Twin Cities: Who says scientists can't be conquerors?

Chapter 6 is another girl eager to prove herself.

"Place of residence".

"Zuan Mid-Level Plaza".

"Name."

Jinx.

"Jinx? Uh, it's JIN..."

"Yes! It's that Jinx! A menace!"

"It sounds awful, doesn't it? But I like it anyway! Laugh if you want, you Piltover folks wouldn't understand..."

Caitlin looked at the blue-haired girl in front of her who suddenly "reacted" and was at a loss for words, wanting to explain something.

Although she took it upon herself to participate in the accident investigation, she truly did not discriminate against anyone!

Even if the entire crew on this ship was from Zu'an...

"Quiet down, Jinx. This officer means no harm."

Fortunately, another voice came out and saved her.

Caitlin looked at the other person and saw Aaron with a polite smile on his face.

She gave Aaron a grateful look, then checked the investigation records in her hand:

"Hello, you're Aaron, the captain of the cargo ship that was attacked, right?"

"Yes, it's me."

"Thankfully, it seems neither you nor your crew were injured?"

"That's right, thanks to the excellent security at Hextech Portal, and also thanks to dedicated officers like you."

"Haha, you're too kind. It's all we should do."

Aaron kept showering Caitlin with compliments as he answered her questions, making Caitlin shyly scratch her nose.

He used one hand to tidy up Jinx's frizzy hair and soothe her in his own way.

He could understand why Jinx couldn't help but lose her composure after meeting the law enforcement officers in Piltover.

However, the policewoman in front of him, who was only a few years older than Jinx, was very important in his plan, and Aaron could not let Jinx do whatever she wanted.

Leaving aside distant events, let's just talk about today's accident, which is destined to infuriate Hilko.

Without Caitlin, this "unstable element" unchecked by the Piltover police, how would he explain to his father that the Glimmer Potion had been completely destroyed?

"Officer, it seems your investigation has come to a close?"

After a while, once the law enforcement officers, who already despised the Zaunites, had registered all the rebels on the ship with their noses in the air, Aaron spoke to Caitlin again.

He pointed to the chaotic scene around him and made a helpless expression:

"If there's nothing else, we'll be leaving now."

"After all, you've seen it yourself... We need to find a way to make up for today's losses as soon as possible."

Following Aaron's instructions, Caitlin also saw the view from the ship:

After being ravaged by fire, the cargo ship's deck was in a truly appalling state.

Those wooden crates smashed by the wildfire sticks had long since become the best fuel for the flames, burning into black ashes along with the stench of the glowing potion.

Standing among them, many law enforcement officers couldn't help but frown, almost as if they wanted to put shoe covers on their shiny leather boots.

"Uh, I understand you did suffer losses."

"But...no, wait a moment!"

Caitlin hesitated for a moment, then resolutely turned and walked toward an officer with two stars on his shoulder—the officer was the sheriff who led the team on this mission, and seeing that they were about to leave, she didn't want to stay a second longer.

"Sir, are you leaving now?"

"Hmm, what's wrong?"

"Please wait a moment while I report the results of the accident investigation."

Caitlin stopped the sheriff and, without saying a word, took out her notebook and began to recount in detail her discoveries after boarding the ship.

They didn't even notice the displeased expressions on the faces of the sheriff and other officers.

"The damage to the cargo ship has been investigated. The main body of the ship was not damaged. The main damage was to the cargo on board and the damage to the deck caused by the fire."

"The extent of economic losses will need to be assessed by the council after the cargo ship's manager has compiled the statistics, and then a final solution will be reached."

"As for the cause of the accident, it seems...to be very complicated!"

Caitlin was completely absorbed in her own world, emphasizing that "the cause of the accident is still unclear," before enthusiastically sharing her thoughts:

"Based on the current eyewitness accounts, this appears to be a premeditated sabotage attack, but there are too many suspicious points!"

"It's certainly fortunate that there were no casualties in the fire, but why would the arsonist do it? Were the crew members on board important to the perpetrator, or were the cargo destroyed by the perpetrator more important?"

"So I think..."

Caitlin straightened her back and spoke with righteous indignation:

"We should immediately begin gathering clues about the ship's crew, prepare to apprehend the perpetrators of this incident, and find out exactly what the ship was transporting!"

"..."

After he finished speaking, a brief silence fell on the deck.

Not only were the seemingly honest and simple resistance fighters, who had already sheathed their chainsaws, dumbfounded, but even the sheriff, who had already taken half a step ashore, frowned deeply.

The sheriff stared at Caitlin, then glanced around at the Zaunites on the boat.

It wasn't until his fingers, tucked into his pocket, touched a bulging bag of gold coins that he finally made up his mind:

"The cause of the accident is not complicated and no further investigation is needed, Miss Giraman."

"I'm on a mission right now, please don't call me..."

"Officer Caitlin Giraman!"

The sheriff interrupted Caitlin's rebuttal, his eyes widening in surprise.

He pointed to the police badge on his chest:

"Since you know you're on a mission, and since you so readily identify as a police officer, then tell me, what gives you the right to abandon your post and forcibly participate in this accident investigation?!"

"I……"

Caitlin choked and couldn't speak, her face turning bright red.

She could even faintly hear one of the other officers whispering to the sheriff, "Just because she's from the Giraman family," which made Caitlin extremely ashamed and embarrassed!

Yes.

These people are all right.

If Caitlin weren't the eldest daughter of the Giramanian family, without a mother who was a senator, she would never have been allowed to unilaterally participate in an investigation that other police officers were carrying out.

But for Caitlin, it was the other way around—

If it weren't for her family, who were always openly or secretly "protecting" her, making her spend her days going around in those boring but safe little things.

She believed that with her talent and hard work, she could have achieved great success long ago and become a true honorable detective!

That's why Caitlin insisted on stopping the sheriff to make sure he heard the details of her investigation into the accident.

She desperately wanted to prove herself!

She wanted to prove that she didn't need her family's protection or other people's envy; all she needed was a fair stage where she could showcase her talents!

Da da da……

The crisp sound of the officers' heels splashing gradually faded into the distance.

A distraught Caitlin stubbornly bit her lip as she watched her colleagues leave one by one.

Before leaving, the sheriff made his final assessment of today's incident: a group of thugs of unknown origin started the fire in an attempt to steal goods.

Then, with a flourish, he signed the accident report, tore it off, and handed it to the cheering rebels who were heading home. Without looking back, he led the equally cheering police officers in the opposite direction.

The officers cheered because they had not only humiliated the bossy aristocratic young lady, but also gone home early.

The rebels cheered because they had thoroughly enjoyed setting fires and toying with the Piltover Lords.

This is truly a double celebration!

"Miss Caitlin, are you alright?"

"You didn't leave?"

Without looking up, Caitlin recognized the person who had struck up a conversation with her as Captain Aaron, the very same captain who had aroused her instinctive suspicion earlier.

Despite being riddled with suspicious circumstances, the sheriff easily let the man go.

Caitlin thought Aaron had already left happily like the other crew members, but she didn't expect him to still be on the ship.

"What do you want to say to me? Are you trying to brag about getting rid of suspicion? Humph!"

Caitlin narrowed her eyes and fearlessly stabbed Aaron.

Even though she and Ike had never met before, Caitlin said the exact same thing Ike had said before when she opened her mouth.

Even the stubbornness in his tone was so similar that Aaron couldn't help but chuckle.

According to his original plan, things should have ended here, because he had already completed this spectacular "drama"—

First, he demonstrated the resistance's strength and goodwill to the Wildfire Gang, and then showed Ike his magnanimity and vision, planting a seed of trust in Ike's heart.

Then, taking advantage of the fact that Hilco had bribed Marcos, they managed to fool the law enforcement officer.

When reporting to Hilko at the end, he said, "It's all because of the addition of the young lady from the Giraman family to the enforcement team, so we had to temporarily destroy all the Glimmers," subtly silencing Hilko...

Despite receiving the information at the last minute, he handled it flawlessly, making Aaron himself want to say "it's perfect!"

But why did we suddenly decide to talk to Caitlin, the "scapegoat"?

Was it out of guilt, or pity?

Aaron stroked his chin, feeling that it was neither.

He had only seen a striking resemblance in Caitlin's burning gaze to someone he had once known, which made him unable to resist...

Make good use of it!

"Ahem, don't think of me as so bad."

Aaron spread his hands to show his innocence.

He seemed completely unbothered by Caitlin's suspicions, instead displaying an incomprehensible level of understanding:

"Don't you still think I'm a suspect?"

"That's perfect. I was planning to go to Piltover today anyway. If you think I'm having problems, you can keep an eye on me during the process."

"only……"

Aaron drew out his words, and only after seeing the various emotions flashing in Caitlin's eyes did he continue speaking.

"However, I'm afraid I'll need Miss Giraman's assistance to visit the places I wish to go."

"Where?"

"Piltover University!"

Aaron concealed the glint in his eyes well, but the true intentions were revealed when the truth was finally revealed.