Arcane: Thicker Than Blood

"Professor, you might be disappointed. Cipher has no intention of joining Piltover Academy."

Jayce led everyone to a table.

"That's truly a pity. Your talent would flourish much better at Piltover Academy."

Heimerdinger struggled to climb onto the chair Jayce had prepared for him, then sighed regretfully.

"Professor, Cipher's ambitions lie elsewhere." Viktor's voice was steady as he brewed tea and poured a cup of black tea for everyone.

"Everyone has their own path. I can't force anyone. This tea is quite delightful. Mm~ mmm~"

Heimerdinger hummed a little tune, enjoying his tea happily. His long ears twitched with pleasure at each sip, and his whiskers quivered in contentment.

It was obvious that he really enjoyed drinking tea.

"What brings you here to visit Jayce and Viktor this time? Is there a challenge you're facing? Perhaps I can help you." Having finished his tea, he set down the cup and asked Cipher.

Yordles always had a unique sense of purity about them. Their long lives often gave them a perspective humans struggled to understand.

Heimerdinger was a highly pure scientist, deeply passionate about exploring the unknown and creating innovative inventions.

Beyond that, he also loved teaching, mentoring, and solving problems, having nurtured countless outstanding scientists. The walls of his laboratory were lined with awards and recognition, though he paid them little attention.

As for Piltover being called "The City of Progress," at least half of the credit could be attributed to Heimerdinger.

His title as "The Revered Inventor" was well deserved, a recognition he earned while still alive. Yet he remained humble, focused always on the next problem to solve, the next student to teach.

"Professor, I came this time seeking investment from the major families. I lack the connections, so I hoped Jayce could help me by writing a recommendation letter."

Cipher showed great respect for Heimerdinger, recognizing him as a selfless and pure scientist.

"Is it funding you need for an invention or research? I can represent Piltover Academy and provide you with some funds. It might not be much, but I hope it helps." 

Heimerdinger had a favorable impression of Cipher and proactively offered his assistance.

This was mainly because Cipher's previous inventions were all aimed at improving people's lives. He didn't charge patent fees and instead sought to increase workers' wages.

Such selfless actions made Heimerdinger see him as a noble-minded scientist, worthy of his support within his capabilities.

Cipher's earlier reputation made it hard for righteous individuals not to like him. Even Viktor nodded slightly in agreement.

"Thank you very much, Professor. In fact, my research is already complete. The reason I'm seeking investment is that I lack funds to build a factory in Zaun for production."

"Oh, and here are the product specifications."

Cipher handed Heimerdinger a diagram. The yordle's eyes widened as he studied the designs.

"Ah, the sweet scent of science, so wonderful! This invention of yours is amazing. You really should join Piltover Academy." Heimerdinger's enthusiasm was infectious.

After reviewing the specifications, he couldn't stop praising Cipher.

He had an insatiable curiosity for fascinating inventions and couldn't wait to try wireless communication.

"However, I don't think building a factory in Zaun is a good choice. Many industrial materials are prohibited from being sold to Zaun, which will greatly hinder production." Heimerdinger's voice grew serious, his ears drooping slightly.

"Perhaps you should consider building the factory in Piltover. I can appeal to the council on your behalf."

Heimerdinger offered his suggestion.

Compared to resource-deprived Zaun, where restrictions on imports and exports were commonplace, Piltover boasted a well-established industrial system, numerous skilled technicians, and a complete industrial chain.

"Thank you for your kind offer, Professor. I know Zaun is impoverished and harsh."

"More than half of the population suffers from hunger, and people die of starvation every day. And children can't get proper food, clean water, or fresh air to breathe."

"I study science to help Zaun escape poverty, to enable its people to live better lives, not to abandon the impoverished Undercity just to pursue a better life for myself. Therefore, no matter how challenging it may be, I will build the factory there to provide jobs for its people. I must respectfully decline your generous offer." 

"Is everything you said true?" Heimerdinger's long ears drooped completely, making him look impossibly small in his chair.

He suddenly felt that he had failed in his responsibilities, not fulfilling the duties of a council member. His tiny hands clutched at his tea cup, seeking comfort in its warmth.

If he had paid attention to Zaun's condition earlier, perhaps fewer people would have suffered.

But Zaun's dire situation wasn't entirely Heimerdinger's fault.

Though he was a council member, he was treated more like a mascot than an actual authority figure. His colleagues' polite smiles and gentle dismissals had effectively isolated him from reality.

The others merely kept him around, but none took him seriously. They valued his inventions more than his insights.

Moreover, due to his innocent nature and the fact that he mostly stayed at Piltover Academy, he was trapped in an information bubble, receiving only distorted information. This left him unaware of the suffering endured by the people of Zaun.

"It's true," Cipher said after a moment of silence, adding words that only deepened Heimerdinger's dejection. "The so-called Bridge Rebellion launched by Zaun long ago was essentially a desperate attempt at self-rescue by a group of people who couldn't survive any longer."

"I'm truly sorry, child. For so many years, I've been focused on Piltover's development and neglected Zaun," Heimerdinger said, looking at Cipher with regret.

Cipher consoled him, saying, "Professor, this is not your fault. You bear no responsibility!"

The conflict between the two cities fundamentally stemmed from class struggles, something not caused by Heimerdinger.

"Is there anything I can do to help you? I could raise a council motion to address Zaun's issues," Heimerdinger said, eager to do something for Zaun.

"There are indeed two things I hope you can assist with in the council," Cipher replied.

He had indeed prepared some requests.

Though Heimerdinger was often seen as a mascot, his vote carried significant weight in council decisions.

"Go ahead. I'll do my best to help you," Heimerdinger said, clasping his hands together earnestly. His ears had perked up again, ready to listen.

"The first thing is that I hope Piltover will lift its restrictions on raw materials for Zaun. In return, all the factories I establish in Zaun will accept Piltover's investment." Cipher's voice was steady and clear.

"Take the wireless communication equipment as an example. While it benefits humanity, it will also generate immense wealth, which Zaun can share with Piltover."

Cipher articulated a well-prepared plan, initially designed to convince councilors like Mel Medarda and Kiramman.

He had even prepared a backup plan in case those councilors disagreed.

Yes, Noxus!

If pushed to the brink, he wouldn't hesitate to side with Swain and Noxus, rather than endure the oppression of Piltover's elite.

So, if Piltover wouldn't negotiate with him, he'd negotiate with Noxus instead. When that happened, Piltover could brace themselves for war against Noxian forces!

But this backup plan wasn't necessary with Heimerdinger. The yordle's natural empathy made him a different kind of ally.

"That's a very reasonable request. I'll submit it to the council. And the second matter?" Heimerdinger's quick agreement brought a subtle smile to Cipher's face.

"Ah, the second is a personal matter," Cipher said, looking slightly sheepish. His posture softened, becoming less formal.

"My younger sister, Powder, and her friend, Ekko, once broke into Jayce's lab to steal something. By accident, they dropped a Hextech gemstone, which destroyed the lab."

"I will cover all the damages, and the Hextech gemstone they took has already been returned to Jayce." Cipher gestured to emphasize his point.

"I hope the council can have the enforcers stop pursuing them. I know this is an unreasonable request, but it's a personal plea of mine."

"These past years, I've been so absorbed in science that I've neglected to discipline my siblings," Cipher said sincerely.

This issue was a significant risk. Without proper resolution, Piltover's councilors would likely continue sending large numbers of enforcers into the Undercity to apprehend the culprits.

Zaun was currently in a period of rapid development, and a major conflict with Piltover would be ill-timed.

But Heimerdinger hesitated on this personal matter. He found it difficult to decide, as helping Cipher would mean aiding his sister and her friend in evading Piltover's legal consequences.

"Professor, Cipher has already returned the Hextech gemstone to me. And without his contributions, we wouldn't have developed Hextech technology in the first place," Jayce said, stepping forward at the critical moment to advocate for forgiveness.

"It was just a childish prank. Since there were no injuries, let's leave it at that."

"You're right. A childish prank," Heimerdinger said, finally agreeing. "But we'll still need to get the council's approval." His ears perked up as he reached his decision.

With even the victim choosing to forgive, he stopped agonizing over the matter.

"Thank you for your help!" Cipher said as he sipped a cup of black tea, feeling thoroughly rejuvenated. The results of this visit had exceeded his expectations.

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30 advance chapters!

[email protected]/Malphegor