Passing by Kiramman's house, Li Lin and Caitlyn both thought of sending Kai'Sa back first.
However, she believed that they would encounter combat on their trip to Zaun and insisted that she could be of help, pleading to accompany them.
After considering the situation, Li Lin agreed to Kai'Sa's request.
In addition, he activated a command for the Shuriman specialty goods, still packed and untouched by the morning light, to switch to follow mode.
If Powder hadn't run off to play at this time, these gifts would come in handy.
Li Lin, Caitlyn wearing a breathing filter, and Kai'Sa boarded the elevator down to the Lanes and quickly arrived at the Last Drop Tavern.
It was still early, and the tavern had not yet opened for business. Vander was busy unloading the new supplies brought by the suppliers.
Catching sight of familiar faces from the corner of his eye, he immediately set down the wooden crate in his hand and wiped the sweat from his hands and forehead with the towel hanging from his shoulder.
"May the haze not rise to your door! Li Lin, Miss Kiramman, it's been quite a while since you last visited." Vander greeted them with a smile, approaching Li Lin who had removed his mask, "Powder has been mentioning you every day."
Li Lin unfolded the armor on his right hand and lightly bumped fists with him, a long-overdue greeting.
"May the haze not rise to your door. Is she not here today?"
"She went out early with Vi, Claggor, and Milo. Ekko recently returned home, so they probably went to find him."
Li Lin nodded, feeling a slight sense of relief.
It had been so long since they last met, and now there were important matters to attend to. Even with gifts, he doubted he could resist the "attack" of that clingy little girl.
Vander noticed Kai'Sa, draped in purple armor, and mistook her for Hextech technology. "Huh? Who's this child?"
"She's Kai'Sa, Kassadin's daughter."
"The one from Shurima who was drinking alone in my tavern before?" Vander recalled Kassadin's desolate appearance, "But didn't he say his wife and daughter... um."
He hesitated, glancing at Kai'Sa, who was looking around.
Sensing someone staring at her, Kai'Sa turned around and met Vander's gaze.
Those deep purple eyes, shimmering with strange brilliance, made his heart inexplicably tremble.
That was the gaze of a hunter.
Strange? Why do I feel afraid?
She's just a little girl, even though she's wearing a set of Hextech power armor.
That shouldn't be...
Vander looked away, perplexed, and absentmindedly stroked the stubble on his face.
"Kai'Sa doesn't understand the common language of Piltover, no need to worry." Li Lin reached out and gently ruffled her hair, "She's lucky to have survived that disaster, and I found her when I returned with Kassadin to his hometown."
He refrained from further explanation, sensing that Li Lin didn't intend to reveal more details. He guessed it was a matter of privacy between Kassadin and Kai'Sa, so he didn't inquire further.
"On this trip to Shurima, you seem to have changed quite a bit." Vander remarked with a smile.
"I hope you're not referring to me getting tanned." Li Lin joked lightly, "I agreed to Jayce's request and have been busy constructing the Hex Gates with him."
Hearing Li Lin's words, Caitlyn couldn't help but turn her face away, glancing at Kai'Sa, shaking her head helplessly.
Constructing the Hex Gates? You make it sound like you really did contribute.
Vander, unaware of this, exclaimed, "Oh? Are you talking about the tower being constructed in the upper city these months? The one claiming to traverse the entire Runeterra in seconds? I thought that thing was a hoax."
Li Lin smiled and explained, "The Hex Gates were invented by Jayce, using technology to control magical teleportation. It has passed various tests and even the Council has ordered full investment in its construction."
"Technology controlling magic?! Has Hextech technology really advanced to this level?" Vander was astonished.
Actually, Hextech technology has always used crystals to control magic, but Jayce and I stabilized it.
Li Lin maintained a polite smile, adding in his mind.
Taking a deep breath, Vander quickly composed himself, "Seeing how you look today, something must have happened, right?"
Li Lin glanced at Caitlyn.
This kind of matter should be handled by a professional like her.
"Yes, there's a Chem-baron who has been bought by a certain family in the upper city. He has been harassing a professor at the Piltover University for the past few months, and even used alchemical potions that can induce hallucinations and have irreversible effects on the nerves."
Li Lin gestured, and Caitlyn spoke with a serious tone, "The alchemist baron violated the Upper City's Craftsman Protection Act. I believe it's necessary for us to arrest him and bring him to court for trial."
"That professor is our friend," Caitlyn added after Li Lin finished.
Furrowing his thick brows, Vander pulled his left arm across his chest, holding onto his right elbow while rubbing his face with his right hand.
"Could this be Silco's doing? Singed, the alchemist, is his subordinate, and he might be researching such potions," Vander speculated.
Since taking control of the border market, Silco hadn't intervened in the Lanes, instead opting for reconciliation with Vander.
Vander recalled their past, realizing the strained relationship had eased somewhat. However, it was impossible for them to return to their former state, especially after the "Day of Ashes."
"I've dealt with Silco before, asking Singed to improve the Shimmer potion. There have been recent breakthroughs, but he hasn't had time to research hallucinogenic potions that affect the nerves," Li Lin paused briefly. "Also, Silco and I made an agreement. He promised not to actively interfere with Piltover. I don't think he'd be foolish enough to violate that agreement."
"In theory, there's no reason for him to do it, but Silco still has motives, and I don't trust that guy," Caitlyn interjected.
"I understand," Vander said solemnly. "Even with Silco's presence, these chem-barons might still be disloyal... You're here to inquire about which individuals are the most suspicious, correct?"
Li Lin nodded in confirmation.
Dealing with the chem-barons would be easier with Silco's involvement, but Caitlyn didn't want to engage with him, so Li Lin had to acquiesce.
"Ah, if there are alchemists among his subordinates who are dissatisfied with Silco's leadership... there are a few," Vander mused, mentioning several names: "Midenstock, Spindclaw, Adrian, and Raymond Keane."
Li Lin recognized Midenstock, who had been forced into Silco's protection by Renata in the past. As for Adrian and Raymond Keane, he had only heard rumors about them.
As for Spindclaw, Li Lin had never heard of him, indicating he was a recent addition to the alchemist barons.
"Spindclaw... I've heard that name before," Caitlyn said surprisingly.
"He's a Vastayan who specializes in using electric staves. Two months ago, he killed his boss, Lord Leanne, and took over his criminal empire," Caitlyn continued.
"Well, then his connection to the Valentina incident isn't significant. We can rule him out," Li Lin remarked.
You seem to have forgotten all the detective skills I taught you before, Caitlyn glared at Li Lin.
"Technically, his priority isn't as high as the other chem-barons', but until we find the real culprit, he remains a suspect," Caitlyn corrected.
Then she turned to Vander and asked, "Could you tell us about the other three chem-barons?"
"Midenstock had a business dispute with Glasc before, so he sided with Silco. But he's just a fence-sitter, wavering. Now, he's rekindled his relationship with Glasc," Vander explained.
"Adrian is a versatile alchemist who transferred his mind into a mechanical shell. Probably influenced by alchemical potions, he's become very brutal... He sponsors the development of many alchemical potions, possibly including the hallucinogenic ones you mentioned."
"And then there's Raymond Keane. To be frank, he's an outright scoundrel!" Vander's usually good-natured expression turned angry.
"He sponsors over a dozen alchemy workshops, and he funded the construction of the Oswald Lunatic Asylum in the lower levels of the Central Plaza."
"Lunatic asylum? Oswald?" Li Lin's mind inexplicably connected to Arkham Asylum in the simple-minded city of Gotham.
The name seemed familiar to him, as if he had seen it somewhere before... but he couldn't quite remember.
"Oswald Lunatic Asylum, a place where treatment methods are inhumane, prescription drugs are highly questionable, and there are suspicions of abusing alchemical substances for human experiments," Caitlyn's expression darkened, revealing deep resentment toward the asylum.
"Piltover Enforcers have received numerous complaints from residents of the Lower Levels about the asylum, but every raid has failed to find evidence to charge the warden of Oswald. We can only allow this asylum to continue operating," Caitlyn continued.
"Exactly. My men have told me the same," Vander clenched his fist tightly. "Raymond Keane is too low-key. All the rumors are just hearsay, and without evidence, I can't stop them from operating in the Central Plaza."
He stared at Li Lin and Caitlyn, his eyes filled with anger. "Actually, some of the patients in the asylum were perfectly sane before. Later, they suddenly went mad... If we talk about the most suspicious of producing hallucinogenic potions, he's the one."
"I agree," Caitlyn nodded in agreement.
She glanced at Li Lin sideways. "I think we should start with the Oswald Lunatic Asylum. We'll sneak in and see what's going on inside.
"Even if he's not related to the hallucinogenic potions or Valentina's murder, we must find evidence of their persecution of patients in the asylum. We can't let this menace slip through the legal cracks."
"You're right. Let's start with Raymond Keane," Li Lin closed his face mask again and glanced at the two idle "Miniature Unmanned Surveillance Hoverballs" on the holographic display to his right.
"Perfect. My new invention will come in handy."
(End of Chapter)