Outside the High Mountain Hotel.
"How did it get like this?"
Duke frowned, looking at Graves, who had blood seeping from his chest and abdomen. They had just returned from the dock when they saw Jayce and his group in a sorry state, guarding their luggage outside the High Mountain Hotel.
Graves seemed to transform into a chimney, constantly exhaling smoke from his mouth.
"Damn it, Okao and his gang completely treated us like rats in a water jar, planning to corner and kill us there. If I hadn't reacted quickly, I probably would have died there!"
Graves cursed as he exhaled a puff of smoke. Jayce was sitting on his suitcase, his clothes disheveled, and his previously confident demeanor had vanished.
Duke nodded in understanding. Gangplank's power in Bilgewater was so immense that he could know what any rat in the gutters was thinking.
His words were even more effective than those of the City Hall's governors.
For City Hall officials to so brazenly ambush envoys from Piltover, it could only be said that it truly lived up to its name as a pirate city.
It also showcased the current strength of Gangplank!
"Duke, be honest with me, why exactly did you come to Bilgewater?"
Jayce stood up from the ground. He should have been warmly welcomed by Bilgewater's governor. They should have settled the experimental matters in the banquet hall, and then he would talk about Hexgate, drawing envy from others.
But now?
The moment they entered City Hall, they were greeted not by red carpets and flowers, but by knives and lead bullets.
"All of this was my oversight, but I will take care of everything from now on!"
"Take care of everything?" Jayce angrily kicked his leather case. "I've decided to open communications and remotely request the council to reject this experiment, and we're returning to Piltover."
Duke glanced at Lister, who took over to answer Jayce, "I'm sorry, Mr. Jayce, just now, the Swordfish we came on was sunk by vicious pirates, and all the crew members were killed. We can't go back!"
"What?"
Jayce's mouth hung open, his expression somewhat dazed.
"Then what should we do?"
"Follow Mr. Duke's arrangements!"
"But we're already in this state. How do you expect us to get out of this desperate situation?"
Jayce shouted, somewhat on the verge of collapse. Duke ignored him, sat down next to Graves, asked him for a cigar, clipped off one end, and put it in his mouth. Arrogant came over to light it for him at the opportune moment.
"What's going on with this luggage?"
"The High Mountain Hotel staff threw them out. They said they won't accommodate us anymore, and they won't refund our room fees either!"
Graves watched Duke, who was somewhat unfamiliar with the action, light the cigar, and said with a bitter laugh, "Boss, aren't you not a smoker?"
"I want to learn, is that not allowed?"
Duke glanced at Graves and said indifferently, "After these matters are settled, I will make weapons for you, and I will also increase your salary by a notch!"
"Thank you then!"
Graves chewed on his cigar, trying to numb his nerves, while Duke looked at the distraught Jayce and said, "Pack up, we're staying somewhere else for now."
"Within three days, I will sort everything out, and your experiment will continue!"
"But how can it continue?"
Jayce covered his face and squatted down. Duke took a deep puff of his cigar and said indifferently, "That's something you need to consider!"
"Let's go, Graves, I don't believe you don't have a little hideout here!"
"Hey, I really do have a safe place!"
Graves, enduring the pain, led Duke and the others away from the entrance of the High Mountain Hotel. Duke took out a Frost Grenade, pulled the pin, threw it behind him, and left without looking back.
After the frost exploded, an ice wall formed at the hotel entrance.
I can squander my money as I please, but if I don't give it to you, you can't take it by force!
This grenade was the interest Duke collected; since the whole city was already targeting him with hostility, he might as well be bolder.
Half an hour later, the group arrived at the dock warehouse alley. Led by Graves, they entered an abandoned, unmanned warehouse.
The warehouse floor was covered in a thick layer of oil. Graves, however, looked as if he had returned home, sitting on a wooden crate with his Destiny at his feet.
"Welcome to Graves's shack, the home where I grew up!"
Even though Graves was injured at the moment, he still wanted to act like a hero. Duke handed the medical kit to Lister and told him to treat Graves's wounds.
"Jayce, where's the communicator?"
"What else do you want to do?"
"Call for outside support!"
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