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

Chapter 11 Disappearance

The bathroom in the Gilamanne house is custom-made, embodying the ingenuity of many Piltover inventors.

It only needs to be heated slightly before turning it on to fill the entire room with warmth. Except for the bathtub area, warm water can be poured down anywhere else, truly making it possible to "wash anywhere".

Caitlin, on the other hand, likes to shower in front of the mirror.

When she was little, she didn't understand why there was a mirror covering an entire wall in the bathroom. Was it so that she could see her own reflection while taking a shower?

But as she grew older, Caitlin gradually discovered that when she took a bath, she could not only look at her reflection, but also confide in it.

Confess those worries that only come with growing up:

"I'm not lying."

Caitlin stared at herself in the mirror, biting her lip as she emphasized again.

She doesn't need to pay any extra price now; she just needs to pour out all her dissatisfaction and resentment to the person in the mirror in the misty bathroom.

This is one of the few ways she can relax.

"I didn't go home last night because I was keeping watch over a suspect, not because I was dating some random guy!"

"I didn't take him to the police station because he was only a suspect, not convicted. I couldn't cross the line with law enforcement!"

"You all don't understand! You absolutely don't understand! You don't understand me!!"

By the end, Caitlin was practically screaming; she felt completely exhausted.

She held onto the mirror, letting the liquid—whether it was warm water or tears—slowly flow down her cheeks, over every inch of her skin.

Now that she's this age, she no longer complains to the mirror about the strange looks from her colleagues, nor does she complain about the extra care her family gives her.

Because Caitlin knew in her heart that those were things she couldn't change.

But when she returned home early in the morning, her mother's outburst of questioning shattered her self-perceived strength.

On the night Caitlin did not return home, Mrs. Giramanen began to inquire about her daughter's whereabouts. Finally, before Caitlin returned home, she confirmed that her daughter had spent the entire night in the library with a strange man!

"That was my duty as a police officer, something I had to do, and it was an act of justice."

"Why can't you understand...?"

Caitlin didn't know who she was explaining to, and spoke slowly and wearily.

Her long, indigo hair was disheveled and draped over her back, making her look less like she was enjoying a comfortable bath and more like she had been drenched in a downpour.

"No.

"I can't let myself sink like this... I was right."

After what seemed like an eternity, Caitlin finally dared to look up and meet her gaze in the mirror.

She moved her lips, her tone gradually becoming firm.

"Everything I did was right!"

Her colleagues didn't approve of her, and her family didn't understand her, but that didn't matter.

As long as she wore the Piltover police uniform, Caitlin believed she could instill fear in those scoundrels and bring fairness and justice to more things!

"I should believe in myself!"

Caitlin nodded vigorously, her eyes regaining their sparkle.

She felt that using a mirror while showering to regulate her emotions was indeed a particularly effective method.

Having solidified her beliefs, Caitlin became less concerned about being wrongly accused by her parents and even managed to offer a sarcastic remark:

"My mom says I have no self-respect because I go to the library at night to meet random guys, ha..."

"I should have told her that not only did I go on a date, but Aaron also said he owed me breakfast!"

"How absurd!"

Caitlin looked in the mirror, wiped a clean area with her palm, and poured out her grievances to her reflection:

"Can you understand that feeling?"

"There are many suspicious points about him, but I can't find any evidence. In fact, the way he speaks and acts makes me seem more rude and domineering."

"He must have already dealt with that burning cargo ship. How am I supposed to...?"

Suddenly, Caitlin stopped.

She stared blankly at herself in the mirror—the water mist that had covered her face again blurred it, with only the faint blue hair remaining.

But that blue seems...

"I think it's absurd too."

The "Caitlyn" in the mirror suddenly started talking!

She suddenly threw a punch at Caitlin.

In an instant, accompanied by the sound of shattering glass, countless cracks suddenly expanded in front of Caitlin!

wow-

A huge gap was chiseled out of the entire wall of mirrors.

From the gap, a girl with ice-blue hair darted out and then... kicked the still-shocked Caitlin to the ground!

……

"Hello, is Congressman Giraman's house on this street?"

"Okay, thank you. I'll go ask someone else."

"Hello, may I ask...?"

Aaron didn't have time to wipe the sweat from his forehead as he jogged along.

When he heard from Hilk that "Jinx went to find you herself," countless terrible images instantly flooded his mind, making him rush to Piltover without thinking.

He had to admit that he might really be in big trouble this time!

How long has it been since Jinx "lost control"?

Aaron himself couldn't remember clearly.

But he was very clear about one thing:

As his guidance to Jinx gradually took effect, the key to unlocking the girl's emotions shifted its focus—whether or not Aaron was by Jinx's side, she would be two completely different personalities.

The Jinx of today no longer gets agitated and wants to vent when she vaguely sees Milo and Craig. She might even jokingly say, "Milo has actually been with me all along."

However, she might very well do something because she didn't come home all night last night...

"I knew she was clinging to me, I shouldn't have been so careless!"

Aaron punched his thigh in regret.

Yesterday, all he could think about was how to use Ekko and the Wildfire Gang, how to take advantage of Caitlyn, and how to get into the library to learn new things. He completely failed to notice the helpless panic in Jinx's eyes when he let her go home alone.

Hilco said that Jinx was in a good mood before going to bed, and was talking enthusiastically about what Aaron had done during the day.

Aaron felt it was even worse after hearing that!

Are you still thinking about things related to yourself before going to sleep?

Jinx probably didn't sleep well all night, and left a note in the early hours of the morning, then came to Piltover to find him with unfounded suspicions!

"Giraman Estate? Hmm... just go straight, that's the largest villa area you'll see."

"Thank you so much!"

Aaron finally got directions, gritted his teeth and ran faster, startling the kind passerby who had answered him.

He knows Jinx's personality too well.

Before leaving, he planned to use Caitlyn to his advantage in order to achieve his goal of going to Piltover University to find inspiration.

Jinx saw all of this.

So Aaron knew without even guessing that Jinx, after suppressing her emotions all night, would definitely go straight to Caitlyn's house without hesitation!

He wasn't worried about the vulgar "catching someone cheating" scenario—he and Caitlin were completely innocent, while his relationship with Jinx was ambiguous, and even the most naive girl could tell the difference.

He only had one worry:

No one knows what Jinx will do when she's upset and there's no one around to comfort her!

Don't do anything foolish!

Please don't...

"Stop ahead!"

"Sir, you can't go any further."

A fully armed law enforcement officer politely stopped Aaron, who was charging forward headlong. Beside him were several other law enforcement officers, all as serious as he was.

Aaron forced back the stinging sensation of sweat trickling into the corners of his eyes and raised his head.

Before he could even ask why, he witnessed a scene that plunged his heart into despair—

Martial law was imposed at Giramane Manor. Enforcers stood solemnly in armor and weapons, while a haggard-looking middle-aged woman gripped the arm of the leading enforcer tightly.

"Find it quickly! Find it quickly!"

"My daughter was taking a shower when she went missing. The water is still warm, so the killer can't have gone far!"