Knowing Li Lin's hidden agenda, Caitlyn grew angry.
However, her approach this time was different from before; she didn't resort to the silent treatment.
She drank two more bottles of gene-enhancing elixir at different times, allowing its effects to kick in. Then, she had Li Lin take off his battle armor and dragged him to the underground training ground, insisting on "training" him.
Today, she didn't have to work, so she had plenty of time.
With three bottles of elixir in her system, Caitlyn's physique was now similar to Li Lin's, and she understood that they were both quite resilient now.
Li Lin's combat skills were only at a "basic" level, while Caitlyn had already reached the "advanced" stage, edging towards "master."
Without the protection of his armor, their sparring sessions were almost entirely one-sided.
For the entire afternoon, Li Lin couldn't count how many punches and kicks he endured from Caitlyn.
She was knowledgeable about the human body, intentionally avoiding the face and vital areas, focusing on areas that could cause pain but not serious harm.
In the end, it was essentially Li Lin running and Caitlyn chasing him, delivering a beatdown whenever she caught up.
Just as Kai'Sa, who was about to attend combat class, arrived, the training ground was mostly occupied by Li Lin and Caitlyn. She and her teacher, stood by, cheering Li Lin on from the sidelines.
Until dinnertime, Caitlyn had almost adapted to her newfound strength, satisfied as she clapped her hands and helped Li Lin up from where he lay on the ground, pretending to be exhausted, telling him she had calmed down.
Feeling sore all over, Li Lin glanced at his system panel.
This time, Caitlyn's combat training had elevated his "basic combat" to "intermediate."
After dinner, Kai'Sa came to Li Lin secretly, asking him what he had done to anger Caitlyn.
But how could he explain such things to a child?
He casually made up an excuse for her and changed the subject, bringing her into the workshop to let her try the gene-enhancing elixir.
Unfortunately, Kai'Sa's physique was already enhanced by the Void, having previously devoured a guardian of the Void Rift in Shurima and Rek'Sai. The gene-enhancing elixir had little effect on her, merely giving her a slight increase in strength, which could be ignored.
As the night grew late, Kai'Sa returned to her room to sleep.
Unable to swallow the frustration of being beaten by Caitlyn all afternoon, Li Lin quietly sneaked into her room.
The door was locked, but it wasn't a problem for him.
Tonight was another sleepless night.
...
...
The next day, before dawn, Li Lin returned to his workshop.
With some time still left, he crafted another set of fourth-generation biological battle armor, allowing Caitlyn to have some protection during her daily investigations.
Although her body had been strengthened to the point where few in the Twin Cities could threaten her, she was still a mortal, and she feared firearms.
With the biological battle armor, combined with her own abilities, Li Lin no longer needed to worry much about Caitlyn's safety.
Feeling satisfied, Li Lin waited until Caitlyn's alarm clock rang, then delivered the biological battle armor to her room and helped her scan and record four sets of clothing: one tight "combat" outfit, two sets of casual wear, and one set of formal family attire.
After breakfast, Li Lin retreated to his workshop.
There were less than 10 days left until Progress Day arrived.
According to the plan, the third and fourth generations of the Infinite Battle Armor and gene-enhancing elixir were all completed. The next tasks were the Engineering Corps and the two sets of Colossus Mechs—Shapeshifter and Warrior.
As a city warfare application, the Shapeshifter and Warrior constructions, while easier than the large-scale Colossus Mechs, were far more technically challenging than the third and fourth generation battle armor.
For example, the marked "short-distance teleportation" and the transformation function into a single-pilot armored vehicle were considered dangerous technologies.
"Ah, the current workshop setup can barely produce beasts, swordsmen, prototypes, and even dragon kings, let alone the behemoths of the future," Li Lin muttered, glancing at the ceiling. He contemplated establishing a research and construction base for large mechs in some area near Piltover's outskirts.
"Well... let's wait for now. The Behemoth is over 220 meters, the Blademaster is over 200 meters, the Prototype is over 250 meters, and the Dragon God is even over a kilometer long," he reasoned.
"Relying solely on my own strength and resources, even with blueprints, I can't even build a large mech right now. Besides, without a global crisis, other families won't agree to the construction of such war machines," he concluded after careful consideration. Li Lin decided to wait until the satellite base was completed before reassessing the situation.
Large mechs were essential for dealing with the corrupted Voidborn, demigods, and large Void monsters. However, for the time being, cost-effective and flexible drones, storm aircraft for fire support, and the small-scale mass-produced mechanized forces like the Behemoth Shifter were sufficient.
As for the Behemoth Warrior, Li Lin designed it as a small mech for personal wear. During regular days, it could be stored in the Dawnlight and deployed for remote support during emergencies.
"Wearing Fourth Generation armor as daily attire, overlaying with Third Generation armor, and controlling the Warrior Mech... Man, what a setup!" Li Lin couldn't help but feel excited at the thought, his spirits instantly lifted.
Since he lacked materials for now, and the price of miniaturized fusion reactors in stores was much higher than Hextech Cores, Li Lin planned to replace the power cores of the Behemoth and Warrior with three Hextech Cores.
As Li Lin was about to purchase three condensed Primordial Crystals from the store and begin his work, the commotion outside caught his attention.
"AI, what's going on?" Li Lin asked the workshop's artificial intelligence system, which projected the current situation outside from the surveillance cameras he recently installed in the yard of Kiramman estate.
Three boys, one chubby and two skinny, accompanied by a girl, were hovering on flying skateboards outside the mansion, with several enforcers chasing them down the street.
Raising an eyebrow, Li Lin immediately recognized them. "Powder, Ekko, Claggor, and Milo? Where did they get those flying skateboards?" he wondered aloud.
To prevent the children from clashing with the enforcers or getting into any accidents, Li Lin quickly donned his armor and flew out of the workshop's specially designed automated skylight.
In the street outside the estate, Powder looked back worriedly and shouted to the two in front, "Claggor, Milo, there are more enforcers coming from behind!"
Upon hearing Powder's words, Milo also glanced back, wearing a resigned expression. "Damn it! Why do these enforcers keep chasing us? We haven't done anything wrong!"
"Mrs. Cassandra's artisans taught me. Hextech devices invented without certification cannot be used in public areas," Ekko explained with a troubled expression. "I've been telling you this all along!"
"We thought you were just tricking us to keep us from playing with the hoverboards!" Milo exclaimed in shock. "So, it's true?"
"I wouldn't lie to you for no reason," Ekko sighed. "I was planning to have Mrs. Cassandra send the hoverboards for certification and then apply for a patent, but now..."
"What should we do now?" Powder asked with a mournful expression. "If Vi were here... she'd definitely find a way."
"I think we've already caused him enough trouble..." Ekko murmured weakly, but nobody paid him any attention.
"I think we should just go back to the Undercity," Milo suggested with a defeated look. "At worst, we'll end up like Vi, banned for half a year by Vander."
"Are you crazy, Milo? Getting involved with enforcers is much more serious than what Vi did!" Claggor shouted. "At least Vander would only restrict us for half a year!"
As the children struggled to decide what to do next, a familiar figure covered in black metal swiftly descended from above and hovered not far from them.
Powder was the first to notice and immediately recognized Li Lin, his blue eyes lighting up with excitement. "Hey! Claggor, Milo, stop!"
With a perfect aerial drift, the four children came to a halt, hovering on their skateboards in front of Li Lin.
Powder greeted him with a beaming smile. "Li Lin!"
Li Lin raised his visor, looking surprised. "What's going on here... and where's Vi?"
Then, his gaze fell on Ekko, who had grown taller and stronger. "Did you invent these flying skateboards?"
(End of Chapter)