56 CHAPTER 56 - Heimerdinger's Invitation

The council meeting that was originally convened to discuss how to suppress the Undercity, concluded with the approval of Li Lin's proposal.

Representatives from major families orderly withdrew under the guidance of enforcers and staff.

Salo, Hoskel, Bolbok, and Councilor Wosladon didn't utter a word, leaving the council chamber through the representative's aisle.

Lady Cassandra glanced faintly at her daughter beside Li Lin and, surrounded by staff, exited through the main gate.

Li Lin, Caitlyn, and Jayce walked away from the central round table, finding an empty spot in the hall to converse, intending to wait until everyone else had left.

"Li Lin, you've really given me a surprise... and a shock," Caitlyn remarked.

Before the meeting, Caitlyn wondered how Li Lin could persuade these councilors not to act against the Undercity. However, when he chose to confront them head-on during his speech, it genuinely surprised her.

Even now, Caitlyn's palms were still sweaty, and she couldn't shake off the anxiety from what had just transpired.

"Aren't you afraid of death? What if they plot against you behind your back?" she questioned.

She glanced toward the council round table in the distance, catching a glimpse of Mel, who was conversing with Heimerdinger.

Before Mel noticed her observation, Caitlyn withdrew her gaze.

Li Lin sighed lightly. "I was a bit worried at first, but Lady Cassandra suddenly offered to vouch for me..."

"I don't understand what my mother is thinking. Given her focus on family interests, she shouldn't have gone to such lengths to support you."

"Oh, Li Lin, what would you have done if Lady Cassandra didn't vouch for you?" Jayce, standing nearby, asked with curiosity.

Li Lin smirked. "Well, there's always a backup plan. I would have presented some new invention designs to shut those conservative folks up."

In this dire situation, he had designs for Hextech weapons like the Hextech GLP-800, Hextech Gunblade, and Hextech Rocket belt – innovations that Piltover would introduce in the future, utilizing Hextech crystal as a stable energy source.

"But how would you explain it to my mother? Do you really want her to cast you out of the family?" Caitlyn looked worried, tinged with a hint of dissatisfaction.

If Li Lin had taken such a step, even if she personally pleaded with her mother, Lady Cassandra might not agree to let him stay.

Shaking his head, Li Lin explained, "She won't. Because these inventions require stable Hextech crystals as their energy core, and they have to collaborate with the Kiramman family."

"But... we can't produce Hextech energy crystals ourselves," Caitlyn's voice grew softer. "Doing so would attract her attention."

"Don't worry, trust me." Li Lin glanced around and motioned for Caitlyn and Jayce to come closer.

"Acting so mysterious?," Caitlyn raised an eyebrow, and, along with Jayce, moved closer.

"In fact, I made a deal with Lady Gray. She agreed to let us manufacture Hextech energy crystals, provided that the Ferros family takes ninety percent of the profits." Li Lin whispered, lowering his voice.

Caitlyn and Jayce's expressions changed abruptly.

"That's not a joke, Li Lin," Jayce almost exclaimed. "That's Lady Gray we're talking about!"

Li Lin shrugged nonchalantly. "In this day and age, telling the truth seems unbelievable to everyone."

Caitlyn squinted her eyes, after a brief pause, she stared earnestly into his eyes. "Are you serious?"

Li Lin remained silent. His expression spoke volumes.

Caitlyn took a sharp breath. "Lady Gray approached you... When?"

"Just last night, after I returned to my room, before you came to see me." Li Lin's playful demeanor vanished as he answered solemnly.

"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Caitlyn's tone carried a hint of reproach, and she lightly hammered his chest with a clenched fist. She couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

She suddenly understood that when they found the still-warm body of Corina, which proved Lady Gray hadn't gone far, Li Lin's power armor and Jayce's hammer both relied on powerful energy cores similar to Hextech crystals. It was clear Lady Gray would investigate.

If Lady Gray came to find Li Lin last night and was prepared to kill him...

Caitlyn dared not contemplate the rest.

"Talking won't change anything, anyway."

Li Lin tried to appear nonchalant, not wanting them to worry too much.

"And it's fine. We've secured a big piece of the pie for Kiramman's family. Shouldn't we be happy about it?"

"You're such a fool!"

Caitlyn's eyes were slightly red, but she disguised it naturally. Li Lin and Jayce didn't notice.

"Ah, I knew Lady Gray would come knocking one day, but I didn't expect it to be so soon."

Jayce sighed, "But since she has tacitly allowed us to continue our research, it's an early resolution to one of our concerns."

Speaking of which, he seemed to have a sudden realization, "There's something else. Recently, I've been studying scattered records related to arcane magic. Combining that with what I told you about my childhood, I have an idea."

Li Lin and Caitlyn looked at Jayce, not interrupting him.

"Since mages can use arcane magic to construct a matrix, allowing instant teleportation from one place to another, achieving a teleportation effect."

He paused, "What if we use technology to control arcane magic? Could we achieve a similar effect to this matrix, enabling us to teleport over long distances?"

Caitlyn shook her head, showing disinterest in these scientific matters, and didn't interject.

Li Lin, on the other hand, lit up. Wasn't this similar to Ryze ultimate ability, "Realm Warp" in the game? The only difference was that arcane runes were replaced by Hextech technology.

If they could create an energy crystal based on the arcane runes inside the primordial crystal, maybe they could really do it.

This was space technology!

"This idea is indeed excellent! How far along is your research?"

"I haven't started yet!" Jayce glared at him, "If you hadn't snatched the energy crystal that I was supposed to study, I would have had some clues by now."

Li Lin awkwardly scratched the back of his head, "Once the energy crystal behind is mass-produced, you can have as many as you want..."

He actually wanted to assist Jayce in his research. It would significantly speed up progress, but currently, he had more urgent matters to attend to.

Besides, with Jayce's intelligence, he could handle the research on his own.

While the three were conversing, a set of footsteps, quick but light, approached them.

Unconsciously, they all turned to the source of the sound, finding a familiar Yordle.

"Professor Heimerdinger," as Heimerdinger's student, Jayce quickly greeted him.

Following him, Li Lin and Caitlyn greeted, "Councilor Heimerdinger."

"Uh~huh no need to be so formal. Just call me Professor Heimerdinger."

Heimerdinger blew at the furry white mustache on his mouth, extending his right index finger, clad in brown-black gloves, and drew a few circles in the air.

"I came to talk with..." His finger finally stopped on Li Lin, "you, child."

Li Lin pointed to himself, raising his eyebrows, "Me?"

Heimerdinger, with a hint of a smile in the corner of his eyes, said, "Yes, on the meeting just now, I found your ideas quite intriguing..."

"Professor Heimerdinger, I suddenly remembered that I have several projects to research. I'll take my leave."

Jayce patted Li Lin's shoulder twice, signaling him to seize the opportunity, then left.

Following suit, Caitlyn hurriedly said, "Right, I remembered that I have something to attend to. I'll leave first."

Before leaving, she quickly leaned towards Li Lin's ear, whispering, "I'll inquire about mom for you. How to calm her down is your problem."

After saying this, Caitlyn winked at him, then gestured to Heimerdinger and caught up with Jayce, who was almost gone.

Seeing the two leaving, Heimerdinger didn't stand on ceremony either. He turned around and waved to Li Lin, indicating for him to follow.

"Come with me, child. Let's go back to the Piltover University and have a chat in my office."

(End of this chapter)

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