"Lin Wen, what is this thing, really?"
"It can transmit sound? Is this the power of Hextech technology you mentioned?"
That was Silco's voice, with a slight tremor in it.
Silco was genuinely taken aback.
His first thought was whether this thing had a distance limitation. If it didn't, it could be incredibly powerful.
At a time when the continent was filled with conflict – Noxus pushing north into Freljord, westward against Demacia, and now rumors of Noxus planning to attack the enigmatic Eastern Isles.
As this land's most war loving empire, Silco was convinced that Noxians would stop at nothing to acquire such a device.
It had the potential to revolutionize the way information was relayed.
On the battlefield, messages often took weeks to travel back and forth, but with this device, issuing orders, scouting the enemy, and more could become remarkably simple. Silco, who had spent years in seclusion building up his power, immediately saw the potential.
Vander, too, was surprised. He marveled at the idea that this device could undoubtedly fetch a significant sum of money. Lin Wen mentioned that he was going to make money, but to achieve this within just over a month? That was incredible!
Then, in Powder's hands, the device emitted sound. "Yeah, Lin Wen, what is this thing?"
"How can I hear your voices?"
"You can hear me voice too, right? This... this is incredible! Is it magic? It must be magic!"
Vi, who was below, was yelling with excitement.
Lin Wen could vividly imagine the scene. Vi was holding the phone, jumping up and down with her short pink hair bouncing wildly, making a fuss, and exclaiming enthusiastically.
Vi was indeed a tomboy, caring little about superficial matters.
But fortunately, she was very beautiful. She didn't care about appearances, so why should anyone else?
Lin Wen didn't know how to respond to her.
"Alright, you come up first."
"Who come up?"
"You, who else is down there?"
Lin Wen said to the Hextech phone.
"I'm coming up right away!"
Stomping footsteps.
In just a few seconds, Vi came running up, still carrying the Hextech phone.
She rushed to Lin Wen, asking enthusiastically, "What is this thing? Why can we hear each other? When I speak, can you hear it too?"
"We can hear it!" Powder chimed in from the side.
"This is a Hextech phone. Its purpose is to transmit sound, just like what we did earlier."
Vi held the long box excitedly and asked Lin Wen, "Is this for me?"
"Weren't you dissatisfied with it earlier?"
"Not at all!" Women are fickle, and Vi was no exception. She immediately added, "I'm very satisfied, super satisfied."
"What do you think, Powder?"
Little Powder held the Hextech phone, nodding enthusiastically, and said, "Lin Wen, I'm super satisfied too!"
Lin Wen waved his hand. "Don't worry; this is for both of you."
"I promised I'd bring you something good, and this is considered a good thing, right?"
"Right!"
Vi and Powder immediately cheered and high-fived each other.
"Calm down." Lin Wen quickly tried to calm them down and held Vi back, saying, "You still need to do me a favor."
"What favor?" After receiving a gift, and especially one that seemed to be a magical item, Vi was incredibly excited. She patted her chest, and exclaimed, "Don't worry, I promise to complete the mission."
"Very simple, you take Powder outside and help me test the range."
"Range?"
"Yes, there are only four Hextech phones in the world right now. The two you have are the Mark I models, and the other two Hextech phones are prototypes. So, as the first and second people in the world to own Hextech phones, I need you and Powder to help me measure the data."
"Okay."
Vi immediately took Powder and headed out.
Leaving Vander and Silco behind.
"Is this thing...invented by your friend in Piltover?" Silco asked, his voice tinged with complexity.
It had only been a short time, less than two months!
From the moment Lin Wen told him about Hextech to the development of Hextech, it had been just two months!
In comparison, Shimmer and Hextech were in completely different leagues.
Could the Zaunites never catch up with the Piltover people?
What was the difference exactly?
"No, to be precise, it was my invention," Lin Wen smiled and said, revealing a surprising fact to Silco.
"You invented it?"
"Commissioned someone to make it, but it was my idea. Does that count as my invention?" Lin Wen chuckled.
Silco nodded. "Alright, it counts. But...did you still have this kind of talent?"
Silco wanted to say, 'Why didn't I know?'
I thought I knew Lin Wen better, after all, we've been rivals for many years.
There's a saying, isn't there? The person who knows you best is your enemy.
Silco thought he knew Lin Wen better, but he never imagined that Lin Wen was not only a powerful siscon but also engaged in scientific research.
Vander interjected, "Silco, he's the adopted son of the old Zoran and studied mechanical engineering with him for five years."
"I know that, but from what I know, his skills were at the stage of tinkering with things," Silco, still nursing a hangover from drinking earlier, rubbed his head, then continued, "But it's clear that this kind of thing is not something an amateur could come up with."
"That's true."
"Hey, hey, what are you guys talking about? The person involved is right here."
Lin Wen said unenthusiastically, "At least show me a little respect."
"In any case, I hold the copyright for Hextech phones. In the future, anyone who wants to make Hextech phones will have to pay me for the copyright. And only I can establish the information base station. Hextech phones not under my control will require a franchise fee to use."
"How long do we have to wait? How long until your Hextech phones are available on the market?" Silco rubbed his chin.
In contrast to Vander, he had more of a business mind. He quickly continued, "In Piltover, this kind of thing could fetch a good price. But if you really want to get a good price, you have to sell it to Noxus."
"No," Lin Wen shook his head.
"Why? The Noxians would be willing to trade a fortune in steel, weapons, gold, and materials for it. I'm sure they need it!"
"Just like buying my Shim..."
Silco suddenly fell silent.
He closed his mouth.
Because he saw a change in Lin Wen's eyes.
The previously laid-back boy turned cold and said to Silco in a deep voice, "I did mentioned that you are prohibited from selling Shimmer, right?"
"Relax, Lin Wen, I'm a man of my word." Silco made his signature shrug and explained, "I didn't sell it in Zaun. I just had people take it by boat and smuggle it to Noxus to sell."
"As long as it makes them stronger, the Noxians won't care about the side effects."
"Really?"
"Of course, things are going well in Zaun right now. I won't jeopardize our agreement. At least... not until the side effects of Shimmer are eliminated."
Lin Wen nodded and eased his demeanor.
"Hextech phones are not yet in their final form. They have limited range for now."
"How far?" Vander asked.
"The ones in the lab are being improved, and it's expected that they'll be able to reach a range of about 200 meters shortly. The ones Vi and Powder have right now have a range of about 50 meters."
"That's certainly not something we can sell. If we sell such a thing to them, they'd resort to violence," Silco said.
"But it won't take long. At most two years, and Hextech phones will become widespread."
"At that time, we might even be able to make calls from here to Noxus." Lin Wen affirmed.
As long as the technology is sufficiently advanced and there are enough Hextech gems, building multiple information base stations, A transmitting to B, B to C, C to D, and so on, distance won't be an issue at all.
Silco, who had initially considered this thing to be a mere toy or a chicken rib, hesitated for a moment. Lin Wen anticipated what he wanted to say and cut him off, "But there's a condition."
"Tell me, and Vander and I will do our best."
"Exactly." Vander added.
Silco was extremely serious about this.
With his intellect, he had already envisioned a glimpse of the future. If what Lin Wen said could truly be achieved, then Lin Wen would likely become the wealthiest man in both cities. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but even if not the richest, he'd undoubtedly join the upper echelons.
Yes, that's right, thanks to the Hextech phones!
"The production method of Hextech gems."
Lin Wen shrugged helplessly and said, "I've already hurt him. He revealed the production method of Hextech gems to me without any hesitation, doing it in front of me openly and transparently. He didn't treat me as an outsider."
"He treated me as a brother, and I only hope this is the first and last time."
"Let Singed take those data and decipher the method for creating the gems as soon as possible."
Lin Wen's voice was firm and powerful.
The plan was proceeding step by step.
Zaun had also truly taken the first step.
But Lin Wen had some doubts about himself for a while.
Jayce had really treated him as a friend, a brother.
But Lin Wen?
Lin Wen had used Jayce.
At first, he saw Jayce as just a character in a game, thinking about stealing Hextech technology and losing the activation card.
But, like Vi and Powder.
Jayce was also a real person.
Over time, Lin Wen had come to consider Jayce as a friend as well.
But... in the grand scheme of the city, personal friendships had to be temporarily set aside.
Iron brothers like Silco and Vander had become enemies because of differing ideologies.
So, what about Lin Wen and Jace?
Their ideologies also didn't match.
Zaunites and Piltoverians were destined not to merge.
It was like oil and water; no matter how close they got, they were separated by a thin membrane.
It was like fire and water; someday... one side would be extinguished.
Lin Wen shook his head, no longer dwelling on those thoughts, and with a resolute and powerful voice, he said to the two men in front of him:
"Silco, Vander, let's get started."
"We need to produce our own Hextech gems!"