Zoe's sudden confession left Li Lin completely unprepared.
After an entire night of talking, he couldn't get the young girl's feelings back on track. Zoe, unfazed by his attempts, insisted she genuinely liked Li Lin and declared she would prove it with time.
In the weeks that followed, Zoe practically moved into the Kiramman household. She rarely left, except for the occasional disappearance through a portal. Most of her time was spent clinging to Li Lin, preventing any intimate moments between him and Caitlyn. Frustrated but helpless, Li Lin had no choice but to tolerate her presence.
Even in his lab, she meddled. When she saw Li Lin enchanting his armor incorrectly, she transformed his long-cherished third-generation suit into countless starry butterflies. These celestial creatures fluttered into the mental realm with wings as radiant as the stars.
Fortunately, these incidents were manageable. With the right materials, Li Lin could always build another suit. But when he mentioned needing materials, Zoe summoned a portal, bringing forth an enormous chunk of star iron used by celestial beings to craft weapons for Shuriman god-warriors. The precious metal, rare in Runeterra, came in quantities large enough to crush his workshop and almost bury him beneath the rubble.
Thanks to the mechanical workers, who restored the workshop within hours, Li Lin felt a mix of anger and relief. He was glad that before bringing Zoe home, he had made her promise not to use magic for mischief against the Kiramman family or Caitlyn, and not to torment Kai'Sa and her symbiotic skin.
Surprisingly, Zoe abided by these agreements. While her well-intended help often backfired, she improved after Li Lin's guidance and criticism. This unexpected adherence to his rules was a pleasant surprise.
In the following days, Zoe used magic sparingly, behaving more like an ordinary girl—waking, eating, sleeping, and occasionally going out with Kai'Sa, Orianna, and Seraphine. She even visited the academy in Piltover, making friends with Powder and Milo, and through them, met Vi and Claggor.
Li Lin always had mechanical workers following Zoe, documenting her activities. Despite being part of the mischievous quartet, Zoe didn't cause trouble in the twin cities. She merely learned some fighting techniques from Vi and roughed up a few troublemakers.
The bell from the Undercity chimed at 1 PM, signaling the start of the workday. Zoe had gone with Kai'Sa to find Seraphine, eager to learn Piltover's popular songs to perform for Li Lin.
In the newly built workshop, Li Lin controlled mechanical arms to cut materials from a massive piece of pure star iron, preparing to create the sixth-generation Genesis Project: Infinite Armor. The portion of star iron Zoe had summoned was just a small part. He had stored the rest in the newly built underground warehouse.
A knock echoed from the workshop's outer door.
Notified by the AI, Li Lin paused his work, removed his protective gear, and went to greet Caitlyn. She wore a traditional outfit—a pink and purple short dress with a white frilled hem reaching her thighs, black leggings for ease of movement, and knee-high brown boots. A custom gold-trimmed hat complemented her hair, and a vintage noble tie adorned her long, fair neck.
This was Caitlyn's signature attire, which she wore even after becoming Piltover's Sheriff. Li Lin always admired this outfit, even though Caitlyn, at nearly 20 years old, didn't yet match his mental image of her mature, elegant self. Nevertheless, her youthful energy held a unique charm.
"Do you need something?" Li Lin asked, gently embracing her.
Caitlyn, welcoming the affection, leaned into him. Since Zoe had moved in, moments like these had become rare and precious.
"Can't I visit you for no reason?" Caitlyn looked up at Li Lin and gave him a sidelong glance. With a soft hum, she added, "That star spirit is always clinging to you. We haven't had time together in ages…"
As she spoke, her cheeks turned a faint shade of red.
This wasn't the first time they'd had this kind of conversation. Caitlyn had long since gotten used to it and had even taken the lead quite often. But these discussions were confined to their room; she still felt embarrassed to talk about it openly.
Seeing Caitlyn's shy expression, Li Lin couldn't help but tease her. He reached out and gently stroked her delicate, warm cheek, chuckling softly, "Are you jealous of Zoe?"
"Who...who's jealous?" She playfully punched Li Lin's chest. "She's just a child. Why would I be jealous of her?"
Caitlyn's face blushed even more, giving away her feelings. Li Lin laughed harder, "Why are you so flustered?"
"I'm not... Ah! Where are you touching? We're outside…"
"It's fine. The door is locked. Don't worry…" Li Lin grinned. "You're becoming more and more adorable, my little cupcake."
Caitlyn's eyes widened in surprise, "...Cupcake?"
"A soft, sweet cupcake. I just want to eat you up."
"Ugh—don't call me that…"
"Don't you like it?"
"It's not that I don't like it. It just feels a bit strange."
"Then I'll call you cupcake from now on."
"You're so annoying~~!"
Feeling Li Lin's increasing boldness and the mature breath on her face, Caitlyn held on to the last shred of her composure and finally pushed him away.
"Stop it. I have to work soon." She panted slightly, regaining her serious demeanor. "And there's something you asked me to do."
Talking about business, Li Lin became serious. "Do you have any results?"
Recently, he had asked Caitlyn to use her family's influence to investigate the Noxian army near Trevale, south of the Argent Mountains, close to Demacia.
Because the town had tight security and constant patrols, Li Lin couldn't send his mechanical soldiers to investigate. Plus, Zoe's clinginess had kept him busy, leaving him no time to monitor Noxus.
Fortunately, Caitlyn's family had business dealings with Noxus, making it normal for a trade caravan to enter Trevale. They could act as spies for Li Lin.
He hadn't told Caitlyn the full reason for his request, nor mentioned the impending skirmish between Noxus and Demacia. Out of trust, Caitlyn didn't ask for many details and sent a small caravan under her mother's name.
The caravan carried Hextech devices powered by Hextech quad batteries, essential to Noxus but restricted by Piltover.
"Trevale only allows entry, not exit, and even letters can't be sent out. Without your wireless phone, this information wouldn't have gotten through."
Caitlyn adjusted her clothes and walked to the workbench, projecting a map of Valoran with the AI.
She zoomed in on Trevale in the southwest corner of the Argent Mountains, frowning slightly. "According to the caravan, Noxus has been preparing its army. Last night, a squad of elite soldiers left through the northwest gate."
Caitlyn circled the area on the 3D map and quickly analyzed, "From there, they can only enter the mountains or follow the coast of the Conqueror's Sea to Palclyf, which bans Noxians."
"If Noxus's target isn't Palclyf, then…"
Her finger traced the mountain path scanned by the mechanical soldiers, marked by the AI, leading directly to Demacia's border outpost—Gates of Mourning.
"Their target is Demacia's outpost?!"
Caitlyn's expression turned to shock as she looked at Li Lin.
"No wonder you've been watching Noxus. You knew they'd turn to Demacia after failing in Ionia and Freljord?"
No, it's just the plot…
Li Lin maintained a serious expression, and Caitlyn took his silence as confirmation.
Her face turned grim, and she clenched her fists, slamming them on the table. "Damn it! Can't these Noxians give us a break for a day?"
She turned back to the map, marking the Gates of Mourning. "This outpost is on a mountain peak. It's defensible, but I heard only a small sentry team is stationed there, constantly harassed by bandits. They're outnumbered."
"Trevale has a two-thousand-man battalion… If they attack, the Gates of Mourning won't hold."
Caitlyn took a deep breath, her eyes returning to Li Lin. "We can't let war break out again. Piltover must remain neutral… We need a plan."
"My mechanical soldiers report that Demacia's border is troubled by bandits and warlike tribes. Prince Jarvan IV is already in the eastern border town of Renwall to restore order."
Caitlyn's face changed dramatically. "Does Noxus know about the prince and plan to…"
"I think so." Li Lin continued, "If Jarvan IV, the only heir of the Demacian royal family, is captured or killed by Noxus…"
Li Lin didn't finish, but Caitlyn understood his meaning.
Demacia, established on Valoran's western side, never expanded aggressively, yet they were far from weak. Their elite Dauntless Vanguard was formidable, even Noxus's warbands feared them.
If Jarvan IV were captured or killed, Valoran would plunge into endless war, with dire consequences.
"What's your plan?" Caitlyn asked, "I know you have one."
Li Lin met her sapphire gaze. "I need to go to the Gates of Mourning myself."
(Chapter End)
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