Recognizing the young man as Li Lin, Katarina quickly suppressed her visible impatience, forcing what she considered a charming smile.
However, unlike her sister Cassiopeia, who inherited their mother's political acumen and had undergone specialized training from the Black Rose, Katarina had grown up in grueling combat scenarios. Despite her unparalleled beauty and figure, her forced smile was blatantly insincere to anyone with even a basic understanding of social subtleties.
"Are you... are you Li Lin?!" she feigned surprise, pretending to be one of Li Lin's "fangirls." Her acting wasn't great—frankly, it was nonexistent.
To be fair, even this lackluster performance was better than some of the exaggerated theatrics seen from certain young actors these days...
Li Lin couldn't help but mock her internally.
"I've heard so much about you! I can't believe I've run into you today!"
Noticing Li Lin's gaze lingering on the twin daggers strapped to her back, Katarina hastily added with a nervous laugh, "Oh, these? These are just for self-defense. In Noxus, you can't go out without some protection—it's just too dangerous."
"Ah, I see..." Li Lin's expression shifted to one of understanding as he nodded slightly.
Ambessa, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned by Katarina's reaction but quickly caught on. As her sharp eyes scanned Li Lin, she realized that the man standing before her matched the description from her intelligence reports almost perfectly.
Still, Li Lin's behavior puzzled her. He didn't quite fit the image of the gentlemanly and refined figure described in the reports. While he displayed courteous manners toward Katarina, his gaze held a hint of predatory sharpness and desire—a subtlety Ambessa picked up immediately.
This man was already in a confirmed relationship with the eldest daughter of the Kiramman family. Surely, he wouldn't be entertaining such behavior elsewhere, would he?
Ambessa decided to keep this to herself.
She had no intention of warning Katarina. After all, Katarina was a spy sent to monitor her. The Medarda family couldn't afford to provoke the Du Couteau family or Swain. Even though Katarina had lost much of her influence within the Du Couteau household, she was still a force to be reckoned with.
Fighting her head-on was one thing, but defending against a top-tier assassin's ambush was another matter entirely. Ambessa, now past her prime, knew she couldn't match her younger self's speed and reflexes.
If Li Lin managed to deal with Katarina, that would be ideal. If not, it wasn't Ambessa's problem—it was Katarina's own doing.
Besides, Ambessa had her eyes set on leveraging her daughter's relationship with Jayce, the genius scientist, to secure the Medarda family's future, rather than pinning all hopes on Li Lin.
Her thoughts raced, but she quickly concealed her scheming, continuing to observe the scene silently.
"I'm honored to be admired by someone as beautiful as you," Li Lin said with a look of surprise, his expression quickly softening into a polite smile. "May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
A flicker of hesitation crossed Katarina's eyes. "My name is Karina Peoya, from a Noxian merchant family!"
"Karina Peoya..." Li Lin inwardly scoffed but maintained his facade. "What a beautiful name, as radiant as the stars in the sky—just like you."
Katarina forced herself to stifle the disgust rising within her, lowering her gaze in a show of bashfulness. A glint of icy resolve and murderous intent briefly flashed in her eyes.
"Is that so... This is the first time anyone's complimented me like that." She mimicked the behavior of the aristocratic ladies she had once spied on, covering her mouth with a delicate laugh. "You're quite the charmer."
Li Lin offered a gentlemanly bow, extending his hand. "Might I have the honor of inviting you to lunch?"
Katarina's eyes flicked to Ambessa, silently pleading for help.
But Ambessa deliberately averted her gaze, pretending to inspect the nearby shops, making it clear she wasn't getting involved.
Grinding her teeth, Katarina forced another awkward smile and placed her hand in Li Lin's. "Of course, it would be my pleasure!"
...
...
Ambessa didn't interfere with whatever "opportunity" was unfolding between Katarina and Li Lin. Instead, she laughed heartily, wishing Katarina a pleasant time before striding off toward a distant bathhouse.
Li Lin, meanwhile, brought Katarina to one of Piltover's most exclusive restaurants, located in the city's northern district and catering primarily to the upper class. The establishment was owned by the Amara merchant family, known for their significant sponsorship of Piltover University.
Though the restaurant typically required reservations, Li Lin was Piltover's rising star—a pioneer of the new era for the twin cities. Even without a reservation, the restaurant's owner welcomed him with open arms.
Still, the owner couldn't help but wonder why Li Lin wasn't dining with the Kiramman heiress but instead had invited a cold-looking, weapon-carrying red-haired woman who clearly didn't fit the profile of a law-abiding citizen. However, he wisely refrained from asking questions.
His job was to provide excellent service to Li Lin and his companion. Anything beyond that was none of his concern.
"This place is so extravagant... Are you sure it's okay for us to eat here?" Katarina looked uneasy, clearly uncomfortable in such a luxurious setting, despite her own noble background.
"Don't worry. They know me here. Besides, it's just a meal—it's nothing to fuss over," Li Lin replied with a casual wave of his hand.
Still, being too well-known wasn't always a blessing. While families allied with the Kirammans might stay quiet about this encounter, more neutral parties—like the backers of the Piltover Daily—could easily make it tomorrow's headline: ["Shocking! Pioneer of Progress Li Lin Seen Dining with Mysterious Red-Haired Beauty."]
Even Caitlyn, perceptive as she was, might be understanding of Katarina's true identity. But if such rumors spread unchecked in a city now embracing computers, mobile phones, and budding internet technology, the fallout would be significant.
Such gossip wouldn't just harm the Kiramman family's reputation but could also create complications for Caitlyn herself.
Li Lin half-heartedly responded to Katarina's probing questions while covertly instructing his AI system to intercept today's information flow. Simultaneously, he dispatched mechanical workers to the press to ensure no information was published without his consent.
He also decided to inform Caitlyn to avoid any awkward "coincidences" or accidental disruptions to his plan should she happen to run into him while he was out escorting Katarina.
After a hearty meal, the clock at the Yellow Path District struck 14 times, signaling another busy cycle in Piltover.
As the host, Li Lin ignored the bewildered stares from North District residents and enthusiastically guided Katarina through most of the area's entertainment spots. Her disinterest, however, was evident—she seemed utterly detached and indifferent to the experience.
Amidst their outing, he remained mindful of another player in the shadows—Talon.
The Blade's Shadow, Du Couteau's prized subordinate, lived up to his reputation. Talon appeared to sense the dangers within the Kiramman estate and adjusted his infiltration plans on the fly, focusing instead on surveying the surroundings and internal layouts.
He maintained a meticulous awareness of his movements, and since arriving near the estate, no one had detected him.
Yet Talon could never have guessed that Kiramman's cameras and Li Lin's nano-drones had been documenting his every move.
Just being a Noxian skulking around a councilor's residence under suspicious circumstances was crime enough to brand him as a War Mason, have him jailed for months, and subsequently deported.
The afternoon flew by, and Li Lin invited Katarina to dinner at another fine establishment. Once they were fed and refreshed, he led her straight to the North District's residential area.
After an afternoon of "torture," Katarina seemed utterly drained. "Where are we going now?" she asked, her tone flat and weary.
"Of course, we're going to rest."
Li Lin smiled at her as he closed the distance, placing his hands on her suddenly tense shoulders and gently massaging them.
"We've been walking all afternoon. You must be tired, right?" he said softly. "For our last stop, we can enjoy a nice relaxing hot bath and maybe…"
A chill ran down Katarina's spine as goosebumps erupted across her skin. She was barely able to resist the urge to teleport behind him, stab his hands with her dagger, and slash his throat.
The intel hadn't mentioned that this guy was such a lecher…
"Uh… but weren't there some places we still hadn't visited?" Katarina interjected quickly. "I really like your inventions. Could I see your lab?"
Gotcha.
Li Lin feigned surprise. "What's there to see in a lab? Just metal and machines..."
"But I really want to~~"
"Alright, alright, as you wish."
After a twenty-minute walk, they arrived at a precision component research facility located in a quiet corner of the North District, co-owned by Li Lin and the Kiramman family.
The workday was long over, and the lab was empty. Li Lin gave Katarina a brief tour of the less significant areas before taking her to the rooftop office that offered a commanding view of the city below.
"This is one of my component labs," Li Lin said with a smile. "You probably noticed some of those noble kids being followed around by robots in the city earlier? Those are my creations."
He turned to Katarina with a grin. "You've had your fun, toured the lab. When do you plan to make your move?"
[End of Chapter]
=========================================================
DROP THEM POWER STONES PLEASE
SUPPORT ME ON P@TREON IF YOU'D LIKE ACCESS ON ADVANCED CHAPTERS
PAT REON . COM / TurdTranslations (Just remove the space).