Chapter 15

Xierke casually picked up a compass and played with it, "This is an enamel plate made in Demacia, with a flywheel movement…… It's the top craftsmanship of their artisans; to obtain it I put in considerable effort.".

Xinjide did not speak, merely silently watching Xierke's self-talk.

"Moreover, this pocket watch is a prized work of the noble families of the Upper City; it's said the case is made from the shells of the Shellfolk—although it's only as big as a fingernail."

Xierke gently wiped away the dust on the pocket watch; through the crystal case the internal mechanical structure could be easily observed. It is a work from thirty or forty years ago, but because it has been well maintained, the silver-white movement still retains its original appearance, emitting a "click-click" sound when running.

"Mr. Xierke..." Xinjide wanted to say something but stopped.

"So, you intend to use these decades-old scrap copper and iron to imitate the doll called Heita in the light curtain?" Xierke threw the pocket watch in his hand into that pile of metal scrap, sighing: "You should also know that the technology displayed in that light curtain is beyond our lifetime's reach."

"Everything you are doing is merely futile." Xierke thought silently—but he did not want to speak too bluntly, lest he hurt the professor's heart.

Initially he also longed for the technology in the light curtain, especially after seeing Yinlang's divine skill that could alter reality, he also involuntarily grew covetous, but after recognizing the gap between the light curtain and the Undercity, he decisively decided to give up.

In his view, this amounted to a moth flying into a flame—using his limited lifetime to try to bridge a technological chasm as vast as a heavenly moat, which is hardly a wise move.

"I understand your meaning." Xinjide nodded, but then added: "However, if I lacked even this pursuit, I would not have achieved what I have today."

"Before working with you, I was also a scientist."

Xierke did not continue to persuade him; having worked with Xinjide for many years, he knew very well the professor's temperament.

He slowly rose, gently brushing off the alchemical dust on his body; before leaving the lab, he turned to glance at Xinjide and said softly: "Sorry, professor, your hobby…… I might not support it for much longer. Of course, if you are willing to use these mechanisms to research some new weapons, that's another matter."

After saying that, the several sturdy men beside Xierke shut the lab door with a "bang".

The noisy lab returned to tranquility once more; the ticking of the red copper wall clock accompanied the gradually fading footsteps, and there was no other sound.

After waiting for Xierke's group to walk away, Xinjide alone came to the lab's hidden door; upon opening it, he found a narrow small room inside.

Unlike the cluttered lab, the small room was neat and tidy, its furnishings extremely cozy, like a girl's boudoir. An old teddy bear was placed in the center of the boudoir, beside a huge mechanical casket, as if waiting for something.

Xinjide slowly walked to the front of the mechanical casket, carefully shifting his gaze from the buttons on the casket to the transparent door; at the instant he saw the girl inside, a glimmer trembled in his cloudy eyes.

— Unlike ordinary people, the girl's calm, waveless face reflected a metallic luster.

"Before becoming a scientist, I was also a father."

Xierke merely guessed correctly a part of his thought.

From beginning to end, he never thought of perfectly replicating a precision doll like Heita; such a perfect, vivid doll could not possibly be made in Zaun……or even Piltover, despite his considerable confidence in his alchemical research, he did not lose the rationality and self-awareness of a scientist.

Merely after catching a glimpse of Heita's near-perfect appearance and posture, he gained considerable inspiration for a while.

He had not even considered applying doll technology to large-scale warfare.

But if it could be applied to Olianna, letting his daughter possess a lively, vivid posture like Heita's, able to open her eyes and look at him……

He was willing to sacrifice everything for this.

—

"In the light curtain, Jizi gazed at Xing with a smiling face and invited: 'Xing… you know you have another option; a Star Rail train is stopped at the platform. If you wish, you can come with us.'"

"The train and the Star Core have had plenty of dealings. What you worry about is also what we are seeking; furthermore……" Jizi paused, glancing at the black-towered Heita standing with arms akimbo beside her, "We can always come back to let Heita do research; she's currently full of interest."

"Heita also largely agrees with Jizi's suggestion—after all, she's the type whose interests come and go quickly."

"Xing was about to say something, but Jizi indicated she wasn't in a hurry for her reply, instead waiting for her on the platform, letting Xing go see the people she wanted to see during this time."

"Just as Jizi's words fell, Xing's phone suddenly vibrated, and shortly after he received a message from Heita."

"Heita: "Hey, Xing, I'm Heita, I have something good for you. Come to my office quickly! Waiting for you!""

"?"

"Xing looked at the Heita right before him, full of question marks, then silently replied with a question mark. But the chattering doll that had just been in front of her suddenly fell silent, motionless."

"Xing: "You're right beside me; if you have something to say, just say it directly, right?""

"Heita: 【Auto Reply】, hello, I'm currently unavailable and won't be contacting you for a while."

"Xing: "Um…… what's going on?""

"It seems you've received Heita's message, right?" Jizi smiled faintly, lowering her gaze to the Heita doll beside her, "As you see, Heita communicates with you remotely via dolls, but this doll is not hers; she has placed many dolls in the space station, and when an event needs handling somewhere, she logs into the nearest doll for remote control, which is very convenient."

"If I'm not mistaken……" Jizi pondered briefly, "She has over 200 dolls scattered throughout the space station; you'll run into one wherever you go."

"Over 200!" Xiu ta erke exclaimed, eyes wide, "If there were a few more, we could form an army of dolls to defeat the Demon King's army!"

Filien carefully examined the Heita doll, shaking his head: "Looking at these dolls, they seem to have no combat capability at all; moreover, we don't know what material they're made of—if they were easily damaged, Lady Heita would surely feel sorry."

As he was speaking, Filien noticed Xiu ta erke propping his chin with one hand, staring fixedly at the Heita doll.

"Lord Xiu ta erke, what are you thinking?"

"Ah, I'm thinking……" Xiu ta erke's face showed a certain longing, "If Lady Heita could give me a doll, that would be great."

Before his words even finished, Fulian, sitting beside Filien, suddenly felt the temperature in the room drop sharply, prompting her to silently think "uh-oh".

Xiu ta erke, on the other hand, seemed utterly unfazed, noticing none of Filien's concealed disdain.

The evening breeze from outside the window lifted her long hair, also causing this purple little puffball to feel a sudden sourness in her heart, and she didn't want to say another word.

"Filien?" the burly Xiu ta erke finally realized something was off.

Too bad it was already too late.

Filien turned his body sideways, also twisting his head to one side, puffing out his cheeks in anger.

"……pervert."