Arcane: Mage from Noxus

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With that said, the corners of Ryan's mouth curled into a slight smile. As he turned his palm over, a dark blue crystal bead appeared in his hand.

"Hex Crystal? How is this possible?!" Viktor exclaimed as if he were witnessing something that shouldn't exist.

"It's no surprise. The Hex Crystal wasn't created by you and Jayce," Ryan said meaningfully.

"Although you've advanced further along this path, you're still unable to fully control it."

"But... the council should have a firm grasp on the production and usage of all crystals," Viktor hesitated.

Ryan handed the crystal to Viktor nonchalantly, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"But, you're a scientist."

He gestured to the group of nobles dancing and celebrating nearby.

"They are politicians."

"And I..." He pointed at himself.

Seeing Ryan remain silent, Viktor ventured a guess. "A mage?"

Ryan shook his head with a smile. "No. A Noxian."

"It seems Lord Ryan has a strong sense of loyalty to the Noxian Empire," Viktor remarked, his thoughts drifting to Zaun, which stirred a feeling of melancholy within him.

Ryan's gaze remained calm. "It's not just loyalty. The Empire gave me the confidence to speak. To be honest, I don't possess General Darius' remarkable military prowess, nor do I compare to Professor Heimerdinger when it comes to technology. I'm certainly no master of magic like Karma, nor do I embody the concept of the Apocalypse. But standing on Piltover's land, no one can deny me."

Viktor studied Ryan for a moment, quietly processing his words.

Noxus was undeniably powerful, but its strength stemmed from individuals like Ryan—people who were not only powerful but able to command respect. Ryan represented Noxus because he was one of its strongest, and Viktor couldn't help but recognize that.

He, however, was different. He carried Zaun in his heart, driven to change it, yet as merely a research assistant, his reputation paled in comparison to Jayce's. How could he transform Zaun under such circumstances?

Viktor fell silent, his thoughts drifting to an unexpected realization.

After a moment of contemplation, he glanced around. Aside from Katarina's wandering gaze—seemingly observing without interest—no one was paying attention to their conversation.

He hesitated, before speaking with a perplexed expression.

"Your Excellency Ryan, I have a question."

He couldn't explain why, but he felt compelled to ask this man for advice. Though they were the same age, Viktor felt an unspoken connection, as though there was nothing to hide between them.

Ryan offered a warm smile. "I'm happy to answer your questions."

It pleased him to see the genius before him willing to open up. The doors of Noxus were always open to the talented.

Viktor, however, wore a troubled expression. "Earlier, you said that we can't control the Hex Crystal. Professor Heimerdinger mentioned something similar just hours ago, but I can hear a difference in your tone. He believes that the redevelopment of Hextech could lead to disastrous consequences but with you... it feels like there's something else you're implying."

"I agree with Heimerdinger," Ryan replied thoughtfully, "but my perspective is slightly different from his."

"I want to apply it for the benefit of the people, to improve the lives of Zaun's citizens," Viktor said, his excitement barely contained.

"I understand your feelings. They're not unlike my own for Noxus," Ryan said, placing a hand on Viktor's shoulder. Then, his tone shifted.

"But have you ever considered this—can you truly control it?"

"They are already very stable and won't cause accidental damage," Viktor said confidently, his face reflecting his professional expertise.

Ryan shook his head and responded, "No, no, no. I'm not Heimerdinger. I don't worry about the accidents or the harm they might cause. My real question is: What would Zaun do if they mastered Hextech?"

"They will..." Viktor began, eager to explain how technology could save manpower and help lift the people of Zaun out of poverty.

But as he glanced at Ryan's half-smiling expression, he realized this wasn't what the other man wanted to hear.

Ryan suddenly turned his attention to Katarina, who was standing nearby. He asked casually, "100 warriors from the Lesser garrison versus 1,000 tribal warriors from the Freljord. In the absence of any leadership intervention, what would be the result?"

The Lesser garrison, known as Emperor Darkwell's elite army, was renowned for its strength. Freljord, on the other hand, was located in the northern reaches of Valoran, where many uncivilized tribes resided.

Katarina sneered. "No need for 100. Ten guards could wipe them out."

Ryan smiled. "And the reason?"

"The equipment gap is too vast," Katarina replied, her tone matter-of-fact.

"Even if the Freljord's stone spears break, they can't pierce the armor of the Lesser garrison. And that's not even considering the special alchemical equipment they have."

Katarina curled her lips slightly. "If you want an even match, though, you'd need to fight Avarosan warriors, and the number would need to be five times that of the Lesser garrison."

Ryan's focus shifted back to Viktor, and he spoke earnestly.

"I think this metaphor answers your doubts, scientist."

He emphasized the last word as if intentionally trying to rattle Viktor out of his idealism.

Viktor smiled wryly, lowering his head. "As long as there are restrictions, Hextech can't be used in warfare."

After speaking, he felt the weakness of his own words. Ryan could acquire Hex Crystals as easily as breathing, while they, as mere researchers from Piltover, were powerless to place limits on them.

"I always thought I'd hear that from Jayce," Ryan said with a touch of surprise.

"Do you remember the environment in which you were born?"

Viktor's face softened, lost in thought.

"I have a very deep impression of Zaun..." he murmured.

How could he forget what he had seen and experienced there? That was why he wanted to use technology to change Zaun.

Ryan nodded, watching Viktor intently. "Think about your original purpose and why you chose to stay in Piltover. You're a smart person, but you've been here long enough."

Out of the corner of his eye, Ryan noticed Mel and Jayce appearing nearby. He stood up, offering a smile.

"This conversation has been very enjoyable. If you ever need anything, the Noxian embassy is always open to you."

Viktor, still feeling a bit embarrassed, managed a strained smile.

"Today, you've helped me resolve some doubts. I thank you."

As Ryan finished speaking, he understood everything clearly.

The other man was right... He had spent so much time in Piltover that he had forgotten what it meant to be from Zaun.

Viktor watched Ryan's retreating figure, feeling gratitude and renewed determination to make a difference.

Later that night, Piltover's most anticipated event took place—Progress Day.

The Progress Day speech was the highlight, and the day's speaker was none other than Piltover's most renowned inventor, Jayce Talis.

In the Piltover Lecture Hall, everyone eagerly watched the tall, imposing figure of Jayce as he took to the podium. The crowd was filled with anticipation, eager to hear about the new innovations that would shape Piltover's future.