The "third arm" on Viktor's back was actually just a Hextech laser welding gun.
Hearing this at first, Caitlyn actually believed it.
Because she and Jayce were childhood best friends, and Viktor was a life-saving friend to Jayce, making them the best partners co-leading the Hextech Applied Mechanics Research Group.
Therefore, through her daily interactions with Jayce, Caitlyn had indirectly learned a bit about the cutting-edge technological projects he and Viktor were currently researching.
According to Jayce:
They were planning to further practicalize Hextech, creating various Hextech industrial production tools that could help workers reduce their physical labor and improve production efficiency.
For example, the "Hextech Super Miner Gloves," which could help miners easily move heavy objects and shatter ore rocks.
Or the "Hextech Laser Mechanical Arm," which could help welders avoid extreme heat and weld quickly, or assist firefighters in cutting through steel rebar and clearing obstacles.
The "third arm" currently on Viktor's back was likely the latter.
'Well, there's nothing strange about it. It's just an upgraded welding gun for workers. Fundamentally, it's no different from the hammers and pliers in a worker's hands. It's completely harmless...'
Like hell it was harmless!
"This is a lethal weapon, isn't it?!" Caitlyn's mouth twitched as she stared at the massive iron ingot that had been effortlessly sliced in half by the laser, watching the glowing, scorching molten steel slowly dripping from the cross-section.
This thing was dangerous. It was more lethal than any weapon she had ever seen.
"Professor Viktor—" Caitlyn instantly became vigilant. "You are weaponizing Hextech!"
This was an extremely severe accusation.
Because Professor Heimerdinger, who led Piltover's scientific community, had always firmly and unequivocally opposed the weaponization of Hextech.
As for the majority of scientists in academia, some were driven by pure humanitarian ideals, unwilling to let their inventions be reduced to killing machines;
Some believed that since Hextech had only been around for a few years, the magical energy contained within the Hextech crystals was not yet completely stable, making rash weaponization too risky;
Others, out of political and financial considerations, did not want Hextech to become a weapon that could influence the tides of war, which would further drag Piltover—a "permanently neutral state"—into the terrifying geopolitical struggles of major powers.
In short, the vast majority of scientists currently did not support the weaponization of Hextech.
Jayce, and even Viktor himself prior to yesterday, were typical representatives of this faction of scientists.
But now, he had modified his invented production tool into a lethal instrument, taking the lead in Hextech weapon research.
"Professor Viktor," Caitlyn frowned sternly. "Why are you conducting such dangerous weapon tests?"
"Aren't you Jayce's friend? Aren't you a staunch anti-weaponization advocate?"
"I..." Viktor's expression was complicated.
In the past, he truly had no desire to conduct any research related to weapon development.
His efforts to invent these Hextech devices were all for the sake of the poor in his homeland of Zaun, to drive social progress through technology and improve the quality of life for his fellow people.
For example, Viktor used to think like this:
Many people in Zaun worked in the mines, using their flesh and blood every day to dig and carry ore. Not only was it incredibly exhausting, but it was also easy to suffer physical injuries from overwork.
Therefore, if he just invented the "Hextech Super Miner Gloves," he could allow Zaunite miners to easily excavate ore and move giant rocks, saving their strength, improving efficiency, and giving them more time to rest.
But yesterday, Levi had awakened him to the truth.
Viktor suddenly realized that if this murky, corrupt world was not changed, then no matter how great the production tools he invented were, their meaning would be limited.
The "Hextech Super Miner Gloves" that increased a miner's work efficiency tenfold would not cause the miners' income to grow tenfold, nor would it reduce their working hours by a factor of ten.
It would only cause nine-tenths of the original miners to lose their jobs, discarded into the stinking gutters of Zaun to wait for death.
"What Zaunites need right now isn't Hextech miner gloves; what they need are Hextech armed gauntlets."
"The business owners don't understand any other language. Zaunites can only speak to them with their fists."
Viktor recalled Levi's words.
Weapons were dangerous, but Zaunites needed them.
Only by first using these gauntlets to blast their enemies into the sky one by one could Zaunites safely use Hextech for mining.
"Yes, I am conducting Hextech weapon research," Viktor finally admitted openly under Caitlyn's highly vigilant gaze.
"This..." Caitlyn furrowed her brows tightly. "Do Jayce and Professor Heimerdinger know?"
"They do not," Viktor replied.
"Then I must report this to Dean Heimerdinger and let him judge whether your actions are appropriate." Still acting like a strict, rigid Enforcer, Caitlyn issued a merciless warning. "If the situation is severe, perhaps the Piltover Police Station will also intervene to investigate."
"Wait, Miss Caitlyn," Viktor stopped her.
But he didn't explain the weapon research. Instead, he asked thoughtfully, "You came to the academy to find Professor Heimerdinger to discuss the Iron Fist Gang and Sheriff Marcus, didn't you?"
"How did you know?" Caitlyn's interest was immediately piqued.
"It's not hard to guess," Viktor answered. "To oppose the current order of Piltover, the only person you could possibly place your hopes on is Councilor Heimerdinger."
"Furthermore, if I'm not mistaken... Professor Heimerdinger likely rejected your request."
From student to teaching assistant to colleague, Viktor had been by Heimerdinger's side for over a decade. He could easily predict how Heimerdinger would react to this matter.
"You're right, Mr. Viktor... The Professor has already rejected me," Caitlyn admitted helplessly.
It turned out everyone could see that she was bound to fail; she was the only one foolishly persisting.
"Then what do you plan to do next?" Viktor asked. "Continue the investigation?"
Caitlyn remained silent.
She hadn't even figured out the answer to that question herself.
If she didn't investigate, she wouldn't be able to accept it. But if she continued investigating... relying solely on herself, what use would it be?
What she was fighting against wasn't the insignificant Iron Fist Gang at all, but the underground order of Piltover.
"It seems you are out of options as well, Miss Caitlyn."
"Are you mocking me?" Caitlyn clenched her fists in frustration.
"No, I want to tell you—" Viktor paused slightly. "If your method doesn't work, perhaps you can try ours."
"Your method?" Caitlyn was slightly taken aback.
Then she suddenly remembered that she had only walked in out of curiosity after hearing these students mention the words "Iron Fist Gang."
From the context, it wasn't hard to deduce that they were also enemies of the Iron Fist Gang.
The enemy of an enemy is a friend.
Although she didn't know what kind of grudge Viktor and these students had against the Iron Fist Gang, Caitlyn couldn't help but ask:
"You have a way to deal with the Iron Fist Gang?"
"We do," Viktor replied.
"What way?" Caitlyn asked, feeling a bit defeated. "I've run to the homes of all the Highest Councilors, and not a single one is willing to support my investigation."
"Even Professor Heimerdinger can't do anything about them. What makes you think you can?"
"With this." Viktor waved his "third arm."
Lina and her classmates also steadily raised the machine guns and cannons they had built with their own hands, exuding a murderous aura.
"Can this deal with the Iron Fist Gang?"
Caitlyn was left speechless.
She finally understood why Viktor and the others were building weapons.
This really *could* deal with the Iron Fist Gang.
"But it can't deal with the people behind the Iron Fist Gang."
After sensing the students' high-spirited fighting resolve, Caitlyn actually felt her blood boil with excitement. It was as if a lone hero charging single-handedly into enemy lines had finally found comrades to fight alongside her.
But she quickly sobered up:
"Professor Viktor, and students, although I don't know what grievances you have with the Iron Fist Gang, I still advise you to calm down."
"If you carry these things out to have a shootout with the Iron Fist Gang, even if you win, the result will only be... only be suppression and arrest by the Enforcers."
At this point, Caitlyn's expression became somewhat complicated.
She was obviously an Enforcer. But how was it that, on this topic, she unconsciously found herself siding with a bunch of "criminals" who wanted to start an illegal armed conflict in Piltover?
The Piltover Enforcers, who were supposed to be on the side of justice, were instead spoken of as the bad guys by her.
"Miss Caitlyn, you are right. Even if our guns can defeat the Iron Fist Gang, they cannot defeat the people behind them."
Seeing the conflict in her heart, Viktor took the opportunity to ask:
"But what if we also have someone backing us from above?"
'Huh? You have someone backing you from above?'
Caitlyn looked in confusion at the frail-looking Viktor and this group of students in their school uniforms.
The fact that this group would inexplicably shoulder guns to fight the Iron Fist Gang was already absurd enough.
How could anyone support them in such madness? Who could it be? It couldn't possibly be Professor Heimerdinger, could it?
"It's you, Miss Caitlyn Kiramman."
Just as the righteous Sheriff of Piltover was making astonished guesses, Viktor extended an even more absurd and shocking invitation to her:
"The students and I are preparing to form a new gang."
"Are you interested in being our protective umbrella?"