I wouldn't call it stealing.
It's more like... borrowing.
Yeah, permanently borrowing.
I'm just gonna take some materials I'd need for the Zero Drive.
Nothing much, really.
Just a few definitely-not-hard-to-obtain metal.
I'll need something that can handle the power of the hex crystal.
It needs to be something compatible with it too, lest I want it to explode on use and create alternate egos.
Not a good thing.
So, first things first, find the metal.
Which one is compatible with hex crystals, and can handle its power?
It's actually not that hard to find.
Not when it's labeled 'hex metal' in a 'secret' room.
The whole secret room behind bookshelf thing ain't the most creative.
Anyways, I obtained it.
The one and only hex metal.
Second part is... assembling them.
Now THIS is the hard part. Why? I have never touched any of these things before.
But what I DO know is that you should mold the metal into your desired shape before inserting the crystal.
What is my desired shape?
Something cool. Something that would look good on someone as average as Shaun.
It doesn't even need to be special. It can be something like a ring, necklace, or heck, even a watch.
Now that I think about it, the watch idea ain't bad at all.
It's cool, and fits with the whole 'Time manipulation' theme.
What type of watch? Something common in this age.
Namely the pocket watch.
Those things look sick when they have an emblem of some sort engraved onto them.
Best thing about them is that I won't even need to engrave any patterns. The hex crystal IS the pattern itself.
I'm so smart. All hail Shaun the Second.
Now let's think about this. They'll be gone for a week. Is that enough time to learn the art of craftmanship?
Probably not.
Is that enough time to order a pocket watch?
Yeah, probably. I just need to find a trustworthy smith and commission him to work with the hex metal.
Nothing too hard. Totally not.
...
I actually wasn't lying when I said it wasn't too hard.
I was lucky that I found a devout hex metal worshipper. He seemed like his dreams would be fulfilled if he touched it, and would die to work with it.
From what I observed, he's also pretty used to eccentric Piltovans commissioning him with something weird.
(Flashback [Not really a flash])
I walked out of the house like a boss, heading for the crafting region of Piltover.
If I'm lucky, I might even catch a glimpse of Heimerdinger.
Anyways, first thing I did was finding a shop that was trustworthy based on reputation.
I'm sorry protagonists, I just don't trust those guys with low reputation.
I asked around for a smithy, and people mostly directed me to the same place, with a few exceptions of course.
Those guys probably wanted to promote family business or something.
I headed straight for that smithy, and guess what it was called?
[Piltover's #1 Smithy]
It's an arrogant name, but it's also the thing that attract customers who want them to create an inferior item from one that they made themselves.
Hopefully the smith lives up to this title.
I walked into the shop and instantly noped out.
Not today. I'm not waiting after 50 people finishes their commissions.
Guess I'm gonna have to go to one of those family businesses huh?
Let's make a list of those.
1. Arabaston's Smithy
2. Royal Piltover
3. Hayle Kail
My first destination will be... Royal Piltover.
I headed there and instantly commissioned the smith before he took any other customers.
I just realized I didn't have any money on me so I handed the hex metal to him, saying the most arrogant thing possible.
"It's already a reward to work with this metal, you don't need money."
Dude clearly agreed, as he bowed down to me and licked my boots.
'Wtf bro?'
I'd assume that this was normal, but clearly it wasn't.
Dude's f*cked in the head somewhere.
He asked, "My liege, what do you request of me?"
Man, being treated like a king feels so nice. Maybe I'll conquer Demacia or Noxus once I'm done with Piltover.
I raised my chin and looked down on him, "A pocket watch. Make the fanciest and sturdiest one that you can. I'd like for it to survive hex crystal explosions after all."
He kneeled and replied, "Yes, my Lord"
My personal fantasy right here.
(Flashback ends)
Now, I just gotta wait about 4 days until he finishes. Tight schedule, but it's fine.
Speaking of tight schedules, Mr. I-Don't-Know-Your-Name should be done in 2 days.
And that's also when I will finish my first blueprint; the Lamp.
...
I guess I'm too excited to finish the lamp, as I've been bouncing around for the last 2 days, but it's justifiable.
After all, system quests are usually VERY rewarding.
Now, it's currently 10 PM, and our meeting time too.
I'll wait in a place near Warwick's street, then head there the moment it hits 10:30.
A sound plan.
Tick-tock
10:05
Tick-tock
10:15
Tick-tock
"AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
A chilling howl pierced the silence of the night.
Tick-tock
10:20
"AUGHHHHHHHHH"
A scream followed not long after that.
Tick...tock
10:30
You know, I was excited to go retrieve the hextech core, but not anymore.
I just want to get the f*ck out as soon as possible.
I swallowed a lump in my throat, and raised my courage to move out.
'Going dark.'
I cautiously made my way through the darkness of the night, and eventually, I reached Warwick's street.
I gulped.
'Where is the core?'
I looked around for any sign of light, and found it.
Just one thing, it was deep inside the alleyway. Like Warwick's den deep.
'Sh*t...'
I can't back out now. I need to go in.
With every step, I felt like there was an invisible pressure bearing down onto me.
I got chills the moment I was just 10 meters away from his den.
'I see it!'
The core was lying on the ground.
I approached it slowly, and picked it up.
The feeling of relief must've been warm because I felt hot air blowing onto my back.
Only that it wasn't hot air.
It was Warwick.
.