Li Lin, on behalf of the couple Narek and Ceryn, wrote a letter of recommendation to Vander, giving them all his money before letting Jayce escort them away from Piltover University.
During Jayce's departure, Viktor took the opportunity to write a report to Heimerdinger about Zac, delivering it to his office.
However, Heimerdinger was engrossed in solving the problem Li Lin had presented to him months ago—how to develop an intelligent chip that allows robots to think for themselves. Consequently, he completely ignored Viktor.
Given Heimerdinger's nature, even if he learned that they had released Zac with a mind of his own, he probably wouldn't blame them.
By the time Jayce and Viktor had finished their respective tasks, the underground clock had struck for the sixth time, signaling the end of the workday for the laboratory staff.
According to the academy rules, laboratories could only be used during regular working hours. Therefore, they had to store the fragments of slime separated from Zac in a cultivation tank.
Viktor resided in the teachers' apartment of the school, which was not on the way to Talis or Kiramman's homes.
As a result, Li Lin, Jayce, and Viktor bid farewell at the academy gate.
Initially, Li Lin intended to call a carriage, but just as he was about to wave one down, he awkwardly realized he had given all his money to Narek and Ceryn.
After careful consideration, he decided to walk back, taking a look at Caitlyn's apartment on Glasswill Street on the way.
Coincidentally, as Li Lin reached the bottom of the apartment building rented by Caitlyn, he saw her coming out of a narrow alley, carrying a black suitcase and pushing her bicycle.
Later, the two walked back to Kiramman's house, chatting and laughing along the way.
After dinner, Li Lin went back to his workshop.
After reaching level 12, he unlocked two new skills on his skill panel.
One of them was the [Support Chip] technology that he had been researching for a long time.
The second was an active skill called [Steel Barrier].
However, this skill was also a technology and could be considered a must-have skill for a "Mechanic"—a prerequisite for material compression technology.
With this skill, Li Lin could compress the shield of the [Steel Barrier], which he created and had a life value of 5000 points, capable of resisting physical damage, into the size of a palm through massive energy compression and quickly expand it when needed.
Moreover, this portable shield could be used as a disposable consumable.
Throwing out the [Steel Barrier], after three seconds, it would rapidly expand within two seconds, becoming a 3×3×3 cubic enclosed defensive barrier.
Of course, it could be retracted before its life value was consumed.
Since the [Steel Barrier] was upgraded using skill points on the skill panel, it did not have the same quality divisions as other items.
To increase its life value, he had to continue leveling up this skill.
In addition, Li Lin spent 3 skill points to upgrade his [Mechanic Novice], [Mechanic Affinity], and [Mechanic Enhancement] to the highest level at the current level—level 3, with a slight increase in attributes.
Of course, when he first created the "Support Chip" and "Steel Barrier," the system rewarded him with 2 skill points.
Unfortunately, the 3% chance of learning rare blueprints from level 3 [Mechanic Enhancement] did not yield a rare blueprint.
After all the data was calculated, Li Lin had 7 skill points left, and he didn't intend to use them recklessly.
Because he had a feeling that when he reached level 15, it would be a qualitative change.
By then, it would be the real time to use skill points.
Without sleep for a night, Li Lin modified the Project Genesis Infinite Power Armor, adding a slot in the back of the head where he could insert a "Support Chip."
In addition, he installed a compressed [Steel Barrier] on the back of his left hand and plugged two spare [Steel Barriers] on his lower back.
After completing everything, it was already dawn.
Li Lin looked at his watch; it was almost seven o'clock.
He rubbed his dry eyes, yawned, got up, stretched, and put on the power armor for a simple test.
With the help of the "Support Chip," his field of vision became clear, as if he had put on night vision goggles that were slightly brighter than usual.
In the upper-left and lower-left corners of the screen, Li Lin could see the current status of his armor, the remaining energy, and the cooldown time of his weapons.
Even more interestingly, at the center of his field of vision, there was a crosshair similar to those found in shooting games, enhancing his precision when synchronized with his weapons.
However, the energy consumption of the "Auxiliary Chip" was also considerable, adding an additional 150 to the base consumption of 40 per second in "Full Automation."
Even with the supply of three energy crystals, the Infinite Power Armor could only recover 140 energy per second.
Fortunately, the "Steel Barrier" utilized material compression technology, requiring no additional energy...
After completing everything, Li Lin returned to his room and had a good night's sleep.
...
...
By one-thirty in the afternoon, Caitlyn knocked on Li Lin's door and thoughtfully brought him lunch. After that, she went to work in her office.
Having filled his stomach, Li Lin took a hot shower, donned his power armor, and descended to the mid-level plaza using the elevator.
He planned to inquire about Vander's arrangements for Narek, Ceryn and Zac from yesterday.
However, just as he stepped out of the grid barrier outside the iron frame compartment, a familiar figure in a suit blocked his way.
A scene that seemed oddly familiar...
"Silco?" Li Lin raised an eyebrow. "You couldn't stay content in your Border Market; why come to the Lanes again?"
Silco's left eye still shimmered with crimson hues, presenting a sinister and frightening appearance.
Seeing Li Lin, he discarded the remaining half of his cigar and crushed it underfoot.
Then, he gestured to his subordinates behind him, instructing them to guard several intersections.
At this time, many Zaunites were at work, and there were no idle people near the elevator.
Silco's face showed a sly and insincere smile as he approached, "Long time no see, Li Lin. Is this the way you treat an old friend?"
Not long ago, when Sevika suggested that Li Lin collaborate with Silco, he did go to the Border Market to find this ambitious "tyrant."
At that time, Li Lin and Silco verbally agreed to jointly develop Zaun.
However, for quite a while afterward, Li Lin did not contact Silco again.
Yet, Silco's methods were indeed much stronger than Vander's.
Apart from the recently powerful and aggressive Chem-Baron Lenare and the disliked Takeda, the other Chem-Barons were obedient to him.
Moreover, with Li Lin eliminating the top three Chem-Barons and even killing a mage under his command some time ago, the other Chem-Barons dared not act recklessly.
The Tide Generator Station was not yet completed, and Li Lin had no need to meet with Silco...
But today, he took the initiative to seek him out.
Li Lin silently raised his guard, "We're just business partners, not old friends."
Every second spent with this old snake required constant vigilance to avoid being swayed by his bewitching theories.
"Oh, come on," Silco chuckled and shook his head, his expression becoming very serious.
After a long pause, he slowly spoke, "Madame Glasc wants to meet you."
(End of this chapter)
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