CHAPTER 4 - HEX CRYSTAL FRAGMENTS

After reaching an agreement with Lady Cassandra, Li Lin moved into the Kiramman estate.

It must be said that the Kiramman family was indeed wealthy. The room they arranged for him not only had a living area but also a separate bathroom.

Furthermore, Lady Cassandra specially equipped his room with a spacious workshop, complete with various mechanical facilities.

His workshop wasn't far from Jayce's, and Lady Cassandra intentionally brought the two young geniuses closer to encourage scientific exchange and innovation.

Unfortunately, Li Lin didn't have much interest in actively communicating with Jayce. His technological pursuits were completely different from Piltover's, not to mention Jayce.

Moreover, Jayce didn't reside in the Kiramman estate, and Li Lin usually preferred staying up late to study, so they hardly ever crossed paths.

However, since moving into the Kiramman estate, for some unknown reason, Caitlyn often came to see him.

As the sun set, night fell, and the gentle moonlight cast a silver veil over the endless night.

As Progress Day quietly approached, the streets of Piltover at night were exceptionally lively.

Thud, thud, thud...

A light knock sounded at Li Lin's workshop door.

Caitlyn had come again.

He reluctantly paused his work, removed his Hextech headlamp, and said, "The door is unlocked, come in."

With a creaking of the door, it slowly opened.

To Li Lin's surprise, Caitlyn was not the one visiting him tonight.

"Um, good evening, Li Lin. I apologize for disturbing you so late..." A familiar male voice reached his ears.

Li Lin turned to the door in astonishment.

Standing there was a tall, robust young man with slicked-back hair, looking somewhat embarrassed as he gazed at him.

"Talis? You're out this late, haven't you returned home?" Li Lin invited him inside, "What brings you here?"

"Call me Jayce..." Jayce hesitated for a moment, then turned back to close and lock the door. Facing Li Lin's increasingly strange gaze, he hurriedly explained, "I have something very, very important to discuss with you..."

"Me? Are you sure?" Li Lin sat back down in his chair in front of the worktable, filled with doubts. "I've only been here for a few days. If it's something important, shouldn't you go to Lady Cassandra?"

"No, she won't allow me to do this..." Jayce clenched his teeth. "I asked her before, and she wouldn't let me."

Li Lin raised an eyebrow slightly. "If Lady Cassandra doesn't allow it, I'm afraid I can't be of much help either."

Jayce shook his head, "If you can design something like the 'generator' that can lead an era of change, I believe you would understand me."

Li Lin had already created the generator, even though Lady Cassandra insisted on keeping it secret until Progress Day. But Jayce knew this wasn't a well-kept secret.

"I can't guarantee that," Li Lin said, "I'm somewhat timid until it's fully developed; I can't afford to take risks."

Suppressing his desire to complain, Li Lin finally asked, "So, what is it?"

"You have to promise not to leak this information."

"Fine, then please leave. I can't promise that," Li Lin shrugged, "I'm not in the same position as you. Lady Cassandra hasn't fully trusted me yet, and if she finds out later, I won't be able to escape her wrath."

Li Lin had some knowledge of Jayce's background, but official biographies couldn't reveal too much.

For example, right now, he couldn't understand what this "Riddler" had gotten himself into, sneaking around without the Kiramman family noticing.

Noticing Jayce's increasingly despondent expression, Li Lin finally sighed, "At the very least, you must give me a hint about what it is."

"I believe it's another way to usher in a new era, but right now, I don't have many clues."

"You mean Hex Technology ?" Li Lin immediately guessed what he meant.

Jayce's pupils contracted slightly. "How did you know?"

'From your lore, obviously.' Li Lin smiled. "Isn't Piltover left with Hex crystal energy apart from steam power?"

"Using steam as an energy source is clearly outdated. You say this is a method to usher in a new era, and you don't want Lady Cassandra to know. Besides Hex Crystals, I can't think of anything else."

"Of course, it's just a guess on my part, but it's evident I guessed correctly."

Jayce felt dejected as Li Lin saw through his intentions. He casually found a nearby chair, sat down, and rested his face in his hands, sighing deeply.

Li Lin added sarcastically in his mind.

"Hex Crystals are unstable. Recently, I've been researching them, and I think I've found a new... substance?"

"What? A new substance? Wait... You said you've been researching Hex Crystals itself?!" Li Lin was shocked by Jayce's words, almost jumping off his chair, wanting to push him out and say 'I'm sorry, we're not acquainted!'

"I thought I was taking a risk by putting out so many designs for sponsorship at once, but I didn't expect you to be even riskier, researching Hex Crystals."

"Since Lady Cassandra doesn't support you, where did you get the crystals? Doesn't the Ferros family prohibit individual crystals from circulating on the market?" Li Lin questioned Jayce.

"There are plenty of things on the market that aren't allowed. Why do some people still manage to buy them?" Jayce retorted.

"Did you go to the black market in Zaun?" Li Lin furrowed his brow. "Do you realize how dangerous that is?"

"For the sake of a better future, what's a little risk? Besides, that's not the main point."

Jayce shot Li Lin a disgruntled look.

"I've been looking for black market traders in the Undercity who buy stolen goods. However, I didn't find a complete crystal; I only found a fingernail-sized fragment in a general store in the Lanes."

"But the shopkeeper told me that his men could get complete crystals, but we have to wait until after Progress Day, at the latest by March or April next year."

"Stop it, Jayce. The whole place is swarming with Enforcers."

Li Lin widened his eyes, and the words he was about to advise were ultimately retracted, quietly listening.

"During this time, I've been studying this crystal fragment, analyzing its energy composition, trying to find a stable method for the crystal."

"But after thoroughly analyzing the energy components of the crystal, I found that from a purely scientific perspective, I couldn't completely explain its principles."

Jayce paused for a moment, his expression becoming serious. "I think it's a form of magic."