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"Of course, I'm here to clean up the mess you've made."
After glancing at Jayce, Link Star turned away without another word. He walked over to the Hextech crystal matrix, reached out, and twisted the exposed switch on the crystal containment device. With a click, the containment unit detached. He gripped the handles on either side and pulled the entire unit out.
It was a cylindrical container, housing several Hextech crystals. For him, this was more than enough to begin his initial research into Hextech.
"Clean up my mess?"
Jayce noticed Link's actions and quickly stepped forward, grabbing Link's wrist.
"Your solution is to steal my Hextech crystals and cut off the energy supply to my Hextech matrix?"
Link shook off Jayce's hand with a flick of his wrist. He lifted the cylindrical containment unit and showed Jayce the corroded side.
"You only see the prosperity Hextech brings, but you're blind to the harm it causes."
Jayce stared at the corroded section, muttering in disbelief, "What... what is this?"
"Arcane corrosion..." Link glanced at the mold-like erosion on the containment unit. "This is the severe consequence of abusing magic!"
"Look at your feet," Link gestured downward. "The deep shaft beneath you leads straight into the heart of Piltover. The sewage pipes are continuously releasing Hextech pollution into the flesh of both Piltover and Zaun."
"That's impossible! My design is completely safe!"
Jayce shook his head vigorously. "It would never cause any pollution or danger."
"See? You're still so stubborn."
Link sighed softly. "Using technology to harness magic can indeed bring technological evolution, economic prosperity, and societal progress. But what is the price we pay for it?"
"Have you ever considered that, Jayce?"
"I..." Jayce opened his mouth to speak, but Link cut him off. "Your ideals and vision may be noble, but your understanding of human nature, of people, and of this world is far too shallow."
"Piltover's political system is tied to its economy, which means the Council members care more about profits and economic gains than the well-being of society or its people."
"This oligarchic system only cares about money and power. Everything else is irrelevant."
"This is why Zaun hates Piltover. You've monopolized the majority of resources while leaving Zaun to rot, with no hope of ever rising."
"As a craftsman, instead of focusing on technology and progress, you've thrown yourself into the web of power and desire, never to return."
"Wealth, power, and beauty have made you forget your original intentions and blinded you."
"You've lost the ability to see beyond the surface and grasp the essence of things. As a researcher and seeker of truth, this is your greatest failure."
"Do you even remember the ideals you and Viktor once shared?" Link pointed at Jayce's chest. "Tell me, do you still remember?"
"I..." Jayce opened his mouth but couldn't find the words.
"Go to Zaun, Councilor."
Link patted Jayce's shoulder and walked away, carrying the containment unit.
"Go see the people there, see the state of things, see everything."
"Then, think carefully about what you truly want."
"Before it's too late."
Link quickly left, disappearing into the distance, leaving Jayce alone.
Jayce stood there for a long time, holding his hammer. Finally, he set the hammer down and hurried over to the Hextech matrix. He pulled out each containment unit, inspecting them one by one.
Every unit he pulled out showed the same mold-like arcane corrosion, deeply embedded and causing unpredictable changes.
"How could this happen..."
The containment unit fell from Jayce's hands as his legs gave out. He knelt on the ground, clutching his head.
"Why has it come to this?"
"Was I really wrong? But I only wanted to bring progress to Piltover, to..." Jayce couldn't finish. He stared at the deep shaft beneath him, his eyes widening.
"...Viktor."
The next day, Riverside Workshop.
"Absolutely marvelous—"
Singed held a Hextech crystal in his hand, his one remaining eye filled with fascination.
"If you need some, feel free to take a few for your research, Doctor."
Link stood at the workbench, assembling a small wind-up doll.
It wasn't large, only about thirty centimeters tall, but it was intricately crafted.
"Really?" Singed's eye lit up with excitement as he clutched the crystal. Link finished assembling the doll and looked up at Singed. "Of course. Technological progress relies on the sharing of knowledge and the collision of ideas. I'm looking forward to seeing what surprises you can bring, Doctor."
"However, I'd recommend having Janna oversee your experiments. As a deity, she has a sensitivity to magic that far surpasses that of mortals. She can ensure your safety."
"Understood. I'll ask Lady Janna to supervise my work."
"Good."
Singed left eagerly with a handful of Hextech crystals. Link called out softly, "Janna, are you there?"
"I'm here. What are you planning now?"
Janna appeared beside Link, her gaze curious as she looked at the workbench.
On the bench, aside from the doll Link had just made, there were tools like hammers, wrenches, and screwdrivers, as well as materials like gears, screws, and nuts. There were also half-finished mechanical dolls and a fair amount of coins.
"I'm planning to conduct a systematic experiment on my magical abilities. I'd like you to oversee it."
Link placed the wind-up doll on the table. Janna nodded. "Very well."
"Alright, then. First experiment on magical aptitude, begin."
As Link spoke, he blew a breath of air toward the tools on the table—hammer, wrench, and screwdriver.
A shower of pure white light scattered over the tools, and in an instant, they came to life.
"Bang, bang, bang!" The hammer roared impatiently. "Bring me some nails! I'm ready to work!"
"Where are the nuts? Where are the bolts?" The wrench jumped around, chattering incessantly.
"I can't wait to tighten or loosen a bunch of screws!" The screwdriver spun rapidly.
Janna watched the animated tools with fascination, hopping closer to them.
"These little ones are adorable..."
"So, when I give life to inanimate objects, their behavior and personality are determined by their inherent properties?" Link mused as he observed the lively tools. He then blew a shower of light over the gears, nuts, and bolts.
These little ones came to life and immediately gravitated toward the tools.
"Hammer, look at me! I'm a nail!"
"Hey, a wrench! I'm going to stick my big round head into your jaws!"
"Spin, spin, spin..."
"Just as I suspected. Their behavior and personality are indeed based on their inherent properties."
Link nodded slightly, then turned his attention to the scattered coins.
"What about the coins? How will they react?"
Link blew a shower of light over the coins, giving them life.
The copper coins, silver coins, and gold coins all came to life, chattering away.
"Look at me! I'm shiny and valuable!" The gold coin rolled around on the table. "I swear I can buy a beautiful dress!"
"I want to buy a tea cake..." The silver coin said dreamily. "That way, my value will become a part of the user forever!"
"Copper coins, unite! Let's pool our resources and buy a hammer!"
"Nonsense! We should buy a wrench!"
"I like flowers! I want to buy flowers!"
"How vulgar! True copper coins should make the user remember us forever. My proposal is—buy a piece of lingerie, G-cup!!!"
Janna tilted her head as she watched the coins, her expression one of mild confusion.
"So this is what coins think about..."
"What a mess." Link rubbed his temples, then waved his hand to withdraw the magic he had infused into the coins. Without the magic, the coins returned to their lifeless state.
"If all inanimate objects, when given life, behave according to their inherent properties, what about unfinished and finished wind-up dolls? How will they differ?"
Link's gaze fell on the two dolls he had made—one complete, the other only half-finished. He infused them with magic, bringing them to life.
The dolls blinked slowly, then sat up.
"Father, I must praise your greatness—" The completed doll approached Link, raising its hands in admiration. "You gave me life. You brought me into this world."
"Oh, great and almighty Father!!!"
"This title..." Link's eye twitched. Janna perched on his shoulder and said softly, "It's no different from a real living being."
"Indeed, but more testing is needed."
Link's gaze shifted to the unfinished doll. He had only made the upper half of this little one, leaving the lower half incomplete.
"Father!"
The little one noticed Link's gaze and stretched out its arms. "Hold me, Father."
Link's eyes flickered as he replied, "If you can stand up and come to me on your own, I will hold you."
The half-finished doll tilted its head, as if thinking. It then turned its head 180 degrees to look at the noisy tools behind it. Using its hands, it dragged itself across the table toward them.
"Tools, materials, heed my command!"
The tools and materials all stopped and turned their attention to the unfinished doll.
"Father has given us life. We should make him proud!"
"Now, get to work and build me legs."
"Then, we will become Father's pride!"
"It can command the tools and materials, and even use words to tame them."
Janna's eyes widened in amazement. "Link, I was right. Your talent truly is a miracle!"
Link ignored her, his gaze fixed on the doll as he muttered to himself, "Unlike the basic tools and components, which are governed by their inherent properties, anything I create with my own hands gains full intelligence and autonomy?"
"If I apply this to technological creations, does that mean I can create my own version of 'Blitzcrank'?"
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 90 on my patreon go take a look and remember if you reach 180 stones of power I will publish the next chapter.