Half a month later.
"Ugh!!"
Duke, suppressing the urge to vomit, stared intently at the Sorcerer Supreme's Rune Handbook. Although it was incomplete, the impact it had on Duke was significant.
As a handbook personally written by the Sorcerer Supreme, it contained her magical aura, which served as a powerful stimulant for Duke, who was in the midst of awakening his magical talent.
However, to complete his Clockwork Armor, he had to learn the structure of runes, as Hextech Gems require the blessing of runes to guide and release energy.
As for building an Arc Reactor?
Where would he find palladium? It was unknown if such an element had even been discovered!
Personal extraction was out of the question; it was better to stick to Hextech Gems honestly!
"I can't take it anymore, I can't hold it in!"
Duke closed the handbook, putting it into his inventory. He then picked up the spittoon on the floor and vomited continuously. After clearing his mind of the nausea, Duke put down the spittoon. His Clockwork Armor was largely complete, except for the final component.
The energy component.
The rune system to support the operation of the Hextech Gem had not yet been finalized. The Sorcerer Supreme's Rune Handbook was not something he could fully comprehend at his current level.
The fact that he even managed to acquire it was due to his explosive luck.
Even though it was incomplete, he had only self-studied less than a third of it, but what he had learned already gave him a general idea.
Thump thump thump.....
A knock sounded, and Orianna's voice came from outside the room.
"Duke, are you ready? Father said we need to set off for Blue Lavender Manor. Today is the evaluation meeting, we can't be late!"
"I'm coming!"
Picking up a white trench coat from the side, Duke slowly put it on, opened the door, and walked out of the room.
"Oh my, why aren't you in a hurry at all!"
Orianna was uncharacteristically not wearing her work clothes today, but rather a smart and capable formal dress. After tidying her stray hairs, she pulled Duke's hand and hurried downstairs.
"Hurry up, or we'll miss the evaluation meeting!"
"I know, I know, don't rush me!"
Duke was reluctantly pulled along by Orianna. Today was the evaluation meeting at Blue Lavender Manor. The organizers were officially the Piltover Council and the Academy, but Blue Lavender Manor was the territory of the Ferros Family.
The meaning behind this, you taste it, you savor it!
When Mr. Colin saw Duke come down, he put on his top hat, picked up his wind-up cane, and nodded to Duke: "Let's hurry, Blue Lavender Manor won't wait for us!"
"Understood, Mr. Colin!"
Duke patted the hem of his trench coat, a smile on his face, ready to welcome today's assessment.
The assessment at Blue Lavender Manor takes place one week before Piltover's Evolution Day, the purpose being to select capable artisans and valuable works, and then promote these works on Evolution Day.
As Mr. Colin and his two companions rushed towards Blue Lavender Manor, two or three people from the Talis family were also preparing to leave.
"Are you ready, Jayce?"
"To be honest, I'm a bit nervous!"
Jayce tugged at his tie, while Viktor, leaning on his cane, gave Jayce an encouraging smile: "Don't be afraid, we've been preparing for this day for so long, we will definitely succeed!"
Jayce took a deep breath, recalling the gamble he and Viktor made with their future, venturing into Heimerdinger's laboratory, and then beginning their experiments.
If they hadn't succeeded in the end, they would still be doing hard labor somewhere!
Since the success of their experiment, they had been racing against time to prepare for Blue Lavender Manor's assessment, working tirelessly to promote Hextech.
"Inhale... Exhale..."
After taking a deep breath, Jayce became calm. "Let's go, Viktor, the new era will be ushered in by us!"
Looking at the confident smile on his friend's face, Viktor couldn't help but be infected, nodding heavily: "Yes, let's go!"
....
Zaun, Fugen Tavern.
Boom!!
A huge explosion made the entire tavern's ceiling shake three times. As dust fell, all the guests were unfazed, only Vander behind the counter showed a troubled expression.
"Powder, behave yourself!!"
Vi walked over at this moment, holding a tray, she leaned against the bar, and sorrowfully wiped her face.
"How many times has this been this week?"
"Thirty-seven times!" Mylo placed the recently collected wine glass on the bar and told Vi: "Control your sister, I'm afraid she'll tear down the tavern someday!"
"I know what to do, Mylo, shut up!"
After pushing Mylo away, Vi said helplessly: "Ever since that incident at the old cannery, Powder has been constantly tinkering with new things, it's a headache!"
Vander placed the collected wine glasses aside and said to Vi: "Why don't we find a way to send her to learn something!"
"Learn something?" Vi raised an eyebrow, "Learn from whom, and what?"
"Duke!"
Vander remembered the black-haired, black-eyed youth and offered his suggestion: "He's a very good person. If Powder were to learn from him, she might gain a lot!"
"I'll think about it." Vi pouted and picked up a wine glass to deliver to a customer.
Boom!
Another explosion sounded, and Vander helplessly covered his face.
"When will these days end?"
...
Ferros Family, Blue Lavender Manor.
High walls made of snow-white rock stretched endlessly, and roofs cast from refined steel reflected dazzling light. The long walls were filled with niches, displaying bronze busts of Ferros Family members.
Among them were the current Family Head, Stevan Ferros, as well as Alicia Ferros and Dak'er Ferros, who are Camille's younger brother, great-great-aunt, and great-niece, respectively.
Stevan was still alive and well, not yet strangled by his sister.
It is worth noting that Camille's great-great-aunt, Alicia, was one-armed, which highlighted her immense contribution to the Ferros Family.
That was the contribution of finding the original crystal, which laid the foundation of the Ferros Family's enterprise.
Below Alicia's bronze statue, the motto of the Ferros Family was inscribed.
"For my family, I am willing to sacrifice."
Besides that, there were endless blue lavender plants within the manor, which was also the origin of the manor's name.
At this moment, at the entrance of the manor, Piltover Enforcers were maintaining order in their uniforms. Many apprentices and craftsmen waited anxiously at the entrance with their works.
Everyone behaved very politely, trying not to touch other people's works, but the anxiety and apprehension in their eyes could not be hidden.
At Duke's feet, amidst the crowd, was a half-person-tall box, entirely made of brass, with a unique clockwork gear carved on its front. A gem was inlaid in the center of the gear, surrounded by blue flowing water.
This was Duke's exclusive symbol, designed by him.
"It seems quite a few people are here today!"
Duke touched the box beside him and scanned the crowd, seeing several familiar figures. Caitlyn, her mother, and her father Phase entered the main gate. The Kiramman couple were the judges for this event.
As for the dark horse knight Jayce, he was conversing in a low voice with Viktor, who was leaning on a cane. Jayce was robust and handsome, and compared to when Duke saw him at the Judgment, he had lost a bit of his decadence and gained more composure.
Viktor coughed occasionally, but it couldn't diminish the excitement on his face.
"Is Viktor's health already deteriorating?"
Duke frowned slightly. After observing Viktor for a few moments, he looked at Jayce. The latter seemed completely oblivious to the abnormality of his good friend and partner.
"I should find an opportunity to remind him. It would be too great a pity for such a brilliant genius to fall like this!"
"Moreover, in the original story, Viktor's fate was not good at all; it was tragic!"
"But all of this depends on passing the assessment!"
Duke looked at the box at his feet, his eyes revealing strong confidence. So what if Jayce and Viktor brought Hextech?
He was confident that his design was not inferior to anyone's!
"Now, roll call! Everyone, enter in order!"
A shout attracted everyone's attention, and Duke's gaze sharpened.
The selection has begun!