Zaun - Viktor

As he spoke, a faint smile curled at the corner of Ryan's lips. With a turn of his palm, a deep blue crystal orb appeared in his hand.

"A Hex Crystal? How is that possible!?" Viktor exclaimed, his expression as if he had seen something that should not exist.

"There's nothing to be surprised about. Hex Crystals were never the creation of you and Jayce alone. Though you've walked further down this path, you still cannot control it," Ryan said meaningfully.

"But... the Council should have controlled all production and use of the crystals," Viktor said hesitantly.

Ryan casually handed the crystal to Viktor, the smile on his lips widening. "And that is why you are a scientist."

He pointed at the group of nobles feasting, dancing, and clinking glasses. "They are politicians."

"And I," he finally pointed at himself.

Seeing Ryan fall silent, Viktor ventured a guess: "A mage?"

"No." Ryan shook his head and replied with a smile. "A Noxian!"

"It seems Lord Ryan has a strong sense of belonging to the Noxus Empire," Viktor said, thinking of Zaun and feeling a pang of melancholy.

"It's not just belonging. The Empire gives me the confidence to speak. To be honest, I lack General Darius's exceptional martial prowess, I cannot match Professor Heimerdinger's technological mastery, and I am far inferior to Karma the Enlightened in magical power. Yet, standing on Piltover's soil, no one can say no to me," Ryan said calmly.

Viktor gave Ryan a long, deep look but made no comment on his words.

Noxus was undoubtedly powerful, but it was powerful precisely because it gathered people as formidable as Ryan. That Ryan could represent Noxus was itself because he was one of the strongest in Noxus.

He, on the other hand, was different. His heart was with Zaun, and he wanted to change it. But his identity was merely a research assistant, his reputation and prestige far inferior to Jayce's.

At this rate, how could he ever transform Zaun?

Viktor fell silent, and a thought he shouldn't have suddenly sprouted in his mind.

After deliberating for a moment, he glanced around. Apart from Katarina, who looked distracted and bored, no one else was paying them any attention.

He hesitated for a long while before finally speaking with a confused expression:

"Lord Ryan, I would like to ask you something."

He didn't know why he was asking this man. They were similar in age, yet he felt completely transparent before him.

"I am happy to clear up your doubts," Ryan said with a warm smile.

He was pleased to see this genius open his heart to him. The doors of Noxus were always open for him.

Viktor's face showed his distress: "You said earlier that we cannot control Hex Crystals. Actually, Professor Heimerdinger said something similar a few hours ago. But I could sense the difference between the two of you. The professor believes that further development of Hextech will lead to extremely serious consequences. In your tone, however, I heard something else."

"I agree with Heimerdinger's view, but the position I stand on sees things slightly differently from him," Ryan said.

"We just want to apply it to people's livelihoods. That way, the lives of Zaun's people could become much better," Viktor said, slightly agitated.

"I understand your feelings. It's the same as my feelings for Noxus." Ryan reached out and patted Viktor on the shoulder, then changed his tone. "But have you ever considered—can you control it?"

"They are already very stable. They rarely cause accidental damage," Viktor said, his face brimming with confidence when it came to his field of expertise.

Ryan shook his head. "No, no, no. I am not Heimerdinger. I am not considering the dangers of accidents. I am asking you: if the people of Zaun mastered Hextech, what would they do?"

"They would—"

Viktor was about to talk about how technology could save manpower and paint a grand picture of Zaun escaping poverty.

But when he saw Ryan's knowing, almost mocking smile, he realized that wasn't what the man wanted to hear.

Ryan suddenly turned his head toward Katarina, who was beside him, and asked casually: "100 Reaver Guard warriors against 1,000 ordinary tribal warriors from Freljord. With no leader intervening, what would be the outcome of this battle?"

The Reaver Guard was the most elite army under the Noxian emperor, while Freljord, located in the far north of the Valoran Continent, was home to mostly uncivilized tribes.

Katarina sneered. "Don't say 100. Even 10 Reaver Guard could slaughter the enemy."

"And why is that?" Ryan asked with a smile.

"The equipment gap is too large. Even if the Freljordians break their stone spears, they can't pierce the Reaver Guard's armor, let alone the fact that the Reaver Guard has plenty of special alchemical equipment." Katarina curled her lip. "If you want a fair fight, you'd have to pit them against the Avarosan tribe's warriors, and even then, you'd need five times their number."

Ryan turned his gaze back to Viktor and said earnestly:

"I think this analogy should clear up the doubts in your heart, scientist!"

He stressed the last three words, as if deliberately trying to wake the other from his naivety.

Viktor gave a bitter smile and lowered his head, struggling to explain:

"As long as restrictions are put in place, Hextech can be kept from being used in war."

Even as he said it, he felt how hollow and powerless the words sounded. If Ryan could get his hands on a Hex Crystal, how could they, mere Piltover researchers, find a way to restrict it?

"I always thought that line would come from Jayce's mouth," Ryan said, somewhat surprised. "Do you still remember the environment you were born into?"

"Vividly."

Viktor's face showed a trace of nostalgia. How could he forget what he had seen and heard in Zaun? That was precisely why he wanted to use technology to change it.

"Think about your original intentions. Think about why you stayed in Piltover. You are a smart man. You've just been in Piltover's environment for too long."

Out of the corner of his eye, Ryan spotted Mel and Jayce emerging from somewhere. He stood up and said with a smile:

"It was a pleasure talking with you today. If you ever need any help, you can find me at the Noxus Embassy."

"Today, it was you who resolved the doubts in my heart. I should be the one thanking you," Viktor said, looking a little embarrassed.

The moment Ryan had finished his last sentence, everything had already clicked into place in his mind.

He was right—he had spent too long in Piltover and forgotten that he was a Zaunite.

Watching Ryan's retreating back, Viktor's gaze carried a trace of gratitude, along with the resolve to see something through.

Night fell, and the most important moment of Piltover's Progress Day arrived.

The Progress Day speech—today's speaker was Piltover's most renowned figure, Jayce Talis.

Inside the Piltover Lecture Hall, everyone watched with expectant eyes as the tall young man stepped onto the podium, eager to hear what great new invention Piltover had to unveil this year.