CHAPTER 39 - Asking for help

On the other side of Piltover,

Li Lin, Caitlyn, and Jayce returned to the Kiramman mansion to arrange the servants and make their respective preparations. The trio commenced their investigation into the whereabouts of the Kiramman couple.

Under Caitlyn's ingenious detective logic, all clues pointed to one place—Zaun.

Without delay, the three hurriedly found an enforcer and had him notify Sheriff Grayson. They then rushed to Drop Street, taking a screeching ride on a hex-powered transporter down to the middle layers of Zaun.

Throughout the journey, all eyes were on Li Lin's exoskeleton-powered armor. Even the elevator ride required double the usual fare.

Fortunately, many enforcers recognized Caitlyn, the heiress of the Kiramman family, and they were allowed to proceed without hindrance.

Li Lin's exoskeleton, primarily black in color, stood at a height of about two meters. It closely adhered to the human body, presenting a streamlined muscular contour that combined practicality with a touch of style.

The Hextech crystal, serving as the armor's energy core, was placed in the chest's central position. It was shielded by layers of reinforced metal, cleverly concealing the powerhouse within.

Although it wasn't as advanced as the Iron suit combat armor, Li Lin wasn't foolish enough to expose the obvious weak point like Iron Man.

The performance of this armor, [Exoskeleton Power Armor (Rare)], included 15,000 health points, 500 energy, and 35 combat power.

[Mechanical Attributes]:

- Passive·Full Automation: The power armor is entirely energy-driven, requiring no physical effort from the wearer. When the energy is depleted, the power armor becomes immobile, consuming 50 energy per second.

- Passive·Mechanical Enhancement: The materials of the power armor have been upgraded, providing additional attributes for all skills (excluding the energy crystal core), elevating the mechanical device by one grade.

- Passive·Alloy Armor: Forged from upgraded high-quality alloys, providing an additional 1,500 health points.

- Passive·Energy Crystal Core: With an energy crystal as the core, it provides an additional 1,000 energy.

- Passive·Premium Chassis: Improved materials enhance energy adaptability, providing an additional 500 energy.

- Passive·Charge: The energy core can absorb magical elements from the air for self-recharge, restoring 5% of the maximum energy per second.

- Active·Adaptive Defense: Activates the energy core for a brief 1-second charge, consuming 10% of the maximum energy to gain a 20% maximum health adaptive shield, lasting 10 seconds (cooldown: 1 minute).

- Active·Overload Charge: Consumes 15% of the current power core's energy for a three-second overload charge. After the charge, the armor gains an additional speed boost for 10 seconds, and the next attack deals devastating damage to the target, simultaneously causing an energy shockwave in a fan-shaped area 5 meters behind the target.

- Active·Overdrive Operation: Overloads the energy core, temporarily providing an additional 30% health and energy to the current mechanical creation. The maximum energy recovery per second increases to 15%, and it gains an extra movement speed boost, lasting 8 seconds (the energy crystal will be scrapped after three uses).

This exoskeleton power armor provided a total of 16,500 health points and 2,000 energy. Considering the self-recharge rate of 5% energy per second, it could recover 50 energy per second.

Moreover, due to Li Lin's [Mechanical Enhancement] skill upgrade, the armor, initially of "Fine" grade, was elevated to "Rare," resulting in substantial improvements in all aspects of its attributes and skills.

However, this power armor was still in the prototype stage.

Despite its numerous advantages, it had its fair share of drawbacks.

What bothered him the most was that the suit lacked a computing device. Everything had to be observed through his eyes, severely limiting his field of view.

Secondly, its movements were somewhat sluggish, and unless the [Overload Charge] skill was activated, it couldn't catch up with someone agile.

In addition, as a defensive line for Li Lin's personal safety, the suit currently lacked even a weapon system. It could only rely on charging into the enemy's face, smashing like a brute with its fists.

Fortunately, its durability was substantial, with 16,500 health points and a shield of 3,300 health that could last for 10 seconds, regenerating every minute.

Even if all the enforcers in Piltover shot at him with guns, Li Lin could endure for a considerable amount of time amid the hail of bullets.

In short, disregarding insufficient energy, solely relying on Li Lin's current level of powered armor, taking down Piltover might not be guaranteed, but pushing through the current stage of Zaun should be no issue.

The premise is without the assistance of the Wind Goddess, Janna...

Descending with a screech, in no time, the three of them arrived at the middle layer of Zaun.

Caitlyn and Jayce put on breathing filter devices, one with a gun and the other with a hammer, accompanied by a mechanical behemoth by their side.

Whoever saw them had to detour.

Jayce wasn't quite comfortable with the strange looks around him. He slightly used the hammer to cover his face and then asked Caitlyn, "Where do we go next?"

"No clues for now, I need to investigate first," Caitlyn responded with a muffled voice.

"Or, we can seek Vander's help," came the mechanical voice of Li Lin through the powered armor. "I have some acquaintance with him."

Caitlyn glanced at the bulky figure beside her, "Acquaintance after meeting only once?"

"Technically speaking, we've met twice."

Li Lin hadn't had the chance to tell her about his encounter with Vander in the lanes last time.

"I owed him a favor last time, and now we are friends."

"I think it's not a bad idea, Caitlyn," Jayce remained silent for a while before advising, "That person named Vander is the leader of the lanes; he might know something."

Caitlyn nodded slightly, "Well, it sounds like a good idea."

The three headed towards The Last Drop.

But before they could walk for a few minutes, they noticed many people wielding weapons and looking fierce emerging from different alleys, all converging towards The Last Drop.

Jayce looked at this group of people, feeling a bit puzzled, "What's going on?"

"Perhaps a gang conflict?" Caitlyn pondered for a moment, "Let's catch up..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Li Lin, in the powered armor, caught a glimpse of a blue-haired girl not far from them. Accidentally bumped by someone, the girl was heading in the opposite direction of the crowd.

"Powder?"

Caitlyn tilted her head, looking at Li Lin with the armored face opened, "What did you say?"

Seemingly hearing someone calling her, Powder in the crowd looked towards the direction of the voice, initially attracted by a conspicuous mechanical armor.

As her gaze moved upward and finally recognized the familiar face, tears in her eyes couldn't be stopped from falling.

Powder quickly got up, wiped away the tears with her dirty hands, and then ran to the three of them.

Looking up, clutching her small hands, she gazed at Li Lin with a pleading and pitiful expression, choking on her words:

"... Please, you must save Vander!" 

(End of this chapter)