"What???"
After Caleb explained the basic concept of a computer, all four people in front of him stared at him in stunned disbelief.
Good thing I hadn't forgotten everything my teachers taught me.
And thanks, Asimov, Caleb added silently to himself.
The truth was, computer science was what Caleb remembered most clearly because...
"So you mean that if we use electronic components to build the basic computational unit, a 'gate,' then we can calculate whatever result we want?"
As expected of the current leading scientific minds of the twin cities, they grasped Caleb's meaning very quickly.
"That's right."
Feeling a little parched, Caleb took a drink of water and continued.
"This is something that has to be developed with full force, as long as the twin cities can stay stable."
The seriousness in Caleb's voice made both Ekko and Viktor lose focus for a moment.
So Zaun really could carve out its own path.
"Singed has money, and his scientific ability is extremely high."
Caleb paused, then continued, "But first, he has business ties with Noxus. Second, most of his work is in chemtech."
"So whether you want to work with him or not is up to the four of you."
"I only care about one thing, build it."
"But don't start the research until after I've left the twin cities."
Caleb still felt uneasy, so he added that extra warning.
There was no telling whether Swain's demonic eye could see what was happening right now.
After Caleb finished speaking, the only sound left in the hall was heavy breathing.
"Then I'm counting on all of you."
Caleb stood up and left the chamber where Silco and the Chem-Barons had once held meetings.
The moment the door closed, the four of them immediately started fighting over it.
"Hand it over, you brats! I'm your teacher!"
"Professor, you're getting old, let me go arrange the printing!"
"My robotics factory is more reliable!"
"You people really think it's fine to gang up on a teenager?"
In an instant, they were all over each other.
Caleb, meanwhile, walked off in style. Spending the whole morning explaining the concept had nearly exhausted him.
"I'll leave the rest to them," Caleb thought.
The reason he could lay out the Mecha Project and PROJECT so openly was because of the World Rune in his possession.
In front of that rune, what technology could accomplish was honestly still limited.
When the Void and the Ruination came, Caleb hoped those mechs would protect innocent people more than they would be of any great help to him personally.
"Man, this is so frustrating."
Still, whenever he thought about the ultimate guy dream, a giant drill, getting claimed by someone else first, Caleb could not help feeling a little regretful.
He wanted to build a mech with his own two hands too, then enjoy the admiring looks from everyone around him.
But there just was not enough time.
At this point, both the Ruination and the Void invasion were basically inevitable.
He knew very well that in the cinematic from his previous life, the Sentinels of Light who defeated Viego had almost no real strategy to speak of.
By the end, even Caleb could tell how absurd that plotline had been, built purely to sell skins.
The Ruined King had gone from a devoted monarch to a twisted, pathetic clown obsessed with someone who would never love him back.
And it was not as if Caleb only had one champion's blood on his hands.
That proved only one thing: champions did not have the kind of unbreakable plot armor the official lore made them seem to have.
Whether human or god, if they were killed, they died.
If a real war broke out, how apocalyptic would that battle be?
People would die, a lot of people.
Caleb obviously did not want that to happen.
He had finally found a place where he belonged, and people who depended on him.
He had also found a whole group of like-minded friends and partners.
How could he let some major event threaten their safety so easily?
That thought only became clearer and clearer in Caleb's heart. The twin cities, the twin cities whose peace had not come easily.
Even if it cost him his life, Caleb would protect them.
In the room he had just used, Caleb had deliberately set up several light sources.
Hopefully, after spying on him, Swain's ability was still on cooldown.
Caleb rubbed his temples and bought some Zaun street food for lunch.
"Sticky as hell…"
Even though he frowned, he still drank it down.
Since arriving here, the best food he had eaten, aside from Piltover, had been in Zaun.
Then again, Caleb had not exactly seen much of the world. Once he got the chance, he figured he ought to try food from other places too.
"Governor."
When Caleb pushed open the door, Renata was sitting there, tense like his old self back in another life whenever he got moved to the front row in choir.
"Relax." Caleb waved his hand, signaling that she did not need to stand.
Then he tilted the bowl in his hand in circles and finished the rest of it.
"Zaun's food really is an eye-opening experience."
Now that he was full, Caleb let out a sigh.
"So, have you made your decision?"
"One second."
Caleb began rummaging through his drawer. The confidential letter from the Ferros family should have arrived by now.
He broke the wax seal, and there were only two words on the page:
Feasible.
"Approved."
Caleb held out his right hand. Renata froze for a second before taking it, then shook it twice.
"Go coordinate with the Blaze Gang and the Ferros family's people. Make sure the accounts are archived afterward, and send a copy to the head of the Ferros family."
As Caleb gave his instructions, Renata still had not fully processed them before joy completely overwhelmed her.
She had succeeded. She had really succeeded...
Her parents' burden could finally be eased, and Zaun's poor could finally be saved...
Renata sank to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
It was the Governor before her, after careful consideration, who had given her this chance.
After all, this practically meant putting Zaun's cash flow in her hands and letting her manage it herself.
What level of trust was that?
Looking closely, Caleb was not especially broad, but he definitely had some muscle now.
Still blurry-eyed with tears and emotion, Renata was snapped back to reality by a flick to her forehead from Caleb.
"Go coordinate with the Ferros family people. Don't keep them waiting too long."
"Yes."
Renata wiped her tears and forced herself to stand.
Even now, her legs still felt weak, and she still could not quite believe any of this was real.
But the pain in her fingers and forehead reminded her every second that this was reality. This was not a dream.
"Oh, right," Caleb added, "if Jayce of the Talis family, Professor Heimerdinger from the upper city, or Viktor and Ekko from Zaun come to you asking for money for hextech research, approve funding within reason."
"Please rest assured, Governor. I absolutely will not disappoint you!"
Renata spoke loudly.
"Keep the initial spending modest. Even if it loses money, it won't matter."
Caleb waved his hand and smiled. "Go on."
Renata walked out the door without hesitation.
In her heart, she swore that she would make something of herself between the twin cities.
She would make the wealth of the entire world flow toward Zaun, once so poor and barren.
"Do you feel like you're useless?"
Caleb raised his head slightly.
Those twin braids might have been hidden in the dark, but of course he could tell whether someone was up there or not.
"Maybe my existence only causes trouble and nothing else."
Jinx's voice trembled slightly. It was obvious she was forcing herself to hold it together.
Caleb crumpled the Ferros family's letter into a ball and tossed it over.
It hit Jinx right in the forehead.
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