The Maiden's Troubles

"Breathing Filter, Quick-Acting Capsule, Type A and B Instant Rations... Ah!"

Orianna, who was sorting a large pile of items into her backpack, suddenly exclaimed. Someone had hugged her from behind. Yet, she was supposed to be alone in the dormitory.

"Hmph, Orianna, what are you secretly up to behind my back?"

Ling Ying rested her chin on Orianna's shoulder and playfully blew into her ear, causing Orianna's delicate body to tremble slightly.

"Phew... Cecilia, you're teasing me again!"

Orianna chided her playfully and gently pushed Ling Ying aside. A blush spread across her face.

"Ahaha,"

Ling Ying winked playfully. Then, her gaze shifted to the pile of items on the table, and she asked with some confusion.

"What are you..."

"Ah, you're back just in time, so I'll tell you."

Orianna's expression suddenly turned serious. She took a deep breath and said word by word.

"I'm going to Zaun."

"You're going to..."

Ling Ying was stunned by Orianna's words and couldn't speak for a long time. After all, those five simple words carried an immense amount of information. She knew Orianna had always been curious about the outside world, but why would she suddenly decide to go to Zaun? Wait, Zaun? Ling Ying suddenly remembered Orianna's Heroic Story, and a sense of foreboding quickly rose in her heart.

"There was a Poison Gas Leak Accident in Lower Zaun. The contaminated area is still spreading, and the people of Zaun will have a hard time surviving without external support."

As Orianna spoke, she picked up a newspaper from the desk and waved it at Ling Ying.

"This happened a couple of days ago. At that time, Cecilia, you were busy cooperating with the Enforcement Department's investigation into the Administration Building fire. Senior Jayce and the others were also busy with their experiments. I didn't discuss it with you and made the decision myself."

"No, no, this isn't something you should decide without discussing it with us."

Ling Ying shook her head and said in a deep voice.

"Orianna, don't you know? Zaun Beneath Piltover is a Lawless Land, especially Lower Zaun. For the residents there, humanity is something that can be discarded at any moment for the sake of survival. A delicate girl like you, going to Zaun alone, might not even survive a day."

"Cecilia..."

Orianna interrupted Ling Ying and then gave a wry smile.

"What you're saying is the same as those Piltover Newspapers and the Piltover Citizens, even what my father said. They talk as if Zaunites are inherently inferior to Piltoverians, but I believe everyone should be good. It's just that their environment has worn away that goodness. As long as kindness is shown, they will surely be able to feel it and respond."

Orianna's words left Ling Ying speechless. A silent atmosphere instantly spread between the two. Ling Ying certainly didn't want Orianna to go to Zaun. Even though she, as a Transmigrator, knew in her heart that her words were somewhat biased. After all, there were still many kind people in Zaun. But that didn't make Zaun any safer to a reassuring degree. Moreover, Ling Ying clearly knew that Orianna's most significant turning point in her destiny occurred in Zaun—according to the trajectory, Orianna would suffer burns to her lungs during her actions in Zaun and would have to have a pair of Mechanical Lungs installed. She would be confined to her home by her guilt-ridden father, Colin Revik, becoming a lonely bird in a cage. It wasn't until this Master Craftsman passed away from exhaustion that Orianna would transplant her heart to her father, replace her own body with that of a Mechanical Golem, and then leave.

It was a sad story. Ling Ying absolutely did not want the blonde girl she saw every day to become a cold Mechanical Golem. But Orianna's words made Ling Ying unable to muster the thought of stopping her. That's right, living on the same land, who is nobler than whom? Orianna, as a Piltoverian, could keenly perceive this.

After thinking for a long time, Ling Ying spoke.

"I can't stop you, can I?"

"Cecilia..."

"Then I'll go with you."

"Huh?!"

Orianna looked at Ling Ying with surprise all over her face.

"It's not okay, that place is very dangerous..."

"No, you don't need to persuade me, just like I can't persuade you, you can't persuade me either. If you insist on going to Zaun, then you absolutely won't be able to shake me off.

"I..."

Orianna choked up for a moment, and then, crystal tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

"Don't cry, you won't look good if you cry."

Ling Ying smiled and wiped away the tears from the corners of Orianna's eyes.

"Isn't it perfect? The Ice Festival is coming soon. Let's just treat it as a Holiday Trip."

"You... really..."

Ling Ying's somewhat playful words made Orianna stop crying and laugh. Suddenly, she opened her arms and hugged Ling Ying, nestling against her chest and saying softly.

"It's really good to have met you."

"Me too."

"Are you crazy?!"

Jayce's eyes widened. Clearly, in his opinion, the two junior students' decision was incomprehensible.

"Do you know what you're saying? What kind of place is Zaun? It's the Land of Sin! It's a Devil's Den! If you two keep going like this, it's uncertain whether you'll even make it back alive!"

"Ah, excuse me for interrupting, Senior, I've already told Orianna everything you're saying, and it didn't work. If you want to persuade her, you'll probably have to try a different approach."

Ling Ying spread her hands helplessly.

"That's why I brought her to find you guys, but if you also can't persuade her, then I can only go with her."

"Crazy! Crazy!"

Jayce paced back and forth, stroking his chin as he spoke. Then, as if remembering something, he said sternly.

"Think about it, are those Zaunites worth you risking your lives to save?"

"Senior Jayce, how can you say that?"

Jayce's words, rather than helping, immediately agitated Orianna.

"Zaunites and Piltoverians are the same. Is anyone deserving of such undeserved disaster? I didn't expect you to be this kind of person, Senior Jayce."

"I..."

"It's one thing for you to be sarcastic normally, but I didn't expect you to be this kind of person either."

Viktor, who had been silent beside them, lost in thought, stepped forward. He first gave Jayce a disappointed look, then turned to Orianna and nodded slightly at the junior student.

"Junior Student Orianna, I am ashamed. As a Zaunite, I've used my busy experiments as an excuse and haven't paid attention to matters in my hometown. In fact, if you hadn't brought this up, I might not have known about it for a long time. And you, as a Piltoverian, can put yourself in the shoes of the Zaunites and think for them. It truly makes me feel ashamed. So, if you are determined to go to Zaun, I will accompany you."

"You're crazy! You're all crazy!"

Jayce clearly wanted to say more, but he **felt the strange looks from the three of them. Angered, he turned and walked out of the laboratory.

"Suit yourselves!"

After saying that, the laboratory door was slammed shut. The three people inside were silent for several seconds. Then Orianna said somewhat nervously.

"Did I... perhaps go too far..."

"Perhaps. He and I often bicker, but today he's clearly genuinely angry."

Viktor said, giving Orianna and Ling Ying a somewhat strange look.

"Speaking of which, you should have expected this outcome when you discussed this matter with him. After all, he has no good feelings towards Zaun."

"Ah, looks like I'm taking the blame."

Ling Ying scratched her head sheepishly.

"Actually, I wanted you two to persuade Orianna, but I didn't expect it to escalate like this. So... should I go get Senior Jayce back?"

"Forget it. Apologizing now won't help. Our safe return from Zaun will be the best explanation. By the way, when are you planning to depart? So I can hand over my laboratory projects."

"It should be within these two days. The necessary preparations are almost complete. The sooner we leave, the sooner we can help those suffering Zaunites."

"Yes, that makes sense. I'll expedite the handover, but..."

Viktor's expression turned serious.

"Actually, your Senior Jayce is right. The safety environment in Zaun is indeed very grim. Have you... truly prepared yourselves?"

"This..."

Orianna hesitated, then looked at Ling Ying. Ling Ying immediately nodded in understanding, took a miniature booklet from her shirt pocket, and unfolded it in front of the two.

"Enforcement Department Secret Detective, Cecilia Iliana, will do her best to ensure your safety on this trip to Zaun."