T/N: DAMN, THE COVER TRICK WORKED? THIRSTY BASTARDS.
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Kassadin's emotions surged, "You... you're Li Lin?!"
His Piltoverian, while bearing a strong accent and some non-standard words, was overall fluent enough for comprehension.
Li Lin nodded, "Judging by your accent, you're from Shurima, right? Doing business around here?"
Kassadin sighed, shaking his head, "Business? Since the tragedy took my wife and daughter a few years ago, I haven't assisted any caravans."
Pausing for a moment, he took a sip of strong liquor, his expression returning to normal, "Forget it, let's not talk about that. I've even forgotten to introduce myself.
"Companions and outsiders alike call me Kassadin... As for my real name, I've forgotten it. Just call me Kassadin."
Kas-Sa-Ah-Deen.
This was a decomposition of Kassadin's name in Shuriman pronunciation, meaning "Who the desert recognizes."
It was an inverted expression, actually meaning "Who is familiar with the terrain of the desert."
Due to the often unclear Shuriman language spoken by caravans or adventurers from other regions going to Shurima, coupled with Kassadin's reputation at the Bilgewater docks, this sentence, when strung together by outsiders, became Kassadin's current name. He gladly accepted it as recognition of his work.
As for his purpose in coming to Zaun, it was highly likely to be related to the rumors about the Void Prophet Malzahar. Probably seeking equipment for a Void battle.
After all, his wife and daughter fell victim to the Void.
Li Lin quickly reviewed Kassadin's background in his mind.
At this moment, Caitlyn approached, holding her iced tea, and took a seat next to Li Lin.
"This is Caitlyn," Li Lin introduced Kassadin briefly.
Kassadin nodded, exchanged greetings with Caitlyn, then turned his gaze back to Li Lin and asked in a pleading tone, "Mr. Li Lin, may I request you to craft a set of armor for me?"
"Like the one I'm wearing?" Li Lin raised an eyebrow, surprised by Kassadin's directness.
Noticing Li Lin's expression, Kassadin felt hopeful and added, "Money is not an issue! Although I've been decadent for several years, many caravans owe me favors. I can gather the funds!"
"Not a matter of money," Li Lin shook his head slightly, then after a moment of thought, continued, "Can you tell me the reason? What do you want to do with this armor?"
He was aware of Kassadin's background, but this advantage was just for preemptive knowledge, not to create an image of himself as an "all-knowing" person.
It wasn't meant for showing off.
Hearing Li Lin's question, a hint of melancholy flashed in Kassadin's eyes. He lifted his cup, downing the remaining strong liquor. His face, now tinged with red, returned to its usual expression.
"Don't drink so vigorously," Caitlyn advised, "With your current state, continuing to drink like this will surely harm your body."
Kassadin chuckled softly, lowering his head, "Your tone sounds just like my daughter used to when she was alive, telling me not to drink..."
Have you ever thought that your daughter might still be alive?
Recalling Kassadin's background, where he had never met Kassha until she grew up, Li Lin couldn't help but sigh.
Caitlyn, unaware of this situation, looked at Kassadin with a slightly complex expression, pursing her lips without saying more.
"As for the armor issue, where should I begin..." Kassadin pondered for a moment, deciding to start with the day he heard about his homeland being swallowed by the Void three years ago.
That day, he and his caravan had just returned from Piltover, replenishing water at an oasis.
When a group of survivors happened to pass by, they told him about how a purplish magical light, akin to hell, had consumed everything in the southern rocky valley.
He rushed back to his hometown, which had already turned into ruins.
Upon his ruined home, Kassadin's emotions completely collapsed.]
He lay on the broken stones and shifting sands, waiting for life to slip away. Yet, the subsequent arrival of a caravan of comrades dragged him back to the nearest town, Zaun.
For the next three years, Kassadin stumbled through life, drowning his sorrows in alcohol, becoming a homeless wanderer.
It wasn't until he heard rumors of the "Prophet" Malzahar passing through his hometown in the town that he regained some sense of purpose.
The Void.
A legend from a distant era of Shurima, a terrifying presence that even celestial warriors had to confront with all their might and bloodshed.
After consulting various sources, Kassadin could confirm that Malzahar, the one responsible for the destruction of his hometown and the death of his wife and daughter, was the mastermind.
Therefore, he vowed to avenge his wife and daughter, eliminate the "Void Prophet" who collaborated with the darkness to gain power.
However, facing someone with the power of the Void with just human strength seemed like a futile endeavor.
Kassadin was well aware of this, so he decided to arm himself for protection.
It was evident that Shurima did not possess such craftsmanship; only Piltover and Zaun's unique designs could meet his needs.
This was one of the main reasons he came to Zaun.
Listening to Kassadin's story deeply touched Caitlyn's heart, and her eyes reddened slightly.
As a detective, she could discern that the middle-aged man's emotions were genuine, not a fabricated tale.
Therefore, Caitlyn turned to Li Lin, pleading for help, "Please help him, Li Lin..."
Even if it meant creating a highly lethal powered armor to combat evil, what harm could it do?
"Even if you don't say it, I would do it anyway," Li Lin sighed, locking eyes with Kassadin, who had a visibly joyful expression.
"Thank you so much!"
Kassadin quickly stood up, intending to bow deeply to Li Lin, but he was preemptively stopped.
"Thanks and formalities are unnecessary. The legend of the Void is something I've read about in books. Resisting it should be a collective responsibility of all Runeterra's people."
Li Lin gently patted Kassadin's shoulder, continuing, "I will craft a powered armor for you, similar to the one I'm wearing, but it may not be sufficient against the Void that corrupts everything."
"I am well aware of that. I still need to do some other things," Kassadin said, furrowing his brows, then biting his teeth. "I know a healer from Ionia who fled to Zaun to escape the war. A few years ago, I helped her, and she owes me a favor."
"After you help me with the armor, I'll ask her to bless it with enchantments. Of course, even with that, it might not be enough. I still need a weapon."
Caitlyn interjected, "Li Lin's armor already comes with a weapon system. If that's not enough, he can create a new energy weapon for you, similar to my laser sniper rifle."
"Miss Caitlyn, you still don't understand the terror of the Void. Even if such an energy weapon is effective against a human who gained Void powers like the 'Prophet,' in the face of the real Void, the energy will only nourish the monsters," Kassadin explained.
Li Lin nodded in agreement with Kassadin's statement.
He was well aware of what Kassadin meant by the term "weapon."
It was none other than the Nether Blade of Horok, the great ascended warrior of Shurima – the Blade of the Abyss.
Thousands of years ago, Horok delved into the Void rifts in Icathia, pierced the core of the Void channels deep underground, and ended the prolonged and devastating Void War.
Not only that, but this ascended warrior's weapon also exterminated thousands of deceitful sorcerers during the late days of the Shuriman Empire.
Until the empire's downfall and Horok's betrayal leading to his death at the hands of the traitorous ruler, the Blade of the Abyss was buried with its master in a mausoleum dedicated exclusively to Horok.
It was only in recent years that Kassadin unearthed the weapon from the tomb, selling it to treasure hunters.
Those treasure hunters then sold the weapon to a Chem-Baron in Zaun...
As expected, Kassadin's eyes flashed with seriousness, revealing his thoughts:
"I will fight side by side with the celestial warrior Horok's weapon until death."
(End of this chapter)
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