NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23: Chapter 23
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Due to the wanted posters for Justin and Jinx being displayed even in the Undercity, both had undergone moderate disguises. Justin changed his appearance to include silver-edged glasses, a buzz cut, casual attire, and a backpack, resembling a bookish college student—a look that felt natural to him from his past life.
Jinx's transformation was more unique. This time, Justin didn't braid her hair; her sky-blue locks fell to her calves, with stylish wavy bangs sporting a touch of purple. This hairstyle came at a cost at the salon. Jinx was restless during the process, as she disliked anyone but Justin touching her hair. Justin had a tough time calming her down and even paid the salon three times the usual rate. He forcibly carried Jinx out afterward to prevent her from reclaiming the payment.
As for clothing, Justin amusingly chose a white JK uniform for Jinx. Although it looked slightly jarring, it was indeed age-appropriate for her. She paired it with black knee-high boots and a single gold contact lens, which made her look somewhat like a rebellious Japanese high school girl. Somehow, she even discovered the concept of nail art and clamored to get her nails done.
"No! That's not what we're here to do!"
Having too much fun, Justin almost forgot their true purpose. If not for crossing into the Undercity, this would have been his natural way of life. Using knowledge from his previous world, he aimed to get a university degree in Piltover, hitch a ride on the Hextech revolution to earn a fortune, and then... Well, at least he had the JK. Snapping out of his musings, Justin grabbed Jinx's hand, "Stop wandering around; let's sit in a café and grab something to eat."
"Okay," Jinx spun and leaned into Justin's arms, tilting her head, "Cheesecake?"
"Cheesecake."
"Maybe when we find the exit, we'll see Justin and Powder holding cheesecake waiting for us." The moss on the walls hadn't entirely alleviated their hunger, and their stomachs were a bit uncomfortable, so Vi could only try to "quench their hunger with imagination."
"Why cheesecake..." Caitlyn's mind swirled with visions of gourmet delights—lobster, abalone, shark fin, steak, foie gras, red wine—any of which seemed far more tempting than cheesecake.
"Ah, that was our very first mission," Vi slowed her pace, recounting the past. "Back then, we were just kids who knew nothing, idolizing those adults who returned with stolen goods from the wealthy in the Upper City. We wanted to be like them."
Caitlyn instinctively wanted to criticize such behavior, but she held back, moving her lips only to listen patiently. "A few of us got together and decided to rob a jewelry store. Justin tried to stop us, but no one listened. I came up with the simplest plan—enter the Upper City through the sewers at night, pick the lock, search for jewels, grab and run."
"Although we found the jewelry store, Mylo couldn't pick the security door lock. Frustrated, I just smashed it open..."
Caitlyn twitched her lips, thinking you deserved those five years behind bars. "Too bad we hadn't even found the jewels before the enforcers came. Those cops, their noses are as sharp as a dog's—not you, of course."
Caitlyn shrugged; she didn't take offense. Piltover's law enforcement's quick response was a good thing from her perspective. "It was our first mission; we were so nervous we didn't know what to do. Luckily, Justin was quick-witted, telling us not to run around and had Mylo pick the lock on the adjacent cake shop, where we all hid inside and locked the door. The enforcers searched outside for ages and didn't find us."
"Even after they left, we were still terrified and ran back in a panic, exhausted and hungry. Then, out of nowhere, Justin pulled a piece of cheesecake from his bag—something he'd just grabbed from the cake shop. I still remember his face to this day." Vi chuckled at this point, "That guy was so calm! It was just a piece of cheesecake, but it symbolized the success of our first mission! For once, the kids of the Undercity had outsmarted those in the Upper City, snatching a bite from the jaws of the wolf!"
Vi's passionate storytelling even made Caitlyn smile slightly, infected by her enthusiasm. But then Vi's expression quickly turned somber. Cheesecake, former comrades, all felt like distant memories now.