As dusk settled over the western hills, in a secluded room on the top floor of the renowned Blue Mist Manor on the outskirts of Piltover, Stevan, the head of the Ferros family, sat in the middle chair opposite the door. A cane made of fine wood and metal rested on a small stand at the edge of the chair.
His withered hand, resembling dried bark, slid across the rustic wooden table, placing two sugar cubes and intricately patterned tea cups. He delicately stirred the tea with a small spoon, then set it on the saucer and pushed the cup across the table to the empty chair.
In less than a minute, the silence of the room was pierced by the metallic clang of footsteps against the marble floor.
"You're late, sister," Stevan said without lifting his head, his face lined with deep wrinkles.
Camille walked straight to the chair opposite Stevan and sat down. "I was in discussions with Albert, the head spy of the Abino family, regarding the betrothal of Sophia Abino to our family after her coming of age," she said, lifting the tea cup to her lips and sipping the freshly brewed tea, perfectly balanced in temperature and sweetness.
"That's not important," Stevan shook his head. "Something shook the city today."
"The airborne stranger?" Camille raised an eyebrow at her brother. "I've heard the citizens' discussions; most believe it's merely a traveling mage who happened upon Piltover."
"But it's not!"
Stevan's expression grew serious. "Our scouts report that the flying individual is Li Lin, a craftsman from the Kiramman family."
"He's invented a personal flying device, often seen on the powered armor he flaunts around!" Camille responded with nonchalance. "I've always had high hopes for him, ever since he upgraded the Hextech crystal into the Hextech energy crystal."
Stevan's mouth twitched, seemingly displeased with his sister's attitude. "But..."
Before he could finish, there were light knocks on the closed door.
"Who's there?" Stevan furrowed his brow.
"It's me, grandfather, Yabus."
Stevan glanced at Camille and then nodded. "Come in."
As the wooden door creaked open, Yabus stepped inside.
Seeing another person in the room, he paused for a moment, then quickly recovered. "Happy Progress Day, grandmother."
Camille smiled and nodded, setting down her tea cup. "Do you have something to report, child?"
Yabus hesitated, glancing at Stevan and noticing his subtle gesture. Clearing his throat, he said, "It's about the investment in Li Lin of the Kiramman family..."
A hint of confusion flickered in Camille's blue eyes.
Stevan immediately explained, "It's been confirmed that today's 'Airborne' individual took off from the Kiramman estate in the northern district. I've sent Yabus to inquire and discuss potential cooperation."
"Well, you're in charge," Camille seemed uninterested in the matter.
Stevan looked at his sister, who had lowered her head to sip her tea again, a hint of something unusual flashing in his eyes.
Then, he turned to Yabus. "Tell me the details, Yabus."
"It didn't go smoothly. Li Lin refused our investment in his flying powered armor."
"Absurd! Has he forgotten who provided the technology for his power core?" Stevan exclaimed.
"Calm down, brother, your health can't handle anger," Camille advised with a hint of resignation. "Besides, he upgraded the stable energy crystal himself."
Stevan clearly disliked Camille's defense of Li Lin, his voice turning colder. "Hmph! Without our Hextech crystal, how could he manufacture energy crystals?"
"But allowing the Kiramman family to produce energy crystals was your decision," Camille retorted, seeming unruffled.
Stevan clenched his fist, but his sister's words were undeniable, leaving him with nothing to argue.
"However, I do have a question," Camille turned her gaze to Yabus. "Even with the stable energy crystal, it couldn't sustain his prolonged flight... unless he installed hundreds of them throughout his body."
"That's something I was pondering as well," Yabus hesitated. "His armor doesn't appear bulky, and there doesn't seem to be enough space for so many energy crystals..."
At that moment, Stevan uttered a name that caused both Camille and Yabus to slightly change their expressions: "The Hex Core."
"Do you even realize what you're saying, brother?" Camille furrowed her brows. "The design plans for the Hextech Core were destroyed when he left."
"But if Nedry returns..."
"Hakim Nedry has already left!" Camille blurted out, her tone more excited than before.
Yabus stood quietly in the center of the room, not daring to interrupt.
Hakim Nedry was already the most outstanding crystallographer of the Ferros family before his birth, and also the chief Hextech craftsman, serving the Ferros family almost his entire life.
Yabus had heard his grandfather talk about it. His aunt Camille once had a relationship with Hakim, but that was before she underwent the Hextech core replacement.
Having personally removed Camille's heart and replaced it with the Hextech core, Hakim left the Ferros family, and nobody knew where he went...
Camille was no exception.
Although the Ferros family didn't have a rule against mentioning Hakim Nedry, it was an unspoken rule, especially for those from outside the family who married into the Ferros family.
For those within the family, if Camille heard anyone dare mention that name, they would mysteriously disappear in a matter of days.
Only her beloved brother, Stevan, dared to mention it in her presence.
"Fine! According to you, Li Lin has mastered the new Hextech core technology by himself!" Stevan's tone was urgent, but his deep blue eyes, untainted by any emotion, were surprisingly calm.
Camille felt a sudden sense of irritation. "So what do you want me to do? Go kill him?"
Stevan fell silent for a few seconds, then picked up the cane from the chair, struggled to support himself, and stood up shakily.
Seeing this, Yabus hurried forward to help, but Stevan waved his hand to refuse, returning to his original position.
Stevan made his way laboriously to Camille, leaning on the table with one hand, panting heavily as if it had drained all his strength.
In a pleading tone, he said, "Sister, I won't be able to stand for much longer. With the Hextech core, I can get rid of this cane and won't need a wheelchair in the future... walking freely in my own hall, that's how a family head should be."
"Perhaps it's time for someone else to take on the duties of the family head." Camille looked Stevan up and down, shaking her head gently.
Stevan was already in his eighties, far exceeding the average age in Piltover. He was indeed a long-lived elder.
As he grew older, his health deteriorated, especially the muscles in his legs, which were rapidly atrophying and couldn't be treated with current medical technology.
On ordinary days, even with a cane, he needed at least two servants to take care of him.
If he hadn't persisted, he would have been in a wheelchair over a year ago.
Camille paused for a few seconds. "In my opinion, even if Li Lin can manufacture the Hextech core, he currently only applies it to power armor. It may be very different from my enhancement surgery and cannot completely replace the heart..."
"Camille, please!" Stevan interrupted her before she could finish.
Camille instantly calmed down, her eyes flashing with electric light as she stared at Stevan.
He only called Camille by her full name in very serious situations or when he needed something from her.
"You see, we took over the family from our parents, led the family to prosperity and achieved unprecedented success. This is what Mom and Dad never dared to dream of. We did it. This is our achievement!
"If we can have the Hextech core, repeat your enhancement surgery on me, and transform me into someone like you... then you and I, we will work together, and the Ferros family will continue to thrive!
"Even, we can lead Piltover, the entire continent of Valoran, and even the whole Runeterra to prosperity and evolution!"
Stevan was extremely excited, but Camille remained silent.
Yabus, standing aside, lowered his head, cold sweat soaking his temples and clothes. He didn't even dare to take a breath.
Although he knew his aunt was pretty kind to the younger generation, just standing in front of her, he couldn't help feeling the heavy pressure.
The entire room was filled only with the faint humming of the Hextech core power supply.
After what seemed like an eternity, she hoarsely asked, "This is very risky."
"It's okay, we just need his technology." Stevan breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, I still have Hakim's Hextech core design drawings in my hands.
By then, all I need to do is shift the blame onto some alchemist baron, claiming I snatched it from him.
If that doesn't work, then...
Stevan glanced deliberately at the blue flashing position on Camille's chest.
The Hextech core, I must have it!
He continued to add in his mind.
"Okay..."
Camille finished the lukewarm tea in her cup in one gulp, then stood up, turned, and walked out without looking back.
At the same time, she whispered softly as she walked towards the door, "If you insist on this, I will ask Li Lin about it later."
Stevan watched his sister's departing figure in silence, saying nothing, wondering what she was thinking.
When the sound of the metal blade touching the marble floor faded away, the room returned to silence.
"It's okay, Yabus, don't be nervous."
Stevan sat back in his seat, trembling, and smiled.
"Tell me about what happened at the Kiramman's house today... don't leave out any details."
(End of Chapter)