After leaving Heimerdinger's office, Viktor and Li Lin took the elevator.
There was no one else in the elevator, and they began discussing how to implement changes in the tech of the Undercity.
"To be honest, even before I came to Piltover University, I researched alchemical technology. How should I describe them..." Viktor pondered, and a word suddenly popped into his mind: "Chaotic... yes, chaotic, and unpredictable."
"Because alchemical technology is too unstable, any deviation can lead to serious consequences. Yet, they often deviate due to various uncontrollable factors..." Li Lin combined Viktor's understanding with his own and summarized.
Viktor looked at him with surprise. "Exactly, that's it."
"You have that expression, wondering why I also researched alchemical technology, don't you?" Li Lin asked with a smile.
"Well... my thoughts were a bit impolite," Viktor said, avoiding eye contact. "I thought you only researched Hextech and had no interest in alchemical technology."
His words were tactful, but Li Lin understood his perspective.
The origin of alchemical technology can be traced back decades ago, but its real development began only about twenty years ago. Compared to Hextech, which had been developed for over a century, alchemical technology, being more unstable, heavily polluting, and less widely applied, seemed insignificant.
Almost no upper-city artisan family valued the alchemical technology of Zaun.
After all, Piltover's Hextech technology was world-leading, even claiming to be the best in Valoran continent.
As a member of the Kiramman family, Li Lin was naturally prejudiced by Viktor, who subconsciously considered him dismissive of alchemical technology.
"As long as it's related to machinery and science, I basically accept all knowledge," Li Lin said, assisted by "Data Mind." He was open to knowledge.
Even in the field of alchemical technology, he had delved into quite a bit. As long as it was in the Kiramman family library, he had read it.
Viktor secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Compared to the somewhat arrogant and confident genius Jayce, whom he met at the Progress Day assembly last night, Li Lin was easier to get along with.
"Come this way."
The elevator smoothly stopped on the second floor, and Viktor and Li Lin entered the corridor.
This floor housed most of Piltover University's faculty offices, and foot traffic noticeably increased.
However, compared to the usually crowded corridors, today's second floor was relatively quiet.
Due to the significant events of last night, Piltover gave ordinary teachers and students a temporary break.
Therefore, teachers or students without important research projects didn't need to come to the university.
Viktor led Li Lin to the end of the second-floor corridor, to a room with a sign that read "Office of the Dean Assistant - Viktor."
"Come in." Viktor unlocked the door with a key, inviting Li Lin inside.
The room's decoration was simple, with almost no personal items added by him.
"Do you want something to drink? Tea or coffee?"
"No need..." Li Lin was about to refuse when he saw Viktor pouring coffee from a canister into a cup.
"Give me some coffee too. I'll help you." Li Lin shook his head with a sigh.
To avoid causing him too much trouble, Li Lin lifted a teapot from the table, walked to the water dispenser, filled it with hot water, and then returned to pour it into the cup prepared by Viktor.
Viktor looked at his legs unintentionally, his expression somewhat stiff. "This shouldn't be something a guest does..."
"Aren't we friends?" Li Lin smiled. "Friends should help each other."
"Friends..." Hearing this word, Viktor's expression became somewhat absent-minded.
His genius intellect alone was already enviable, but combined with his background as an Undercity resident and the occasional strange ideas, he was ostracized at Piltover University, having almost no friends.
Except for a childhood friend who came from Zaun like him...
"Viktor?"
Li Lin's call brought Viktor back from his troubled thoughts.
"Sorry, I got lost in thought," he said apologetically. "I remembered things from the past."
Li Lin nodded thoughtfully, switching the topic when he sensed Viktor's reluctance to delve into it further.
"You mentioned your office earlier. Is there something you need to tell me?" Li Lin inquired.
"Almost forgot about the main matter," Viktor admitted.
He had just picked up his coffee when he put it down again, gesturing for Li Lin to follow him to what appeared to be a laboratory adjacent to his office.
Inside the room were various advanced and precise instruments, some of which even surpassed those in the Kiramman estate.
However, what caught Li Lin's attention the most was a set of four mechanical arms fixed on a platform in the center of the room.
Could this be the prototype for the third laser-equipped arm that Viktor would later integrate into his mechanical body?
Li Lin's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Leaning on his cane, Viktor walked excitedly to the machine, providing Li Lin with an introduction.
"This is an automated mechanical device I invented years ago. Let me demonstrate for you..."
He pressed a button, activating the Hextech generator powered by a Hextech crystal beneath the platform.
As the machine flickered with arcs of electricity, it gradually became enveloped in a blue energy field.
With his free left hand, Viktor swiftly pressed several buttons on the machine platform.
Subsequently, the four mechanical arms moved flexibly, three triangular-shaped claws facing Viktor, rotating as if imbued with life.
It was hard to fathom that in a world without modern technology, let alone the first industrial revolution, such a device could rival Earth's contemporary technological advancements, especially in a city like Piltover.
"I've input several fixed commands," Viktor explained, pressing a button on the platform.
Responding to the commands, the four arms picked up and exchanged various components on the platform.
Soon, with only one arm remaining, the other three were replaced with multifunctional repair tools, a hammer, and a welding gun.
Viktor pressed another button, and the four arms assembled a pile of discarded metal and mechanical parts into a miniature metal figurine resembling Heimerdinger.
Even though Li Lin was aware of Viktor's intellect, the scene before him left him astonished.
He hadn't expected Viktor's fully automated mechanical device to reach such a level.
"You made this?" Li Lin asked, amazed.
Viktor maintained a smile, nodding silently.
"With the ability to create such advanced devices, why are you only an assistant?" Li Lin couldn't help but ask.
To be honest, such automated machinery was widely used in the modern Earth of Li Lin's knowledge, let alone in a city-state like Piltover with its technological prowess.
In all honesty, the application of such automated machinery is widespread in the modern world, especially in technologically advanced city-states like Piltover.
When Li Lin inquired about it, Viktor's expression turned somewhat bitter.
"This is an invention I crafted a few years ago in an alchemical workshop in the Undercity. At that time, I was still young and hadn't joined Piltover University. I was unaware of things like patents."
"Later, when Professor Stanwick invited me to the academy, I discovered that this fully automated mechanical device had already been patented by someone from the Zaun Academy of Techmaturgy. They even invented an alchemical technology robot specifically designed to clean up alchemical waste in the Undercity sewers."
Li Lin fell into silence, feeling indignant about Viktor's plight.
Suddenly, he recalled the background story where Viktor had his patent for the steam golem Blitzcrank shamelessly plagiarized by a certain unscrupulous professor.
Li Lin didn't like Viktor's submissive personality, but he didn't want him to turn into the future mechanical pioneer who had severed his own emotions and become extremely radical.
Before Li Lin could respond, Viktor continued, "Let bygones be bygones; complaining won't change anything."
"As a scientist, one's inventions should bear one's own name, not be shamelessly stolen by scoundrels. Your way of thinking won't do."
Li Lin sighed helplessly, his tone carrying a hint of exasperation.
"Actually, it doesn't matter anymore. Over these years, I've been researching an invention that surpasses full automation."
Viktor halted the mechanical arm in front of him and looked at Li Lin with excitement.
"What do you think about introducing new elements into the robots that clean waste in the sewers, bringing them to new heights?"
The more he spoke, the faster Li Lin's heart pounded. "Are you suggesting..."
"Hextech energy crystals."
Energy crystals?
No, no, no... Blitzcrank wasn't something you could create with just an energy crystal.
Li Lin shook his head slightly.
"Why? Is my idea not good?" Viktor asked hesitantly.
A mysterious smile appeared on Li Lin's face. "It's not that it's not good, but have you thought about taking it to an even higher level?"
Viktor didn't understand his meaning. "Huh?"
"Let's use Primordial Crystals."
(End of the Chapter)
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