It was unclear how much time had passed, but Katarina awoke from a deep, unconscious state. The first thing she saw was an unfamiliar ceiling.
After a moment of confusion, memories of what had happened rushed back to her. When Li Lin asked that question, she initially denied it.
However, it was as if he had cast a spell, showing her a vision of Talon sneaking around Kiramman, drawing up blueprints of the manor.
Katarina didn't know about nano-invisible drones or advanced surveillance technology, so she thought her mission had failed. She immediately used her blink to appear behind Li Lin, intending to eliminate him.
Although her father hadn't given her a direct order to do so, she knew the assassin's code well—no one who discovered her identity could be left alive.
But to her shock, as she attempted to use magic, she found that the young man was already behind her. This should have been impossible.
Her last conscious thought was of Li Lin striking her neck with a precise hand chop, knocking her unconscious.
As she regained her senses, realizing the restraints on her body, Katarina immediately sat up. Her first instinct was to look toward the source of life signs beside her: a man dressed in Piltover attire, the same one she had fought before, leaving her with a permanent scar on her left eye.
"Talon?" Katarina said in disbelief, not expecting him to be captured as well.
The next moment, her expression darkened.
Her father had given her the direct task of contacting Li Lin and probing his personal information, yet secretly, he had sent this second-rate assassin from the Assassin's Guild.
I thought I had regained your trust, Father, but it seems I was wrong...
She clenched her teeth, a deep sense of humiliation rising within her.
This was not the first time something like this had happened. Earlier, Du Couteau had done something similar to humiliate her.
Of course, she had already slain every assassin her father had sent to her, but it still hadn't earned her his respect.
However, as she gazed at Talon, still unconscious, a feeling of satisfaction washed over her. A cold smile crept onto her face.
I failed my mission, but your prized subordinate is now in Li Lin's hands.
At that moment, the door behind her creaked open, followed by the heavy sound of footsteps. "Well, I injected you with sleeping agents and tranquilizers, and yet you woke up this quickly?"
Katarina instantly recognized the voice as Li Lin's, the man who had easily subdued her.
"You damn bastard!" she cursed in Noxian, her native language.
She then struggled fiercely against her restraints, but the feeling of weakness coursing through her body stopped her from even attempting her trademark blink. She couldn't even conjure a small dagger to cut the strange, non-ordinary rope that bound her.
"Stop struggling. It's nano-technology made from a zero-element composite material I developed. Even a typical god-like warrior wouldn't be able to break free from it."
Li Lin casually moved a chair to a spot just a few steps away from her and sat down, crossing his legs. A projection screen appeared in front of him.
Earlier, when the AI had trouble detecting the magical powder Talon used to make his body transparent, some materials had not been recorded in the system. Li Lin had to use his "data mind" approach to fill in the gaps.
The invisibility powder was made from a rare magical plant grown in the climate transition zone between Noxus and Freljord, mixed with various other materials. It was a solid potion that could render someone invisible.
However, due to its origins in Noxus, the materials were extremely rare. The invisibility effect was only partial—the person would become transparent, but one could still faintly make out their figure.
Even though it was a magical potion, it wasn't on par with something like the "Duskblade of Draktharr" which could render someone completely invisible to the physical world. It was even inferior to optical camouflage, making it impractical.
As Li Lin analyzed the potion, Katarina narrowed her eyes, watching his movements carefully.
Thanks to years of resistance training, she finally managed to summon magic to form a blade, cutting the ropes binding her wrists.
"I told you to stop struggling," Li Lin said, his tone mocking. "Unless you're a demigod, ancient god, or an ascended being in divine form, this material can't be damaged."
Li Lin turned off the projection screen, and his eyes met Katarina's sharp, green-blue gaze. He pointed behind her.
"Besides, my mechanical workers and drones have been watching you this whole time. Even if you somehow manage to break free from my high-tech ropes, don't even think about trying anything. They won't show you any mercy... Katarina Du Couteau."
"You already know my name?!" Katarina was shocked, and her usual piercing gaze now blazed with murderous intent. "You were pretending this afternoon!"
Li Lin shrugged, his tone mocking. "What else could it be? You thought your performance was worthy of an Oscar?"
"You!"
Katarina was about to snap, but then she suddenly realized he was right. She quickly changed the subject, "How did you manage to do it?"
"You want to know... how I beat you?"
Li Lin stood up, and Katarina tensed, sensing that he might be about to do something.
In the next instant, a gust of wind rushed at her, almost painfully hitting her face. Her vision went black, and she felt her chin gripped firmly by a powerful hand, like a vice, causing her pain.
When?!
Katarina's pupils shrank suddenly, and a storm of turmoil surged within her heart.
"Defeating you, I won't even need my armor, I'll rely solely on my own strength," Li Lin said casually.
Feeling the man's breath rushing against her face, Katarina tried to turn away, but a powerful hand gripped her chin, preventing any movement.
"I will never submit to you!" she spat out, her gaze fierce as if she could pierce him with her words, speaking each one with precision.
Li Lin paused for two seconds, then released Katarina with a look of mild disgust. "You really think too highly of yourself. You think I'm interested in you?"
He deliberately changed one word to make sure Katarina understood, even using the Noxian language.
"You... damn bastard!" she cursed again.
"Alright, alright. I've realized you people really run out of things to say when it comes to insults." Li Lin waved his hand and sat back down in his chair. "You're a prisoner now, yet you still dare to act so arrogant. Aren't you afraid I'll toss you into the most chaotic prison in Piltover's Lower City?"
He examined Katarina from top to bottom, a slight smirk appearing on his face as he added with feigned menace, "Oh right, I'd have to inject a sedative to weaken you first. I won't even untie the ropes binding you. At that point, you won't even be able to commit suicide."
Katarina's mind involuntarily pictured the scenario, and a chill ran down her spine. "Demon, you really..."
Noticing the look in Li Lin's eyes, she stopped herself from finishing the curse.
"Tch…"
After a brief pause, Katarina muttered under her breath and slumped helplessly to the floor. "What do you want?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Li Lin shook his head and laughed. "You came onto my turf to pick a fight, and now you're asking what I want?"
"Since you know my name, you must also know who my father, Marcus Du Couteau, is. You must know how close he is with General Swain, right?"
Realizing she was trapped with no way out, Katarina tried to use her family's influence.
"I suggest you release me quickly, or Noxus' iron fist will crush the city-state you hold dear!"
Her confidence was shaky, though. She didn't even mention releasing Talon. The two of them were rivals, and even if they weren't blood relatives, Talon might one day take over the Du Couteau family.
Katarina wouldn't lift a finger to help someone who had left a scar on her face and hoped to replace her.
Li Lin shook his head, a mischievous smile creeping onto his face. "You really do think too highly of yourself. Even now, at this point, you still have no self-awareness. You actually think I'm scared of Noxus?"
He sighed and casually waved his hand. The two mechanical workers who had been standing by the wall walked up, grabbed Katarina and the still unconscious Talon, and began heading toward the workshop's front door.
Katarina panicked, mistakenly thinking Li Lin truly meant to throw her into the prison he had mentioned. "Hey! Wait… what are you trying to do?!"
"Don't worry. I'm not that twisted. I won't send you to the Lower City's prison," Li Lin said with mock reassurance. "But, since you're here to spy on me, it seems you'll have to face the consequences of being a prisoner now."
"How can you release me?" Katarina shouted, her voice desperate. "You're expelling warmasons, why treat us any differently?"
Li Lin stared at Katarina's terrified expression, his face growing serious as he left her with a final remark. "You're a big fish that Swain sent. Now you want to leave? I'll Let him come pick you up personally."
(End of chapter)
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