The hands of the clock on the underground Yellow Road pointed to eleven.
The night sky hung a crescent moon, casting a silver glow mixed with the under city haze that swept through the great canyon, shrouding Piltover in a thin veil.
A squad of elite enforcers, fully armed, descended from a private Hexdraulics pressure transport belonging to some family, led by Sheriff Grayson, down to the lower plaza.
In the deep night, the people of Zaun, having completed a day of labor, had mostly entered the realm of dreams.
Almost no one was seen in the streets and alleys, making it convenient for the enforcers' operation.
Li Lin, donned in Infinite Power Armor, and Caitlyn, dressed in a tight-fitting suit and bulletproof vest, closely followed the squad of elite enforcers.
Before long, led by Grayson, they arrived at a distant building, far from the city center, with Ionian-style architecture, concealed in the shadows.
Grayson observed the situation in the distance through a Hextech monocular.
The mansion of Baron Saito Takeda, illuminated by Chemtech lights, stood out in the yard.
Except for a few rooms, most windows were dark, indicating that the majority of people had already retired for the night.
In the yard, several armed thugs, modified by Chemtech, patrolled back and forth.
Everything seemed normal.
"Is this Baron Saito Takeda's residence?" Sheriff Grayson asked his assistant, Marcus, "What do our two detectives we sent today say?"
"Takeda stayed at home all afternoon and didn't go out," Marcus replied in a low voice, "but there was a guest in Ionian robes who visited him in the afternoon and hasn't left since."
"That's not an issue. Let the two detectives go back and rest; we'll take it from here."
Grayson arranged for his adjutant, Marcus, to leave, then turned to Li Lin, asking again, "Are you really planning to go in alone?"
Since the afternoon when Grayson heard Li Lin's plan, she had maintained an opposing attitude.
It wasn't that she doubted Li Lin's strength and inventions; that had been demonstrated during the Progress Day several months ago.
As an old hand in the police industry for over twenty years, Grayson was well aware that every dangerous individual in the Undercity was not simple, and leaving a way out for oneself was a common practice.
Li Lin, as the little red figure of the Kiramman family, had already gained fame among the major families.
If anything happened, she couldn't bear the responsibility.
Although Li Lin's methods could minimize casualties, the lives of several, or even a dozen enforcers, were not worth as much as that of an outstanding genius craftsman.
This was a tacit rule in Piltover, always has been.
"Trust me; nothing will happen," Li Lin said with confidence.
His Infinite powered armor could be considered the most cutting-edge Hextech technology today.
Moreover, with the Infinite Armor, his system panel's "combat power" had soared to 64.
In this small twin city, except for Janna, who had lost her faith and almost disappeared, Li Lin didn't think anyone's combat power could surpass his own.
"Sigh..." Grayson sighed helplessly.
Then, she looked at Caitlyn, who held a Crimson Steel sniper rifle, "And you? Although Councilor Kiramman reluctantly agreed to your participation in this operation, she has set many rules..."
"I'm well aware," Caitlyn snorted lightly, expressing her dissatisfaction with her mother.
She pointed to a distant pile of scrap iron, "The visibility is broad over there; I'll provide long-range support from that position."
"Fine, I'll have Marcus take two officers to cover you when he returns."
This was one of Cassandra's mandatory requirements; Caitlyn reluctantly nodded in agreement.
After Marcus returned, Grayson gave him instructions and had Caitlyn leave with him.
Li Lin watched their departing figures and suddenly had a thought.
The current Piltover seems to lack something like a radio. Why didn't I think of this before...
He didn't delve deep into this issue; now was not the time to consider it.
"Are you ready?" Grayson asked with a serious expression. "If you regret it now, I'll have the enforcers go in with you..."
"No need, I know what I'm doing," Li Lin shook his head again, politely refusing.
"Alright." Grayson, helpless, stood up and gave orders to the enforcers, "Move fast, surround this place, and don't let any fish slip through the net. If anything unexpected happens inside, support quickly."
This was Grayson's bottom line. Li Lin didn't say anything more, stood up, and nodded to her.
Seeing that the time was about right, he squinted and looked into the distance. A figure appeared on a pile of abandoned steel on his sight, and a dim blue light flickered.
Caitlyn's preparations were nearly complete.
Li Lin took a deep breath, opting for a path far from the main entrance as he swiftly approached Takeda's mansion, reaching the wall.
In the distance, several faint blue streaks instantly crossed the sky, accompanied by the subtle sound of breaking air—a clear sign that Caitlyn had taken action.
He knew it was Caitlyn making a move.
Li Lin's movements were decisive. He bent his knees slightly, jumped upward, and fearlessly reached for the wall, covered in steel spikes and thorny iron mesh.
With a slight exertion of his arm, he effortlessly flipped over the wall, landing silently, his vigilance scanning the surroundings.
In the courtyard, a few thugs had bloodied holes in their heads, their bodies lying still in conspicuous places.
This was Caitlyn's masterpiece.
Li Lin withdrew his gaze, tore off the thorny iron wire on his body, paying no mind to the corpses of the thugs. After all, he was here for an unparalleled confrontation, not an assassination—no need for such measures.
Next, he roughly surveyed the house in front of him.
This mansion boasted the style of Ionia, a place he had encountered in his memories.
However, in reality, Li Lin couldn't help but associate this style with a certain island country on Earth before his transmigration...
It could only be said that Ionia was vast and culturally diverse, with various elements blending together.
Li Lin followed the courtyard corridor, opening several sliding doors along the way, finding them all empty inside.
Just as he turned the corner at the end of the corridor, he collided with two samurai in traditional attire, patrolling with katana in hand.
Seeing this "monster" covered in steel and emitting a faint blue light through metal gaps, the two samurai were momentarily stunned, quickly reacting by drawing their weapons.
"You are... Ah!"
Before one of the samurai could finish speaking, Li Lin, without holding back, swiftly punched, shattering his facial bones.
The samurai flew backward, falling to the ground, breathing out more than taking in.
The other samurai widened his eyes, shocked by the vast difference in combat strength. Even the sword in his hand slipped away and fell to the ground.
For heaven's sake, what kind of monster is this...
"Please, please don't kill me!" He knelt on both knees, his terrified face hitting the ground in a plea for mercy.
Li Lin was dumbfounded by the samurai's reaction, disdain evident in his eyes.
He had initially intended to spare the guy temporarily, having him lead the way to find Takeda.
Unexpectedly, this guy turned out to be such a coward...
Li Lin pulled up the samurai by his collar, using the language of Ionia, sternly asking, "Do you know where Takeda is?"
The samurai looked bewildered; he probably hadn't expected this monster to speak, and with such a young voice, and also, he was Ionian...
"If, if I take you to find the master, will you let me go?"
"You're not in a position to negotiate." Li Lin threw the samurai forward. "Hurry up and lead the way."
(End of this chapter)
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