Arcane: Let's Burn Down Runeterra!

For more chapters (10+) or if you want to support me, visit https://www.patreon.com/FFAddict. Thank you!

As Vi and Caitlyn shared their stories, Justin noticed something else—the subterranean rats, namely the Plague-Rat, Twitch. Since he had traveled to Runeterra, it was crucial to pay attention to the heroes in the game. Vi and Caitlyn might have thought Twitch was just an odd rat that could turn invisible and speak, but Justin knew it was destined to become a fearsome existence in the future that would make others tremble.

Thus, Vi's kick actually left a hidden risk. If, by chance, a knee gets shot with an arrow someday, things could get bad. An invisible rat is unpredictable to the power of two. Justin decided to make amends. After all, it was originally an agreed matter: Twitch would guide them, and they would give Twitch a gun. Breaking the agreement was indeed Vi's fault. Although Justin learned to manipulate and scheme after living in the Undercity for so long, he still held onto some sense of morality.

"Piltover's sewer system is really over the top…" Justin looked at the fork in the path and was momentarily stumped. He had traversed these tunnels countless times but only understood a third of the routes.

"Alright, if fate says so, I'll just leave the gun and crossbows here along with a letter for it." Justin didn't expect to find Twitch directly; however, he seldom got a chance to explore alone, so he decided to wander around.

That's right, Jinx wasn't with him this time. Justin felt relieved as he had thought Jinx would cling to him like before. It seemed the girl was finally becoming more independent. Just that, before he left, Jinx acted strangely as if she was hiding something from him.

Justin strolled through the tunnel, savoring the peaceful solitude. This part of Piltover's sewer system had been abandoned, so it wasn't dirty. In contrast, the surrounding moss freshened the air.

Suddenly, Justin sensed hostile eyes watching him—bare, undisguised, and intensely focused. 

"Where?" Justin unlocked his handgun's safety, scanning around but seeing nothing. His combat instincts weren't as sensitive as Vi's, but he came prepared.

"Bang!" Pretending to search, Justin suddenly fired a shot above him.

His gun wasn't loaded with bullets but a flare. The flare, exploding at such a close distance, burst into dazzling light. Twitch, who preferred the dark, was extremely sensitive to light and was immediately blinded by the flash, writhing in pain on the ground.

"Ah! Magic! It's magic!"

"It's not magic; it's technology," Justin said as he bound the now visible Twitch to prevent it from escaping—this is how apologies are done exclusively in Zaun.

Justin hoisted the bound Twitch into the air and lit a candle in front of it. Light and shadows cast by the flickering flame formed a heavy oil painting. Justin tried to make his smile look friendly and warm, but in Twitch's eyes, it was the smile of a demon, ten times more terrifying than any Void creature.

"Don't kill me, don't kill me!" Twitch struggled and trembled in fear, its eyes filled with terror. Justin hadn't expected it to be so cowardly; he hadn't even spoken yet, and Twitch was already shaking.

"Don't be afraid, I'm a good person."

"Don't kill me, don't kill me!" Twitch seemed so frightened that it lost its ability to communicate.

"Bang!" Justin raised his hand and fired a shot, the bullet skimming past Twitch's scalp. Twitch shuddered but stopped shaking.

"I really am a good person," Justin's gun made his words all the more convincing.

"You are a good person! You are a good person! Please spare me! Don't kill me!" Twitch nodded vigorously.

"Rest assured, I won't kill you." Justin unloaded the magazine from his handgun and showed it to Twitch. "I'm here to apologize."

"Apologize?" Twitch was taken aback. Its upbringing hadn't taught it the concept of an apology, or rather, it knew the word but couldn't understand why—why apologize? The strong preying on the weak was the natural order of things. Why do something unnecessary after causing harm? Moreover, this behavior was uniquely human—even though humans were the most cunning and evil creatures. This truly perplexed the rat.

"Did you encounter two girls in the sewer earlier?"

"Yes... No, no!"

"Really?" Justin brandished the gun in his hand.

"Yes! I did meet them! That's right, squeak!"

"You promised to lead them out of the sewer on the condition that they give you a gun, correct?"

"Yes... but they broke their promise!" Resentment was practically etched into its small green eyes. "Wretched humans!"

"They are my friends."

"Uh, I mean, lovely humans..." Clearly, the little rat had a strong desire to survive.

"It's alright, it was their fault, after all." Justin placed the handgun in front of Twitch, along with a whole box of bullets. "This is what you are owed."

"And as for this... it's compensation." Justin took out a finely crafted miniature crossbow. "My intuition tells me you're better suited for this—the sound of a crossbow is quieter than a gun and matches your invisibility talent perfectly, allowing you to become a stealthy assassin. The toxins in your arsenal can compensate for any weaknesses in damage, letting your enemies die in agony."

Faced with the things it dreamed of right in front of it, Twitch didn't display much joy. It was pondering, confused, and even fearful. Could this man really have captured it just to give it something? No, the world couldn't work this way; he must have another motive!

"What, what do you really want?" Twitch asked, its beady green eyes full of confusion.

"Hmm..." Justin thought for a moment, then smiled. "I want to be your friend?"

"Friend?" This was another unfamiliar term. Indeed, rats were social animals, but to Twitch, those dull-minded kin of its could never understand it—much like humans and monkeys. And the humans that could communicate with it treated it as a monster, leaving it to live alone in the sewers, never once having a friend.

"What do I have to do?" Twitch asked timidly.

"Well, friends, you know, help each other. But it's not mandatory. If you run into any trouble, you can come here to find me." Justin handed it a map. "I don't really have anything I need help with for now—oh, but feel free to come find me just to hang out if you'd like."

Justin untied the ropes from the little creature, and Twitch hurriedly snatched up the gun and crossbow, instinctively wanting to flee. After a few steps, it turned back. "Squeak! You are a good person! Thank you! Twitch and you are friends now!"

This was the first time Twitch had ever said thank you since it learned to speak, and the gratitude was directed toward its first-ever friend.