"Orianna. Orianna!"
Singed's eyes widened, his usual composure long gone. He bent down and suddenly hugged Orianna, his large hand stroking the back of Orianna head.
Orianna was taken aback at first, then gently reached out and patted Singed on the back.
"I'm sorry, Dad."
"I'm sorry? What have you done to apologize to me for? Orianna, it's me who's sorry. I didn't take good care of you and made you suffer," Singed said emotionally.
Li Ke didn't go forward to disturb the father and daughter's reunion. Instead, he glanced at Karma beside him and saw that Karma was looking at Orianna with a scrutinizing gaze and a bright look in her eyes.
Noticing Li Ke's gaze, Karma turned her head to look at Li Ke, and then she nodded.
She sensed something unusual about Orianna. It wasn't what Li Ke had said. The girl was truly dead. Her soul was filled with the aura of the Soul Blossom, a symbol of the soul's rebirth in the Soul Blossom Land after death.
But what could I do?
The person had already emerged from the Soul Blossom, yet was still personally brought here by the Spirit of Salvation.
"I'm leaving now, Irelia. I have something I want to say to you," Karma said, looking at Irelia.
"Me?" Irelia pointed to her cheek, somewhat surprised.
Karma nodded, Irelia hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to stand in front of Karma.
"What about me?" Akali asked, raising her hand in confusion.
There were only three Ionia present. What would happen to her after Karma and Irelia left?
"Haven't you already decided on your path?" Karma said meaningfully after hearing Akali's question, glancing at Li Ke after she finished speaking.
Li Ke followed up, saying, "Akali, if you don't mind, how about coming to Bilgewater with Jinx and me?"
"Leave Ionia?" Akali was taken aback.
When Li Ke mentioned the Bilgewater incident in the treehouse, Irelia and Karma's expressions clearly showed resistance; they were filled with aversion and opposition to war and violence. Akali, however, was different; she was somewhat excited at the time.
After all, she is a martial artist, and her training follows the principles of cultivation. Akali may not be bloodthirsty, and it might not be accurate to say that she likes violence, but it's definitely not true that she opposes or hates violence.
Karma said nothing more, reached out and opened a passage, and she led Irelia away from the coastline.
After exchanging Singed with Orianna, Singed, holding Orianna's hand, approached Li Ke. His usually cold and dangerous eyes were now filled with warmth. Singed gratefully said to Li Ke, "Li Ke, thank you."
"I... I really don't know how to express how I feel right now."
"It's alright, Professor, I understand." Li Ke reached out and placed his hand on Singed's shoulder, patting him gently, and said with a smile, "Professor, we're on the same side."
"Li Ke, thank you," Orianna said, looking at Li Ke.
Li Ke looked at her and blinked, and Orianna blinked back knowingly, giving Li Ke a sweet smile.
She looked only slightly older than Isha, but in terms of mental age, Orianna was far beyond her years.
She still remembered what Li Ke had told her, that she shouldn't reveal what was happening in the Soul Blossom; it was a secret between her, Li Ke, Ahri.
"Professor, what are you going to do next? Go straight back to Zaun?"
"Is there anything you need from me?" Singed asked earnestly in response to Li Ke's question.
"You probably already know about the Bilgewater situation. I had Janna tell Silco that Zaun isn't going to join the fun on Bilgewater. However, Jinx and I are planning to go to Bilgewater because Sarah is not only my business partner, but also Jinx's bridesmaid at her future wedding."
Upon hearing this, Singed immediately understood what Li Ke meant, but he hesitated and said:
"The poison I'm researching will attack indiscriminately. In places like Bilgewater, all I need to do is put the potion in their canals, and within a week, that city will be completely dead. But... that's definitely not what you want."
"Professor, don't be so extreme," Li Ke, looking at Singed speechlessly.
"I understand. In the future, I will focus on developing inventions that help people, rather than those that cause death," Singed said with a smile and a nod.
He then continued, "But if you don't need me to do this, then what do you need me to do?"
"Jinx is planning to build a small airship, but it will take her a lot of time to do it all by herself. Although you specialize in bio-genetic alchemy, Professor, I think you can definitely help Jinx."
Singed is indeed a specialist in alchemy, but that doesn't mean his mechanics are bad. Perhaps compared to Jinx, Viktor, and Jayce, Singed is inferior in this area, but in the entire Zaun and Piltover, his mastery of mechanics can be called that of a master.
Singed nodded in agreement after hearing Li Ke's words, then he tugged at Orianna's hand and said with a smile, "Orianna can be of help too."
Upon hearing this, Li Ke looked at Orianna and asked curiously, "Orianna, do you know about these things?"
"Yes, if I hadn't gotten sick back then, I would probably be a student at Piltover University now," Orianna said, looking up at Li Ke.
Li Ke thought about it and agreed. Like father, like daughter. Singed was a professor at Piltover University, and it was normal for Orianna to be interested in science under Singed tutelage since childhood.
Furthermore, in the backstory, Orianna clearly possesses knowledge of mechanics.
"Then, I'll have to ask you and the professor to help Jinx build the airship." Li Ke bent down and reached out to Orianna.
Orianna laughed, stretched out her small hand and gently patted Li Ke's large hand.
Afterwards, Li Ke and the other law enforcement officers, along with the strangely expressiond Akali, returned to the Bond Village with Janna's help.
Although Janna couldn't just open a portal like Karma and teleport everyone back, her ability to control the wind meant she wasn't too slow.
Upon returning to the Bond Village, Li Ke took Singed, Orianna, and several law enforcement officers to the repair shop. Jinx, who hadn't come along, was in the living room. While Li Ke and the others were on the coastline, she had already begun building the spaceship.
He changed into work clothes, tied his hair back, and his face and slender hands and feet were covered in oil stains.
"Yo, Doctor ~" Jinx greeted Singed, then glanced at Orianna and said with a smile, "Is this your daughter?"
"Orianna, call me sister," Singed said.
Orianna nodded obediently and sweetly called Jinx" sister".
Jinx chuckled, wiped the sweat from her brow with her arm, straightened up, put one hand on her hip, and said with a smile, "Okay, okay, but I'm very busy right now. By the way, Doctor, are you here to help me?"
"Hmm, you've just started building this?" Singed stepped forward, looking at the materials on the ground. These materials were found for Jinx by the villagers of Bond Village and the resistance members brought by Irelia.
Singed reached out and picked up the sketch Jinx had drawn, Singed as he looked at it.
To be honest, it's very sloppy, and it seems to be stealing the design techniques from Hex Airship.
"Very good, but is the structure stable?"
"Doctor, as long as it works, it's fine," Jinx said casually.
As she spoke, she forcefully twisted an object with a wrench to tighten the nailed wooden boards together. Then, as she reached for a part on the side, a small hand holding a size 3 screw appeared in front of Jinx.
"Huh?" Jinx looked at Orianna with some surprise. "You understood?"
"I don't quite understand yet, but I recognize the screw type. This one, and this one, they all use the same type of screw, right?" Orianna said.
"Hey, you're so smart. You and Isha will definitely get along well. When I get back to Zaun, I'll introduce Isha to you. She's my sister, and she's a little genius too." Jinx nodded, picked up the screw Orianna handed her, and started fiddling with it.
"Is there anything I can help you with?" Li Ke asked, stepping forward.
"Yes, Li Ke, there are a lot of heavy things outside that I can't carry. You can carry them," Jinx said immediately.
Li Ke shrugged. "Then you'll be disappointed. I'm not feeling well right now and can't lift anything too heavy."
As he spoke, Li Ke looked at Akali, who seemed to be on the sidelines and had deliberately kept her presence to herself, and said, "Akali, can I ask you for help?"
"."
"What's in it for me?" Akali asked, squinting.
"Dinner will be provided," Li Ke said.
"Okay." Akali agreed, and walked out the door to carry the heavy things Jinx had mentioned, which she placed outside the treehouse in a large, scattered pile.
Three days later, at the entrance of Bond Village, villagers gathered around with curiosity, watching Li Ke and Jinx in the crowd ahead.
Sett was also beside his mother, Big Eyes ahead, his ears twitching, which looked rather cute.
"Jinx, are you sure this thing you built won't fall apart while it's flying?" Li Ke asked, looking at the "flying ship" with great concern.
Jinx pounded her fair hands on the airship, making Li Ke watch with fear that it might suddenly fall apart.
"Don't worry, Li Ke, even if it falls apart, we still have our flyboards, right? We won't die from the fall," Jinx said confidently.
In three days, with the help of Singed, Orianna, the villagers of Bond Village the Sump, she built a spaceship. The spaceship wasn't large, but to be honest, it was more like a hot air balloon, according to Li Ke.
Furthermore, the design and appearance of this thing also have a strong Jinx personal style.
The ship's hull, made of thin, gray-white sheet metal and wooden planks, was covered with graffiti depicting various animals, including a rabbit with one eye, a ferocious blue cat with its Kog'Maw, and a pinkish-blue evil smiling face, among others.
The spaceship is still powered by Hextech Gem. Although Jinx seems to have discovered a new energy source in Ionia, she hasn't been able to develop it successfully because there are no experimental instruments available. Therefore, choosing Hextech Gem is perfectly reasonable for the stability of the spaceship.
Stable, reliable, and with powerful energy, this thing is a revolutionary invention, a treasure that won't become obsolete even a hundred years from now.
"Come on, get on board!"
Jinx was the first to board the airship. Since she was going to help Sarah fight, she specially changed into her combat uniform: a tactical vest on top and black slim-fit pants on the bottom. She also had a delicate blue bracelet tied around her right wrist. She gave off a clean and neat feeling. Even if you didn't look at her cute face, Jinx would have a kind of cold and mature aura.
But if you look at her face, her manic, confident smile breaks the ice.
Li Ke was the second to board the ship. Although he still felt the thing was dangerous, he was willing to trust Jinx.
But after the two boarded the boat, one of them refused to get on.
Li Ke looked at her and said with amusement:
"What's wrong? Come up here."
Akali shook her head coolly and refused.
Are you kidding me? Using this thing?
Something made in three days might look pretty good, but Akali was involved in its creation; how could she not know the actual workings behind it?
This is just a dilapidated house pieced together with nails! Who knows if those nails and screws were even tightened?
Akali didn't understand any of this, but that didn't stop her from thinking this thing was dangerous!
What's more, these guys said this thing is supposed to fly into the sky. Even putting aside Akali's belief that it's impossible for it to fly, just assuming it could, what if it suddenly fell apart while flying? Wouldn't that be a guaranteed disaster?
"Don't worry, you'll be the first Ionia to ride a flying vehicle after you get here. When you meet Shen, you can say he's old-fashioned and outdated. You'll know more than Shen." Li Ke thought for a moment and said to Akali.
Akali's eyes flickered upon hearing this.
Li Ke noticed her little expression and found it amusing, but on the surface he added seriously, "Shen keeps talking about balance, saying you're not qualified enough to distinguish right from wrong in this world, but if he doesn't know as much as you do, then he has the right."
"Stop talking, let's set sail!" Akali leaped lightly and appeared beside Li Ke and Jinx.
Li Ke breathed a sigh of relief.
It's a joke that Li Ke's weakened state doesn't know when it will end, but Li Ke estimates it won't be long, because he can already feel his power recovering. Therefore, until his power returns, Akali is the strongest one.
In a one-on-one fight, Akali can even beat Vander, but that doesn't mean Akali is much stronger Vander.
Combat power is not simply a matter of numerical values; it's not about comparing numbers, and it's not like playing a card game.
A case in point is when two people of similar strength can fight to the death and the outcome is difficult to determine. Does that mean that just because A is slightly stronger than B, A can easily defeat B in a fight to the death?
Of course not. Mindset, courage, and wisdom are also key factors in determining victory or defeat.
Vander could easily take on a hundred Noxians single-handedly if he charged into their ranks; Akali definitely couldn't do that.
Akali is made of flesh and blood. Even if she were to fight a hundred people, a single arrow or a graze from a blade would injure her, but Vander would not.
However, in a one-on-one fight, Akali has learned the art of killing; her attacks target the opponent's weaknesses and are all aimed at eliminating them.
In a one-on-one situation, there are very few people in Valoran who can beat Akali. Even if you bring in Garen, that human monster, his fighting skills are unlikely to be better than Akali's.
At this moment, in this space that is only four square meters in size, three people can stand, and with all sorts of things piled up, it doesn't feel crowded.
Li Ke looked at Jinx.
Jinx raised her long leg, her black boots slamming onto the spaceship's control panel. She pulled hard on the chains with both hands, followed by a rumbling sound.
As the bottom of the spaceship began to shake, Akali instantly grabbed the handrail beside her, a hint of worry showing in her beautiful eyes behind her mask.
She's not afraid of heights. But right now she's really scared.
The villagers of Bond Village were also watching.
Babu looked around, and then he saw the spaceship lift off the ground.
"My God! That thing actually flew up!"
"How did you do that?"
"This... this was really made with our stuff?"
Sett was also shocked as he watched the flying "monster." As he looked at it and listened to the sounds around him, Li Ke's voice suddenly echoed in Sett's mind. He remembered Li Ke pointing at his head and smiling as he spoke to the students in the classroom.
What did Teacher Li Ke say back then?
Oh, yes--
"Strength isn't just about physical ability, kids, sometimes that's very important too."
Now, Sett has witnessed the power that Li Ke had described.
It flew up
That strange, dilapidated landship actually took to the air!
"Wuhu~!!!"
Above the Bond Village, the blue-haired madman's loud voice rang out. Jinx looked out boldly, waving her hand. Half of her body was outside the spaceship, and her coat was rattling loudly in the wind. Li Ke quickly stepped forward and hugged Jinx around the waist.
"It's flying! Li Ke, see? I told you it would be fine!"
"Who do you think I am? I'm Jinx!"
"I am the most powerful genius in Zaun!"
The spaceship took off and reached a height of several tens of meters in the air. Jinx burst into laughter, her voice filled with pride.
Below, the villagers of Bond Village watched this scene, including several elderly people of similar age to Babu. They even knelt down and worshipped the spaceship in the sky.
They simply couldn't understand how this was done. In the minds of the Ionia, flight was an ability that only Deity could possess, something even the elders of those reclusive sects couldn't do.
Babu was the same; he stared in shock at the sky as the black dot grew smaller and smaller, moving away from Bond Village and flying towards the sea.
This incident shocked most of the villagers in Bond Village.
Zaun's technology is truly awe-inspiring!
But among this group, there was one who felt not awe and reverence for the flying monster, but rather excitement and curiosity.
The children of Bond Village stared intently at the sky.
But a seed has already taken root in their hearts and begun to sprout.