just a theory. And even if it were true, he couldn't blindly trust the colors to define someone's strength.
Take Graves. He had a green flame, making him Elite-tier. But would you really treat him as just an Elite? That was only because he didn't have his gun. Give him a proper weapon and see how you fare.
Equipment, combat experience, and willpower had a huge impact on a person's actual power. He remembered the Ruined King plot from his past life. They gave Graves a Sentinel weapon, and he went off to fight Viego. If he was only Elite-tier, would Lucian have ever let him join the fight?
Using himself as an example, geared up in his current equipment (the treasures from Gangplank's vault, with the obsidian gauntlets being the best piece), he was pretty sure he could take Twisted Fate in a fight. So what if he was Transcendent-tier?
Mark was a spell that used mana to place a tag on a person or object. The duration of the mark depended on the amount of mana used, but even a minimal-cost mark would last a day or two.
Used on its own, it wasn't particularly useful. But combined with Perception, it was incredible. His perception range was only 200 meters, but if someone was marked, he could sense their presence from over ten thousand meters away, though the sense grew fuzzier with distance.
Then there was the trait he'd received: [Tenacity · Blue]. It was a constitution-type ability that made his body tougher and more durable.
[Haymaker] was pretty much the same as the skill from the game. When he took damage from an enemy, he would build up a type of energy called 'Grit'. This skill allowed him to channel that Grit to deliver a devastating punch, which would also release a shockwave in a certain radius. Channeling the Grit would also grant him a shield that resisted a certain amount of damage. Whether he should wait until the Grit was full or use it sooner would depend on the situation.
By the time Ren finished his review, he'd also finished his beer. He got up and headed back to the room. The two patients were already asleep. Ren found a spare bed and lay down.
==========
The next day, close to noon, Old Hansen woke the three of them up for a meal.
"I was going to wake you in the morning, but you all looked so peaceful. I held off on breakfast, but the stew's just finished."
"Thank you, sir."
"Old Hansen, now that you mention it, I'm starving. Let's see just how good this famous stew of yours really is."
"Haha, go on and eat! I guarantee you'll be thinking about this stew next time you're out at sea."
Ren and Twisted Fate followed Old Hansen to the main room to eat.
He wasn't kidding; the stew was incredibly fragrant. Twisted Fate even carried a bowl back to the other room and started eating next to Graves, who was still lazing in bed. The smell successfully roused him.
In the main room, after the three had eaten their fill, Old Hansen brought out three bottles of beer. He told them a little was fine, but not to drink too much, then left to give them their space.
The three of them sipped their beers, chatting about everything under the sun. After a while, Ren steered the conversation to more practical matters.
"Last night, you mentioned you were heading to Piltover to get a new gun and make some money. I'm planning on heading home myself, and I'm in need of a guide and a bodyguard. Any thoughts?"
"Oh, you're not from around here? You don't look like a Piltie, though."
"I'm from fucking Zaun."
"Haha! Now that I believe," Graves said, taking a huge swig of beer before getting up to find more.
Twisted Fate, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "Traveling together sounds fine. You saved our lives yesterday. I'd say that makes us friends."
Graves returned with a crate of beer and chimed in. "Yeah, let's go together. But forget the bodyguard stuff. You were just some small-time pirate, how much money could you have? Once we get to Zaun, I've got an idea. We can partner up and go strike it rich in Piltover."
"And what's this about a guide?" he added. "You're a Zaunite who became a pirate, and you don't know the way home?"
"I never wanted to be a pirate," Ren explained. "I was just a kid when that bastard Soro kidnapped me. On the ship, I didn't participate in raids or navigation. I was the bookkeeper."
"As for money," Ren said, his tone serious now, "I'm not kidding. I'm rich. The kind of rich that's very, very rich."
"Are you trying to give me a tongue twister?" Graves scoffed. "You're just a kid. What'd you do, find a pile of money on the street? Or did someone leave their vault open?"
Twisted Fate, however, mulled it over for a moment. "Soro's crew was wiped out, and you were the only survivor. And you were the bookkeeper. That means you have all of the crew's assets. You really are lucky. But is it really that much? I wouldn't have thought Soro had that much hidden away."
"You gotta hand it to Twisted Fate, huh?" Ren said with a smile, but as he spoke, he shot a pointed glance at Graves.
Graves immediately exploded, waving his beer bottle. "The hell you mean by that look, you son of a bitch? Watch it, or I'll smash your head in."
"Here, let's have one," Ren said, casually clinking his bottle against Graves's and downing the whole thing in one go.
That threw Graves for a loop. After a stunned moment, he downed his own beer. Beside them, Twisted Fate raised his bottle and took a sip, though it was less about drinking and more about hiding his smile.
After that, Ren told them everything: why Soro had kidnapped him, his magic storage, Gangplank's vault, the treasure… everything. The two of them listened, completely stunned.
"I can't believe it… So you're a mage, then. We'll have to discuss some theory sometime," Twisted Fate said, intrigued.
"Holy shit, brother, you're amazing! We're rich!" Graves roared.
Ren's expression turned serious. "Who's your brother? And what's this 'we'? I'm rich."
Graves grumbled, "It's a life-or-death bond…"
Even Twisted Fate couldn't help but chime in. "It is a life-or-death bond. But he's the one who saved us."
Graves took a swig of beer and sidled up to Ren. "You said before you needed a guide and a bodyguard. This bastard here makes a decent guide. As for the bodyguard…" He pounded his chest. "I can take on ten guys. Give me a gun, and I'll take on a hundred."
"I wouldn't have brought this up if I didn't recognize your skills. Don't worry about that." Ren clinked bottles with them, and they all took a drink. He continued, "Actually, I need more than just a guide and a bodyguard. I'm hoping that once we're back in Zaun, you'll come work for me instead of running off to Piltover with some get-rich-quick scheme."
Seeing that neither of them spoke, clearly waiting for him to finish, he went on.
"Why did you two team up to make a fortune? Why this 'big plan'? For money, right? Money, I have plenty of. You've been around me long enough to know I'm not a cheapskate. I'm not short on cash."
"Besides, working for me shouldn't be too hard for you to accept. After all, we have a life-or-death bond. We're brothers, right?" Ren said, looking pointedly at Graves.
"You two were partners for years, and Graves, you were locked up for ten. You cleared up your misunderstanding yesterday. So how about trying a different way to make money? A different kind of work? It'd be a new beginning, wouldn't it?"
"A chance to try a new life and get paid handsomely for it. What's not to like? If the new work doesn't suit you, you can always just quit."
Ren fell silent, giving them time to think, occasionally clinking bottles with them for a shared drink. After a while, the two men looked at each other, nodded, and agreed.
"I haven't been to Piltover in years, and I didn't stay long last time. I'd love to properly see the 'City of Progress' this time. And Zaun, too."
"I'll give you a proper tour of Zaun," Ren said. "As for Piltover, you should check it out thoroughly. Do some reconnaissance for me."
"I want to ask you to organize and lead an intelligence network. And to open a casino in Piltover as a cover."
Twisted Fate's interest was clearly piqued. "Intelligence and a casino? Interesting," he said, drinking with Ren.
Graves watched them, then leaned in to clink his bottle against theirs and joined the drink.
"Hic… He gets to run a casino. What do I get to run? And let me say this now, if you expect me to be his doorman, you can forget it."
"Don't worry, nothing like that. Zaun's situation is… unique. I'm planning to form a gang first, and I want you to run it. When the time is right, I'm going to purge the Chem-Barons. We can figure out what to do with the gang after that. Bottom line, I won't treat you wrong, brother." Ren clapped a hand on Graves's shoulder and drank with him.
"Now you're talking! I'm with you!"
"By the way, since you're so rich, get me a gun I can use for now. Once we're back in Zaun, you can pull some strings, get me a proper one from Piltover."
"Consider it done. You just wait." Ren took a drink and then remembered something.
He summoned a shotgun from his magic storage—one he'd taken from Gangplank's treasury—along with a bag of ammunition, and tossed them both to Graves.
"This one looked decent enough. You can use it for now. We'll get you a new one once we're home."
Next, Ren tossed out four large sacks of coins, two for each of them. One was filled with Silver Serpents, the other with Golden Krakens.
"Here, use this for now. Graves, that's all the ammo I have. You'll have to find a way to get more."
"Don't you worry about the ammo," Graves said. "This here is my bread and butter. I'd lose the money before I let myself run out of bullets."
"I'm gonna take a walk later, too," Twisted Fate added. "See what the situation outside is like, and maybe look for a ship. So, boss, when are you planning on heading back to Zaun?"
"As soon as possible. We'll leave once you two have recovered."
Graves and Twisted Fate shared a grin. "Don't worry about us. A few scratches like this are business as usual. It won't stop us from setting sail."
"Good. Once you've got your bullets and found a ship, I need you to come with me tonight to meet someone. I have some business with her."
Seeing their curious looks, Ren said, "We're going to see Miss Fortune."