Marvel: Playing Iron Man, Falling In and Out of Love with Jinx

"This is your responsibility."

Camille's voice came through the Hextech communicator — calm, firm, and filled with meaning, as she tried to reason with Duke.

"I know what I have to do," Duke replied.

He understood Miss Fortune's intentions clearly. She was a strong, proud woman who hated owing anyone too much. Her idea of repayment? Offering herself.

Miss Fortune was the kind who never forgot a kindness and always repaid a grudge.

Camille saw right through her. Her warning wasn't out of sentiment, but calculation, and as a scion of the Ferros family, she agreed with Duke's plan.

After all, the Ferros family had no real connection to Miss Fortune. They wouldn't funnel endless resources to help Bilgewater transform just because Duke suggested it.

At a certain point, eliminating Miss Fortune would be the most efficient option.

Given that Camille had once strangled her own brother with her own hands, Duke wasn't surprised by her thinking.

But if Miss Fortune became his, then everything would change. Their relationship would become the strongest possible bond.

"In the end, only emotional ties can be truly relied upon."

Camille lifted her teacup again — a clear signal that the conversation was over.

"The same is true between you and me. And it must be true with her as well."

"Understood."

Duke closed the Hextech communicator. Camille's image faded.

"...Crossing worlds and I'm still getting pressured to get married? Screw this — I've been Warwicked."

Piltover, Blue Fragrance Estate

As the crystal screen dimmed, Camille set down her teacup. The tea had gone cold, no point drinking it now.

"Great-aunt, what do you think he'll choose?" Dakora stepped out from a corner of the room.

Camille stood and gently ran her fingers over the Hextech device. "I had originally planned for you to end up with him."

"It would've solidified the Ferros family's position and ensured the bloodline continued."

"But now, Duke has another option."

"The title of King of Bilgewater… it does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"

Camille shrugged.

"The next steps are yours to arrange. As for that girl — Sarah, I believe you know what to do."

"Yes, Great-aunt."

As Camille left the room, Dakora let out a long breath, finally relaxing a little.

Ever since she had witnessed Camille kill Stevan with her own hands, she had lived in fear, terrified of ending up the same way.

Dakora picked up the communicator to return it to the Academy.

"If Duke ends up having a child... now that would be interesting."

Two Days Later – Nightfall

Highmount Hotel, Presidential Suite

"What a petty woman."

Duke downed the last of his drink, gazing at the nighttime sea through the window.

Inside the suite, Fizz, Neeko, Pride, and Wally were all playing multiplayer games. Edith had been converted into the gaming host server.

Jayce had disappeared for two days, fully immersed in his experiments. He was scouting locations for the Hextech portal, and once he found a suitable site, construction would begin immediately.

In the meantime, Duke focused on his own matters. As for Miss Fortune, he decided not to overthink it. Let things happen naturally.

Raven had reported they were closing in on Twisted Fate's location. They'd have results in a day or two.

Duke waited — half focused on Fate, half deep in research. With Twisted Fate onboard, surviving Harrowing Night would be much easier.

Adding a new powerhouse to their roster could ease the burden on everyone.

"The new Original Sin prototype is almost finalized. But I only have enough material for one attempt. I have to get it right."

He set his glass down and prepared to reevaluate the schematics from scratch.

Knock, knock, knock…

He glanced at the four who were still locked into their game. "Come in!"

"Mr. Duke — we found him."

Raven stepped through the door with a grin.

Duke raised an eyebrow. "Well now, that is good news."

"Where is he?"

"Planning to leave Bilgewater tonight to lay low. Things have gotten way too chaotic here lately."

"Any sign of Illaoi?"

"Not yet."

At the mention of the Truth Bearer of Nagakabouros, Raven looked uneasy. After all, Miss Fortune and Duke had taken down Illaoi's ex, Gangplank.

Even if they'd been broken up for years, who could say if Illaoi still had feelings for him?

"What exactly is she scheming..."

Duke considered her background. Originally, after Miss Fortune sank the Dreadway, she held a funeral for a fallen crewmate. Illaoi showed up there and gave her an amulet that led to the temple.

But now, Duke had completely disrupted the timeline. The crewmate who was supposed to die? Still alive. No funeral. No Illaoi appearance.

Still, he had no doubt she was planning something.

"Forget her for now. We'll play it by ear."

He wasn't worried. He had a trump card for Illaoi — one that could hold its own, even against a Truth Bearer.

Right now, the priority was capturing Twisted Fate.

"Let's go. Take me to him."

Duke threw on his coat, grabbed Edith, and shut down the game consoles, dragging four very reluctant kids into reality.

"I've got something to do. You're all coming with me."

"Game!!" Fizz yelled the new word he'd learned, staring at the now-black screen in dismay. Neeko puffed out her cheeks in protest. Duke just rubbed both their heads.

"Keep playing and you'll become actual gaming addicts."

Pride and Wally obediently packed up the consoles. For them, Duke's words were absolute, more important than their own lives.

"Hmph!" Neeko grumbled while putting the console away. Fizz dropped his console into a waterproof pouch and slung it around his neck, then picked up his Sea-Stone Trident.

"Fizz, go wait for me in the sea. Be ready when I need you. Neeko, come with me."

"As for you two, back into the inventory."

"Yes, Father!"

Wally and Pride didn't hesitate. They returned to Duke's inventory space without a word.

Fizz waved at Neeko, then leapt into a large water jar in the suite and vanished.

That kid could teleport through any body of water — which explained how he'd sneaked into the kitchen to steal Neeko's cheesecake.

Though Duke still wasn't sure if that power came from the trident or from Fizz himself.

Rat Town – Bilgewater Slums

Duke and Neeko followed Raven into Rat Town. As they entered, they passed corpses swaying on hooks in the ocean breeze — and ran into Graves, who had been waiting.

"Things have gotten messy here. Over thirty dead already."

"Let Sarah know she needs to stabilize the situation ASAP — or it'll trigger a chain reaction."

Duke glanced at the giant sewer rats swarming under the hanging corpses. Without breaking stride, he followed Raven deeper into the port. Graves came along.

They couldn't do this without him.

Meanwhile, people had been assigned to guard Jayce — Miss Fortune had handled that.

"Why'd Twisted Fate come here?"

Graves exhaled a puff of indigo smoke. Raven shrugged. "Bilgewater's chaos is getting out of hand. Every gang is tearing each other apart just for a piece of meat."

"So nothing's changed."

Graves hefted Destiny and swept his eyes across the dock. Anyone who met his gaze immediately looked away. After all, this crew was led by Raven — First Mate of the Siren. Not someone you wanted to piss off.

Soon, they reached a small dock. Raven pointed to a tied-up boat. "That's the vessel Fate's planning to escape on."

"How'd you even know which boat he was using?" Graves squinted at it suspiciously.

Raven grinned. "Because I'm the one who sold it to him."

"Hah! No wonder you're the First Mate. Smooth as hell."

Graves gave a thumbs-up. He could already picture Fate's shocked expression — and he was dying to see it.

"Alright, let's move. We'll hide in the hold. Raven, you handle the rest. Let's give this card-throwing bastard a real surprise."

Duke and Neeko climbed down into the lower deck first. Graves followed. Raven gave orders to his men, tying up loose ends.

In the dim cargo hold, Duke crossed his arms and waited patiently.

Not long after, he heard movement above.

The boat swayed slightly — no doubt about it. Twisted Fate had set sail.

"Boss, should we go out now?"

"Not yet. Let him settle in first."

Duke remained still, letting Fate think he'd escaped. Once they were far enough, Fizz would summon the dragon shark to block him off.

In the vast sea? He wouldn't get far.

"Alright. We wait."

Graves rubbed his hands together, barely containing his excitement.

"This is gonna be one hell of a surprise."

End of chapter...

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