บท 36: CHAPTER 36 - Power Armor
"Mom, Dad..." Caitlyn whispered absentmindedly.
Jayce angrily slammed the floor, "I don't understand. Why did these thugs only kidnap Lady Cassandra and Mr. Tobias?"
Li Lin remained silent, shaking his head.
His knowledge of Caitlyn's arch-nemesis "C" was limited to the official background story. Even though Caitlyn eventually became the Sheriff of Piltover, the true identity of "C" never surfaced.
Li Lin had a bold speculation that this "C" might be someone close to Caitlyn. After all, the most dangerous place is often the safest, and one tends to overlook what is closest.
But thinking about it now wouldn't be of much use.
After a while, most people in the hall gradually recovered from their numbness and began to stir. Several council members gathered together, retreating to the lounge under the protection of Sheriff Grayson and a large number of enforcers.
Li Lin, Caitlyn, and Jayce greeted the enforcers and followed them into the room, hoping to offer assistance.
In the lounge, the bald and chubby Councilor Salo paced with a gloomy face, muttering loudly, "These damn Undercity people! They dare to attack even the Progress Day Assembly. Who gave them the audacity?!"
Councilor Shoola adjusted his Hextech enhancement device, glaring with suppressed anger, "Exactly! They even dare to lay hands on us, the council members. Is there anything they won't dare to do?"
Hoskel, with yellow hair, also cursed, "I think we should teach Zaun a lesson. This is for the honor of Piltover and the dignity of our council!"
"Oh, oh, oh... Everyone, calm down a bit. I believe violence isn't the solution. It's not a wise choice," Professor Heimerdinger tried to dissuade everyone, but his sharp little voice was completely drowned out by the anger of the crowd.
Meanwhile, Mel, who had been silent, had a peculiar glint in her eyes.
When she noticed Li Lin, Caitlyn, and Jayce, but not the Kiramman couple, her eyebrows raised slightly. "Miss Kiramman, where are your parents?"
At this point, the attention of everyone shifted from planning retaliation against the Undercity to Caitlyn.
"Right, Councilor Kiramman..." Councilor Bolbok muttered, suddenly recalling that a few attackers had taken away two people.
As a "Mechanical Ascendant," he had long replaced most of his body with mechanical parts. Hypnotic pollen didn't affect him; he simply pretended to be affected to blend into the crowd.
He noticed someone being dragged away at that time, but he wasn't sure who it was.
"Now I know," Heimerdinger added, "The Kiramman couple was talking to me about academy matters. When I woke up from my faint, they were gone without a trace."
"The Kiramman couple has been abducted," Bolbok's mechanical voice was rough and low.
"What?!" Salo and Hoskel exclaimed simultaneously, their faces looking grim.
Wosledon frowned and paused his current task, "This is a premeditated kidnapping, just like last time!"
"It seems that the Oderonk family is not the mastermind, or perhaps they have accomplices in the Undercity," Mel calmly analyzed.
"Where's Grayson? Quickly ask her to send enforcers to find Councilor Kiramman!" Salo shouted outside.
"I've already asked Sheriff Grayson for help," Caitlyn stopped Salo from yelling loudly, sighing with lowered eyes.
Mel approached Caitlyn, gently placing a hand on her shoulder and soothingly reassured, "Don't worry, your parents will be fine."
"Thank you," Caitlyn looked up and met Mel's gaze.
"Rest assured, Miss Kiramman, we will find your parents at any cost," Shoola declared from the side.
Mel withdrew her hand, her expression caring. "Go home and rest. If we get any leads, we'll inform you immediately."
"Alright," Caitlyn sniffled and nodded.
Subsequently, under the scrutiny of a few council members, she left the lounge without looking back.
Li Lin and Jayce quickly followed.
"Caitlyn, where are you going next? Back home?" Caitlyn walked briskly, and Jayce hurriedly caught up, inquiring from behind.
"I don't trust the efficiency of these enforcers," Caitlyn was direct. "I'll search for clues myself to find my parents."
"It's very dangerous, Caitlyn. If this is connected to the Chem-Barons of the Undercity, do you intend to challenge them?" Jayce earnestly advised.
"Jayce, I know you're concerned about my safety, but I must do this."
Caitlyn's voice held a hint of tears, but she concealed her vulnerability, not wanting to reveal her softer side.
"This..." Jayce looked at Li Lin with a complex expression, hoping he could help convince Caitlyn.
Li Lin pondered for a moment and spoke, "I understand your feelings, Caitlyn..."
"Don't try to persuade me either. I've already made up my mind."
Caitlyn's voice, mixed with a trace of sobbing, but she managed to suppress it, not wanting to show her fragile side.
"Well..."
Jayce looked incredulously at Li Lin, hoping he could help persuade Caitlyn.
Misunderstanding, Li Lin grabbed Caitlyn's wrist, forcibly stopping her, "No, you misunderstood me."
Caitlyn's eyes were slightly swollen, and her determined expression tugged at his heartstrings.
"I will help, Caitlyn, but we need to be prepared."
"Li Lin, even you..." Jayce stared at him in disbelief.
Li Lin, with both hands on Caitlyn's shoulders, stared straight into her tearful azure eyes.
"The process of finding Mrs. Cassandra and Mr. Tobias is extremely dangerous. The mastermind behind this has hired mercenaries from Zaun. They not only possess alchemical enhancements but also firearms."
"That's not all; since the mastermind dared to capture a council member, it proves that they must have a contingency plan against the enforcers. We can't foolishly jump into a trap."
Caitlyn wiped her nose and, after listening to Li Lin's words, calmed down a bit. "Then what do you suggest we do?"
"Go back and get your Bilgewater Mouser rifle," Li Lin turned to Jayce, "I remember you have a hammer in your workshop that can transform into an energy cannon?"
"That's a tool I've been working on recently, intended for miners. It's just lacking an energy core... That's why I didn't want to give you the Hex crystal earlier."
As he spoke, Jayce suddenly raised his eyebrows, guessing Li Lin's intention, and his face turned pale, "You don't mean..."
Li Lin took out the energy crystal from the slot in his belt where the Hextech revolver was stored and tossed it to him.
"This should be enough. Will you help?"
"Well, I..."
As soon as Li Lin's voice was heard, Jayce interrupted him, "I'll help."
He glanced at the energy crystal in his hand, "Although my hammer is still a prototype, but it should be enough."
"Thank you, Jayce." Caitlyn covered her mouth, almost crying out loud.
"It's what I should do." Jayce looked at Li Lin again, "What about you? I see that you don't plan to use this gun?"
"My new invention is still in the experimental stage. Now is the perfect time to test its capabilities."
Li Lin looked back in the direction of the Kiramman estate, his deep gaze seemingly penetrating layers of obstacles, finally focusing on a stationary suit of armor.
"It's time to try out my power armor..."
(End of this chapter)
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