Viktor held the core device under his arm, puzzled as he took the vial of potion from Li Lin's hand, peering at the slightly viscous liquid inside. "What's this?"
"Remember when you were at Kiramman's house recently, and Jayce asked me why I suddenly grew taller and stronger?" Li Lin smiled, placing two more vials of potion on the table. "It's called Gene Enhancement Potion, it can significantly improve various physical qualities, and the weaker your physique, the more noticeable the effect."
Viktor raised an eyebrow, his gaze at the potion changing, showing no doubt in Li Lin's words. His physical changes were there, and he had no reason to doubt himself.
"Are there any side effects?"
Viktor looked down at his right leg, which was fixed with a metal brace, his expression slightly intrigued.
"If there are any, it takes at least 30 minutes to take effect, and your strength will increase dramatically, it will take some time to adjust."
"So, basically no side effects," Viktor took a deep breath, his gaze sincere as he looked at Li Lin. "This means a lot to me, thank you."
"Where are these words coming from? We're friends, aren't we? Helping each other is what friends do."
"Friends..." Viktor was briefly stunned, a brilliant smile spreading across his face. "Yes, friends."
With that said, Viktor handed the vial back to Li Lin and returned the other two vials.
Li Lin didn't understand his actions. "...What's this for?"
"Just hold onto them for me."
"Aren't you going to drink it now? In 30 minutes, you might be able to ditch the cane."
Viktor shook his head. "Not yet. I'm afraid I won't be able to control my strength later and damage the machine."
Leaning on his cane, Viktor passed by Li Lin, gesturing for him to follow. "Progress Day is coming, so let's focus on completing the robot first. That's what I want to showcase this year."
...
...
A little over ten minutes later, the two strolled to the laboratory building of the academy.
Li Lin had considered flying Viktor over directly, but he was afraid Viktor's body couldn't handle it, so he didn't mention it.
The laboratory was open to lecturers and above at night.
In addition to the laboratories adjacent to the offices, each lecturer could also apply for a research area in the laboratory building, but with time limits.
If no research results were achieved within a certain period, the allocated research area would be revoked, and the next application would have to wait for a long time.
Viktor had applied for a laboratory for researching intelligent robots more than three months ago.
At that time, the auxiliary chips had not yet been made intelligent, so Viktor's main design was how to make a core device powered by a primordial crystal.
When the Kiramman exploration team brought back the primordial crystal and donated three of them to the academy for research, with Heimerdinger's care, Viktor immediately applied for one and started debugging his device.
Although there were intelligent chips now, they had not yet been mass-produced. In addition, Li Lin had acquired the first few batches of chips produced. Except for relevant personnel, most people were unaware of their existence.
Moreover, Viktor firmly believed that even without intelligent chips, he could create an intelligent robot.
After showing his identity card to the security personnel along the way, the two quickly arrived at a not-too-large laboratory on the second floor.
A robot made entirely of steel and bronze, with giant hands, a rounded upper body, and short legs, lay quietly on the spacious workbench. Several mechanical arms without power hung beside it.
Li Lin looked at the very familiar robot, which completely matched the image in his mind, confirming that it was "Blitz" without a doubt.
However, whether the primordial crystal was still from the original timeline and whether installing it would cause any changes to Blitz...
The butterfly's wings had already flapped, and there had been enormous changes in the development and direction of the twin cities. Thinking too much about it was futile, and Li Lin felt helpless about it.
Waiting for Viktor to power up the laboratory, he manipulated several mechanical arms to open the hatch originally filled with alchemical fuel in the robot's chest.
After his modification, this robot could no longer be filled with alchemical fuel. It could only accommodate his specially made primordial crystal core.
When Viktor filled the core energy device into the robot's chest, closed the hatch, and tightened the screws, a faint blue arc flashed on the bronze surface of the robot, immediately attracting Li Lin and Viktor's attention.
Following that, more arcs leaped and intertwined, flashing with a dazzling blue light and emitting a "sizzle" sound.
"What is this..." Viktor was surprised. "Other robots have never experienced this before."
Rather than calling them "steam robots" that clear toxic waste in the sewers and follow fixed code procedures, they should be more accurately called "alchemical technology robots."
Only, these machines generate a lot of heat during normal operation, releasing steam to dissipate it with water. Over time, they came to be known as steam robots by the people of Zaun.
Looking at the operating principles of these robots, they belong to chemical power, having nothing to do with electricity. So how could they produce an electric arc?
This is exactly what Viktor was puzzled about.
However, Li Lin was not surprised at all. Blitzcrank was originally an accidental creation, and the electric arc was indeed a side effect of using the Primordial Crystal.
More precisely, Hextech crystals and energy crystals actually produce similar effects, but their energy reserves are limited. Unless it's a charged Hextech device, the effects of other devices are not so obvious.
"This just proves that your research direction is correct, doesn't it?" Li Lin smiled.
"..."
Viktor continued to stare at the robot on the workbench, his expression tense, without answering.
After another minute or two, when the crystal energy completely covered all the circuits inside the robot, with the mechanical gears turning with a sound, the metal conduits on the robot's body sprayed out a large amount of white steam.
Immediately after, the two egg-sized eyes on the robot's round head opened, flashing a bluish-green light.
Its two huge hands propped up on the table, lifting its massive body from the workbench and jumping down.
Its disproportionately large mechanical feet touched the marble floor of the laboratory, producing a crisp sound of metal impact on the smooth floor, with some steam escaping from the joints on its body.
It turned its head to look at Li Lin and Viktor. Viktor, inspired by Hextech audio, had installed a standard mechanical voice speaker, "Engine, activated, ready to depart at any time."
"Success! I finally succeeded!"
Hearing the robot speak, Viktor was overjoyed.
"I didn't input any language codes into it, but it can still speak! In other words, even without intelligent chips, we can still produce intelligent robots..."
No, its intelligence cannot be equated with the intelligence brought by the intelligent chips I created.
Li Lin responded in his mind.
The robot blinked its eyes, reaching up to scratch its bare bronze head, seemingly expressing its confusion.
Victor, who was excited, couldn't see it, but Li Lin could detect its changes through "Data Mind".
The Primordial Crystal inside it was still half asleep, only showing a subconscious level of expression, yet it gave this machine a bit of thought.
When the Primordial Crystal fully awakens, how far can Blitzcrank grow?
"Let's give it a name." Li Lin lightly tapped Viktor's shoulder, "A great creation deserves a name, doesn't it?"
Viktor rubbed his chin, looking up and down at the robot.
The continuous arcs on its body and the resonating energy in the workspace, along with the electric sparks in its mechanical arms, formed a static electric field around it, emitting a continuous buzzing sound of electricity.
A sudden flash of inspiration crossed Viktor's mind, and a name floated into his thoughts, "Let's call it Blitz, taken from the sound of the electric arcs jumping on its outer shell."
"Blitz?"
Li Lin intentionally paused for a few seconds, looking thoughtful, "A very good name. I'm sure it will also be the center of attention at Progress Day."
"Don't tease me." Viktor's tone was helpless, glancing at Li Lin, "Just this year, Jayce's Hex Gates and your flying armor have overshadowed other works. What is my robot considered? Moreover..."
Suddenly, he seemed to realize something, his voice abruptly stopped, "I think... it's better not to disclose this technology."
"Worried about the Primordial Crystal and the Brackern?"
Viktor stared at Blitz's bluish-green electronic eyes intently, nodding slightly.
Li Lin sighed, "If you don't disclose it, how are you going to explain it to the Council over at the Academy?"
"The Hex Gates were developed with Jayce's assistance, and its invention bears my name, that's enough..."
"No, you know that's not what I mean."
Viktor and Li Lin locked eyes for a few seconds, then quickly looked away, sighing.
In Piltover, people are most concerned not about the team behind a craftsman, but about the craftsman himself.
Even though the Hex devices on the table were not developed entirely by one person, whoever stands on stage during Progress Day and gives a speech will be recognized as the inventor of the new device.
Originally, Jayce wanted to invite Viktor to join him on stage, but Viktor is not good at handling such situations and politely declined.
Li Lin heard this from Jayce a couple of days ago.
Therefore, if you want to make a name for yourself in Piltover, something truly unique and influential is essential.
In this way, even if you don't speak on stage, as long as your invention can go on stage and be announced by the host with your name, it is already a remarkable achievement.
After all, there are countless new inventions every year in the Twin Cities, but only those with broad influence or great potential are eligible to be displayed on the stage of Progress Day.
Blitz has this qualification, as long as Li Lin temporarily doesn't reveal his fully intelligent mechanical infantry force that he is currently producing and assembling.
Viktor hesitated, "But the Primordial Crystal..."
"What we need to worry about now is not this issue. Did you forget what I said to you in your office just now?"
"As long as we have the right to speak, then all we need to do is publish a paper, discussing the relationship between the Primordial Crystal and the Brackern. The Council will certainly take notice of the words of a renowned scientist in Piltover."
Li Lin paused for a moment, continuing, "Moreover, the Primordial Crystal is very precious. At this stage, with the existence of intelligent chips, the councillors will not consider mass producing such expensive robots."
"Oh, speaking of intelligent chips..." Viktor frowned, "If I showcase Blitz first, in the future, citizens will definitely think that I was the first to invent intelligent robots, which is unfair to you."
Hearing Viktor's words, Li Lin couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Why are you laughing? I'm serious." Viktor's tone was serious.
"I no longer need any fame now, Viktor, it's enough."
Li Lin's laughter gradually subsided, explaining, "Who invented intelligent robots in people's perception is not important to me. What matters is that you can gain fame from this, and even be promoted to a professor."
He turned his head and glanced at Blitz, a smile forming at the corner of his mouth, "And, have you ever thought... of creating a true mechanical life form?"
"Huh?!" Viktor was shocked, "Are you referring to something like the Bolbock family's modified life forms?"
"No, they can at most upload their consciousness into mechanical shells, it's different."
Viktor widened his eyes, seeming to understand, "...So what do you mean?"
Li Lin didn't rush to explain his idea but instead asked him a question, "Can machines truly possess the ability to think for themselves like humans?"
Viktor was stunned by Li Lin's idea, he had never considered this aspect before, "This involves philosophical questions... your intelligent chips?"
"Strictly speaking, the intelligent systems I developed still run on fixed logic and programs. They only simulate certain thought processes of humans and do not truly possess the ability to think for themselves like humans."
"But to let machines think like humans... How is that possible?"
"So, research on Blitz is particularly important."
(End of this chapter)