A Lethal Weapon for Craftsmen

Deep blue light flared from his ring and eyes as a massive runic array enveloped the rooftop, runes rising in linked chains.

Trapped within the magic-saturated runic array, Silco found even breathing difficult as he stared in shock at Ryan, who was casting the spell.

WUMM!

The runes' radiance faded after only a brief moment, but in Ryan's hand now rested a strange Mechanical Claw.

"This is..."

Viktor looked at the mechanical claw in Ryan's hand—his own Hextech masterpiece—his expression somewhat complicated.

Hex Crystals were unstable natural magical energy sources, but building on that foundation, he and Jayce had improved and innovated to create the Hex Gemstone, which provided stable energy.

And the Mechanical Claw in Ryan's hand, designed to be mounted on a shoulder, was powered by a Hex Gemstone. Not only was it as flexible as a third human hand, it could also fire high-energy rays that could cut through iron like mud.

It was supposed to have been displayed on Progress Day, but because of Jayce, it might have been sealed away forever.

"The weapon most suited to you. One final process and it will be complete."

Ryan paid no heed to Silco's presence. His fingers shimmered with the blue light of magic as he traced complex strokes in the air, forming a mysterious rune.

The rune descended slowly, attaching itself to the palm of the Mechanical Claw, permanently fusing with the Hex Gemstone.

"Besides making the crystal more stable and allowing a greater draw of energy per use, I've also added a magical force field rune. When you suffer unexpected damage, the field will automatically expand, freezing everything around you."

Watching Viktor skillfully mount the mechanical arm onto his shoulder, Ryan said with a smile:

"It's hard to test the force field. Try out the ray's power now."

Viktor nodded. Under everyone's gaze, the mechanical hand's palm rotated, aiming at an iron pole ten meters away.

ZZZT!

An orange-yellow ray reached the iron pole in an instant. The mechanical hand moved horizontally, and the pole—thick as a man's embrace—was instantly severed in two. The upper half collapsed powerlessly, crashing onto the empty ground with a roar.

Viktor looked at the explosive result before him and couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh: "The original design was just meant to make things easier for craftsmen."

Silco stared in horror at the fallen iron pole, a fear of Noxus surging in his heart.

You call this a tool for craftsmen? Wouldn't that mean every craftsman could have this kind of destructive power?

Then shouldn't miners carry gauntlets that can lift ten thousand pounds, shattering a mine with one punch?

In that moment, he deeply realized how weak Zaun was.

The gap between Zaun and a powerful empire like Noxus was clearly not a small one.

He withdrew those improper thoughts and put a friendly expression on his face:

"This Butler, how should I address you? We'll need to help each other in the future. If there's anything you need from me, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Vis. You may call me Butler."

"Butler, I'll have to trouble you with Sevika's mechanical arm," Silco said.

On the other side, Sevika forced a smile onto her face and bowed her head in greeting to Viktor. This wasn't Katarina, who used knives—she had no desire to be cut in half.

Seeing this, Viktor nodded silently, a bitter feeling stirring in his heart.

What was this?

In less than an hour, from a research assistant to a Butler who held Zaun's fate in his hands—was this the confidence Noxus brought?

Knowing something in your heart and actually experiencing it were two completely different things.

Piltover and Zaun weren't that big. He had seen Silco and Sevika a few times before.

But every time they met, he was always like a down-and-out research assistant, while they were the powerful local bosses.

Now, watching the two of them show him respect, his mindset couldn't help but shift.

His gaze turned back to Ryan, filled with gratitude. He wanted to say something, but the other man just smiled and waved his hand:

"Alright. Leave the rest here to Vis. He can represent my will. Noxus doesn't look down on Zaun. We'll achieve mutual benefit."

"I understand!" Silco's face showed relief. "Sir, tonight I'll show you Zaun's sincerity."

"Your will. And mutual benefit. Right."

Viktor met Ryan's gaze, seeming to understand something, and bowed his head in acknowledgment.

As Ryan finished speaking, runes rose from his body once more, and he and Katarina dissolved into specks of light.

"Sevika, you know what to do."

After Ryan left, Silco said flatly, then began leading the way, preparing to take Viktor to his temporary quarters.

"Madam Sevika..."

Viktor's eyes flickered as he called out to the dark-skinned woman who was about to leap out the window:

"Let me repair your mechanical arm first. To face Piltover's strong enemies, you need to be in peak condition."

"Whatever you say."

Sevika grinned, picked up the broken half of her mechanical arm, and followed Viktor and the others.

"Butler, what materials will you need?"

"Iron ore, one hundred kilograms. Piltover-grade mechanical steel would be best if you have it. Her equipment design isn't refined enough—Shimmer can be stored inside the arm, not injected mid-combat."

As he spoke, Viktor casually listed several forging tools that could be found in Piltover.

"We have all of those. Mechanical-grade steel is available right now. How much time do you need? I have to show that esteemed one my sincerity tonight."

Silco led Viktor into a reasonably tidy room, then immediately ordered Sevika to prepare the materials.

"An hour is enough. What concerns me now is another matter."

Viktor turned around, leaning on his cane with one hand. His frame was withered from illness and injury, yet it carried an inexplicable presence.

"I think we should get to know each other, don't you, Butler?"

Silco smiled, pulled over two wooden stools, and waited until Viktor sat before taking the other.

"I imagine that esteemed one has further instructions. What can I do for you? In Zaun, I still have a modicum of influence."

"You'll find out soon enough. But before that—"

Viktor's face grew stern, his gaze fixed on Silco:

"I want to know how you see the future of Piltover and Zaun. I've read about your deeds—you overthrew Vander under the banner of revitalizing Zaun. Yet in recent years, you've retreated without advancing, becoming another Vander—the kind that oppresses Zaunites."

"Oppressing Zaunites? I've never done that." Silco let out a scornful laugh. "You can slander me all you want, but don't compare me to Vander. I want to revitalize Zaun more than he ever did."

Viktor remained unmoved, speaking flatly: "He at least organized a bridge charge over a decade ago. What about you?"

"Yeah, the Boundary Bridge charge—storming Piltover with force to demand fairness." Silco's emotions flared, his face twisting with bitterness. "But blood had already been spilled. Why the hell did he choose weakness? If he'd pushed through to the end back then, Zaun wouldn't be what it is today."

Hearing this, Viktor fell silent.

When Vander had incited that uprising, Viktor was already Heimerdinger's student.

Back then, he was naive. Listening to Heimerdinger say that violence couldn't solve problems, he'd agreed wholeheartedly.

But now, recalling that time, he remembered Heimerdinger had also said that any threat to Piltover's peace should be eliminated. And later, he learned—

"At the time, three Council members agreed to reach a settlement with Zaun. If you'd stirred things up again, your chances of success would have been high."

So. Vander had been only one step away from success, yet he chose to retreat.

"Yeah, that's what I think too. After that incident, a Piltover Councilor approached him, spouting nonsense like 'Zaun can never win.' And Vander actually believed that crap, holing up in his tavern ever since, acting like a cowardly waste."

Silco took a deep breath.

"So I killed Vander. I wanted to do it myself."

"But you never followed through." Viktor's gaze held confusion.

He felt that the truth about Zaun in recent years was slowly being unveiled, allowing him to understand his hometown from another angle—rather than spouting empty slogans about using technology to improve people's lives.