Twin Cities: Who says scientists can't be conquerors?

Chapter 49 The Temporarily Shelved Revenge, the Unexpectedly Postponed Celebration

A new research assistant who can provide "inspiration" has been discovered: Singid (Colin Levik)

[Gaining a new research assistant (Singed): You performed a scientifically inexplicable miracle on Singed, cutting off all his escape routes. Driven by concern for his daughter Orianna, he chooses to completely submit to you.]

[We have established a channel for collecting inspiration in the spiritual realm for our research assistant (Singed). Inspiration can be extracted by touching or trying samples.]

[Received the mission reward "Singed's Inspiration - Instinct Level"]

For any further questions, please contact Blackbox. Blackbox will help you review the currently stored data...

The black box's notification sound rang in his mind, leaving Aaron somewhat conflicted and bewildered.

He admitted that he was not a very magnanimous person.

After being ambushed by Singed, even though he has temporarily returned to normal and Singed, having exhausted all his options, promised to resolve the remaining cleansing agent in his body as soon as possible.

But he was still unhappy.

He was tricked and almost became a half-dead test subject. Just because the other party didn't actually succeed, does that mean he can let them off so easily?

No, Aaron felt he couldn't do it.

Even though he had just cruelly broken Singed's two arms, it wasn't enough to vent his anger!

If only the black box alert had come a little later.

However, the Black Box requires Aaron to "complete a mission" in order to unlock Singed's "Inspiration".

He probably already strangled the bald guy in front of him to death!

But now...

Aaron glanced thoughtfully at Singed's bewildered expression, then felt the cleansing potion resurfacing within his body, quickly weighing the gains and losses in his mind.

He realized that he really couldn't just brutally kill the other person now.

It wasn't just because he had Singed's biggest weakness in his hands, but because Singed could help him develop an antidote to completely remove the residue of the cleansing drug from his body.

More importantly, Singed can now generate "inspiration" for himself.

If "inspiration" had come a few hours earlier, Aaron wouldn't have temporarily let go of the person who wanted to harm him.

However, after being saved by Caitlin's "inspiration" and realizing that this special being possessed many abilities that he had not previously discovered, Aaron had to increase the importance of "inspiration".

Whether it's developing more practical equipment, fulfilling more orders, exploring powers beyond the mundane, or obtaining a ticket to enter deeper levels of Runeterra.

This thing has clearly become an indispensable and important resource for him!

"So you've put me in a difficult position, Dr. Levik."

Aaron stared at Singid and deliberately called him by his real name.

He suppressed the urge to immediately settle scores with the other party, allowing more rational thinking to prevail—

"I will tell Hilko what happened tonight and have him assign some reliable people to 'protect' Miss Oriana's life support system."

"And you..."

Aaron made no attempt to hide his blunt threat, while simultaneously trying to suppress his frustration at not being able to retaliate.

"You'd better behave yourself and continue with the research you're supposed to be doing... the research I think you should be doing!"

……

Tonight is destined to be the peak electricity consumption period in both cities.

Back in Zaun, Singed's lab and Hilk's office were both brightly lit all night.

Meanwhile, in Piltover, the atmosphere was equally tense at the police station where the law enforcement officers worked.

Mrs. Giramann looked stern, her hands clasped on her lap, silently surveying her surroundings.

She could see that, in addition to Sheriff Marcos and some mid- to high-ranking officers, there was also a tired and dejected Jess, Victor who had come with Jess, and Heimerdinger who had come for some unknown reason.

These Piltover leaders, who were supposed to shine in tomorrow's Progress Day speech, are now all huddled in the police station office, staring at each other blankly.

In fact, if it weren't for Jess's strong sense of responsibility, which led him to drag Viktor and Heimerdinger along after much deliberation, he would have been much more likely to have come.

They could easily follow the example of other members of parliament who are sleeping soundly at home, leaving the trouble to law enforcement officers while they focus on looking forward to tomorrow's Progress Day celebrations.

After all, what happened tonight wasn't particularly significant:

"It's just that" half of the Stillwater Prison was destroyed by bombing, and the eldest daughter of the Gilaman family disappeared again.

For true Piltover gentlemen, how could that filthy, dirty place disturb their rest?

The biggest mistake would be if I couldn't appear at the Progress Day celebration tomorrow in high spirits, to receive the cheers and worship of the people of Piltover.

"Ahem, Madam."

Perhaps it was because everyone had been silent for too long that Jess, who already seemed to be in poor spirits, became somewhat impatient.

He took the initiative to be the one who might offend someone, speaking to the expressionless Mrs. Giraman:

"I'm very sorry about Miss Caitlin. Something very special, very sad, happened tonight, so please..."

Jess wanted to say "Please accept my condolences," but stopped halfway through.

He felt he couldn't bring himself to speak.

Caitlin was a childhood friend of his, and she disappeared today in the severely damaged and destroyed Stillwater Prison.

Jess couldn't find any reason to convince himself that Caitlin was still alive.

And it wasn't just Caitlin.

When Jayce saw Aaron and Jinx's names appear next to Caitlyn's, both of whom were on the missing persons list, his heartache was amplified.

He really thought highly of Aaron.

How did a smart, brave, and polite young man, who was also Caitlin's future life partner, become just a cold string of names on the "missing persons" list?

The only thing that still gave him a glimmer of hope was another, even stranger situation that occurred tonight—

In the face of such a terrible disaster, apart from the three people on the missing persons list and some prisoners who were probably escaping in the chaos, no information about any dead persons was found at the scene.

This is very abnormal!

Jess now not only believes this was a premeditated attack, but also can't help but think of more:

Caitlyn was kidnapped by Urgot when she last went missing.

This time, Caitlin and Aaron happened to be there to investigate Urgot.

Could it be that all of this tragedy was orchestrated by Urgot, who was hiding deep beneath Zaun?!

If that's the case...

Jess pursed his lips, his eyes fixed on the familiar name on the "missing persons list".

"Urgate, is it?"

His voice was hoarse and deep.

"You'd better just do what you did last time and kidnap them!"

Jess then rallied his spirits and looked resolutely at Mrs. Giramann:

"Don't worry, Madam, I believe Caitlin still has a chance of survival."

"Tomorrow, I'll immediately take the enforcers to Zaun, find that Urgot, and rescue him..."

Jess stopped talking again.

His face still held a ferocious expression, but his mouth was frozen in place.

He suddenly realized that he couldn't possibly rescue Caitlin and Aaron tomorrow, and he couldn't possibly go to Zaun—

Because he was the speaker for this year's Progress Day.

When Heimerdinger handed him this honor, he had to shoulder the responsibility and show a better future to all Piltover residents.

Even if his companions are missing, even if the Stillwater Prison is still in ruins.

But he couldn't "abandon his post"; he had to show the public, in the most uplifting and inspiring way, that everything in Piltover was thriving!

"Madam, Professor, I..."

Jess suddenly seemed a little lost, glancing around with pleading eyes.

He was the one who broke the silence, the one who said Urgot would get his comeuppance. But now, he is also the one who realizes he is utterly powerless to fulfill his responsibility…

"Jace, don't force yourself to take all the responsibility."

Mrs. Giramann, who had remained silent until now, finally uttered her first words of the evening.

Although her voice still trembled slightly, a stronger sense of conviction supported her as she tried to remain calm.

As if she had already made up her mind, she spoke coldly:

"The tragedy at Stillwater Prison today is a sorrow for the entire city of Piltover, and a disgrace to our Jiraman family."

"So everyone, tomorrow's celebration does not belong to me and my family. And likewise, we cannot wait until tomorrow—"

"Tonight, my husband will lead his family to the scene of the crime and search Zaun! Not just for my daughter, but also for..."

"lady."

Suddenly, a new voice interrupted Mrs. Giraman's speech, which she was trying to suppress as she spoke.

The voice wasn't particularly firm or sharp, but it made Jess, who was standing nearby, feel as if he'd received rain after a long drought, and he turned around with overjoyed surprise—

"Mrs. Giraman, I understand your feelings, but your remarks still underestimate others."

A woman dressed in a luxurious white and gold gown, adorned with jewels and even sparkling eyeshadow, slowly walked in after pushing open the door to the police station office.

She was accompanied by two maids, their steps unhurried.

"Celebrations are always just embellishments and displays of success after one has achieved fame and fortune."

"When I was in Noxus, I never heard of any reason why a city-state would be forced to hold a celebration when it has suffered such a calamity."

The woman turned to look at Jess, her expression a mixture of reassurance and encouragement:

"Congressman Jess Talis, just do what you think is right."

As for what others think...

She turned to look at the "fuzzy little guy" sitting on the specially made high stool to the side, and from the beginning, she had not paid attention to the "fuzzy little guy" that everyone was talking about.

"Professor Heimerdinger, I think it is necessary to immediately convene a parliamentary vote to decide whether tomorrow's Progress Day celebrations should be postponed."

"Me, Mrs. Giraman, and Jess. We will all vote in favor."

"Look at you..."

"I agree! I completely agree!"

Heimerdinger, his beard twitching, jumped up and raised his hand in support, as if waking from a dream.

He clearly didn't want to waste time on something that could lead to wrangling, and expressed his opinion directly:

"Congressman Mel, please proceed with the voting as soon as possible."

"I have no objection to the postponement of tomorrow's Progress Day celebration."

"The only thing I really want to understand right now is how such a massive building as Stillwater Prison could have been modified by Hextech."

"How is it, how is it...?"

Heimerdinger's round eyes shone brightly.

"How did it get half-destroyed?!"