Deep into the Trench

Upon hearing Yuan Chen's question, Ezreal nodded seriously and said, "I asked many old folks in the area, and there are six regions that fit your criteria."

"What did you ask?"

Jarl, standing to the side, looked very curious.

Even though it was their first time here, they came with a clear purpose from the start, even having Ezreal gather information here beforehand...

No matter how you look at it, there are hidden secrets behind this, and the adventurous Jarl finds it hard to control his strong curiosity.

"I don't know either, you should ask him," Ezreal said, shrugging.

"Back then, I was still at the Temple of Paro'sa, and he not only stole my loot, but also asked me to find out what dangerous areas were rumored to be in the Zaun Valley..."

"Well..."

Upon hearing Ezreal's words, Jarl looked at Yuan Chen with some curiosity. Yuan Chen simply replied, "An ancient weapon."

"Ancient weapon?!" Upon hearing Yuan Chen's words, Jarl immediately became excited. "What kind of weapon? Is it powerful? No, it must be incredibly powerful! Otherwise, you wouldn't be here!"

After a pause, Jarl said, "I won't report you, but please, you absolutely must let me participate in the excavation! Please! Even just this once!!"

Jarl clasped his hands together, his eyes filled with a burning desire to unearth ancient treasures. Ezreal, unsurprised, was completely unfazed.

Although the reason is unclear, Jarl's passion provided Ezreal with a large amount of funding for his expeditions.

Even my first trip to the Shurima desert was supported by this benefactor.

It was precisely because they had previously explored the pit together that Jarl and Ezreal were both present here.

"No problem."

Yuan Chen shrugged, not worried that Jarl would report him...

If they really report it, then only Zaun and Piltover will suffer.

Yuan Chen's answer greatly excited Jarl. Meanwhile, Little Yellow Hair handed him a map of Zaun.

The map is folded, including both flat and cut-out sections.

The Twin Cities stretch from high to low, from top to bottom, from the highest level of Piltover to the lowest level of Zaun.

The highest level in Piltover: Bluewind Court – the residence of most of Piltover's wealthy families, also known as the rich area.

Piltover Mid-Tier: Piltover University, Hextech Workshop, Trading Post – where high-level Hextech engineers like Jayce live and work.

The lower level of Piltover is also the uppermost level of Zaun: the Dancer's Corridor.

Zaun Mid-Tier: Central Plaza, Alchemy Factory, Smuggling Area.

And the lowest level of Zaun —the ditch.

"We're going to the ditch," Ezreal said, pointing to the area with a skull drawn at the very bottom of the Twin Cities cutaway.

"It's dangerous here, you should know that."

"All the industrial wastewater and alchemical waste from Piltover and Zaun are dumped into the sewers. At first, it might not have been a problem, but now, even well-protected professionals face immense danger going in."

After a pause, Ezreal said with a somewhat strange tone:

"The toxicity of the air varies depending on the area, which may be why Zaun don't live past forty..."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chen glanced at the map and asked, "Where is the Bell Rat's activity area?"

"Bell rats? What do you want with them?"

Hearing this, Ezreal seemed a little surprised, then shrugged and said, "Well, I shouldn't have asked... but Bell Rats are difficult to deal with; only some old miners know how to contact them."

Although the bell rat sounds like a sewer rat, it is actually a type of Vastaya.

They are of the same race as Twitch, the source of the plague.

Bell rats live in the Sump. The first Zaun miner to discover them thought they were docile and simple creatures, and because of their natural resistance to alchemical gas, he trained them to go deeper into the trenches to repair pipes and circuits.

The Bell Rats did not disappoint the Zaun. They possessed an intuition and keenness for machinery far exceeding that of ordinary beasts. Not only were they capable of performing the duties of repairmen, but they could even assemble specialized combat machines from alchemical waste in the Sump.

Now, nestled in the ditch, the Bell Rats have transformed from wild beasts into a formidable gang.

"Shall we go downstairs?" Jarl asked, having overheard Yuan Chen and Ezreal's conversation.

"My family's factory has a private Hextech pressure transporter that can directly reach the Sump."

Following Jarl to the Medarda Family's factory, Yuan Chen and the others entered the prototype pressure transport aircraft and quickly arrived at the lowest level of the trench.

The so-called pressure transport machine is actually a super-large elevator—only powered by Hex Crystal. These come in public and private versions.

The public ones are also known as "shrieks," and the name has many origins, such as the image of a lone iron wolf howling with its head raised at the top of the press.

For example, some people say they see a black-veiled waiter haunting the cabin, and he starts wailing and lamenting whenever he goes away from Zaun and his lover in the elevator.

Or, more simply, the cold winds constantly blowing through the great rift valley below the city, and the intense friction caused by their increased vertical speed...

There are many legends, and given the nature of Runeterra, many of them may have corresponding realities. However, Yuan Chen's purpose in coming here this time is not to explore these urban legends, but to find the Darkin Harp.

Compared to the importance of the Darkin Harp, these trivial urban legends are utterly insignificant.

Compared to public transport aircraft, private aircraft are not only more comfortable, but also faster and more stable.

When the group left the transport plane, Yuan Chen, Qiyana, and the others had changed into new clothes. These were protective suits provided by Jarl —effectively isolating them from both breathing and contact.

As she stepped out of the factory, the sight that came into view made Qiyana hold her breath.

Smog... no, it's not just smog, but a large amount of waste gas from alchemy.

Under the dim yellow lights of the factory, the thick fog took on an eerie gray-green hue. Although she hadn't personally experienced it, Qiyana could clearly sense just how harsh the air was here through her elemental perception.

Even in such a harsh area, the streets were still filled with hurried pedestrians. By their clothing, even if it was her first time here, Qiyana could clearly distinguish who were the natives, who were from the Upper City, and who were merchants.

Locals often wore crude breathing filters and old, tattered protective suits... which could hardly be called protective suits, because Qiyana saw many people walking around the streets in just a single layer of clothing.

The Piltover residents and traders wore similar full protective suits.

Of course, not everyone is as wealthy and well-equipped as the Medarda Family to have full sets of protective suits like these. Many people who only come to the ditch occasionally wear disposable protective suits.

"Once they leave, these used disposable protective suits will be unpacked and repackaged into different protective gear, then sold at low prices to civilians in the Sump."

Yuan Chen scanned the street in front of him as he explained to Qiyana:

"Although they are used disposable items, they are still better for the civilians in the Sump than the crude breathing filters they use... Well, you can probably sense that most of what they use has been used many times."

Upon hearing this, Qiyana nodded thoughtfully.

Just as Yuan Chen said, the protective equipment used by the laborers in the Sump was often cobbled together. From protective suits to breathing filters, they sometimes didn't even use the same brand. Depending on the workmanship, it was hard to believe how much protection they actually provided.

As for those breathing filters... who knows how many people have used them.

"They work here, making money for those above them, yet they can't even guarantee their own safety... It's laughable." Qiyana shook her head in disgust.

"That's how capital works." Yuan Chen shook his head. Then, as if remembering something, he glanced at Qiyana with a strange look and said:

"However, as the crown prince, enjoying all the benefits of feudal autocracy... you don't seem to have much right to criticize capitalism."

"What feudal capitalism?" Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Qiyana looked at Yuan Chen suspiciously. "What are you talking about?"

"It's nothing, just something I mentioned casually. It's an old problem."

Qiyana was puzzled by Yuan Chen's explanation, but not too surprised—she was already used to Yuan Chen's occasional eccentricities and self-amusement.

You can't be a prophet without some mental issues.

Although it was the Sump, the group's destination was to continue downwards, reaching the lowest point where almost no one was.

Instead of setting off rashly, Yuan Chen his group paused upon arriving at the ditch. A moment later, the ditch guide, whom Jarl had found through the factory supervisor, appeared before them.

"We meet again." Yuan Chen smiled upon seeing the visitor.

Perhaps due to Jarl's identity, the factory supervisor specially arranged a new protective suit for the guide in the Sump. But even while wearing the protective suit, Yuan Chen still recognized who the little old man in front of him was.

Xiulite —the foreman of the mine tunnels where Malphite used to frequent.

But if Yuan Chen remembered correctly, that mining area should have belonged to the Ferros Family, to which Camille belonged.

How come this guy has become the Medarda Family's guide in the Sump after only a few days?

To stay alert while writing, I drank coffee and tea together... and without realizing it, I drank a bit too much. Now my pH balance is off, and I'm feeling a bit palpitations and anxiety.

I just boiled a kettle of water. I'll drink more of it after it cools down to help with metabolism...