Blue Lavender Manor, waiting room.
"Medig Viner!"
The old butler, holding the name list, spoke unhurriedly, adjusted the monocle on his eye, and made a gesturing motion.
"It's your turn, Sir!"
"Alright!"
The one called was a young man in his twenties, who, holding his work, walked uneasily into the door leading to the evaluation hall.
Duke's hands remained on the box, the image of Camille long since banished from his mind. He leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed, his fingers lightly tapping the surface of the box, calculating and simulating rune combinations for the Clockwork Armor in his mind.
He arranged rune after rune, and after anticipating the effects, if he found it unsatisfactory, he would disrupt them and start anew.
In just a moment, he had already deduced more than twenty rune arrays.
"Still not right!"
Duke opened his eyes to find that almost everyone around him had left, leaving only him and the duo of Jayce and Viktor.
"Looks like we're the grand finale, buddy!"
Jayce noticed the look Duke gave him, stood up from his chair, and extended his hand to Duke. Duke smiled and shook his hand, showing friendliness.
"I know you, the victim of the explosion in the Academy District. I heard the mastermind behind the explosion was involved in some incident in the Undercity and completely disappeared."
"You're really well-informed."
Jayce's expression was a bit unnatural; having his shortcomings exposed was always somewhat awkward.
"Duke Sanchez, from Zaun, currently an apprentice at Colin Workshop!"
Duke stated his identity out of politeness, but his eyes were fixed on Viktor. "This gentleman should also be from the Undercity like me, but now he's Mr. Viktor, Professor Heimerdinger's assistant at the Academy!"
"Hello, friend."
Viktor smiled and nodded slightly to Duke. Jayce withdrew his hand, his brows furrowing slightly, "Please let me correct one thing, Viktor is my partner now; he's no longer that dispensable assistant he used to be!"
"Is that so?"
Duke tilted his head, a hint of mockery on his face, "Then as his partner, why can't you see that your friend is already in deep trouble?"
"In deep trouble? I'm sorry, I don't think I understand what you're saying. Are you threatening me?"
Jayce blocked Viktor. Duke shook his head slightly, "I've been observing since we were waiting at the door. Mr. Viktor has coughed six times from then until now. When he coughs, his face is pained and his brows are tightly furrowed. That doesn't look like someone who's fine!"
Standing up, Duke looked directly at Jayce and said indifferently, "What else is this if not deep trouble?"
"Is that true?" Jayce looked at Viktor. Viktor was about to speak but was interrupted by a violent cough, yet he still forced himself to say, "I'm fine, Jayce, don't let it affect the upcoming evaluation!"
"You'll die!"
Duke looked at Viktor and said very seriously, "If you don't get treatment soon, you really will die. By then, it will be too late for any medicine to help!"
"That's just your opinion!"
Viktor was still putting on a brave face. Duke shrugged his shoulders, "Good advice is wasted on those determined to die. I've said all I can!"
"Duke Sanchez, Jayce Talis, and Viktor, it's your turn!"
"Sir, shouldn't it be one by one?"
Viktor looked at the butler, who shrugged, "You are the final candidates, so the Council and the esteemed evaluators have decided to let you proceed simultaneously. The order has already been determined!"
After saying this, the butler closed his eyes, nodded, and turned to leave with the name list. Duke couldn't help but chuckle at the sight: "Well, well, it seems the higher-ups want us to have a Arena match!"
"Everyone is competing fairly. How does it sound like a brutal underground boxing match coming from your mouth?" Jayce snorted in annoyance. Duke picked up his box with one hand and slung it behind his back: "I've heard a little about your research, but I'm also very confident in my creation!"
"See you on stage, Mr. Talis!"
"Also, a sincere suggestion: go see a Doctor, Mr. Viktor!"
Duke winked at Jayce and nodded to Viktor. He walked towards that door with his box. Jayce frowned, looking at Duke's retreating figure. Viktor walked over and teased, "Nervous?"
"No, it's just that this guy makes me feel a bit uncomfortable!"
"Hmm?"
"His eyes, that look as if he knows everything, revealing a superior arrogance and… it really annoys me!"
"Really?" Viktor recalled carefully and found that the other party's eyes held pity and sympathy when looking at him, along with a hint of expectation, as if saying, 'Listen to me, listen to me, and you can avoid tragedy!'
"Now that you mention it, I really do feel it!"
"But this guy still has some humanity; at least he knows how to care for others. Whether what he said is true or false, you still need to see a Doctor, buddy!"
"It's nothing, just a small cold."
"Don't push yourself!"
Jayce, who patted Viktor's shoulder, looked at the product he brought. "Let's go, let's bring a new future to Piltover!"
Evaluation Hall, backstage.
That door led directly to the backstage of the Evaluation Hall. The backstage was now empty, except for the necessary staff and a few other people.
Through the gaps in the curtains, one could glimpse the magnificent grandeur of the entire Evaluation Hall.
"It's really grand enough; they even installed a theater inside their own home!"
Duke walked into the backstage preparation room with his box. Orianna had already changed and was waiting there. Seeing Duke enter, she quickly rushed over.
"Duke, it's finally your turn! I thought you hadn't come in!"
"Don't worry, the best shows are always saved for last. Besides, didn't you see anything fun backstage?"
"I did! Earlier, a guy's mine drill exploded directly, covering him in black soot."
Orianna chattered incessantly beside Duke. He occasionally chimed in, while also scanning everyone present. One person, in particular, caught his eye.
That was Councilor Mel of the Council, the woman exiled by her family.
When Jayce and Viktor walked in, she immediately went up to them and began to encourage them. Seeing this, Duke scoffed, "Isn't it too early to start placing bets now?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Nothing!"
Rubbing Orianna's bun, Duke placed the box on the ground. "Get ready, Orianna!"
"Let them witness the future of Clockwork Technology!"
"Good!!"
...
Assessment Hall.
The judging panel and council members sat side-by-side at the front, with Heimerdinger, who was both a council member and the chairman of the judging panel, occupying the central and primary position.
The short-statured Heimerdinger stroked his white beard, holding the list of names in his hand, and called a halt to those who were still debating endlessly.
"Alright, gentlemen, let's pause the discussion for now!"
"I know there are many talents and many interesting works today, but the next two might open our eyes even further!"
"First up is Duke Sanchez, recommended by Clockwork Master Mr. Colin Livewick and numerous Clockwork Technology craftsmen. His topic is the Clockwork Power Enhancer!"
"Hmm…" Heimerdinger tilted his head, looking at the report in his hand, which contained a sketch of a Clockwork Power Exoskeleton. "It looks like a very interesting thing. The author himself said his work is enough to change Piltover's perception of Clockwork Technology and will flourish for centuries to come!"
"The young man is a bit arrogant, please forgive him!"
As Mr. Colin spoke, Caitlyn's mother smiled and said, "A student cultivated by Master Colin will surely bring us a different kind of sensation and impact. You shouldn't be overly modest!"
"He's just a bold young fellow, I hope you don't mind!"
Colin, who strongly supported Duke, spoke modestly while looking at the empty stage, awaiting Duke's appearance.
"Alright, seeing is believing, hearing is not. Let's meet this child!"
"Next, please welcome Mr. Duke Sanchez!"
The backstage staff heard the cue from the front and quickly came to Duke to remind him.
"Mr. Duke, it's your turn to go on stage!"
"Alright, thank you!"
"Wait for my signal, Orianna!"
Duke, carrying his box, declined the staff's help. It was a joke; the box and its contents weighed over a hundred jin, and the staff member's small frame might not be able to lift it.
Passing through the door on the right side of the stage, Duke slowly walked to the center of the stage. As he stood still, all the lights in the theater instantly extinguished, leaving only the beam of light above his head.
Looking at everyone in the audience, Duke smiled and bowed to them. When he stood up, his expression froze slightly, because at the very back of the stage, two figures had appeared.
Both had silver-gray long hair, their expressions calm as they watched Duke on stage.
"Damn it, why is Camille here?"
Duke, muttering to himself, couldn't dwell on it too much; it was more important to focus on the present.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to introduce myself and my work!"
"I am Duke Sanchez, from Zaun. I am currently an apprentice at Colin Workshop. Of course, I know what most of you think of Zaun—a backward, ignorant city.
But today, I am here to present to you the strongest masterpiece from a boy from Zaun!!"
Colin's brow furrowed slightly; mentioning his Zaun origin at this moment was a negative point!
Viktor in the background heard Duke's words, and with a hint of shame in his eyes, he said, "On this point alone, I am not as good as him!"
"Don't be discouraged, you are the best partner in my eyes!"
Jayce patted Viktor's shoulder, encouraging him.
On stage.
Duke slapped the brass box, and under the pressure he applied, the clockwork mechanism inside the brass box began to operate automatically. The front, back, left, and right sides of the box slowly opened, and the brass plate on top slowly lifted, revealing his designed Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton to everyone.
Heimerdinger looked at the Exoskeleton, which resembled a skeleton, and his eyelids suddenly twitched. He had a bad premonition.
"This is my work...." Duke stepped aside, allowing everyone to see his work more clearly: "The Clockwork Powered Exoskeleton!!"