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Shopkeeper Colin looked at the luxurious detached villa before him with mixed feelings. At his age, he was starting to feel the "burden" of relying on his junior. While Orianna chirped happily like a sparrow, exploring every corner of their new home, Colin was already calculating the social implications.
In Piltover, nobility wasn't just blood; it was tax brackets and patents. With Kael's income, the "Levick" family was officially on the map. Colin had originally adopted Kael as a potential "child-groom" for the sickly Orianna to ensure her future. Now, seeing Kael's meteoric rise, he felt his plan was either brilliant or hopelessly outdated.
Madame Kiramman's personal visit on housewarming day had effectively silenced any judgmental neighbors. Meanwhile, Kael was busy. He was deep-diving into the indigenous knowledge systems of Professor Heimerdinger.
Magic's influence on Runeterra was profound. Elements from other worlds couldn't be directly applied here; metals like gold and silver, when refined, became Orichalcum or Mithril, materials defined by their Magical Conductivity.
The Hextech Shock
Heimerdinger's worldview suffered a tectonic shift when Jayce presented his successful teleportation experiment. The Professor had spent centuries fearing magic; now, a human had "bridged" it with gears and glass.
"I think you were right, Jayce," Heimerdinger finally admitted. With his blessing and Mel's financing, the Hextech Era had officially begun.
"Looking at you, are you planning to resign?" Kael asked, watching Viktor pack his things. Viktor had been Jayce's partner in the breakthrough, and Jayce wanted him as his full-time research lead.
"Please take care of the Professor for me," Viktor said sheepishly.
"Your physical condition doesn't look good," Kael noted, eyes narrowing at Viktor's pale skin. Viktor dismissed it as exhaustion, but Kael wasn't convinced. He grabbed Viktor's hand and drew a tube of blood with a needle that was—admittedly—a bit thick.
"研究生物科学 (Researching biological sciences)?" Viktor grimaced.
"For a rare genetic disease, I have to study it," Kael said solemnly. Viktor's muscles were ossifying due to a Zaunite birth defect. He was racing against a body that was turning to stone, desperate to finish his work before he became a prisoner in his own skin.
The Era of the Hexgate
Jayce, riding high on the Council's unanimous approval, invited Kael to join the team. "We'll usher in the era together. No salary, but you get dividends."
"I can live with that," Kael replied.
The Council—seven chairs representing the city's elite—had already carved up the pie. The Kirammans and Mel Medarda were the "Angel Investors," controlling the supply of Hex-crystals.
The first project was the Hexgate.
The Hexgate worked on the principle of Time Acceleration. It allowed ships to bypass weeks of travel, but it required an unobstructed path. If an obstacle was in the way, the "accelerated" object would suffer catastrophic structural failure.
However, the gates were massive and expensive. To make Hextech accessible to the common person, they needed to stabilize the crystals themselves—shrinking the technology into Hex-Gems.
The Zaun Connection
Jayce was distracted by the politics of the ports and his growing "relationship" with Councilor Mel. Viktor, seeing the research stalling, sought out Kael.
"Hextech Gems? It's a brilliant idea," Kael praised.
"But Jayce is busy... and we don't have enough crystals," Viktor sighed. "The Council monitors every gram."
Kael pulled Viktor closer, whispering with a conspiratorial grin. "Don't worry. I have a way in Zaun. The risk is high, but the rewards..."
Viktor looked at Kael, his expression turning utterly bewildered. "Something's not right. I'm the one from Zaun. Why are you the one with the connections?"
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