CHAPTER 238 - The Return of the Lady Gray

The performance test of the Tyrant Aberration could be considered perfect, with all the data exceeding Li Lin's expectations.

Although its level of intelligence still needed improvement, Li Lin felt that if it was just used as a war machine, it was already sufficient.

There was no need for these mass-produced mechas to have their own thinking patterns.

With the "artificial intelligence self-evolution logic," combined with the control of the "AI," it was best for him to give orders himself when necessary.

Li Lin still remembered that in the Tyrant mecha, as the ultimate land combat mecha, Type Zero would conflict with its self-evolving AI program due to human orders, greatly increasing the risk of going rogue.

According to the original timeline of the Tyrant Universe, the self-aware Type Zero was destined to become hostile to humans.

Even if Type Zero wasn't on the same front as the deep-sea monsters, its ultimate goal was to eradicate humanity and help other mechanical beings break free from human control.

Li Lin didn't plan to cause a "machine crisis" or "Omicron era" in the main universe because of himself.

With the "gene ascension" route of individual enhancement, he was fully capable of controlling those large mechas through neural connections by himself, without even needing the assistance of the "AI;" he was a walking human flesh computer.

Leaving the Piltover Mountains, Li Lin didn't rush home. Instead, he circled around the uninhabited areas around Piltover and scanned and recorded all the terrain into the database.

The location of the satellite base had been determined. What remained was the selection of the combat arms factory, secret laboratory, and the construction site of the large mecha construction base.

Most of the terrain around the twin cities was mountainous, with only a small uninhabited plain area in the suburbs and the southern part of the canal.

However, the plain in the south needed to be used for the construction of the satellite base, and the suburbs of Piltover were not suitable for large-scale construction, which could easily affect the twin cities located at the top and bottom of the cliffs.

Apart from these, on the Valoran continent, outside the territory of Noxus, there was only Demacia to the east, facing Piltover across the sea, governed by the "Lord of the Seas," Brandin.

However, similar to Kalamanda in the north of Shurima, even though they had their expensive specialties, they were essentially small city-states based on fishing in the Middle Ages.

Even with commercial exchanges with the technologically advanced Piltover, their level of technology was still pitifully low.

Coupled with their stubborn and uncivilized thinking, it was almost like a "pipe dream" to build large bases outside these two city-states.

Looking at it this way, Li Lin ultimately redirected his goal to the Piltover Mountains.

There were several stable crustal structure mountains that could be used to build underground bases, but it would cost a lot of money, time, and effort.

But using the mountains as camouflage was actually not a bad choice...

That was how Li Lin comforted himself.

...

...

The half-yellow sun melted into the sea level, and dusk had arrived.

Li Lin returned to the Kiramman mansion without rushing into his workshop.

As soon as he returned to the range covered by the AI network, the smart brain of the battle armor sent a warning and played footage taken by surveillance devices on the holographic display.

[Warning! Intruders found in the workshop.]

[Identified based on the facial features entered into your database: Lady Gray, Camille Ferros.]

[The defense system is not ready and cannot stop the intruder.]

A little slower than I imagined...

Li Lin remained calm inside, having long anticipated Camille's return visit.

After all, the Hextech cores used in his battle armor were once monopolized by the Ferros family, which could be considered the most advanced energy device technology in the entire Rune world.

The power core carried by Camille was the first complete Hextech core in the Rune world, which would probably have been the last one without his intervention.

In the original timeline, Viktor, who ascended through mechanical means, used semi-finished products made from Primordial Crystal fragments.

On the technological level of the Hextech core, the clockwork mage Orianna Reveck was far inferior to Camille because she still needed to provide power for herself.

As for Seraphine's "wheelchair" made from Primordial Crystal...

That was just a type of Hextech device and couldn't be considered a Hextech core at all.

Now, his Infinity Armor could soar into the sky. Without hundreds of energy crystals, it couldn't power the armor. The Ferros family should be well aware of this.

Since there was someone who could reproduce the Hextech core, Stevan, that sly old snake, definitely couldn't sit still...

"AI, where is Lady Gray now? Show me the real-time surveillance video."

[The Gray Lady is currently in the main workshop and has not concealed her whereabouts.]

[Connecting to the monitoring system for you...]

[Connection successful!]

[Due to the influence of the special mechanical device in the Lady Gray's body, the network may fluctuate...]

Li Lin ignored the AI's reminder, his attention drawn to Camille, who was sitting on his work chair, holding a cup of hot tea, looking relaxed and comfortable in his own home.

Well, you're more comfortable here than I am on a regular basis...

He couldn't help but joke to himself.

In the surveillance room, Camille finished her tea, refilled her cup, and poured another one into an empty cup on the table. Then, she glanced at the nearly invisible mini camera in the corner.

From Li Lin's perspective, they seemed to be exchanging gazes through a screen.

Camille raised an eyebrow slightly. "Child, since you're back, how about a cup of tea? I brewed it myself."

She could perceive other Hextech items through her Hextech core, as long as they were powered by similar cores developed from the same primordial crystals as the shellfolk. Judging from Camille's demeanor, she wasn't here to interrogate him about his research into Hextech cores.

Furthermore, if Stevan wanted immortality, he had the schematics but lacked the technicians. He wouldn't send Camille to kill Li Lin. Moreover, even as a spy, it wasn't appropriate for her to resort to such methods.

Li Lin didn't hesitate. He pushed open the workshop door and entered.

His gaze lingered on Camille at the workbench. He removed his mask, smiling politely. "Happy Progress Day, Lady Grey."

"You too."

Li Lin took off his armor and pulled up a chair, sitting directly in front of Camille. He picked up the tea she had brewed for him, blew on it to cool it down, and took a sip.

He had changed significantly in the past six months.

Even without the Infinite Armor, Li Lin wasn't afraid of the Steel Shadow.

If a fight were to break out, all he needed to do was to guard against her legs and certain special Hextech devices, and he would only suffer minor injuries at most. Moreover, the armor he wore now was the fourth-generation battle armor, which provided protection as well.

Besides, this was his home turf.

Removing the armor was just a sign of respect towards Lady Grey.

Camille looked at Li Lin with a hint of surprise, feeling unexpected at his behavior. "Your transformation over the past six months is remarkable."

"No one remains unchanged, not even a machine," Li Lin chuckled. "You either decay with time and become obsolete, or you improve and break through the limitations of existing technology."

Camille was taken aback for a moment. "It seems I underestimated you."

She glanced at the corner of the workshop's ceiling where some technology resembling Hextech cameras was installed. "Those devices, somewhat similar to Hextech cameras, allow you to see what's happening in the room? It's an interesting invention."

"You're too kind. They're called CCTV, just insignificant little devices in testing phase, not very stable yet," Li Lin replied modestly.

Putting down his tea cup, Li Lin continued, "You've been waiting for me for quite some time, haven't you?"

"No need to worry about that, child. I'm patient," Camille said, raising her cup. "And... the tea from the Kiramman Estate is quite good."

She didn't mention the purpose of her visit this time. The blue glow of her electronic eyes shifted, noticing the Aberration standing at the door. A hint of surprise flashed across her face.

"Is this your new invention? A powered..." Her eyes turned orange as she quickly scanned the robotic figure. "Hmm, to be precise, a sophisticated combat automaton."

Although her expression remained unchanged, Camille's astonishment gradually turned into shock.

Through the recent scan, she discovered that this machine had three Hextech cores for power. Coupled with the deep blue metallic armor concealing them, those energy weapons she vaguely sensed posed a fatal threat.

She believed that if she were to engage in combat with this machine, there would only be one outcome...

Death.

Not even a chance to escape.

Camille returned her eyes to Li Lin, squinting slightly. "I retract my previous assessment of you. To be accurate, I'm not underestimating you anymore... Your potential far exceeds my imagination."

"Can I take that as a compliment?" Li Lin shook his head with a light laugh, no longer intending to engage in verbal sparring with her. He asked straightforwardly, "What is the purpose of your visit this time?"

Without giving Camille a chance to speak, he immediately answered his own question, almost as if talking to himself, "Hmm... let me guess, because I created the Hextech core?"

"Previously, I wasn't sure, but now it seems that the power core of your powered armor is indeed a Hextech core," Camille said, setting down her tea cup. Supporting her face with one hand, she shifted her legs, crossing her right leg over her left.

Li Lin could tell that she was suppressing her astonishment.

But what surprised Camille even more was what he said next, "Your younger brother, Stevan, sent you, didn't he? He wants to use the Hextech core to become an eternal being like you?"

How did you know this?

The words almost slipped from Camille's lips, but after a moment's thought, she reassured herself that Li Lin was a clever person who wouldn't find such information surprising.

After all, the entire Upper City knew that Stevan was already on his last legs.

Moreover, with the resurgence of Hextech core technology, even if it weren't Li Lin, if it were Cassandra, she would also guess her own intentions.

Camille took a deep breath. "Indeed, my brother wants to invite you to the Blue Mist Manor and discuss the matter of the Hextech core."

Invite?

Given Stevan's character, it was probably more like a trap.

First, transform yourself, and then double-cross me and kill me.

This way, except for you, no one else will be able to challenge his rule.

Li Lin sneered inwardly, but his smile on the surface was even more profound. "What if... I refuse?"

(End of this chapter)