Chat group: People are in the sandbox, the system just ran away

"No need. The overseas islands are perfectly fine. The people of Zaun have suffered too much in the past. What they need now is a stable life, not so-called development potential."

Facing Li Xuan's instigation, Vandel spoke out his own choice. He believed that Janna, the goddess of storms, had made a good choice, and that the people of Zaun didn't need to choose a more dangerous path just to satisfy the ambitions of a few. After saying this, Vandel stared intently at Hilko. It was clear that this ambitious individual was none other than him.

To Vandel's surprise, although there was some resentment in Hilko's eyes, he did not show much opposition.

It's not that Hilco doesn't want to choose the Shurima Desert, but it's obvious that he can't influence Li Xuan's decision, and he has no way to change the choice of the storm goddess Janna. In this case, it's better to accept this choice as soon as possible. After all, it's not bad between Ionia and Pilgewater. As a port city, he can also make a lot of money.

"Very good, now that you two have reached a consensus, the next thing will be easy."

Li Xuan was very happy that they accepted reality, which solved many problems.

"What's next? Why did you come to me and Hilko? Is there anything we can do to help you?"

Vander didn't understand how two mortals, him and Hilko, could help with this matter?

"Honestly, neither the relocation of Zaun nor the creation of an island has any use for you. But do you think that just moving there is the end of the matter? That's where the problem begins. Okay! Janna won't interfere in the affairs of mortals. But what about when we get there? Without a strong order among Zaun's millions of people, chaos will ensue if things go wrong."

"So I want you two to quickly set up a rough organization in the next few days to maintain Zaun's order and development. In other words, Zaun will be governed by you two from now on."

"us?"

Fandel pointed at himself and Hilko, somewhat puzzled.

"Indeed, you organized the entire Zaun-Piltover conflict in the past and hold considerable prestige. And Hilco now controls most of the gangs in Zaun. If the two of you work together, you'll have both the will and the manpower and strength to quickly establish a basic city governance organization."

Vander and Hilko looked at each other. They had been fighting each other to the death before, but now Li Xuan wanted them to cooperate wholeheartedly. Wasn't this a bit too much to ask?

That's what Hilko originally thought, but when he saw the big hand suddenly appearing in front of him, he was surprised. Vandel was the first to put aside their past grudges and extended his hand to represent friendship. Hilko hesitated for a moment and also extended his hand to shake hands with Vandel. After all, Vandel, who had suffered a loss, was able to let go of his grudges, so what else could he not let go of?

The reason Vandel was still able to settle his feud with Hilko after suffering such a heavy loss was largely due to his concern for the people of Zaun and his desire to quickly stabilize Zaun after the relocation. A small part of the reason was that he didn't really hate Hilko that much. In his view, Hilko, a former subordinate and friend, simply inherited his ideals. There was no animosity between the two, but rather a conflict of ideologies. Furthermore, although he had suffered a severe beating, he had also blinded Hilko's eye in the past, making the situation even.

"Very good. Next, Hilco, go and call these two people over. After meeting them, you can begin preparing for the migration to Zaun."

Li Xuan clapped his hands, attracting everyone's attention.

"Two more people to meet? Who?"

Hilco was a bit confused. He wanted to get down to business quickly. After all, the task Li Xuan had assigned him was no small matter; every aspect of a city's relocation needed to be considered. Who else in Zaun was worth meeting for such a major event?

"Haha, if you two are the present of Zaun, then these two are the future of Zaun."

Hilco frowned. The future of Zaun, can a place like Zaun have a future?

"Hextech knows, right?"

Faced with Li Xuan's question, Hilco couldn't help but be speechless. How could he not know that this was the root cause of Piltover's growing strength?

"People only know that Jayce is the inventor of Hextech, but there's actually another person who invented Hextech: Viktor. He also had a hand in its creation. In the future, Zaun will undoubtedly have no shortage of wealth, but wealth alone isn't enough. Future development also requires scientists like Viktor."

"In that case, it is true that scientists like Viktor are extremely necessary for the future development of Zaun."

With Piltover behind them, Vandel and Hilko are naturally well aware of the importance of science and technology, and Viktor, who can invent Hextech, is undoubtedly a crucial talent for the future development of Zaun.

"What about the other one?"

At first, Hilco was a little indifferent about the future of Zaun mentioned by Li Xuan, but now he is a little impatient. He used to know the power of Hextech technology very well, and he is very eager for talents like Victor who can invent Hextech technology.

"The other one is Ike from the Wildfire Gang. Although he is still young, he has a very deep understanding of Hextech. It can be said that he has a promising future."

Chapter 391: Denied Hextech

"Ike, that kid!!"

Hilco fell silent. Although he disliked Ekko, who had always opposed him, he also understood that he was a very capable young genius. Indeed, Ekko could be called the future of Zaun. Otherwise, he wouldn't have spared the Wildfire Gang and Ekko, both openly and covertly, and hadn't done much to the Wildfire Gang, who had always opposed him. One must plan ahead; before victory is achieved, defeat is forewarned. Ekko was the future he left for Zaun after his defeat.

"You two should find them here. What happens next is also related to them."

Hilko and Vandel looked at each other and agreed.

"Wei, go with Silko's people and invite Victor and Ike over."

Although Wei was somewhat reluctant to follow Vandel's instructions, she did not lose her temper in the face of such a major event. She simply went with Hillco's men to ask for help.

Although Viktor and Ekko were very confused, facing the joint invitation from Silko and Vandel, two powerful figures in Zaun, and saying that it was a major event related to the fate of the entire Zaun, Viktor and Ekko both accepted the invitation and followed.

Both of them were wondering in their hearts whether Vandel and Hilko had joined forces to start the War of the Two Cities again. Although Vandel seemed to have become a peace-seeker, they would not forget that it was this peace-seeking Vandel who had started the protracted War of the Two Cities.

If Vandel really joins forces with Silko to start another war, Victor and Ike are determined to stop them.

But when they really came in front of Vander and Hilko, they found that things were completely different from what they had imagined. They could see that both Vander and Hilko were standing very respectfully in front of a young man, looking like his subordinates.

Who is this person? Victor and Ike both had the same question in their minds.

Then Fandel and Hilko looked at each other, walked forward, and began to explain the current situation to Victor and Ike.

As Vandel and Hilko explained the current situation one after another, Victor and Ike's mouths opened wider and wider. What was going on?

If it wasn't said by Fandel and Silk themselves, Viktor and Ekko would never have believed what they heard. Migrating Zaun, the gods, the goddess of storms, the islands between Ionia and Bilgewater...

This was simply unbelievable, but Viktor and Ekko didn't suspect anything. Zaun's relentless monsoon was swirling around Li Xuan, expressing his emotions. It was clear that Janna, though unseen, was constantly watching. Consequently, neither Vandel and Silko, nor Viktor and Ekko, doubted Li Xuan's identity or the truth of his words.

Victor and Ike looked at each other and understood what the other meant, so Victor walked up and asked Li Xuan, the great being, why he was looking for them.

"It's simple. I want you to give up your Hextech."

As soon as Li Xuan opened his mouth, he asked Victor and Ike to give up the Hextech technology that they relied on and even survived. No one could accept this, not even Li Xuan, the great existence in the eyes of Victor and Ike.

"why?"

Victor said word by word that inventing Hextech was the most glorious thing in his life, and he had paid too much for it, including his health, friendship and love. It could be said that Hextech was his life. After all, he was able to survive only by relying on Hextech. How could he give up?

As for Ike, although he did not invest so much emotion in Hextech, he would not easily give up his Hextech equipment.

"Is it because of the so-called dangers of magic?"

Li Xuan's words reminded him of Piltover's Chancellor Heimerdinger's words, who had also dissuaded him from exploring Hextech. This made Viktor feel very uncomfortable.

"No, it's simply because Hextech has no future."

Li Xuan's unexpected answer was completely beyond Victor's expectations, but it made him even more angry. He would rather hear Li Xuan say that Hextech technology was very dangerous and therefore stopped it, rather than Li Xuan saying that Hextech technology had no future. This was equivalent to Li Xuan completely denying the results of his life's research and development.

"Why? Hextech is so powerful?"

"Victor, let me ask you, what is the core of Hextech?"

Li Xuan's question stumped Victor. For a moment, he couldn't decide what the core of Hextech was.

Instead, it was Ike who revealed the core of Hextech technology in one sentence.

"That magical gem from Shurima, huh? It must be the core of hextech."

"Yes, Ike, you are right."

Li Xuan glanced at Ike with a hint of appreciation, praising his keen observation skills.

"The core of Hextech is the magical gem that serves as its power source. Victor, you've found a way to utilize 200% of its magical energy, but do you truly understand its true nature? And do you know how many of these gems there are?"

Faced with Li Xuan's question, Victor was stunned.

"It should be some kind of ore. Even if the production is low, the vast Shurima Desert should be enough for Hextech to develop for hundreds of years. By then, a replacement method will have been found."

"Hundreds of years? Haha, a few years is more like that. Victor, let me tell you, the so-called core of Hextech technology will only be useful for a few more years at most."

Victor didn't care about Li Xuan's ridicule. He was more concerned about the fact that there were so few gems, which were the core power source of Hextech. If that meant that Hextech would suffer a Waterloo just as it was developing. Technology without a future really had no future.

"why?"

Li Xuan knew exactly what Victor wanted to ask, and told him the answer readily.

"The gems that serve as the core energy source of Hextech are not real natural gems, but life crystals left behind by a race called the Shell People after their death. This race discovered the original magical energy hidden deep in the earth and utilized it. After death, they poured all the original magical energy in their bodies into the life crystals, so it possesses such a huge amount of magical energy."

Chapter 392: Helpless Victor

"However, the Crustaceans didn't leave behind the crystals for charity. It's their way of passing on their heritage. New Crustaceans can inherit the power of their predecessors, making their own race stronger and stronger. Originally, it was impossible for humans to obtain the Life Crystals from the Crustaceans. However, due to the Rune Wars hundreds of years ago, the Crustaceans collectively fell into a deep slumber, which gave those explorers the opportunity to snatch the Crustaceans' Life Crystals. But this can't last forever. The Life Crystals left in human hands can only support the development of Piltover for a few years at most."

"Can't we just snatch the Life Crystal from the Shell People?"

Hilco is not a good person. After learning the news from Li Xuan, the first thing he thought of was to snatch all the life crystals.

"Rob? Do humans have the power to do that? The Hextech technology you consider so powerful has only been developed for a few years, and how many years have the Shell People been using this primitive magical energy? What can you use to rob?"

Li Xuan was stunned when he heard what Xierko said, and then laughed out loud.

"But haven't all the Shell People fallen into a deep sleep?"

"Falling into a deep sleep doesn't mean death. Humans are desperately trying to dig out the roots of the human race. They are not fools. They must have their own methods."

Li Xuan glanced at Hilco with a half-smile.

"But this should be good news for you. After all, according to my understanding, the Shell People have activated their own means of protection."

Hilko was a little confused. How could this be good news for him?

"Skarna, the most powerful member of the Crustacean tribe, has awakened. He is far more powerful than any Crustacean before him. He is determined to recover all the lost life crystals. However, most of the lost magic crystals are now in Piltover."

Hilco couldn't help but laugh at Li Xuan's words. For him, the best news was that the Piltover man was defeated, but he still had a worry.

"Can that Shellman Skarner defeat Piltover? Can he do it alone? Piltover is much stronger now than before..."

"What a joke! You don't think Piltover's so-called Hextech equipment would be of any use against a genuine crustal Terran like Scarna, do you? That's too disrespectful of the crustal Terrans' accumulation of tens of thousands of years. It would be strange if Hextech didn't turn against Scarna. Piltover is definitely going to suffer a great loss this time, and it might even be set back decades or even hundreds of years. If Scarna had been a little more ruthless, it's not impossible that Piltover would have been destroyed."

What Li Xuan said was the truth. The Scarna in reality was not the hero with 33 Qs in the game. The Scarna on Rune Continent was extremely powerful. As the most powerful existence among the Shellmen who had inherited for tens of thousands of years, his strength had reached the extreme of mortal things and was not much weaker than that of ordinary Ascendants. In addition, with so many Shellmen's life crystals in Piltover, Scarna was completely at home, and it was not a problem for him to go in and out of Piltover seven times.

"Is there no way to avoid this battle?"

As for what might happen to Piltover, Hilko applauded, Vandall was indifferent, and although Ekko felt a little reluctant, he didn't say much. Only Viktor wanted to find a solution because of his friend Jayce.

"Of course there is a way, you just can't do it."

"Please tell me, even if I can't do it, my good friend Jayce is now a councilor of Piltover. He should be able to find a way."

Li Xuan was speechless at Victor's earnestness. Victor's efforts were in vain.

"Even he couldn't do it. There's obviously only one way to avoid the conflict between Piltover and the Crystal Vanguard, Skarner. That's to destroy all Hextech equipment and return all the Life Crystals to Skarner. But how is that even possible? Even if your friend Jayce is the inventor of Hextech, this wouldn't be possible. Once Hextech spreads, it's beyond the reach of a mere councilor like Jayce to stop it. Hextech now represents the interests of countless people in Piltover. Forget Jayce, even if Speaker Heimerdinger himself stepped in, it wouldn't be of any use."

Li Xuan understood very well how things were going. In the current situation, no matter what Viktor did, he could not change the minds of most people in Piltover.

"Even if you tell Jayce and Heimerdinger this news, what will happen? That will only allow other people in Piltover to spy on the Shellmen's life crystal, and bring this battle sooner. There is no other possibility."

Fandel and Hilko both agreed with Li Xuan's words. They understood human nature well, knowing that people won't cry until they see the coffin, and won't turn back until they hit the wall. As for the people of Piltover, they simply wouldn't believe that the powerful Piltover would be defeated by a mere monster. Instead, they would see the Shellmen as an opportunity for Piltover's development and wanted to plunder all the Life Crystals.

"That's the truth, Victor and Ike. I've called you here to impart new knowledge to you. Study hard, and you'll understand how magical energy like the Life Crystal can be nothing. And how the Miser Energy Core, a near-perpetual motion machine, is truly the eternal God."

Li Xuan waved his hand and passed the basic knowledge of the Arcane Empire of Netheril to Ekko and Viktor. With their intelligence, it was not difficult for them to master these basic knowledge in a few days.

Once they came into contact with the basic knowledge of the arcanist, with their intelligence, Victor and Ike could deeply understand the power of this magic system. It was a truly systematic magic system with extremely amazing depth and breadth. Its profundity was completely worth pursuing for a lifetime.

"Then I'll be leaving first. Seven days from now, when Zaun relocates, Vandel, Hilko, the Storm Goddess's church, and her priests will help you. If necessary, just call my name and you'll gain unparalleled power."

After saying this, Li Xuan disappeared from the air.

"understood!"

"I see!"

Vandel and Hilko agreed readily, their words tinged with joy. After all, this way they wouldn't have to worry about any sacrifices. Zaun was a mixed bag, many of them Piltover spies. For example, the Chem-Barons, none of them were innocent, all had ambiguous ties to Piltover. Their power was immense. If Hilko and Vandel had relied on themselves, they would have likely suffered significant losses. But now with Li Xuan's help, they no longer had to worry.

Chapter 393: Preparations before the Zuan Migration

Vandel and Hilko simply started their discussion right here. After all, this matter concerned the entire Zaun, and they had to come up with a complete plan.

Ike glanced at the somewhat distraught Victor and stopped paying attention to him. Instead, he joined the discussion between Vandel and Hilko. After all, he also had some members of the Wildfire Gang under his command, and he had to fight for some things for his men.

Victor is just a simple scientist, so there is nothing for him to participate in. He can only continue to think about how to resolve the conflict between the Shell People and Piltover. But he is not cut out for this. No matter how hard he thinks, he can't think of a way to ease the conflict. This is natural. After all, the conflict between the Shell People and Piltover is simply impossible to reconcile. In this situation, no one can think of a solution.

In the end, Viktor had no choice but to give up and left here silently. He planned to tell Jayce and his teacher Heimerdinger everything about the Shell People. This was his way of repaying the two of them. Apart from that, he could not do more. As for other things related to 937 Zaun, he would not tell them. Viktor knew very well where his roots were and would not betray Zaun because of his friendship with Jayce and Heimerdinger.

As for Viktor's departure, no one else reacted, not even Silko, who hated Piltover the most. After learning so many secrets of Runeterra from Li Xuan, Silko's horizons had long been opened. What Zaun was going to do next would be the same whether Viktor said it or not, and the people of Piltover had no way to stop it. In Runeterra, only power truly dominated everything. Obviously, Zaun, now supported by two powerful beings, Li Xuan and the storm goddess Janna, was not something that a weak city like Piltover could stop.

Hilco couldn't help but laugh when he thought of this. When did he become able to look down on Piltover? This was the confidence that the background of Li Xuan and Janna gave him in Zaun.

Moreover, he believed that Viktor had his own sense of propriety and would not tell everything to the people of Piltover. He still had some trust in him. After all, they would have to work together for a long time in the future, so there was no need to make the relationship too stiff. He still had to give Viktor this face. Anyway, the people of Piltover would not have an easy time in the future, and the information Viktor provided would not be able to save much.

It would be better to say this way, as it might trigger the conflict between the Shell People and Piltover in advance.

Viktor's departure was just a small episode. Vandel, Silk and Ekko put their energy into the future governance and development of Zaun. Within seven days, they had to arrange the planning and governance of a city with a population of nearly tens of millions. It was a big task for the three of them to handle. The time was tight and the task was heavy, and there was no room for waste.

They'd likely be incredibly busy over the next seven days, but whether it was Vandal, Ekko, or Hilko, they were all willing to do it. After all, this time they'd truly seen Zaun's future, a bright new world within reach. To make such a beautiful future a reality, a bit of busyness wouldn't be a big deal.

However, after the initial organizational planning was completed, Vandel and Silk sent Ike back. This was not a struggle for power or anything like that, but as Li Xuan said, Ike was a very important talent for the future of Zaun, and there was no need to invest his time in such things. He had a more important task, which was to fully understand the magic system given by Li Xuan.

Ike was also delighted. He had previously participated simply to secure a future for his subordinates. Now that their future was guaranteed, Ike should work hard for his own. The future promotion and development of this magic system would be inseparable from him and Victor.