Two weeks had passed since Li Lin defeated Takeda.
During these days, both Piltover and Zaun experienced unprecedented turmoil.
Initially, a large number of enforcers swarmed into the Undercity, sealing off over a dozen alchemical workshops that experimented with unverified alchemical technology.
Subsequently, individuals wearing the emblem of the Kiramman family led the exclusive Kiramman family guards to take control of several mines in the sewers.
Coupled with newspaper reports detailing the inventions of mechanical watches, generators, bicycles, telephones, and numerous other innovations, the genius scientist Li Lin and Miss Kiramman, both hailing from the Kiramman family, collaborated with Piltover's law enforcement to eradicate the influence of a Chem-Baron.
Moreover, the two were the main force...
Many Piltover residents, upon reading the newspapers, felt that the Upper City could no longer resist taking action against the Undercity.
For those with little spare money, most of the information came from the rumors circulating among the anxious people of Zaun.
Most chose to stay indoors, praying for protection, fearing that the war between the twin cities would reach their doorstep at any moment.
The unrest persisted until recently when Kiramman Council members gathered at the Piltover law enforcement department's entrance, summoning reporters and citizens for a public statement. These actions were solely directed at Takeda Saito, who had provoked both the Kiramman family and Li Lin.
However, Lady Cassandra's inadvertent remarks caused significant trouble for Li Lin...
In a northern district of Piltover, on Gridwell Street, in a certain apartment numbered 221.
This was Caitlyn's private detective agency, funded by her meager savings.
Since Lady Cassandra did not approve of her daughter engaging in such work and refused to provide financial support, Caitlyn had to rent a one-bedroom apartment not far from her home in the northern district, using her limited savings.
"Is this your first time visiting my detective agency?"
Caitlyn sat in an office chair, holding a book. Her long, slender legs were propped up on the table as she playfully stared at Li Lin.
Today, Caitlyn was dressed casually in a tight-fitting blue-purple dress, adorned with white lace at the chest and hem. Slim-fitting leggings accentuated her well-toned legs, disappearing into brown-black knee-high boots.
"I've been spending too much time at home these days, I needed some fresh air... and your place is quieter."
Recently, he was constantly followed by reporters whenever he left home, whether heading to the sumps or Piltover University. It felt like he had become a celebrity dodging paparazzi every day.
Li Lin glanced at Caitlyn with a hint of teasing in his tone, "Why don't reporters follow you every day?"
Caitlyn chuckled lightly, "Do you even know who I am? Would they dare? Besides, Mom hasn't mentioned my name, has she?"
"Sigh..."
She placed the thick book on the table and walked gracefully around the desk, sitting next to Li Lin.
Caitlyn's eyes sparkled as she propped her delicate face on her left arm, extending her slender fingers in the air, gesturing around the room.
"Stop sighing and come see how I've decorated this place."
"It's not bad"
"You haven't even looked!" Caitlyn snorted, reaching out to pinch Li Lin's cheek.
He swiftly grabbed her smooth little hand, "I speak the truth."
While he couldn't compliment the aesthetics of most Piltover residents, Caitlyn did align with the typical human aesthetic.
The decoration of this apartment was relatively simple, still dominated by Caitlyn's favorite color, purple.
In the center of the living room was a desk for her case studies. The sofa and coffee table for guests were placed on one side of the living room.
A quaint bookshelf stood against the wall beside the desk, filled with Caitlyn's favorite books, mostly related to criminal investigation.
Behind the desk, one could see Gridwell Street. A bronze-gridded glass window adorned with a potted violet emitted a subtle and elegant fragrance.
Caitlyn blinked her eyes, filled with thoughts, then pulled her hand away, "Alright, I'll give you a pass."
She then walked over to the sofa, lifted her legs onto Li Lin's thighs, and sat down.
"These cases in the past few days have kept me busy. Can you help me massage my legs?"
"..."
Li Lin was stunned for a moment, then looked at Caitlyn, who had closed her eyes and wore a tired expression, with surprise.
"Come on, let me nap for a while. If someone comes, wake me up."
Not feeling any pressure on her shins, she pouted her cherry-colored lips discontentedly, lifting her knee to nudge Li Lin's stomach.
"Alright... but I haven't learned massage techniques."
"No problem, just relax the muscles." Caitlyn shrugged, "I don't want muscular legs; they look awful."
Li Lin, helpless, reached out and kneaded her calf.
The comfortable touch brought a faint smile to Caitlyn's lips.
One hand supporting her head, the other casually resting on her abdomen, she soon drifted into dreams.
The wall clock with Reveck's name on it spun its minute hand rapidly, pointing to the number 12.
The bell in the Yellow road Undercity rang, and Caitlyn opened her slightly dazed eyes, rubbing them and instinctively asking, "How long did I sleep?"
"About half an hour..." Li Lin stopped his movements, "What kind of cases are you taking lately? You seem exhausted every day."
"Some are about stolen money, some want me to search for oddities. Most are just mundane matters."
"I just opened for business, so no big cases for now..."
Caitlyn yawned, adjusted her posture slightly, and closed her eyes, intending to rest a bit more.
But at that moment, the wind chimes on the living room door jingled, and a burly young man walked in without knocking.
"Caitlyn, is Li Lin here? Uh..."
This somewhat rude man, completely oblivious to the concept of knocking, was Jayce.
When he saw Li Lin and Caitlyn on the sofa in a somewhat intimate position, he stared blankly and exchanged glances with the two at the door after hearing the doorbell.
Jayce scratched his head, awkwardly smiled, "Did I... interrupt something?"
"Jayce!"
Caitlyn's face turned a rosy hue, instantly becoming hot.
She quickly moved her legs away from Li Lin, then glared angrily at the man who lacked manners.
"You are becoming more and more rude. Don't you know you should knock before entering?"
"I need to find Li Lin. It's urgent, didn't want to waste time..."
Jayce walked to the coffee table, lifted the teapot, poured a cup of cold tea into an upside-down cup, and then drank it in one gulp.
Caitlyn rolled her eyes at him in silence, gesturing with her eyes for Li Lin to communicate with him.
Then she stood up, walked to her desk, and continued reading the unfinished book.
Li Lin shook his head slightly, looked up at Jayce, "What's so urgent that you need me?"
"Do you remember the Chem-Baron you and Caitlyn eliminated two weeks ago?" Jayce's expression and tone showed excitement.
"Of course, I personally killed Takeda. How could I forget..." Li Lin's mouth twitched involuntarily, "Get to the point."
"The enforcers recently sealed a chemtech laboratory secretly funded by that Chem-Baron. In that lab, there's a peculiar life form formed by alchemical venom. The enforcers sent it to Piltover University!"
Jayce clenched his fists, his excitement overflowing.
"Viktor and I submitted an application to Professor Heimerdinger, and he agreed to let the three of us research it together..."
(End of this chapter)
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