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The Good Life: Wagers (ch. 71)
🕑 Added 2024-11-29 15:52:35 +0000 UTC“Already!? You have a functioning prototype already!?” Heimerdinger blurted, unable to restrain his surprise as he once more stood in the lab of his pupils. The most secure lab in the university was always reserved for those whose creations possessed the potential for revolutionary effects and dangerous accidents. It was rare to have more than one such pupil in the lab at a time -- largely due to conflicting egos -- so it was nothing less than heartwarming to see a collaborative effort of three of the brightest minds in the city.
“We do! More testing is required before I feel like we can claim to have perfected it, but the prototype already functions exactly as we need it,” Jayce began eagerly, displaying a two part invention on the table. Several lifetimes worth of creation told Hemindiger how the invention functioned with but a glance, but he would never deny a fellow scientist a chance to explain their creation. Honestly, it was one of the best parts of being a scientist!
“As it so happens, we possessed most of the pieces for the refinement of mana stones into hex-gems,” Viktor said, seated as he rested his cane against his shoulder. “We just needed a little help putting them together,” he added, inclining his head to Law, the newest addition to the brilliant duo turned terrific trio. The young man came to the city and took it by storm -- it was delightful to see.
“I only thought to put the pieces together due to my Mr. Handys -- their wireless energy transference relies on wave lengths, which are affected by gravity.” Law continued, ever humble.
Heimerdinger chuckled, a warm feeling settling in his chest as he looked between them. For all of his doubts about Hextech at the start, Heimerdinger had never been more happy to have been proven wrong. He still feared the Arcane. The disasters that followed the practitioners of the art. Yet, Jayce, Viktor, and now Law were putting his concerns and old fears to rest.
Now he was just eager to see what their next step down the long road of innovation looked like. “Well? Don't keep me in suspense, my boys! Show me how it works!”
“With pleasure, Professor!” Jayce said, opening a crate that had a few raw mana stones before plucking one and setting it into one half of the device, nesting it in a cradle that was etched with runes. “The principle is very simple -- we take the raw crystal and run it through a shifter,” he said, lowering the other half of the contraption onto the nest.
“Using the runes that we have already discovered for the Hexgate, we can direct and channel the mana from the stone into the receptacle. Then, with the use of force and gravity, we can condense the mana into a stable gem… like so,” Viktor continued, pressing a button that made the refinery come to life. The upper half lowered and secured itself into place before it began to spin. Rapidly.
A high pitched whine filled the air, and between each spin, Heimerdinger saw flashes of blue light. Speaking over the high pitched whine, Law elaborated further, “The rotors spin at fifteen hundred RPM, and at that speed the refinement process takes around fifteen minutes total for an average sized manastone. The process isn't entirely efficient -- there is some mana bleed off during the process as the mana powers the runes which create the gemstone. The average is around a five percent loss in mana density. Not a whole lot, but on a large scale that's a number that'll get out of hand pretty fast.”
Heimerdinger made a noise of acknowledgment as he approached, “Then it is an efficiency issue that has you at fifteen hundred RPM?”
“Ah… no, Professor,” Viktor replied, glancing at his colleagues. “Any faster than that, and the centrifuge makes a rather… disconcerting noise. It's quite unpleasant.”
“It's a wailing sound. It's awful,” Jayce agreed while Law offered a sharp smile.
“We're just going to say it's to spare the rotor stress and prevent maintenance issues. Because if this thing breaks mid spin, the most someone can hope for is losing an eye,” he added, making Heimerdinger pause for a moment before he took a large cautious step back.
“Lab safety should always be the top priority,” he decided to agree, miming locking his mouth and throwing away the key. The knowledge also made the wait feel longer as the boys broke into more technical data of how the refiner functioned. It was several minutes later that it began to slow, the high pitched whine fading away, until it stilled.
Once it had, the top half of the machine rose back up, revealing…
“Oh my,” Hemindiger uttered, approaching once more. With an available step ladder, he was able to pluck the hex-gem out, finding that its rough surface had been smoothed away. Replaced with a smooth glass-like texture -- it was slightly smaller than the raw product, but that seemed like a worthy trade off considering the mana within the stone no longer felt like a small bump away from exploding.
That much was proven when Jayce plucked the gem from his hands and grabbed a hammer. “They're perfectly stable,” he informed as he brought the hammer down on the gem, making the air sing as blue motes of light danced.
“Force and rotation creates spheres. With each spin, the mana is siphoned off and layered to create the gemstone,” Law added. He sounded rather proud of the discovery, as well he should be.
“With the hex-gems, we can move on to the next phase of hex-tech, professor! Portable devices and, with the centrifuge, we can turn a single manastone into several smaller hex-gems. It massively increases the viability of widespread use of hex-tech, beyond just the companies using them to increase productivity!” Jayce continued, a light shining in his eyes that Heimerdinger knew well. It was the same light that was in his eyes when he disobeyed direct instructions for the sake of his passion.
Which is why it saddened him to say what he had to say next, “That… may be difficult, my boys.”
Viktor sensed something was wrong first, “Professor?”
“The incident with the mage in the Undercity has people… uncertain,” Heimerdinger phrased it gently. “Hex-tech is not magic -- I've seen enough of both to make the distinction, but…” He trailed off, hating seeing how Jayce's expression fell.
“Nuance is lost on a mob,” Law finished for him and Heimerdinger gave him a thankful nod.
“Precisely,” Heimerdinger agreed. “These attacks from ‘Sukuna the Cannibal’ have people afraid. And fear makes fools of us all -- as I've learned when I first resisted the creation of Hextech. Sukuna has reminded the people that magic is dangerous in the wrong hands, and those on the Council share their concerns.”
“But- That's not- Professor, this is-!” Jayce started and stopped, sputtering out three protests at once.
Law scratched at his cheek, “Well, the Council won't shut down that big Hexgate when it's making the city absurd amounts of money. Seems like our best play is to bridge the gap,” Law said, making their attention shift to him. His gaze was far ahead, looking at something only he could see as he turned over the bad news to find a way forward. “So, we switch targets. Instead of numerous portable objects, we go with another large scale government project that tackles a widespread issue amongst the population.”
Hemindiger was surprised at how quickly he came to that conclusion as that was precisely the path that he was going to suggest. Based on Jayce and Viktors expressions, they weren't happy but it was a compromise that they were willing to make.
“It would give us more time to refine the centrifuge… but what issue are we talking about? Piltover isn't perfect, but-”
“The toxins in the undercity,” Viktor was quick to answer, his gaze growing sharp. “The Gray.”
The Gray. A byproduct smog from the refining process of the gasses in the fissures. It was quite the conundrum some two hundred years ago, but the Kiramman Clan had helped provide a solution with a widespread ventilation system that they designed and built throughout the city, that grew as they mined deeper.
“I thought the issue with the Gray was solved?” Heimerdinger questioned, his brow furrowing.
“...less so than the Council believes, it seems,” Viktor replied. “But it is the Undercity that was attacked by a mage. It should be the Undercity that receives the next major project.” He spoke as if the Undercity was somehow separate from Piltover, and Heimerdinger wasn't entirely sure what to make of that. “There is one issue with this plan, however.”
“We need more runes,” Law agreed.
“An expedition. Or several. We find more runes, refine the Hex Core, and that'll give us more possibilities when we can finally produce portable devices.” Jayce joined in, the three of them putting together a plan of action.
It was a beautiful sight to see. Normally, in this lab, it was a contest of egos. Heimerdinger wasn't certain who had said it, but there was a quote he found himself agreeing with more often than not.
‘Any man can be good, but only a mad man can become great.’
And to work in this room, you had to be great.
“There is another issue to consider, however,” Law spoke up. “Sukuna. He could make another mess and undo whatever goodwill we get back for Hextech. What's going to be done about ‘em?”
That was something that Heimerdinger had an answer for, though it wasn't one that he relished saying. “He is being hunted as we speak by the finest officers Piltover has to offer. However, for a mage as dangerous as he is… we, the Council, have decided to look outside of the city. To those that specialize in handling mages.”
Jayce's expression shifted as if he had bitten into something sour. “Demacia. You've called in the Mageseekers.”
Heimerdinger let out a small sigh that betrayed how he felt about the decision. It was distasteful. He feared magic, and rightfully so, but never, not even at his worst, would he dream of doing what Demacia did to the mages it found. “The safety of the people is above all, my boy. Whatever we might feel about it, the Mageseekers know their job well, and it is in everyone's interest if this Sukuna is brought to justice. Sooner rather than later.”
There was a pregnant pause as everyone came to grips with what they were inviting into the city.
But, perhaps, it wouldn't be all bad. Such an exchange was a learning opportunity, after all, and he thought they would have plenty to learn from each other.
…
The stall on Hextech wasn't really bad for me, I decided as I left the lab behind. My success wasn't particularly intertwined with it, even if I did benefit from attaching my name to it. For me, I had already gotten the bulk of what I wanted from Hextech, and that was magic. I had even discovered some interesting things along the way.
Actually, it would be more correct to say that Hextech stalling out a bit was a good thing, as it opened up a window of opportunity for me.
And for Asami.
I rubbed my forehead as I walked through the halls of the University, feeling a headache brewing. We had been in Piltover for six months at this point and Asami hadn't made a move. She’d made inroads, advancing her own branch of tech and now it wasn't uncommon to see one of her drones flying overhead on occasion, but…
The waiting was really starting to get to me, because I still had absolutely no clue what her plan was.
But that was a problem for tomorrow. Today, I had other things on my mind and I had some good news to give. Which led me to a lecture hall with a class that was in session. Leaning against the door and peering in, I saw Robin standing at the front of a full classroom, and I'm sure only half of the class was actually listening.
It was hard to when she was wearing a black sleeveless dress that exposed a dangerous amount of cleavage and ended mid thigh paired with a leather half jacket. She had taken to wearing a pair of glasses and tying back her long black hair. Piltover wasn't exactly conservative, but there weren't many women in the same league as Robin.
She noticed me out of the corner of her eye but ignored me as she continued on with the lesson, a folded book in one hand that she was reading off of. A topic that resurfaced as part of a fierce debate lately. “Magic is part of the fabric of reality -- mana is everywhere. It's in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water that we drink. It is utterly inescapable. From the moment of your birth, you were subjected to it… however, it is mages who are defined by magic. Their unique ability to channel and manipulate the mana that they absorb from their surroundings.”
She really had the outrageously sexy but serious teacher vibe down pat, I decided, watching her pace in front of her class. Each click of her high heels was damn near fatal. “The attitude to magic varies from culture to culture, largely dependent on pseudo religious roles, environmental factors, as well as history. The Buhru of the Serpent Isles, to this day, venerate magic. In Noxus magic is also venerated, but in a different way and to a lesser extent, viewed mostly as a practical tool -- a weapon to be wielded against their enemies. In Demacia however… magic is despised, treated as an affliction that can only be cured with death.”
“Yet, what is magic? The Arcane is, at best, a placeholder term that all the esoteric features of the world fall under. An umbrella term, if you will. There are as many facets to magic as there are facets to science.” She continued her lecture, looking out at the class. “As such, your assignment is to write a five page essay detailing one culture of your choice and its relation to the Arcane. Single space.” She added, and being the hot teacher didn't save her from groans at getting homework.
But any real protest was cut off by the bell ringing and the students filed out. More than a few of them gave me some wide eyed looks when they noticed me outside the door. Some tried to linger, especially a blonde haired teenager that I couldn't remember the name of despite seeing him in the halls often enough. But, after a short minute, they filed out and Robin favored me a sly smirk.
“Mr. Trafalgar. You don't have a lecture from me today,” she noted.
“I don't, Ms. Nico, but I found I just couldn't stay away. Especially when I have something you might be interested in,” I said, stepping into the classroom.
Now she gave me a dull look, “Sadly, you wouldn't be the first to try showing me that. I expected the brightest minds in Piltover would have a bit more creativity in flashing their cocks,” Robin noted dryly.
“Not what I meant, but something to keep in mind,” I replied, making note of that. “Jayce, Viktor, and I are looking to sponsor an expedition into some ancient ruins to go rune hunting. Still early stages, but I can't think of a better archeologist to lead it.” I said, crossing the room and taking a seat at her desk.
Her eyes lit up, “I'm the only archeologist that you know.” She pointed out, and I gave a sly grin.
“And you'd still be the best even if I knew more,” I continued, knowing she was fishing for compliments.
“I'd love to take you up on the offer, Mr. Trafalgar,” Robin said, taking a seat next to me. “Provided that it is an official offer. One that you've cleared with your contemporaries… as well as your partner, Asami Sato.” She added, making me sigh.
“Jayce and Viktor don't need to be convinced. Asami is going to be a pain in the ass about it though,” I already suspected.
Robin hummed, “She's still stonewalling you?”
“More like giving me a cold shoulder,” I said, feeling the headache return in full force. “I'm starting to think her whole plan is to bore me into giving up. She's just…” I made an exasperated gesture, not sure how to complete the sentence. I had expected this little contest of wills and influence to have a little more… substance.
Something like the corporate espionage that TV had conditioned me to expect.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that Hollywood once again lied to me, because, so far this little espionage war was a whole nothing burger.
“Asami is patient, Law. And she knows that you're watching,” Robin cautioned.
“Yeah, I know. And I know she knows that I know. And she knows that I know that she knows that I know. Ad infinitum.” I agreed. “I'm keeping an eye on it. But, point is, I can tap into the Vought money either way. Though, I might shop around for another sponsor. Build up inroads with the Council. No matter what, if you want the position, then it's yours.”
Robin reached out and gave my hand a squeeze. “Give me a date, and I'll start preparing,” she said before leaning in to kiss me on the cheek. “And be careful with Asami, Law. I mean it. This spat between you has been a long time coming, and she's known it from the start. You've been waiting six months for her to make a move. Asami has been waiting for a year and a half.”
With that, she gave my hand a comforting squeeze, reassuring me that I hadn't overestimated Asami.
Sharing a kiss farewell, I headed off to my next stop and I mulled over my options. I had done pretty well cutting off Asami's plans at the knees when it came to making me look incompetent. I had done pretty well building up inroads with the head honchos of the city, even if the goal was still a ways out. I had done a solid enough job securing my position within the company.
Maybe I should go on the offensive? Crank up the pressure? She hadn't been taking any of the bait -- Cinder was a rookie Enforcer now alongside Caitlyn, Annie was embedded in Mel's camp even if she hadn't made it far up the corporate ladder… Hell, she hasn't even said a word about what happened in the Undercity -- Sukuna killed a hundred people and not even a mention? I wanted to provoke her. Get her to react. To just do something already.
Yet, Robin was right. That could be just what Asami was waiting for. Because she was clearly waiting for something at this point, I just had no idea what it could be.
And that was starting to- no, it had been bothering me.
That was how I found myself heading to Vought's headquarters. The building was in full swing as I stepped inside of it, producing not only our breakout technologies -- the Mr. Handys and the drones -- but other innovations that had largely gone to the Undercity. Like water and air filter designs that we’d pilfered from Fallout. They had been designed primarily for radiation, but they also worked for the outrageous amounts of toxic chemicals that you could find in random puddles on the street down there.
My favorite little go-getter had even suggested a name for them that helped sell them to the Undercity folk - Janna Boxes. Named after a local wind goddess that supposedly purified the air down there. Given the Undercity air still smelled like ass and went through your lungs like glass, she probably didn't exist despite this being such a magical world.
Real or not though, her name made for some killer branding down there, as Tanya had figured out. Speaking of my employee of the month…
As always, Tanya perked up the moment I stepped inside the building. “Did you receive our message, sir?” She said, walking up a stepladder to help me out of my coat.
“Nope -- just thought I'd swing by the office. What's going on?” I asked, more amused by the girl than anything. She’d bought the stepladder, after all. Over the past sixish months, Tanya had settled into the role of being the foreman for the factory. She was popular with the kids, and seeing as we were very pro-child labor here at Vought, that made her popular with a solid eighty percent of the workforce
“Ms. Usagiyama is in your office,” Tanya informed and I cocked an eyebrow as she put my coat onto a rack.
“Who?”
“Ms. Rumi,” Tanya clarified and I searched the office for Rumi's presence with my Haki- yup, there she was. “It didn't seem urgent, however. I believe she's using the chance to snoop around your office.” She added, turning her nose up at the very idea.
What a cute kid. “Good thing I don't keep anything important in my office then,” I replied, ruffling her hair. “Good job. Also, get some rest. Work-life balance is king, and don't think I don't know about your twelve hour shifts.” I said, sending her a look that Tanya pointedly ignored as she shoved the stepladder back in place.
“I'll do a sweep of your office for listening devices once you are done talking,” Tamya said, flat out ignoring me. Fair enough, I suppose. I wasn't much of a listener at her age either. Though, that was on account of me being homeless and fighting tooth and nail for scraps to survive. Not really the same thing, but Tanya, so far, struck me as the kind of kid that'd find a way to thrive no matter her circumstances.
“Appreciate it,” I said, continuing into the factory that was in full swing. From creation to the assembly line, all cylinders were firing. Opening the door to my office, I saw Rumi openly flicking through my files, not even glancing up at me. “Find anything interesting?”
“Not a thing,” Rumi said, tossing a file onto my desk. I hadn't seen much of Rumi the past couple of months. She had been well outside of Piltover, doing whatever it was she had been doing. She wore a pair of dark pants under a tall pair of leather boots that went up mud thigh while her shirt was more of a wrapped piece of silk that left her stomach exposed in a diamond formation. “Which tells me that either you've become a boring office worker, or you're keeping the good stuff somewhere else.”
I kocked an eyebrow, “Could you even imagine me being a run of the mill office worker? Of course I'm keeping the books somewhere else. So is Asami.” I said, taking a seat before my desk and kicking my feet up, eyeing her as I silently formed a Room. “So, to what do I owe the pleasure? Not like you to seek me out. And it's not like you didn't know you wouldn't find anything interesting here.”
She snooped because she was bored. I didn't even need the Amp-Room to tell me that.
Rumi crossed her arms, “I guess you could call it a negotiation. From Asami's half of the company to your half.”
Now I was interested, “Hm?”
“Sukuna went too far. You know that. What Asami wants… is for you to not interfere in whatever comes his way.” Rumi said, and she really wasn't one for negotiation, I thought with an amused snort. I could sense her unease. Uncertainty. Anxiety too, because she knew that it wasn't going to be so simple with me.
“You're asking me to abandon a friend?” I asked, tilting my head. The request was curious. Very curious.
By all logic, this was an opportunity for Asami. She would have to know that I would do something to help Sukuna if he asked -- which he wouldn't -- and that was the perfect chance to catch me with my hand in the cookie jar. A connection between me and the most heinous criminal in most of Piltover's living memory.
If Asami played her cards right, then that could be a silver bullet to ruin my reputation and kill my efforts to take over the city peacefully.
And instead of taking her shot, she wasn't just passing up on it. She was trying to convince me to not act and possibly implicate myself. Was this some reverse psychology shit?
“... Yeah, basically,” Rumi agreed with a small nod after thinking it over. “He made his bed and now he gets to sleep in it.”
I held her gaze for a long moment, mulling over the situation before a slow smile started to spread across my face. The more it grew, the more cornered Rumi felt because she realized I had seen right through her.
“I take it your little recruitment venture was successful then?” I asked, making her lips thin. “Or are you asking because you want to take a shot at Sukuna?”
Asami wasn't here. I'm not sure where she was, but I'm sure I could figure it out easily enough if I asked Yoruichi. So, there was a chance that this was a solo play by Rumi since she didn't strike me as the patient type. This, to me, felt like Rumi seeing an opportunity to take a piece off of the board.
“It's both,” Rumi admitted, somewhat annoyed that I had caught on. “So. You going to step aside or what?”
Interesting. Very interesting. Who exactly had she found that made her confident that she could take on Sukuna? If nothing else, she would know he was strong enough to level a chunk of Old Boston. Then again, Rumi wasn't the type to shy away from a challenge.
“Wouldn't interfere in the first place -- Sukuna would be pissed to hell and back if I thought he was weak enough to need protection,” I replied, deciding to be honest. Even if I tried to interfere on Sukuna's behalf, he'd absolutely try to kill me for it. And he'd rather die than ask for help. “But, I doubt it's going to do you a lot of good.”
Now Rumi smirked and I saw that I had underestimated her. I’d walked right into her trap, which she sprung with a single word, “Bet.”
Oh, she was feeling cocky. And that made me that much more curious about who she’d found that made her this confident. “Can't go for the usual stakes -- Robin yelled at me,” I warned and her smile grew a fraction.
“I heard,” Rumi admitted. “Plus, you're already betting your life on this power grab of yours. So, I want to make it a little harder on you.” Ohh, someone had finally wisened up that there were too many loopholes for me to exploit in the original agreement. “If I win, I want you to tell me the range of your Rooms.”
… huh. Yeah, that wasn't a bad ask. On her part at least. Kind of a big issue for me, though. “And you expect me to be honest?”
“You're an evil asshole, Law,” Rumi replied without hesitation. “But you're an honest one. You wouldn't even think to lie.”
Aw. She knew me so well. About as well as I knew her because her hand was on the table now -- she wanted to remove Sukuna from the board, and get a handle on my powers. The range was an important facet of them. It would tell them how far away they had to be from me to keep a secret as well as tell them how far I could travel in a pinch. In return, I got to see who inspired so much confidence, and…
Hm. What exactly did I want?
I held Rumi’s gaze for a moment and she didn't at all like the smirk on my face, “In that case, I want to continue where we left off.”
Runi went deadly still. “What?” she asked, as if she didn't already know exactly what I meant.
I obliged her with an explanation all the same, “You left me high and dry back in El Dorado, Rumi. You got one. Now I want one.”
“I'm not going to fuck you,” Rumi blurted, her previous confidence shaken.
“Not asking you to. How I get my nut is up to you,” I said, watching the kaleidoscope of her soul. There was fear there. Uncertainty. And, all the more damning, a flash of arousal. “If you think you can manage it with no hands, then by all means. But, that's what I want if I win this wager.” Not exactly a fair bet given that I could control when I came. So, one way or the other, she'd have to work for it.
Her lips thinned as she held my gaze for a long few seconds before her head jerked in a small nod. “Fine. I win if Sukuna gets incarcerated. You win if Sukuna avoids capture.”
Huh. Yeah, she was really confident if she thought that whoever she had up her sleeve could capture Sukuna without needing to kill him.
“Deal,” I decided, giving her the nod as the deal was struck.
“It's a bet then. I'll be back later to collect,” Rumi said, abruptly standing up, no longer wanting to be in the same room as me. I didn't mind, just smiling at her as she walked out of the room.
“I'll be waiting,” I replied as the door closed behind me.
A chuckle escaped me as I leaned back in my chair, turning my gaze up to the ceiling to make eye contact with the guest that had arrived about halfway through the conversation. She was a sneaky thing -- if not for her entering my Room or my Haki, I doubt I would have noticed she had arrived at all as she laid along the ceiling rafters.
Bright blue eyes met mine, filled with surprise that I had caught her. My smile grew.
“And who might you be?”
Comments
Kal Guillory
Pressurizing the centrifuge and adding an airtight sealing for the cradles should mitigate excess mana leak and allow for a higher rpm which will significantly reduce the time it take for the the refinement process as well as produce higher quantities of mana
