Chapter 42: Happy Progress Day

On November 5th, at precisely 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Lin Wen, after a brief lunch break, strolled into the mechanical district and entered Zevi's laboratory.

As he walked in, he saw Zevi yawning and sitting up from a simple cot. Zevi was wearing a warm wool sweater, layered with a deep blue autumn coat. One notable feature of her attire was a peculiar but cleverly designed chain-link clasp, which, if caught in machinery, could be quickly pulled to remove the clothing.

For Lin Wen, it was a simple outfit: a white long-sleeved knit shirt paired with beige pants.

"Why are you here so early today? Usually, you don't show up until after 2:30," Zevi said, relaxing her furrowed brows. She gazed at Lin Wen as she put on her coat and walked over to the desk. She reached for the strongly brewed red tea, took a sip, shook her head, feeling instantly more awake. Then she prepared herself to work.

Zevi was not only a top mechanic at Piltover University but also a prodigious inventor.

Lin Wen approached her and said, "I need to talk to you. Zevi, can we process the two extra gemstones we have into a phone as soon as possible? I have a use for it. The performance doesn't need to be too advanced, just the ability to make and receive calls within a range of a dozen meters."

For Zevi, the gemstone processing was as simple as eating and drinking. The reason for the lengthy previous research was due to her work on inscribing runes and the calculations for various constructions. Therefore, when the first step was taken, creating a phone required far less time than a month.

Lin Wen believed that with Zevi's skills, it wouldn't take long to create the device.

Zevi leaned on the table, looking down at the blueprints on her desk, and said, "What do you need it for? A phone with a range of a dozen meters won't be very useful. If you want to communicate with someone, you could just shout within that range, couldn't you?"

Lin Wen replied, "I want to give it to someone."

Zevi gave Lin Wen a strange look and said, "I thought you might want to showcase it at Progress Day to attract investors. But you want to give it away? What are you thinking? Well, this is your creation, and if it makes you happy, that should be enough."

Zevi was starting to find Lin Wen's actions increasingly puzzling.

Lin Wen was about to explain when Zevi waved her hand, turning her back to him, and said, "Alright, I don't want to hear your reasons. It's just a range of a dozen meters, right? You can come to collect it the day after tomorrow. Now, Mr. Lin Wen, I think it's time for us to start working."

"Agreed," Lin Wen said, breathing a sigh of relief.

Zevi was a person who valued rules, but since getting to know Lin Wen, she realized that her own rules were slowly being broken. So recently, she had been reconsidering and imposing some of her own rules onto herself. Whether they were effective or not, only time would tell.

---

November 8th – Progress Day in Piltover.

The annual celebration was already in full swing. Brightly colored flags adorned the streets of Piltover, and even the normally narrow alleyways were filled with the festive atmosphere.

In the high-class district, you could spot various family crests with the same golden gears. Many of the banners were even inlaid with gold to show off the wealth of these families.

In the commoner district, children donned new clothes, carrying mechanical toys and playing joyfully. People in the streets were more forgiving and less inclined to scold the children when they accidentally bumped into them, instead offering a head pat and wishing them a happy Progress Day. Of course, the grown-ups followed up by advising the children to watch their steps and stay safe.

Enforcers were stationed at various key points. Tents were set up in parks and open spaces, where groups of people carried wooden boards, chairs, and all sorts of odd objects. Craftsmen were busy constructing stages bearing the golden gears and unknown family crests on their banners.

It was evident that this was a small-scale street exhibition venue, likely sponsored by a medium-sized family to showcase their inventions and creations, with the goal of increasing their sales.

After all, Progress Day was not just the day of evolution for the people of Piltover; it was also the day of evolution for everyone who came to Piltover. During Progress Day, everyone who arrived in Piltover could enjoy the happiness it brought.

It was a time of celebration, joy, and cheer. The atmosphere was so infectious that it lifted everyone's spirits, making them happy.

Just look, everyone is smiling. Bright smiles adorned the faces of every resident of Piltover.

And the merchants? They were even happier, particularly among the newcomers. After a year's wait, they could finally purchase things that were unavailable last year, and they could witness the new creations crafted by the people of Piltover this year. Although, if they wanted to buy, they might have to wait another year.

"Happy Progress Day!"

"That's right, happy Progress Day!"

"Hey, buddy, would you like some blueberry pancakes? Sweet and delicious, and reasonably priced at just eight copper coins during Progress Day!"

"Oh, that's really affordable! Thank you, I'll take two pancakes."

"Here are your pancakes. It's a total of fifteen coppers. I'll let you off with that one extra copper. Happy Progress Day!"

"Thank you, happy Progress Day!"

Yellow Scaffolds, Constellation Avenue, Dockside Harbor, and even the Luminrose Estate. In different parts of Piltover today, there was one common phrase echoing everywhere:

"Happy Progress Day!"

But if you were to look down the winding chasms of the Undercity, beneath the bustling city of Piltover, you'd find that in the depths of Zaun, it was unusually quiet.

The once bustling streets are no longer noisy. Black-market traders have halted their lively underground markets, and street thugs are nowhere to be seen.

Taverns and dance halls have closed their doors, and private shops have lowered their iron grates.

People walking in the streets occasionally hear a few cheers from above, followed by resentful glares in return.

They look to the sky with fierce expressions, as if they might attack at any moment. But when they lower their heads, their eyes are filled with sorrow.

In the Boundry Market, the closest place to Piltover, the lively corridor from the past is now mostly empty. Those who truly hold Zaun in their hearts have left the Boundary Market today.

They descend into the depths of the Sump, heading to the depths of Zaun that they used to fear, even if they were Zaunites themselves. Because they know that during Progress Day, even the fiercest Zaunites will put away their fangs.

Today is a day of remembrance. 

They will place small boats named "Hope" in the foul, toxic waters of the Sump, the very waters that create the harsh living conditions for the Zaunites.