"Are you going back to Zaun again?"
"It's okay if you're going back to Zaun, but how can you choose this day to return? Progress Day is approaching, and you tell me you're going back to Zaun? Are you crazy? Linwin, I just find it strange. What's good about Zaun? It's dirty, chaotic, and stinky. The streets are filled with dangerous people, and it's both perilous and impoverished."
This was an incredibly KY speech, and only Mr. Talis could make such comments.
At this moment, in Jayce's laboratory, Viktor was sitting on a stool with one hand on his cane and the other holding a cup of hot tea. He looked at Jayce, who was standing at the door, gesturing as he spoke. Viktor could only roll his eyes helplessly, and suddenly, he felt that the tea in his hand was no longer fragrant.
When it came to Zaun, the people of Piltover always had an attitude of pride and arrogance. Jayce could confirm this, even though he knew that Viktor and Linwin were from Zaun. However, in the presence of these two Zaunites, Jayce still talked confidently about how terrible their hometown was.
This made Viktor, who was also a Zaunite, quite uncomfortable. He admitted that he preferred to be in Piltover than to stay in Zaun. The academic atmosphere here was well-suited for someone like him who was dedicated to science. After all, in Zaun, it was difficult to do research properly. The gang violence there was rampant, and people like Viktor were often the first to get hurt.
Jayce was right in saying that Zaun was dirty, chaotic, and impoverished, and that many people there only cared about their immediate interests, with little regard for the concept of "science" for the future.
But... no matter how bad Zaun was, and no matter how people from Zaun liked to complain about it, Viktor didn't want to hear derogatory comments about Zaun from the mouths of Piltover residents.
It was a difficult feeling to put into words, but it truly made people feel uncomfortable.
These two cities, so close to each other, were once a single city two hundred years ago. Yet, two centuries later, they had entirely different cultures, beliefs, and civilizations.
This was a unique phenomenon in the world of Runeterra—the daily life of the twin sister cities, Piltover and Zaun.
"Jayce, that's enough. Stop complaining," Viktor said, interrupting Jayce before Linwin could even respond.
He placed the teacup on a saucer, stood up, and said, "Please respect Linwin and me. After all, we're both Zaunites. I believe he feels the same as I do. We don't want to hear your complaints about the Undercity from your mouth anymore."
"Viktor, you know that's not what I mean. I'm just stating a fact to you," Jayce quickly explained, seeing Viktor unhappy. However, his explanation even made Linwin, who had been holding back, burst into laughter.
"Yes, yes, our noble Lord Talis. Since you dislike Zaun so much, how about Viktor and I leave tomorrow? The two of us Zaunites can leave your sight so as not to dirty your eyes. Otherwise, if might go blind, then what will happen to Hextech?"
"Why are you acting like this? You and Viktor both know I didn't mean it that way."
"Getting impatient, aren't you?"
Jayce didn't quite understand what "getting impatient" meant, but seeing Linwin sarcastically say it, he felt a bit annoyed.
"I just wanted to say that even if you plan to go back to Zaun, you shouldn't choose this day. It's Progress Day, the most important and lively day in Piltover every year. On that day, countless outsiders will come to Piltover to witness Progress Day. They come from far and wide, and you two are going back to Zaun on that day?"
Jayce truly couldn't understand it. Progress Day was the most important annual festival for Piltover. On that day, the entire city of Piltover would be on holiday, and a grand celebration would last for three days.
During this time, there was no curfew in Piltover, and various inventions would be exhibited. Jayce's Hextech technology was, of course, part of it.
This time, Hextech was even a highlight. It wouldn't be presented within the academy but rather in the grand theater, and there was even a possibility it would be shown in the main hall of Piltover!
This was a recognition of Jayce, Viktor, and, of course, Linwin.
But now, Linwin was telling him that he would return to Zaun on that day?
"Is Zaun celebrating Progress Day too? Otherwise, I don't understand why you have to go back to Zaun."
Jayce thought about it but couldn't comprehend how Zaun's Progress Day could compare to Piltover's grand celebration.
"Progress Day?"
Linwin then chuckled, a somewhat sarcastic laugh.
Viktor remained silent, looking down at his shoes without saying a word.
Only Jayce stood there, sensing that something was off, with a puzzled expression. He muttered softly, "Wait... did I say something wrong again?"
Linwin stared at Jayce, lost for words. He genuinely couldn't get angry with him. After all, Jayce treated Linwin as a friend, and that was good enough.
Moreover, Jayce was not the type to engage in intrigue. He was a pure scientist, much like Viktor. His words were probably thoughtless, not ill-intentioned.
But Jayce had been deeply influenced by Piltover's perspective, and his view of the Undercity was as it should be. He didn't want to understand the current situation in Zaun or care about the environment in which Zaunites were living. This was normal. After all, the fire hadn't burned him, so why would he be in a hurry?
Piltover's Progress Day was a day of pride for Piltoverians, but it represented hardship for Zaunites.
"How did Progress Day come to be?"
Linwin repeated the question.
Regarding this piece of history, Jayce was naturally well aware. Proudly, he spoke of the creation of Piltover. "In the year 772 AE, during the Grand Canal Operation, Piltover was born. And that day happened to be the 8th of November in the year 772. Therefore, every year on the 8th of November, it is called Progress Day."
"I'm asking you how it came to be."
Linwin repeated his question.
Viktor had a complex expression as he stood by.
This was the sorrow known only to Zaunites.
"Down in the city is called Zaun, and the city that stands above it is called Pil...," Jayce suddenly stopped talking.
He had an epiphany. He wanted to give himself a slap for what he had said to Linwin and Viktor before. After calming down a bit, Jayce figured it out. Before he got to know Linwin and Viktor, he didn't care about Zaun. Every time he went to Zaun, it was just a quick in-and-out visit. He had no desire to understand anything about Zaun.
"Uh, Linwin, Viktor, I... I didn't mean that."
"I know. Otherwise, you should be kneeling on the ground now, with me having slapped you so hard you'd have throw up your dinner," Linwin said with a smirk.
But Jayce's facial expression, with a fake smile and tense features, made him uncomfortable. How strong was Linwin? If he had really thrown a punch, Jayce thought it might not have only throw up his dinner but his... well, you get the idea.
"I'm going back to Zaun as a part of an agreement with my family to commemorate," Linwin didn't finish his sentence.
But Viktor understood what Linwin meant.
The Grand Canal incident had forcibly separated Zaun into two. Half of Zaun had collapsed into the chasms, while the other half had risen and become Piltover. The part that had sunk was still called Zaun, but the risen part had changed its name to Piltover.
They celebrated the new beginning as Progress Day because the Grand Canal had caused Zaun to collapse and connect the two continents. It had truly become the chokepoint of the Runeterran continent, making a fortune from collecting tariffs alone. Piltover had embraced this day as a celebration of its rebirth.
For the Zaunites who had fallen below, Progress Day was a day of mourning, a festival to honor the friends and family they had lost in the incident.
Viktor's eyes darkened a little. Even though it had been more than two centuries ago, Zaunites would never forget this day.
But Jayce, not quite understanding where the line was, exclaimed in amazement to Linwin, "You have a family? You've never told me about your family, so I thought you were an orphan."
Upon hearing this, Linwin said nothing. He chuckled to himself. "Well, Jayce, it's okay. You're actually correct. I am an orphan. I was taken in by Old Zoran."
However, Jayce's comment did surprise Linwin. He was indeed an orphan, and it was Old Zoran who had taken him in.
Despite having two lovely sisters and a few annoying brothers, sometimes, it just becomes unbearable.
Can't you just stay quiet, please?!
Blabbering all day long as if you're afraid people don't know you have a mouth?
Standing up, Linwin clenched his fist and walked towards Jayce, grinning as he said, "Bite down hard."
"What are you doing?"
"Just bite down hard!"
"Ouch!!!"
On November 5th, at precisely 2 o'clock in the afternoon, Linwin, after a brief lunch break, strolled into the mechanical district and entered Zevi's laboratory.
As he walked in, he saw Zevi yawning and sitting up from a simple cot. Zevi was wearing a warm wool sweater, layered with a deep blue autumn coat. One notable feature of her attire was a peculiar but cleverly designed chain-link clasp, which, if caught in machinery, could be quickly pulled to remove the clothing.
For Linwin, it was a simple outfit: a white long-sleeved knit shirt paired with beige pants.
"Why are you here so early today? Usually, you don't show up until after 2:30," Zevi said, relaxing her furrowed brows. She gazed at Linwin as she put on her coat and walked over to the desk. She reached for the strongly brewed red tea, took a sip, shook her head, feeling instantly more awake. Then she prepared herself to work.
Zevi was not only a top mechanic at Piltover University but also a prodigious inventor.
Linwin approached her and said, "I need to talk to you. Zevi, can we process the two extra gemstones we have into a phone as soon as possible? I have a use for it. The performance doesn't need to be too advanced, just the ability to make and receive calls within a range of a dozen meters."
For Zevi, the gemstone processing was as simple as eating and drinking. The reason for the lengthy previous research was due to her work on inscribing runes and the calculations for various constructions. Therefore, when the first step was taken, creating a phone required far less time than a month.
Linwin believed that with Zevi's skills, it wouldn't take long to create the device.
Zevi leaned on the table, looking down at the blueprints on her desk, and said, "What do you need it for? A phone with a range of a dozen meters won't be very useful. If you want to communicate with someone, you could just shout within that range, couldn't you?"
Linwin replied, "I want to give it to someone."
Zevi gave Linwin a strange look and said, "I thought you might want to showcase it at Progress Day to attract investors. But you want to give it away? What are you thinking? Well, this is your creation, and if it makes you happy, that should be enough."
Zevi was starting to find Linwin's actions increasingly puzzling.
Linwin was about to explain when Zevi waved her hand, turning her back to him, and said, "Alright, I don't want to hear your reasons. It's just a range of a dozen meters, right? You can come to collect it the day after tomorrow. Now, Mr. Linwin, I think it's time for us to start working."
"Agreed," Linwin said, breathing a sigh of relief.
Zevi was a person who valued rules, but since getting to know Linwin, she realized that her own rules were slowly being broken. So recently, she had been reconsidering and imposing some of her own rules onto herself. Whether they were effective or not, only time would tell.
---
November 8th – Progress Day in Piltover.
The annual celebration was already in full swing. Brightly colored flags adorned the streets of Piltover, and even the normally narrow alleyways were filled with the festive atmosphere.
In the high-class district, you could spot various family crests with the same golden gears. Many of the banners were even inlaid with gold to show off the wealth of these families.
In the commoner district, children donned new clothes, carrying mechanical toys and playing joyfully. People in the streets were more forgiving and less inclined to scold the children when they accidentally bumped into them, instead offering a head pat and wishing them a happy Progress Day. Of course, the grown-ups followed up by advising the children to watch their steps and stay safe.
Enforcers were stationed at various key points. Tents were set up in parks and open spaces, where groups of people carried wooden boards, chairs, and all sorts of odd objects. Craftsmen were busy constructing stages bearing the golden gears and unknown family crests on their banners.
It was evident that this was a small-scale street exhibition venue, likely sponsored by a medium-sized family to showcase their inventions and creations, with the goal of increasing their sales.
After all, Progress Day was not just the day of evolution for the people of Piltover; it was also the day of evolution for everyone who came to Piltover. During Progress Day, everyone who arrived in Piltover could enjoy the happiness it brought.
It was a time of celebration, joy, and cheer. The atmosphere was so infectious that it lifted everyone's spirits, making them happy.
Just look, everyone is smiling. Bright smiles adorned the faces of every resident of Piltover.
And the merchants? They were even happier, particularly among the newcomers. After a year's wait, they could finally purchase things that were unavailable last year, and they could witness the new creations crafted by the people of Piltover this year. Although, if they wanted to buy, they might have to wait another year.
"Happy Progress Day!"
"That's right, happy Progress Day!"
"Hey, buddy, would you like some blueberry pancakes? Sweet and delicious, and reasonably priced at just eight copper coins during Progress Day!"
"Oh, that's really affordable! Thank you, I'll take two pancakes."
"Here are your pancakes. It's a total of fifteen coppers. I'll let you off with that one extra copper. Happy Progress Day!"
"Thank you, happy Progress Day!"
Yellow Scaffolds, Constellation Avenue, Dockside Harbor, and even the Luminrose Estate. In different parts of Piltover today, there was one common phrase echoing everywhere:
"Happy Progress Day!"
But if you were to look down the winding chasms of the Undercity, beneath the bustling city of Piltover, you'd find that in the depths of Zaun, it was unusually quiet.
The once bustling streets are no longer noisy. Black-market traders have halted their lively underground markets, and street thugs are nowhere to be seen.
Taverns and dance halls have closed their doors, and private shops have lowered their iron grates.
People walking in the streets occasionally hear a few cheers from above, followed by resentful glares in return.
They look to the sky with fierce expressions, as if they might attack at any moment. But when they lower their heads, their eyes are filled with sorrow.
In the Boundry Market, the closest place to Piltover, the lively corridor from the past is now mostly empty. Those who truly hold Zaun in their hearts have left the Boundary Market today.
They descend into the depths of the Sump, heading to the depths of Zaun that they used to fear, even if they were Zaunites themselves. Because they know that during Progress Day, even the fiercest Zaunites will put away their fangs.
Today is a day of remembrance.
They will place small boats named "Hope" in the foul, toxic waters of the Sump, the very waters that create the harsh living conditions for the Zaunites.
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