-49- Hex Phone

"Alright, Vi, and you too, Powder, both of you get off Linwin."

"Yes, I mean now, no discussion."

"We have something to say."

After watching Vi and Powder cling to Linwin for an hour, Vander finally couldn't take it anymore. 

It was nighttime, and outside the Last Drop Tavern, you could occasionally hear footsteps, marching in an orderly fashion, accompanied by soft chanting. It was an old tradition of the Black Ally.

Today, many elders would parade at night, holding paper boats, carrying their hopes and dreams, and paying their respects to those who perished in the disasters.

In front of them, Silco had lost count of how many glasses he had consumed. However, it was clear he was getting drunk. He sat on the floor, swaying unconsciously. This both amused and left Vander speechless.

Silco, who had always been cautious, was now drunk in front of him.

What could this mean? The answer was clear.

Silco hadn't guarded against him.

Vander, Silco.

Their past stories and shattered memories hadn't been erased by time. They still existed with their scars.

The old bridge, still broken to this day, but they had built a new one.

Since it was all in the past, it was best to discard it: hatred, annoyance, resentment, all those useless things.

"Okay," Vi nodded and reached out to grasp Powder's wrist, intending to pull her down.

However, Linwin held onto her and said, "Vander's right, I do have something to discuss, but I need a little help."

Vander nodded. When Vi looked his way, he could only give a slight nod in response.

"Then I'll stay here. It was Linwin who asked me to stay," Vi promptly sat down again, her head swaying. She was naturally restless.

"Vander, Silco."

Linwin opened his backpack, took out a bunch of papers, and then placed the two boxes he had previously revealed right in the middle. The group looked at the pile of papers and two beautiful long boxes.

"I brought these from the Upper City," Linwin began, holding up the stack of papers and speaking to Silco. "These contain the production process of Hextech gemstones. I've documented most of it. As for the instruments needed, you can have Singed check if he can manufacture them."

This was also why Linwin didn't bring Jayce and Viktor to the tavern. Although it seemed a bit unfair, he could only apologize silently to Jayce in his heart. After all, Linwin's intentions for approaching Jayce from the beginning were not entirely pure.

"So soon?" Silco squinted at Linwin, saying, "It's only been a little over a month, and you've got this already? Normally, the production process should be a trade secret, right?"

"To be honest, I'm curious about your relationship with him."

Linwin scratched his head, smiling helplessly. "Honestly, I do feel a bit guilty doing this kind of thing, but there's no other way. It's for Zaun."

"Alright, don't talk about these useless things."

Linwin snapped his fingers, and Vi, who was sitting beside him, reflexively sat up, tilting her head as she looked at Linwin. "What's up?"

"I need your help."

Placed in the center among everyone was, of course, the Hex Phone.

"Choose one, which one do you like?"

Vi squinted, looking down at the Hex Phone. After a moment, she asked, "Is this for me and Powder?"

"Yes, one for each of you."

"Are you trying to trick me with this kind of stuff? You promised to bring me and Powder gifts, and I've been looking forward to it for a long time," Vi said, feigning annoyance.

"I'll let Powder pick first."

Vi had always been a good older sister.

"I want the blue one," Powder quickly chose a long box that matched her hair color. The other one was a light black long box.

Vi held the Hex Phone in her hand, feeling its comforting warmth. Though it wasn't very cold in Zaun during the winter, having something like this to keep your hands warm was still a blessing.

"Alright, the hand-warming effect is pretty good; I'll reluctantly accept it."

Vi grabbed the Hex Phone and said to Linwin.

Hearing this, Linwin remarked, "Don't mess around."

He patted Vi's head, instructing her, "Take it downstairs later. I estimate it's only about seven to eight meters? But right now, we're not testing the distance."

Linwin pointed to a button on the long box and said, "Later, it should light up, and you just press this button, only this one. Be sure not to press the red button next to it; that button is for rejecting calls."

Vi nodded, her finger touching a blue button, and she asked Linwin, "Just press this one?"

"Yes, just press that one."

"Quit acting mysterious..."

With the phone in hand, Vi ran down to the basement. 

He estimated the distance to be at most around seven to eight meters. However, the experiment wasn't about the distance.

The two new Hextech phones created by Zevi were not only more exquisite than the first attempt but also had an extended range. Currently, the phones' reception range was approximately fifty meters.

This distance was still not satisfactory for Linwin and Zevi, but it was more than enough as a gift for Vi and Powder.

"Now it's just a toy, but it's a meaningful one."

Both Vander and Silco were curious, watching Linwin closely. They had no idea what Linwin was up to. Just as Vi had mentioned earlier, they were all curious about the mysteriousness surrounding the situation.

When Vi called out from below, "Linwin, I'm ready!" Linwin turned his attention to Powder.

"Now is it my turn? Do I need to go down too?" Powder asked, holding the Hextech communicator.

"No, you don't need to go down."

"Powder, press the blue button first, and then press the middle button twice," Linwin instructed.

Powder nodded, following Linwin's instructions. She pressed the blue button first, and then...

"Ding."

A crisp sound rang out, followed by a faint sizzling sound, accompanied by a blue halo emanating from the long box Powder was holding.

It was a series of concentric rings of light. Vander was almost about to rush up and push Powder away, but Silco stopped him.

"This is Hextech," Silco said, having seen this before.

As for Powder, she also realized what was happening. The light and the sizzling sounds without harming her seemed similar to the effect after the stone explosion.

"Quick, press that button."

"O-Okay!"

Powder immediately pressed the button twice.

Then, the blue light ring slightly expanded and...

"Poi."

A soft cracking sound followed.

"Uh? What's with this light?"

"What's going on? That was terrifying!"

"What's happening up there? Why haven't they called me up yet?"

From the long box that Powder was holding came a clear voice.

It was Vi's voice.

She was muttering to herself, and then, Powder looked up in terror and exclaimed, "Linwin, V-Vi is trapped in the box!"

"Powder?"

Linwin hadn't said anything, and neither had Silco or Vander.

Vi spoke up, "Is that Powder?"

"Wait... Why can I hear your voice?"

Powder blinked her eyes, the tears she thought she had shed earlier when she believed Vi was trapped in the magical device were now withdrawn. 

She looked at Linwin in amazement, and the one who started it all burst into hearty laughter.

"Don't worry, Powder. Vi isn't trapped; she's right below, and Vi, what you're hearing is Powder's voice."

"Is this... is this magic?!"

Vi's voice was extremely loud. Meanwhile, Silco's expression on the side changed. He had gone from slightly tipsy and hazy-eyed to completely sober, and he was now looking at Linwin's back with a mixture of shock and fear.

What in the world was this?

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Year 978 AE (Noxian Calendar), November 8

The world's first practical telephone was born in Zaun.

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The City of Freedom - Zaun.