28 Chapter 28 - Progress Day Teaser
Since the etiquette class, Caitlyn avoided Lilin, with some subtlety, for the next few days.
Lilin keenly took notice of this.
But because Progress Day approaches, he ignored the signs and focused his mind on the most important festival of the year.
During this time, he also upgraded the last hex crystal he bought from Benzo to a hextech gemstone.
In terms of exo-mechsuit, due to the increased affinity for machinery from [Proficient mechanical manufacturing], his research progresses very quickly, and the overall prototype has been completed.
Unfortunately, it is only a prototype at this stage, and still needs a series of follow-up tests and improvements. So it cannot be presented at the Progress Day Conference for the time being.
In addition, Lilin obeyed Madam Cassandra's entrustment, and intentionally extrapolated the dynamo to accommodate hydro and wind power generation features.
Which are more suitable for Piltover and Zaun to use as power sources.
As for oil and gas fuels…
Lilin has yet to read or hear about petrol and natural gas discovery.
Even if the reserves exist, based on the current state of Runeterra, only Piltover and Zaun put in research in technology.
Outside of hextech and chemtech, the technology level has only reached the steam era, and oil and gas have not begun to be used.
Not to mention other nations, where technology is not a focal point.
It is understandable, however, since Runeterra is not made of purely physical matter, magic is also a fundamental foundation.
It is unknown whether there's been enough tectonic movement and settlement to form these reserves.
Thus, Lilin didn't put much thought into becoming the oil prince of Runeterra.
…
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, the day has arrived.
At 6 o'clock in the morning, the sky is still hazy.
Lilin got up from his bed early, took a shower, and put on a decent outfit specially made for him by Madam Cassandra.
Maroon dress shirt and slim trousers, a tuxedo with double-breasted buttons in white gold trim, embroidered with the Kiramman clan crest, and a pair of black leather boots running up to the calf.
Maroon and white are standard colors for the Kiramman family.
Piltover's aesthetic is a little...weird, thought Lilin.
After sorting out his drip, Lilin went to the kitchen to have some breakfast, then went to the living room of the main house at the designated time.
A group of servants was surrounding the Kirammans and Caitlyn, tidying their outfits.
"Good morning, Madam Cassandra, Mr. Tobias." Lilin first said hello to the Kiramman couple.
The couple looked at Lilin through the glass in front of them and returned the greeting, "Well, good morning."
Afterwards, Lilin looked at Caitlyn, and his eyes lit up.
Caitlyn is wearing a knee length tunic dress that perfectly shows off her shoulders and slender waist. A pair of open-toed high heels exposed her carefully manicured toes.
"Good morning, Caitlyn." Lilin greeted Caitlyn.
"...Morning…" In the mirror, Caitlyn's eyes were evasive.
It's been like this for the past few days. I don't seem to have any place to offend her...
Lilin was very puzzled.
I'll ask her about it later.
"Alright, you're ready Kate?"
Madam Cassandra looked at Caitlyn.
"I'm fine, Mom."
"Well, since we're ready, let's go. Jayce is helping out at the academy today, we don't have to wait for him."
Under the escort of the servants, the group of four boarded a carriage.
The Kirammans sat on one side, Lilin and Caitlyn sat on the other.
Caitlyn's gaze was outside the carriage during the entire ride, and never looked at Lilin.
Cassandra and Tobias kept a conversation going all the way, otherwise the atmosphere in the carriage would have been more dull.
Their destination was a temporary enclosure set up by the Kiramman family in the square in the northern side for outsiders to visit and for displaying the new inventions of the Kiramman family.
Not long after seven o'clock, the bright sunshine had completely driven out the darkness.
As soon as the Kirammans and Caitlyn got out of the carriage, more than a dozen people in suits and ties gathered around them.
Some of them wore emblems of other families, some were yordles and vastayas who had left their hometowns to do business in Piltover.
"Happy Progress Day, Councilor Kiramman."
They greeted Cassandra, Tobias, and Caitlyn.
When they saw a young man with a new face, everyone's eyes were focused on him.
To be able to ride in the same carriage with the Kiramman family, this young man must be…
Cassandra noticed their eyes, and a faint smile appeared on her face.
Entering the tent, Cassandra waved her hand as she watched people gathered around, and the noisy crowd instantly quieted down.
"Happy Progress Day, I'm honored to have everyone at the Kiramman's on this special day.
"Everyone knows Piltover, as the cultural center of Valoran, integrates arts, crafts, trade and innovation, has become the most prosperous city-state in the world.
"The reason why we can stand at the forefront of the times is because of our thirst for knowledge, our longing for wealth and dreams, and our constant innovation."
Madam Cassandra paused for a few seconds, then glanced sideways at Lilin and motioned for him to come to her side.
"Recently, our family was fortunate to recruit a new craftsman - Lilin, who has talent comparable to that of the brilliant young craftsman Jayce Talis..."
Many eyes focused on Lilin.
Curiosity, doubt, scrutiny... all swept across him.
Cassandra kept smiling and nodded, very satisfied with the reactions.
After a while, she continued: "Just a while ago, Lilin developed a groundbreaking invention that was enough to push us in Piltover into a new era."
"Wow! Did I hear it right?"
"Groundbreaking invention? What did he invent?"
"A brand new era..."
"By the gears turn, what could it be?"
The crowd were in an uproar.
No one questioned the authenticity of an invention that would usher in a new era, because the Kiramman family had no need to exaggerate.
An ape-like Vastaya standing at the front couldn't help but ask, "Councilor Kiramman, can you give us a hint of this invention?"
Cassandra smiled and shook her head, "It's not just one invention. At the moment I can only reveal so much. For the official announcement please come to the auditorium of the academy in the afternoon and attend the Progress Day Conference. You will all witness a moment in Piltover history"
After saying that, Cassandra waved to her husband, Caitlyn and Lilin.
As the servants and guards opened the way, they walked out of the tent and went straight to the carriage without looking back, leaving only the dumbfounded crowd and the visitors in place.
