The Biggest Winner of Piltover and Zaun! (update)

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Link left.

He left so abruptly and decisively that Jinx was left standing there, stunned for a moment.

She had expected him to stay longer, but he just walked away.

It left her with a strange, indescribable feeling.

Something she couldn't quite put into words.

It was just... weird!

And most importantly—

Jinx pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart was racing for some reason.

Thump, thump, thump.

After standing still for a moment, Jinx turned and walked away. To fix Sevika's mechanical arm, she needed some materials.

Luckily, she knew exactly where to find them.

But just as she took her first step, she paused and glanced up at the pipes above her.

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

Jinx pulled out her gun, her eyes narrowing as a faint blue glow emanated from her pupils.

A moment later, a round hat with goggles peeked out from the edge of the pipe, followed by the freckled face of a young girl who flashed her a sheepish grin.

"Huh—" Jinx raised an eyebrow. "Well, this is a surprise."

"Hehe—"

Isa smiled at Jinx, her expression full of nervous charm.

"Jinx is temporarily stable for now. Even though I revealed my identity, the chances of her exposing me are pretty low since she doesn't have many people to talk to."

Link moved swiftly through the streets of Zaun, his cloak billowing behind him like a shadow. His speed was such that no one could clearly make out his figure as he passed.

"On the other hand, I've obtained the location of Janna's shrine. The benefits of that alone outweigh the risks of my identity being exposed."

Runeterra is a world where gods exist, beings who wield power beyond mortal comprehension. If he could establish a connection with Janna, it would give him a significant advantage in the events to come.

However, in the original storyline, aside from Janna's shrine, there was no other mention of her.

But the Twin Cities he found himself in seemed to differ from the original plot. For one, there was the existence of clockwork technology, and then there was the gardener from House Ferros.

Tamara had mentioned that someone in the engineering dormitory had seen Camille, the Steel Shadow, at night.

Whether that rumor was true or not, it was enough to show that this world was different from the original.

So, Link decided to take a gamble.

He would bet on these differences and see if they could open up new possibilities.

Establishing contact with Janna was a crucial step. If he succeeded, his future plans would proceed much more smoothly.

As he pondered this, Link arrived at the deepest part of Zaun.

He stood before Singed's laboratory.

Staring at the heavy iron door, Link raised his hand and knocked.

Thud, thud, thud—

The sound echoed through the cavernous space, and Link waited patiently.

After what felt like an eternity, a hoarse voice spoke up behind him.

"I don't recall knowing you."

The familiar voice sent a chill down Link's spine. It seemed Singed's status as the biggest winner in the Twin Cities' storyline wasn't just due to his scientific prowess—his caution and cunning played a significant role as well.

"Dr. Singed—" Link reached into his cloak and pulled out a copied notebook. "I've brought you something you've been searching for."

Singed, standing behind Link, stared at the notebook with his one good eye, a glimmer of curiosity breaking through his usual stoic demeanor.

But out of caution, he said, "Put it on the ground and open it so I can see."

"Of course." Link crouched down, placed the notebook on the ground, and flipped it open, stepping back to give Singed a clear view.

Singed squinted as he leaned in to read. After just a glance, he set down the vial of Shimmer he was holding and practically lunged for the notebook, cradling it in his hands as he devoured its contents.

*November 3rd: The resurrection experiment failed again.

I attempted to combine technology and magic, using Ionia's natural spirits to revive her. However, the spirits' volatility exceeded my expectations, resulting in self-destruction.

I need new materials and a new approach.*

*November 17th: I've found a new direction for my experiments.

Demons.

Demons are born from human emotions, feeding on greed, fear, desire, and arrogance. Perhaps I can harness their power to bring her back.*

*December 26th: The demon capture operation failed.

Tahm Kench, the River King, lives up to his title. He is cunning and powerful. Even with an army, we couldn't stop him from escaping.

Demons seem to possess unique powers, granting them abilities beyond mortal comprehension.*

*February 7th: I've heard of a legend from Ionia.

The Spirit Blossom Festival—

This may be my new hope.*

Singed flipped through the pages of the notebook, but when he reached the entry about the Spirit Blossom Festival, the notes abruptly ended.

He looked up sharply, his voice raspy with urgency. "Where's the rest of it? Where are the subsequent entries?"

"Dr. Singed, it's rather impolite to have a guest over without offering them a cup of tea."

Link's tone was cool, and Singed realized he had been so engrossed in the notebook that he had completely forgotten about the mysterious visitor.

"My apologies—" Singed stood up, clutching the notebook tightly. He opened the door to his lab and disarmed the traps at the entrance. "I'm just... too consumed by the pursuit of knowledge."

"No harm done. Knowledge is meant to be shared, after all."

Link followed Singed into the lab, which doubled as a makeshift sitting area.

As he looked around the cluttered workspace, Link picked up one of Singed's own experiment journals and began flipping through it.

The journal contained detailed records of Singed's work on Shimmer—data on its effects on the human body, tolerance levels, and reactions to external stimuli.

"Interested in my notes?" Singed asked as he returned with two cups of tea.

Link set the journal down and replied, "You truly are a master of alchemical science. Just a few lines of your notes have given me a wealth of insight."

Singed placed the cups on the table. They were crude, hammered aluminum mugs, far from elegant.

"Spare me the flattery, young man."

"I want to know your intentions, just as you know my desires."

Singed's one good eye bore into Link, as if trying to see through the spider-like mask and into his soul.

"I want you to work for me, Dr. Singed."

Link spoke plainly. "And I also want Vander, the one you've transformed."

Singed's eye narrowed. "You know about him?"

"Due to certain circumstances, I know quite a bit about you. About Vander, and about your daughter, who is trapped between life and death, unable to recover."

"I know you've been trying to save her, experimenting with various methods."

"I'm willing to provide you with resources, funding, and new ideas. All I ask in return is—"

Before Link could finish, Singed interrupted him. "To serve you and dedicate my scientific knowledge to your cause?"

"I've heard that before."

Singed sighed, pulling out a pocket watch and opening it to reveal a picture of his daughter.

"But for me, it doesn't matter."

"If it means saving her, if it means seeing her open her eyes and look at the world again... I'm willing to give up everything. Myself, Vander—it's all expendable."

Singed looked up. "I need the rest of that notebook. If you can provide it, I'll work for you."

"I'm glad we've reached an understanding. I'll deliver the rest of the notes soon."

"But before that, I'd like to see Vander."

"Vander—" Singed shook his head. "The Vander you knew is gone. The experiments have eroded his humanity and memories, leaving only pain and rage."

"I no longer call him Vander. The name I've given him now is—"

"—the Beast of Zaun."