บท 360: CHAPTER 360 - I Was Here First!
Congratulations! You have encountered 35 heroes, leveled up by 2, and gained 2 skill points.]
Indeed, leveling up by meeting "heroes" is much more stable...
Li Lin glanced at his 252 skill points, suppressing the urge to allocate them immediately. He temporarily ignored the system notification in his mind.
Just as he was about to catch up with Jarvan IV, Zoe, like a startled kitten, grabbed his sleeve.
"What's wrong?"
Li Lin turned back, confused, only to meet Zoe's displeased expression.
"I don't agree!"
"...Huh? What are you disagreeing with?" Li Lin was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized, "Are you talking about Sona?"
At the mention of her name, Zoe immediately puffed her cheeks. "What's so great about that big... cow? Besides her size, what does she have? She can't even talk, and you just met her—how could you... mmph!"
Before she could finish, Li Lin flicked her forehead, causing her to let out a small cry of pain, swallowing the rest of her words.
Sometimes, children's jealousy and possessiveness are really strong, and Zoe, who always maintains a youthful heart, is no exception.
Previously, when Li Lin had established a relationship with Caitlyn before Zoe's arrival, she had nothing to say.
But now, due to some ambiguous interaction between him and Sona, triggered by a lack of proper communication, Zoe's dissatisfaction was flaring up again.
"I was here first!" Zoe's eyes welled up with tears, and she grumbled angrily.
Li Lin glanced around, trying not to draw attention to himself and Zoe. He placed a hand on her shoulder, bending down slightly.
"Haven't I taught you to be polite to others? How could you speak like that about Sona?"
"But!" Zoe noticed that Li Lin seemed genuinely upset and softened her tone a bit, "But you already have me... and Caitlyn."
"Don't talk back to me." Li Lin shot her a stern look. "You should have sensed the sudden bond between Sona and me. I was just using that as an excuse; you know that wasn't my intention."
As he spoke, Li Lin looked up, catching a glimpse of Sona among the arriving Buvelle family members entering the Radiant Hall.
Sona no longer appeared as shy as when they first met. The corners of her pink lips slightly lifted as she gave Li Lin a small smile.
He returned the gesture, quickly shifting his gaze toward Jarvan IV's direction before Zoe could notice.
The prince was already engaged in conversation with Garen, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. Upon noticing Li Lin, Jarvan waved him over once again.
"Alright, Zoe, I really don't have those kinds of feelings for Sona." Li Lin gently rubbed her head, softening his tone. "You don't need to be upset over this."
Zoe still looked doubtful, wearing an expression of uncertainty. "Really?"
"Of course it's true. Why would I lie to you?"
"Alright, I believe you." Zoe let out a soft huff. "But... don't let me catch you sneaking around like a cat!"
If anyone's like a cat, it's you—with that quick temper! Li Lin pinched Zoe's cheek, causing her to giggle, before standing and walking toward Jarvan IV and Garen.
Before he could get close, Jarvan IV approached him, with a curious-looking Garen in tow.
"This is Li Lin, the man I told you about. He saved me from that bloodsucking monster."
Jarvan's grin widened as he patted Garen on the shoulder, introducing them to one another.
"Li Lin, this is Garen Crownguard, the man I mentioned. Over the years, he's made significant contributions along the Freljord border, cleansing the cultists of the Silent Forest and fighting bravely alongside the defenders of Whitestone. My father summoned him back recently to honor him."
Garen scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "You're too kind, Your Highness. It wasn't that extraordinary."
"On the way back, I constantly heard His Highness praise your deeds, Sir Garen."
Li Lin clasped his hands together and respectfully bowed.
"No, no, I'm nothing compared to you." Garen quickly returned the gesture, with a bitter smile. "His Highness mentioned you have a mechanical army of your own? Could you tell me more about it?"
Garen's eyes gleamed as he gazed intently at Li Lin, filled with anticipation, which stirred a sense of awe in Li Lin's heart.
The future pillar of Demacia, the Captain of the Dauntless Vanguard, and the man known as the Might of Demacia, was now speaking to him so respectfully.
In just over two years, have I really experienced so much?
Li Lin took a deep breath, clearing his mind of distractions, his polite smile never fading. "Of course."
He then described Piltover's common mechanical soldiers and the Storm Squad that escorted Jarvan IV.
However, the two battlefield mechs, which had only been briefly glimpsed by Jarvan and his squad when he chased away Noladi, the Lady of Blood, were only mentioned in passing.
He barely touched on the Gaboga, the dragon-slaying machine, and completely omitted any mention of the Overlord Mech.
Demacia wasn't exactly united, and there were always listening ears, especially in a crowded banquet hall like this.
There were quite a few power-hungry leaders here; Li Lin wasn't about to reveal any of his trump cards.
"It's even bigger than the Galio statue and can easily kill dragons?!" Garen gasped. "Is that true?"
"It was witnessed by the scouts at the Guardian Wall and reported directly to my father," Jarvan IV added.
"Then... between the Dauntless Vanguard and your mechanical army, who do you think has the upper hand?" Garen hesitated briefly. "I don't mean any offense. I just want to make a comparison and estimate the strength of both sides."
"That question is hardly a mystery." Before Li Lin could respond, Jarvan IV jumped in.
"I've seen those machines in action. A single energy beam can pierce through the armored soldiers of Noxus, and that's not even their full power."
Garen's face was full of surprise. "…What is this?"
"Moreover, what was it again that Li Lin's troops could use... glowing combat gear?"
"It's optical camouflage, Your Highness."
Jarvan IV nodded in realization. "Oh yes, optical camouflage! They can blend into the environment, entering a stealth state. And they can fly too."
"Not to mention, the mechanical troops don't need rest, but human flesh can't withstand prolonged combat... What do you think?"
"Is this... magic?"
At this moment, Garen was in a daze, unable to imagine what it would be like if the Dauntless Vanguard were to encounter Li Lin's mechanical army on the battlefield.
"I've heard that Piltover has further mastered the technique of controlling magic with technology. Is that true?"
As he spoke, Garen unconsciously glanced at Zoe, who stood quietly beside Li Lin, her gaze fixed on the king. Despite her small and delicate frame, he was reminded, thanks to Jarvan IV's earlier comment, that she appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen, around the same age as his sister Lux, perhaps even younger. Yet this little girl was actually a "demon" who had lived for over a thousand years.
She was the host of the cosmic power, inheritor of the Star of Calamity—the Twilight Star Spirit!
As his thoughts wandered, Garen's eyes shifted to a distant corner, where Morgana was quietly sipping wine, seemingly indifferent to everything happening around her.
And there was another figure, one whose identity had already been confirmed—the younger of the legendary Demacian Winged Sisters, now returned.
It was said that Li Lin had persuaded her to return to Demacia.
Garen could no longer find the words to describe his feelings.
"Well... to be precise, my mechanical army used to have some connection to magic. But now, they are purely technological creations, with no ties to magic at all," Li Lin explained.
Ever since fusion technology had been developed, combined with the advent of synthetic materials strong enough to withstand the high pressures of fusion reactions, and the creation of inexpensive yet durable zero-element composites, his mechanical army no longer relied on Hextech crystals.
By extracting elements from the ocean and synthesizing new materials with various metals, the cost had been drastically reduced, and it provided a near-limitless energy source.
In the future, when Li Lin completes research on more efficient cold fusion technology, he will be able to shrink fusion reactors further, allowing even smaller mechanical units to be equipped with cores capable of providing virtually infinite energy.
An army more elite than Demacia's Dauntless Vanguard, and without the use of magic... it was hard for Garen to believe, let alone accept.
Just then, Jarvan III, alongside Crownguard's patriarch, Garen's father Pieter, and Tiyana, approached Li Lin after finishing their conversation.
"Are you discussing the mechanical army?" Jarvan III asked with a warm smile. "I've heard from my son that Li Lin's mechanical forces are considered the best in the world!"
"So young and talented, Piltover is truly blessed to have someone like you, a brilliant mind in this 'City of Progress!'" Pieter praised, clapping his hands sincerely.
"You flatter me, Your Majesty, Lord Crownguard," Li Lin humbly shook his head. "In comparison to the recently revived Shuriman Empire and their Ascended warriors, my mechanical army still pales in comparison."
"Sigh, the Ascended warriors have long vanished since the Darkin Wars. The only remaining gods are Azir, who has returned, and the Grand Master Nasus, whom my son has mentioned, correct?" Jarvan III waved dismissively, as if it didn't matter, clearly unfamiliar with the subject.
"And besides, we're only talking about the continent of Valoran... Your mechanical army could easily stand at the pinnacle of this world."
The surrounding nobles cast looks of astonishment and disbelief toward Li Lin, murmuring among themselves and pointing in his direction.
Some felt fear and unease, but most saw it as an opportunity. After all, their prince was on good terms with him.
They were all wondering how they might win over this young man, who could rival a nation on his own.
Jarvan III, leading the conversation, soon shifted to other casual topics, such as the relocation of Pieter's wife, Augatha, and their youngest daughter Luxanna, from the ancestral estate in High Silvermere to the capital, and the recent issues facing the kingdom.
It wasn't until the eve of Prince Jarvan IV's victory banquet that Jarvan III stood at the grand podium directly opposite the main entrance of the grand hall, calling all the nobles to gather.
After a short but impassioned speech, his face grew serious as he announced, "Before we begin my son Jarvan IV's victory celebration, I have a few important matters to declare!"
(End of Chapter)
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