-41- Ouch!!!

"Are you going back to Zaun again?"

"It's okay if you're going back to Zaun, but how can you choose this day to return? Progress Day is approaching, and you tell me you're going back to Zaun? Are you crazy? Linwin, I just find it strange. What's good about Zaun? It's dirty, chaotic, and stinky. The streets are filled with dangerous people, and it's both perilous and impoverished."

This was an incredibly KY speech, and only Mr. Talis could make such comments. 

At this moment, in Jayce's laboratory, Viktor was sitting on a stool with one hand on his cane and the other holding a cup of hot tea. He looked at Jayce, who was standing at the door, gesturing as he spoke. Viktor could only roll his eyes helplessly, and suddenly, he felt that the tea in his hand was no longer fragrant.

When it came to Zaun, the people of Piltover always had an attitude of pride and arrogance. Jayce could confirm this, even though he knew that Viktor and Linwin were from Zaun. However, in the presence of these two Zaunites, Jayce still talked confidently about how terrible their hometown was.

This made Viktor, who was also a Zaunite, quite uncomfortable. He admitted that he preferred to be in Piltover than to stay in Zaun. The academic atmosphere here was well-suited for someone like him who was dedicated to science. After all, in Zaun, it was difficult to do research properly. The gang violence there was rampant, and people like Viktor were often the first to get hurt.

Jayce was right in saying that Zaun was dirty, chaotic, and impoverished, and that many people there only cared about their immediate interests, with little regard for the concept of "science" for the future.

But... no matter how bad Zaun was, and no matter how people from Zaun liked to complain about it, Viktor didn't want to hear derogatory comments about Zaun from the mouths of Piltover residents.

It was a difficult feeling to put into words, but it truly made people feel uncomfortable.

These two cities, so close to each other, were once a single city two hundred years ago. Yet, two centuries later, they had entirely different cultures, beliefs, and civilizations.

This was a unique phenomenon in the world of Runeterra—the daily life of the twin sister cities, Piltover and Zaun.

"Jayce, that's enough. Stop complaining," Viktor said, interrupting Jayce before Linwin could even respond.

He placed the teacup on a saucer, stood up, and said, "Please respect Linwin and me. After all, we're both Zaunites. I believe he feels the same as I do. We don't want to hear your complaints about the Undercity from your mouth anymore."

"Viktor, you know that's not what I mean. I'm just stating a fact to you," Jayce quickly explained, seeing Viktor unhappy. However, his explanation even made Linwin, who had been holding back, burst into laughter.

"Yes, yes, our noble Lord Talis. Since you dislike Zaun so much, how about Viktor and I leave tomorrow? The two of us Zaunites can leave your sight so as not to dirty your eyes. Otherwise, if might go blind, then what will happen to Hextech?"

"Why are you acting like this? You and Viktor both know I didn't mean it that way."

"Getting impatient, aren't you?"

Jayce didn't quite understand what "getting impatient" meant, but seeing Linwin sarcastically say it, he felt a bit annoyed.

"I just wanted to say that even if you plan to go back to Zaun, you shouldn't choose this day. It's Progress Day, the most important and lively day in Piltover every year. On that day, countless outsiders will come to Piltover to witness Progress Day. They come from far and wide, and you two are going back to Zaun on that day?"

Jayce truly couldn't understand it. Progress Day was the most important annual festival for Piltover. On that day, the entire city of Piltover would be on holiday, and a grand celebration would last for three days. 

During this time, there was no curfew in Piltover, and various inventions would be exhibited. Jayce's Hextech technology was, of course, part of it. 

This time, Hextech was even a highlight. It wouldn't be presented within the academy but rather in the grand theater, and there was even a possibility it would be shown in the main hall of Piltover!

This was a recognition of Jayce, Viktor, and, of course, Linwin.

But now, Linwin was telling him that he would return to Zaun on that day?

"Is Zaun celebrating Progress Day too? Otherwise, I don't understand why you have to go back to Zaun."

Jayce thought about it but couldn't comprehend how Zaun's Progress Day could compare to Piltover's grand celebration.

"Progress Day?"

Linwin then chuckled, a somewhat sarcastic laugh.

Viktor remained silent, looking down at his shoes without saying a word.

Only Jayce stood there, sensing that something was off, with a puzzled expression. He muttered softly, "Wait... did I say something wrong again?"

Linwin stared at Jayce, lost for words. He genuinely couldn't get angry with him. After all, Jayce treated Linwin as a friend, and that was good enough.

Moreover, Jayce was not the type to engage in intrigue. He was a pure scientist, much like Viktor. His words were probably thoughtless, not ill-intentioned.

But Jayce had been deeply influenced by Piltover's perspective, and his view of the Undercity was as it should be. He didn't want to understand the current situation in Zaun or care about the environment in which Zaunites were living. This was normal. After all, the fire hadn't burned him, so why would he be in a hurry?

Piltover's Progress Day was a day of pride for Piltoverians, but it represented hardship for Zaunites.

"How did Progress Day come to be?"

Linwin repeated the question.

Regarding this piece of history, Jayce was naturally well aware. Proudly, he spoke of the creation of Piltover. "In the year 772 AE, during the Grand Canal Operation, Piltover was born. And that day happened to be the 8th of November in the year 772. Therefore, every year on the 8th of November, it is called Progress Day."

"I'm asking you how it came to be."

Linwin repeated his question.

Viktor had a complex expression as he stood by.

This was the sorrow known only to Zaunites.

"Down in the city is called Zaun, and the city that stands above it is called Pil...," Jayce suddenly stopped talking.

He had an epiphany. He wanted to give himself a slap for what he had said to Linwin and Viktor before. After calming down a bit, Jayce figured it out. Before he got to know Linwin and Viktor, he didn't care about Zaun. Every time he went to Zaun, it was just a quick in-and-out visit. He had no desire to understand anything about Zaun.

"Uh, Linwin, Viktor, I... I didn't mean that."

"I know. Otherwise, you should be kneeling on the ground now, with me having slapped you so hard you'd have throw up your dinner," Linwin said with a smirk.

But Jayce's facial expression, with a fake smile and tense features, made him uncomfortable. How strong was Linwin? If he had really thrown a punch, Jayce thought it might not have only throw up his dinner but his... well, you get the idea.

"I'm going back to Zaun as a part of an agreement with my family to commemorate," Linwin didn't finish his sentence.

But Viktor understood what Linwin meant.

The Grand Canal incident had forcibly separated Zaun into two. Half of Zaun had collapsed into the chasms, while the other half had risen and become Piltover. The part that had sunk was still called Zaun, but the risen part had changed its name to Piltover. 

They celebrated the new beginning as Progress Day because the Grand Canal had caused Zaun to collapse and connect the two continents. It had truly become the chokepoint of the Runeterran continent, making a fortune from collecting tariffs alone. Piltover had embraced this day as a celebration of its rebirth.

For the Zaunites who had fallen below, Progress Day was a day of mourning, a festival to honor the friends and family they had lost in the incident.

Viktor's eyes darkened a little. Even though it had been more than two centuries ago, Zaunites would never forget this day.

But Jayce, not quite understanding where the line was, exclaimed in amazement to Linwin, "You have a family? You've never told me about your family, so I thought you were an orphan."

Upon hearing this, Linwin said nothing. He chuckled to himself. "Well, Jayce, it's okay. You're actually correct. I am an orphan. I was taken in by Old Zoran."

However, Jayce's comment did surprise Linwin. He was indeed an orphan, and it was Old Zoran who had taken him in.

Despite having two lovely sisters and a few annoying brothers, sometimes, it just becomes unbearable.

Can't you just stay quiet, please?!

Blabbering all day long as if you're afraid people don't know you have a mouth?

Standing up, Linwin clenched his fist and walked towards Jayce, grinning as he said, "Bite down hard."

"What are you doing?"

"Just bite down hard!"

"Ouch!!!"