The architectural styles of Zaun and Piltover were vastly different.
In the Upper City, new buildings seamlessly incorporated smooth marble, bronze lattice, and shimmering glass. Even the neighboring older structures were constructed from stone blocks or timber.
On the other hand, most of the structures in the Undercity were dominated by steel lattice, presenting an overall somber palette of silver, bronze, and shades of green corroded by alchemical potions. Much of this metal was sourced from scorching furnace slag or salvaged Upper City waste.
Amidst the thick and heavy haze, the most prominent feature was the bright yellow-green glow emanating from buildings of various shapes. These were the result of alchemical chem-lamps, and similar lights lined the streets on both sides in Piltover's architecture.
Towering buildings with overlapping levels pierced through the fog, their tops almost invisible. Combined with the frequent sight of pedestrians sporting alchemical-enhanced prosthetics, the scene portrayed a unique cyberpunk atmosphere.
Due to the stifling air quality, Li Lin and Caitlyn rarely spoke during their journey, swiftly navigating through the densely packed and crowded buildings and streets.
After about an hour of walking, they found themselves returning to a familiar scene several times, realizing they had somehow circled back to their starting point.
"Why are the Undercity's roads so labyrinthine? I can't make heads or tails of them..." Caitlyn, now a bit frustrated, finally complained.
Li Lin shrugged helplessly. He had suggested asking for directions earlier, but Caitlyn had insisted on relying on her keen hunter's instincts to find their way.
Seeing that the young girl was clearly getting agitated, Li Lin wisely chose not to comment further.
After another instance of getting lost and ending up back where they began, Caitlyn finally gave up her struggle, dejectedly suggesting, "What if we ask someone for directions..."
"I've been waiting for you to say that," Li Lin sighed silently, then turned to look at a middle-aged man preparing to open his establishment, a place named "The Last Drop."
He had blackish-gray hair at the back of his head, neatly trimmed facial hair around his mouth and sideburns, and his clothing was remarkably clean and tidy compared to the others in Zaun.
"Yeah, he looks alright," Li Lin thought.
"It's not open yet; you can come back later," the middle-aged man continued working on his tasks, not turning to face the approaching footsteps from behind.
"May the haze not enter your home," Li Lin politely greeted. "Sorry to disturb you. Actually, we're not here for drinks."
"...Then what are you here for?" The middle-aged man put down the box in his hand and turned around, looking at the two of them with confusion.
"If you have something, just say it quickly. Small businesses like mine aren't easy, and I still have to hurry up and tidy things up to open for business."
"We just want to ask for directions," Li Lin pulled out a silver coin from his pocket and handed it to the middle-aged man.
"You two aren't from the Undercity, right?" The middle-aged man looked at Li Lin for a moment. "Displaying wealth in this place is not a good idea... for you, and for the young lady beside you."
"Thank you for the reminder, we are cautious," Li Lin replied politely.
The middle-aged man grinned, reaching out his rough hand to take the silver coin and putting it in his pocket. "Speak up, where do you want to go? I personally suggest you not to go to remote areas."
"I just want to ask, do you know where 'Benso's Emporium' is?" Li Lin noticed a hint of curiosity in the middle-aged man's eyes, but he didn't immediately answer Li Lin's question.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he chuckled, "Of course I know. That old man buys junk every day and can't sell it. The shop is almost going bankrupt... May I ask what you two want with him?"
Li Lin noticed a slight abnormality in the middle-aged man's behavior and felt a poke on his waist from Caitlyn, who was secretly signaling. He smiled and said, "Just asking if he has something for sale, nothing serious."
"I see..." The middle-aged man fell silent for a moment. "Benso's Emporium is in a somewhat remote location. How about this, wait for me to make a few arrangements, I can take you there."
Li Lin frowned inwardly, not understanding what this middle-aged man was up to. "That's not very convenient... it might delay your business."
"It won't, it won't. It's only afternoon now, customers won't start coming until evening," the middle-aged man reassured. "What do you think? I can take you there."
Just as Li Lin was about to refuse, he caught a glimpse of two girls with different hair colors, one pink and one blue, inside the tavern.
Could they be Vi and Jinx as a child?
How are they here?
In the main universe he knew, Vi and Jinx were twin orphans, and they never lived together from childhood to adulthood.
But the girls in front of him, who were clearly a few years younger, contradicted the stories in his memory once again.
Li Lin stared blankly at the middle-aged man as he walked into the tavern and talked to the two girls. Suddenly, a mechanical notification sound from the system rang in his mind:
"Congratulations! You have contacted five heroes, leveled up by two levels, gained 2 skill points, and unlocked the skill upgrade module!"
"Name: Li Lin"
"Level: 3"
"Health: 585/585"
"Mana: 80/80"
"Skill Points: 2"
"What's going on?!"
The abrupt and unexpected alert from the system left Li Lin truly astonished. However, it was quickly replaced by a surge of excitement and anticipation.
"I was just complaining about this system, not knowing how to level up or even having any tasks. It turns out that it's all about interacting with heroes," he thought.
As he grasped this revelation, a new question emerged in his mind: Besides Vi, Jinx and Caitlyn right in front of him, even if he counted Jayce, he had only encountered four heroes. So, who was the fifth hero the system hinted at? Li Lin carefully reflected on his recent encounters.
Heimerdinger and Viktor?
They seemed to be at Piltover University, beyond his reach.
Orianna, and Seraphine were still just children, and he rarely ventured beyond his doorstep, making it impossible to meet them. As for the heroes from Zaun, it was even more improbable. Champions like Blitzcrank, Zac, and Twitch hadn't been created yet. Mundo and Ekko? He had no clue about their whereabouts. Singed had just finished his research on alchemical bombs for Noxus, and at this point, Urgot was still serving as a prisoner under Darius's command.
Could it be Janna?
But hadn't she almost faded away due to a lack of belief? Or was it possible that Riot Games had introduced new heroes after his arrival, unbeknownst to him...
Li Lin ran his hand through his hair, uncertainty gnawing at his heart.
"Hey, are you really planning to let this guy lead us?" Just as he was lost in thought, Caitlyn whispered from behind, "Can't you see? This guy is definitely hiding something from us."
"He probably knows Benso and might fear we're here to cause trouble," Li Lin shook his head, "Anyway, we're not here to stir up any problems. I think it should be fine."
"Alright, but if anything unexpected happens, you'd better take cover behind me."
"Take cover behind you?"
Li Lin glanced in surprise at Caitlyn's petite frame, and she retorted with a hint of annoyance, "Don't judge a book by its cover. I've had professional combat training. If it comes to a fight, I can at least take down ten of you!"
That's true; I haven't had any training, so I definitely can't beat you...
Li Lin was momentarily at a loss for words, redirecting his gaze towards the bar.
Inside, he observed the middle-aged man summoning two boys, one chubby and the other thin, and assigning them tasks. Given that he was the guardian of Vi and Jinx, there shouldn't be any unexpected issues.
Besides, I have a gun.
As the saying goes, beyond seven steps, a gun is faster; within seven steps, it's accurate and quick.
Lost in thought, Li Lin subconsciously touched the protruding object at his waist, feeling more reassured.
Another minute passed, and the middle-aged man emerged with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry for the delay. We have a lot of kids at home, and I needed to give them some instructions to avoid any trouble."
"I understand. After all, we are here to trouble you with our matters. It's only right for you to ensure everything is taken care of," Li Lin smiled and extended his right hand. "I'm Li Lin. Can I ask for you name?"
The middle-aged man paused for a moment, then reached out and lightly shook hands with Li Lin. At the same time, he muttered a name in a low voice, "Vander." He paused for a moment and continued, "Warwick Vander."