Arcane: Winds of Change

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Ever since Silco was injured the last time, it seems he has become a different person. He began gathering a gang and cooperating with the doctor to research alchemical potions. He became stricter and colder, but with Phil, he remained as lenient as ever.

After creating that initial shotgun, Phil attempted to recreate it a few more times. It took longer, and the results were not as impressive. It was evident that the system's boost was a one-time assistance, so Phil had to rely on his own experience to make it again.

However, a gun is still a gun, no matter how poorly it functions, and Phil hoped to earn enough money from this venture. After all, his system was quite a financial burden. 

With Silco's support and Phil's relentless efforts, he underwent countless failures but finally discovered the correct method of production. With the help of his assistants, he successfully made ten shotguns. Though they bore risks such as jamming or barrel explosions, a gun was still a gun. Most importantly, he taught others how to make parts of the guns, so in the future, he only needed to assemble them. This would significantly reduce his workload.

Silco's current situation was not ideal. He and the doctor's research on alchemical potions required substantial funding. Additionally, to achieve his goals, he had to overcome the obstacles posed by Vander, the Chem-Barons, and Piltover. The people of Zaun faced oppression not only from the upper city but also from the Chem-Barons. The once-mighty forces of the Lanes were severely weakened after their conflict with Piltover and now were further divided. Most chose to follow Vander's peaceful faction, while a few, unwilling to yield, chose to join Silco's more militant group.

Silco faced a dilemma where there was a lack of competent people to rely on. Most of his subordinates were petty thugs, incapable of handling tasks efficiently, so he often had to take matters into his own hands.

Phil prepared a mask and voice changer, then took the elevator to the upper layers of Zaun, very close to Piltover. The contrasting architectural styles clearly delineated where Zaun ended and Piltover began. Phil didn't linger in the Zaun area but walked to a custom suit shop in Piltover, entering directly. The owner greeted him warmly as he entered, "Hello, are you looking to customize a suit or just browsing?" It was quite apparent that the shop hadn't had customers in a while, judging by the welcoming manner of the owner and the shop's environment.

Behind the mask, the owner couldn't see Phil's face, only noticing that the customer seemed somewhat short. "Owner, do you have any ready-made suits that I can wear?" a raspy voice asked from behind the mask. "Uh... I don't have anything at the moment, but I can rush an order," the owner replied a bit hesitantly. "Ding!" A crisp sound resonated from the counter as Phil tossed a gold coin onto it. "I want good materials. I'll come to collect it tomorrow." A gold coin was undoubtedly a substantial business for a shop like this. The owner carefully pocketed the coin and saw Phil to the door.

Phil returned to the Lanes and found Silco, who was in discussion with the doctor about something. "How's the research going?" Phil asked. "Don't rush, Phil. This kind of thing takes time," Silco replied. "I understand. Is there still enough funding?" Phil inquired. "Funding is still tight, but if you need it, take what you need," Silco said somewhat helplessly. "Wait! Our research budget is already insufficient," the doctor interjected, unable to hold back. "I'm the boss here, and Phil's research is equally important, just in a different direction," Silco retorted.

"Hey, I'm not asking for money," Phil explained. "The first batch of guns has been made. I tried them out. Though there are some risks, they can be used normally." "You succeeded? Phil, you're a genius," Silco couldn't help but praise. Phil's talent in this area was truly astonishing. "It's different from my initial gun, but I can try selling them. Don't worry, I'll handle it," Phil said, not explaining too much but stating his plans.

"Alright, handle it yourself, and don't cause any big trouble," Silco trusted Phil completely, as Phil had already demonstrated his capabilities. After chatting with Silco for a while, Phil left the factory. He was in a good mood. Having stayed in Zaun for a long time, he was getting used to the environment. He walked down the street, where there were plenty of people coming and going, with elderly people or children huddled in street corners. Phil was already accustomed to everything in the lower city and headed towards a small food stall he often visited.

A huge one-eyed orc was cutting the meat of a marsh toad with a massive cleaver. Although Phil initially turned his nose up at this food, after trying it, he found himself craving it inexplicably. Despite its grotesque appearance, it tasted quite good. "Hey Jerik, the usual, fried marsh toad meat," Phil ordered. "Ah woo ah," Jerik responded with an indistinct grunt. The food was quickly ready, and Phil sat down next to the stall. Just then, a faint sobbing sound caught his attention.

Turning his head, he saw a blue-haired girl beside him. "Jinx?" Phil couldn't quite connect the dots but was convinced she was indeed Jinx. "Ah, I remember you. What did you say?" Jinx didn't quite catch what Phil said but clearly recognized him. "My name is Phil. Why are you crying here?" Phil, in a good mood, was also notably interested in Jinx, in every sense. "I'm Powder," she said, then began explaining the situation to Phil. Phil listened to her while eating. The reason was that their group went to steal something, and Jinx messed it up. Her companion Mylo had also made some nasty comments on the side. That's about it.

While listening, Phil understood why Powder and the Jinx he imagined were vastly different. In Powder's account, she lagged behind her teammates in skills, wasn't good at action, couldn't fight, and had a companion who always nagged. Phil knew her true talent lay with guns and explosives. But what use were these talents under Vander? She couldn't even touch real guns under his care. He pondered a bit and handed his small handgun to Powder, "You need an environment to unleash your talents. As long as you're with Vander, you'll never showcase your true abilities."

This handgun was newly made by Phil for self-defense; it was small and had low recoil. Powder took the handgun, looking at Phil with slight bewilderment. "Keep it. It will help you in critical moments. You'll find me again when you genuinely seek power," Phil said. As he was talking with Powder, a flash of red caught his eye; it was Vi. "Sorry, my sister gave you trouble," Vi said apologetically, smiling wryly. "Let's go, Powder. Don't mind that jerk Mylo. He just needs a good talking to." Watching Powder leave with the small handgun hidden in her bag, Phil smiled, tossed a couple of coins, and left the stall.