Chapter 95: CHAPTER 95 - Timewinder?!
"So, what exactly happened today?" Li Lin inquired as they made their way to Ekko's home.
"We really didn't do anything!" Ekko raised his voice, looking a bit anxious.
Children, always thinking their clumsy lies can fool adults.
Li Lin easily saw through Ekko's less-than-truthful words.
Seeing him desperately trying to hide his unease, Li Lin couldn't help but chuckle.
"Don't worry, if I had any intention of holding you responsible, I wouldn't have helped you just now... I just want to understand how you ended up like that today."
Ekko lowered his gaze, looking conflicted.
As they silently passed through two narrow alleys, Ekko couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up:
"Um... Li Lin, can you promise not to tell Benso and Vander about this?"
Li Lin raised an eyebrow, "From the way you're talking... is it a serious matter?"
"Not really, we just went scavenging in the Undercity junkyard today," Ekko scratched his messy white hair, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Scavenging" was a euphemism among Zaun kids for picking up garbage.
All the discarded items from Piltover ended up in the Zaun Undercity.
Many items considered trash by the upper city residents still held value for those in the lower city.
Therefore, not only scavengers but many Zaun kids would go to the Undercity junkyard to find valuable items and sell them to shops like Benso's, which specialized in buying miscellaneous goods.
That was what Ekko and his friends did today.
"We found a discarded Hextech flash bomb this afternoon in the junkyard..."
"Wait! Did you say a flash bomb?" Li Lin was astonished.
Was the Piltover enforcers so careless?
They actually threw military weapons directly into the garbage pile?
"Do you often come across such military-grade discards?" he quickly inquired.
"No, it depends on luck," Ekko shook his head, "If you're lucky, you might find one every month or two, but you have to get to them before the regular scavengers do."
One or two a month wasn't a small number. It seemed like there were quite a few issues with the Piltover enforcers.
Li Lin decided that he needed to discuss this matter with Lady Cassandra at an opportune time; such safety issues couldn't be taken lightly.
"And then? Did you detonate that flash bomb?"
"It was already unusable, so I modified it with some spare parts I had."
With that, Ekko pulled out a silver-white, flat cylindrical device from his worn shoulder bag.
Although he called it a flash bomb, Li Lin couldn't recognize it at all.
It had been completely transformed by Ekko, covered with various intricate gears.
If it weren't for the different colors and the rust on most of them, it would seem like a sophisticated Hextech device.
Considering Ekko was only ten years old and achieved this through self-taught mechanical knowledge, if he had been systematically taught mechanical theory, he might have accomplished more than what was mentioned in the background story.
"Good kid, you're quite something," Li Lin laughed, patting Ekko on the shoulder, "So, you failed, didn't you?"
"Um..." Ekko awkwardly smiled, quickly explaining, "But I think my idea was quite innovative!"
Li Lin was curious about Ekko's words, "Oh? Were you planning to add some special functions to it?"
Ekko, a genius no less than Jayce and Viktor, naturally couldn't be ignored by Li Lin when he expressed his thoughts.
"My design was to make it emit a dazzling flash during the explosion and attract all movable objects around it to the center..."
"But." Li Lin added the turning point for him.
Ekko hesitated, lowering his head, "An accident happened. It not only failed to achieve its original effect, but it also nearly harmed all of us..."
Li Lin gently placed his hand on Ekko's shoulder, comforting him:
"Ekko, progress in science comes from continuous trial and error. No matter what invention it is, breaking a few screwdrivers and smashing a few hammers is quite normal... Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Ekko looked up at Li Lin, gazing at the mask emitting a blue glow, nodding in a mix of understanding and confusion.
It seemed like he understood, but also like he didn't...
Seeing Ekko's bewildered expression, Li Lin couldn't help but sigh silently.
It seemed a bit premature to impart profound wisdom to a child around ten years old.
"Tell me the specific issues; maybe I can help," Li Lin offered.
Eyes brightening, Ekko asked, "Really?"
"Just a possibility," Li Lin emphasized, not making it absolute.
As he spoke, Li Lin activated the "Data Mind" skill, examining the attributes of this modified flashbang.
"Timewinder (Prototype): Untouched by the 'Z-drive' temporal influence, an incomplete temporal warper with significant safety risks."
Li Lin: "??!"
What? Ekko had managed to create his Q-ability from the game at such a young age? Li Lin knew Ekko's backstory; the devices returning and time-field confinement in the game were his inventions. However, that came after he invented the "Z-drive" with the Primordial Crystal fragments. Going by his age, this should happen around fifteen or sixteen.
Have I unknowingly influenced him so much?
Li Lin was lost in thought until Ekko finished explaining the issues with the flashbang, calling him back to reality.
"Sorry, can you repeat that?" Li Lin asked.
Ekko nodded and reiterated without a hint of impatience.
After all, the flashbang's effect was similar to the game—thrown and returning after a distance. The issue was its behavior. Without the influence of "time power," it didn't unfold a magic disc or return to Ekko's hand. Instead, it accelerated back, making imminent explosive sounds.
Fortunately, Ekko's modified flashbang only produced a loud noise, sparing the children. With Vi, Claggor, and others reacting promptly, they avoided the blast. Otherwise, with its original power, their eyes might not just be blinded but take months to fully recover.
Enforcers in Piltover had fewer restrictions, and many weapons were made for maximum impact.
Li Lin examined Ekko's "Imprisonment Flash" for a while. Though the invention lacked the "Z-drive" for a time warper, Ekko's idea was practical.
The challenge was to make it explode, generating enough kinetic energy to affect things within its range.
Li Lin believed adding an energy crystal fragment and a slight modification would suffice.
"Li Lin, did you find its problem?" Ekko couldn't help asking.
"Indeed, quite a few," Li Lin explained all the issues and guided him on the necessary improvements.
"So that's how it is!" Ekko's face lit up, "Li Lin, you're amazing!"
"This is your idea," Li Lin smiled, ruffling Ekko's hair. "Even if I didn't point out the flashbang's issues, you would have successfully modified it."
Ekko scratched his head, displaying a child's inherent vanity, eager for praise.
"I was thinking about how to introduce you to Lady Cassandra," Li Lin continued. "Now, with this invention, she will certainly notice you."
Li Lin returned the modified flashbang to Ekko. "Later, at your home, draw its design. I'll have Lady Cassandra help you apply for a patent."
"A patent?" Ekko had heard the term but didn't fully understand.
"Simply put, your invention will be mass-produced, and you just sit at home waiting for money..."
Li Lin paused, chuckling, "Enough to ensure you and your parents live worry-free for a lifetime."
(End of this chapter)
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