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

Chapter 30 Numb

No one dislikes someone who knows how to share.

In particular, Aaron's immediate request to share the credit for "finding the congressman's daughter" struck a chord with Marcos!

"Hehehe, you're too kind, Mr. Aaron."

Marcos took two steps forward enthusiastically and grasped Aaron's outstretched hands.

He stared at Caitlin, scrutinizing her repeatedly.

Upon confirming that the girl in front of him, still fuming and dressed in Zaunian clothing, was indeed the eldest daughter of the Gilamann family, Marcos's mouth nearly stretched to the back of his head in a wide grin.

Great! Excellent!

Isn't this precisely why he's here today to build a bridge to progress?

Don't let Marcos's usual role as a stamping machine fool you. It seems that besides opening doors for Hilco and allowing smuggling ships carrying Glimmer to pass through the Hextech portal, he has no other use.

However, due to his secret dealings with Hilko, Marcos had certain information channels in Zaun.

He learned early this morning that "Caitlyn has appeared within the territory of Hillco's influence," and quickly simulated various scenarios in his mind:

Did Hilco kidnap Caitlin?

Or is it that Caitlyn and Hilco also made a deal, which is why she was saved by Hilco?

And isn't Aaron Hilkor's son? How come he's so close to Jess?

Is it...

In short, Marcos arrived near the Bridge of Progress early in the morning, filled with doubts.

He prepared to wait and see if Aaron would return to Piltover on time—Representative Jayce had granted Aaron a day of independent investigation privileges, which were set to expire in ten hours.

Anyway, his informants in Zaun had already told him that Caitlyn was not in mortal danger.

Logically speaking, as long as Hilco remains the reputable underworld businessman he remembers, Caitlyn should soon return to Piltover from the Bridge of Progress...

As time ticked by, a slightly anxious Marcos got up to go for a walk.

Although he has been in the position of sheriff for nine years, Piltover is not without people who can threaten his position.

For the sake of his position as sheriff and to climb the ranks further, Marcos desperately needs the major achievement of "finding Caitlin"!

He even wondered what he would do if Hilco did save Caitlin, but Hilco's son Aaron was unwilling to share the credit with him.

Should I break up my cooperation with Hilco and expose Hilco's smuggling trade to the parliament?

No, no, Hilco also has something on him...

Just as he was struggling with this, he suddenly heard arguing and laughter, which was the conversation between Caitlin and the two law enforcement officers.

Marcos immediately perked up!

He knew that the voice belonged to the eldest daughter of the Giraman family who had returned!

He rushed to the bridgehead, but before stepping onto the Bridge of Progress, he deliberately stopped to adjust his breathing and straighten his clothes and collar, putting on a calm and composed demeanor.

Marcos had originally intended to adopt this elegant demeanor in the face of a potential falling out with Hilko.

But to his utter surprise, Aaron simply rolled his eyes and immediately "understood" his most difficult and desired need.

Even though he hadn't done anything, Aaron blinked and said something like, "Let's go and spread the good news together."

This is just...so thoughtful!!

Marcos was overjoyed and held onto Aaron's hand tightly.

He now even felt a strong sense of resentment—why did the person who usually negotiated terms with him have to be Hilko?

Couldn't he be his son, Aaron, who knows his own hardships and is also very understanding?

Seeing Marcos's grateful and joyful face, Aaron also felt much more relaxed.

Although he was a scientific researcher in his previous life, he still understood the most basic skills of reading people's expressions and moods.

Marcos was originally supposed to go to Zaun with him to investigate the missing persons case, but due to Jayce's interference, he had to stay put.

Aaron could easily guess his desire for the credit.

Since I don't really plan to develop in Piltover anyway, it's not a bad thing to give some credit to the other party.

And the main reason is...

"Alright, Caitlin, you can go home with Sheriff Marcos now."

Aaron, wanting to be a good Samaritan, planned to have Marcos take Caitlin back to receive the two senators' most direct gratitude.

That way, he can also avoid seeing Mrs. Giramann again.

Although he still had the task of finding a new research assistant, which was closely related to Caitlin, Aaron couldn't figure out how to complete it after repeated consideration.

As he himself said, he couldn't possibly copy everything he did to Jinx onto Caitlyn, could he?

If I did that, wouldn't I really become Caitlin's "young boyfriend" in Mrs. Giraman's eyes?

Don't!

Not to mention the myriad of trivial matters in Zaun that he needed to handle, the modification plan for the Cheng Ying tactical mech had also reached its most critical moment, and Aaron felt that he would inevitably be unable to be in two places at once for some time to come.

Even if he did have the idea of ​​enjoying the "blessing of having multiple wives"...

It's likely that not only will Caitlyn, who is still in the dark, be completely bewildered, but even Jinx, who is usually clingy, will explode on the spot!

"call……"

Aaron suddenly got goosebumps all over his body.

He quickly suppressed this absurd thought, nodded to a very grateful Marcos, and prepared to leave...

"You can't leave!"

Suddenly, Caitlin screamed.

She glanced down at her tattered clothes, then at the two officers who had blocked her path. As if having made a decision, she looked at Marcos with a serious expression and spoke:

"Your Excellency, I require Mr. Aaron and Miss Jinx to accompany me home, otherwise I will feel unsafe."

As she spoke, she leaned close to Marcos's ear and whispered the "brilliant idea" that had flashed into her mind in a flash—

"Because I was kidnapped because there was a traitor within the law enforcement ranks acting as an inside agent!"

……

Caitlin wants to use her kidnapping to test whether the criminal codenamed "C" from five years ago is hiding within the law enforcement ranks.

This disrupted Aaron's plan to withdraw and avoid deepening the misunderstanding.

Therefore, as the group slowly made their way to Giraman Manor after setting foot on Piltover soil, Aaron felt itchy all over and was uncomfortable no matter what.

He wanted to explain to Caitlin that he hadn't made any rash promises to Caitlin's mother yesterday, and that it was all Mrs. Giraman's imagination.

But when his gaze swept over Sheriff Marcos beside him, he had to suppress the thought in his mind, feeling that he couldn't speak up now.

"Ugh."

Aaron sighed again.

This time, he wasn't lamenting the complex feud between Zaun and Piltover; he was simply sighing for himself.

Later, I arrived at Giramane Manor with Caitlin and met Lady Giramane.

How can this "brave, resourceful, and trustworthy" "rumored boyfriend" explain that his successful reunion with Caitlin unharmed was not due to Mrs. Giraman's previous promise?

I'm numb...

Of course, Aaron wasn't the only one who was already numb.

As Jinx rounded a corner, taking advantage of Marcos falling slightly behind, she quickly moved closer to Aaron and whispered something.

She resembled a small animal being watched by a hunter, her eyes constantly flashing with unease.

"Aaron".

"Um?"

"Did you see Sheriff Marcos?"

"What?"

"He..." Jinx bit her lip, then turned back to confirm, "He's been staring at me the whole way!"

Jinx frowned and twisted her body as if shaking off dirt from her clothes.

"I saw it clearly. After Caitlin said both of our names, he was like a madman, constantly looking for opportunities to stare at me."

"But I didn't know him at all before!"

Jinx was getting anxious.

She knew some of Hilco's "business" and knew that the Sheriff Marcos in front of her was the one who had made a private deal with Hilco for money.

But that can't be a reason for Marcos to keep a close eye on him.

Could it be that……

Jinx's expression suddenly changed, and she abruptly grabbed Aaron's sleeve.

"Could it be that these Piltover folks have already uncovered the truth and are convinced that I'm the one who kidnapped Caitlyn?!"