CHAPTER 67 - The Unexpected Visit

Li Lin accompanied the excited Caitlyn in test-firing the "Crimson Steel" for over an hour.

Ensuring its stability in all aspects, he wearily returned to his room, quickly took a hot shower, and plunged into a deep sleep, almost sleeping for an entire day.

It wasn't until the following day, nearing sunset, that he woke up with a growling stomach, hungry after his extended slumber. He got out of bed and casually went to the kitchen to grab a bite.

Afterward, he handed the butler a list of materials needed for the power armor upgrade, instructing him to prepare them as soon as possible.

In the meantime, still not fully recovered, Li Lin returned to his room to continue his sleep.

In the blink of an eye, more than ten hours had passed.

The morning sun cast its light upon the earth, and the grand clock in the Undercity's Yellowway struck eight times, signaling the beginning of a new bustling day.

Li Lin's fatigue was finally swept away, and he joyfully took a shower and dressed in fresh clothes.

The materials needed for the power armor upgrade were quite rare, some even banned in the market. However, having the influential Kiramman family behind him made everything convenient. Even acquiring prohibited items was simple, albeit requiring a bit more time.

The butler estimated that it would take at least two to three days to gather all the materials Li Lin needed.

During this idle time, he planned to survey the terrain in Zaun and choose a suitable location for building a tidal power station.

If the survey progressed quickly and things went smoothly, he could spare some time to assist Jayce and Viktor at Piltover University with their projects, whether it be the "Hex Gates" or the "Automated Hextech Robots." Both projects promised significant advancements in Li Lin's future capabilities.

Caitlyn and the Kiramman couple had already left early in the morning, leaving Li Lin in peaceful solitude.

After a quick breakfast, he donned his power armor and headed to the Drop Street.

The early morning in Piltover was the peak time for pedestrian traffic.

Emerging from the shadow of the "terror" attack a few days ago, the order in this city of progress gradually returned to normal.

On the not-so-wide streets, citizens rushed to work in a bustling manner. However, around Li Lin's intimidating "steel armor," there was always at least a five-meter space left vacant.

Ignoring the curious gazes of the onlookers, Li Lin arrived at Drop Street, paid double for a ticket at the ticket booth, and purchased a ticket to the mid-level plaza.

After the steam-powered Hex transport came to a stable stop, and the passengers disembarked, Li Lin followed a few individuals into the elevator and reached the deserted top floor.

"Descending!"

Today's elevator operator was a middle-aged woman who shouted into a megaphone while ringing a bell.

Steam billowed out, covering the glass windows with a layer of mist as the three vertical tracks of the spiral gear rotated, and the elevator swayed down, emitting creaking metallic friction sounds.

This scene triggered a flashback in Li Lin's mind, recalling the story of Blitzcrank.

One day in the future, this elevator would malfunction. Blitzcrank, hanging on the outside, would use his "Mechanical Rocket Grab" to prevent it from descending, saving dozens of lives.

However, due to his appearance and the subsequent changes in the timeline caused by his presence, whether Blitzcrank would miss this incident was uncertain.

It seemed like he needed to allocate some time to refurbish the elevator.

Li Lin thought to himself.

After half an hour, Li Lin arrived at the mid-level plaza of the Lanes.

As soon as he stepped out of the elevator and walked a short distance beyond the rhomboid steel fence, five obviously street urchin-dressed and seemingly undernourished youths surrounded him.

Are they trying to rob me?

Inside the power armor, Li Lin couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, finding the situation somewhat amusing.

Before he could say anything, the apparent leader, a burly youth with a messy haircut, and seemingly the strongest among them, spoke:

"Are you Mr. Li Lin?"

To Li Lin's surprise, this street thug leader actually knew his name, and his tone and attitude were unexpectedly polite.

These people were not robbers.

"Yes, what do you want?" Li Lin's tone was not the least bit friendly, but the messy-haired youth wasn't offended.

"We've been waiting for you, Mr. Li Lin."

He grinned, revealing a set of unclean yellow teeth. "A gentleman named Silco paid us to wait for someone clad in steel armor, name of Li Lin."

"Uh... Silco?"

Upon hearing this name, Li Lin's eyebrows furrowed. He held no favorable impression of that guy. Not only for Silco's previous act of kidnapping Vander but also because he seemed to be a sponsor of Singed, developing and producing the "poisonous" shimmer concoction, a modification harmful to the human body.

Pausing, Li Lin's voice transmitted through the metallic mask, carrying a mechanical tone. "What does he want with me?"

"Well..."

The bossy kid and the four youths behind him exchanged glances, then withdrew their gazes, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"That's not something we were told. He didn't inform us."

The young man scratched his head, continuing, "He just said that when we see you, we should take you to an alchemical workshop at the outskirts of the Undercity."

Li Lin sneered, waved his hand, and turned to leave. "Not interested."

A complete stranger, possibly an adversary to himself, Vander, and even the entire Undercity, invited him over. Was he supposed to go and be treated well? Especially at the border of the Undercity, an area Vander couldn't control. It was likely Silco's territory.

This was an obvious attempt at a trap. Only a fool would fall for it.

"Don't, Mr. Li Lin!"

Before he could take a few steps, several youths blocked his way again, wearing somewhat pleading expressions.

"We've already taken the money. We have to complete the task. Come with us..."

"No, what's it got to do with me if you took the money? It's not like I took it."

Though understanding that a considerable portion of uneducated kids growing up in Zaun might become troublemakers, Li Lin sympathized with them. However, that didn't mean he could be morally coerced by them, especially when they were sent by Silco and he had more pressing matters.

Li Lin's expression gradually darkened.

Just as he was about to push aside these troublemakers and leave, a charismatic voice came from afar, piercing into his ears:

"Don't be angry. These kids are uneducated and somewhat reckless."

Silco...

Li Lin squinted, looking in the direction of the voice.

A middle-aged man, dressed neatly and formally, with his left eye resembling that of a devil's, accompanied by two muscular bodyguards and a similarly dressed young man as the five in front of him, emerged from a narrow alley.

He beckoned towards this side, and the few delinquent youths quickly ran over, receiving a money pouch from him before disappearing with the young man into Li Lin's field of view.

"Mr. Li Lin, I believe you should still recognize me. I won't bother with self-introduction."

Silco's face revealed a smile that seemed both friendly and sly. He performed a makeshift noble's courtesy from Piltover to Li Lin.

It seemed he had been waiting for quite some time. The delinquents were merely used to delay Li Lin, allowing Silco to catch up.

As soon as he saw Silco, a hint of coldness flashed in Li Lin's eyes. "Silco, what do you want? Don't forget, this is the territory of the Lanes, and your lackeys might not be a match for me."

"You've misunderstood. I didn't come for a conflict this time."

Silco interlocked his fingers and placed them on his chest, speaking in a calm tone as if implying he held the advantageous position.

"So, what are you here for?" Li Lin sneered. "Don't waste my time. I'm quite busy, and I'll give you ten seconds."

"No need for ten seconds..."

"9, 8, 7, 6, 5..."

Before Silco could finish his sentence, Li Lin rapidly counted down from 10 to 3.

Silco's mouth twitched involuntarily.

Within this timeframe, Li Lin had completed the countdown.

"Too bad, you didn't seize the opportunity. I'm leaving."

Li Lin didn't give him any time for contemplation, nor did he intend to listen to Silco's nonsense.

After leaving these words, he took large strides to depart.

This kid really thinks too highly of himself!

"Wait!"

Seeing that Li Lin showed no intention of slowing down, Silco hurriedly spoke:

"I heard about your situation with Vander. It seems he's not very willing to cooperate with you... but I can!"

Li Lin's steps paused, then he turned around, expressing both surprise and confusion in his words.

"What did you say?"

(End of this chapter)

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