ctnovel Chapter 83: It's the boy from back then who has to protect his mech.
Chapter 83: It's the boy from back then who has to protect his mech.
Honestly, although Stevan didn't explicitly recruit Aaron, the conditions he offered were indeed excessively generous.
With the black box, Aaron had no shortage of inspiration for scientific research.
So, besides the stable research environment he has always sought, what he needs is nothing more than research resources, right?
Otherwise, Aaron wouldn't have needed to find Jess and try to indirectly contact Hextech Gems through him.
Once Stevan speaks, if Aaron shows even the slightest willingness to accept it, then this last difficulty will be easily resolved.
The inexhaustible wealth and scientific research resources of the Philos family will begin to tilt towards Aaron!
"Aaron, this..."
Sitting in the cockpit, having witnessed everything, Caitlin couldn't help but look worriedly at Aaron, who was still silent beside her.
Born into a noble family of Piltover councilors, she was all too aware of the formidable power of the Feros family.
If we disregard other factors, if Caitlin herself were to face Stevan's invitation, she would feel that even a half-second's hesitation would be disrespectful to her own future!
The problem is that those so-called "other factors" cannot be ignored.
Caitlin wanted to tell Aaron loudly: Think about Camille's undisguised covetousness for the mech, and Stevan's arrogant yet obsequious attitude. Never trust any conditions offered by such a powerful family.
But as the words were about to come out, Caitlin remembered her identity.
She was also of noble birth, and not related to Aaron at all. Apart from being more gentle in her methods, her mother was not much different from Stevan.
If she were to persuade Aaron to refuse, from what stand should she take...?
Suddenly, Caitlin was speechless and could only try to dissuade him with her eyes.
"Please come with me, Mr. Aaron."
Before receiving a reply, Stevan had already stretched out his arm, gesturing for Aaron to follow.
He dragged his aging body slowly but firmly toward the deeper part of the manor, determined to make Aaron see it for himself.
Clearly, he was using the same tactic he had used to seduce Jayce.
As long as Aaron, like Jess, is full of curiosity about the future, yearning for magic, and has a strong desire to conquer unknown mysteries, then Stevan is not worried that Aaron will reject him.
The cunning and shrewd Philos family was full of confidence in the endless supply of rare materials in their laboratory!
He figured Aaron, like himself, wouldn't care about Camille's "unintentional offense" and would wisely choose what was most advantageous to him...
"I'm sorry, Mr. Stevan."
"I'm afraid I cannot accept your request."
Aaron, in the cockpit, suddenly said something that surprised everyone.
He was like a clueless young man who didn't understand the true value of the "Feros family," and casually threw away the olive branch that Stevan had offered.
Aaron casually scratched his head and then stepped back, causing the mecha to retreat two steps.
He still doesn't understand how the contradictions in the backstory about the Feros family are reconciled in reality.
But he had already realized another crucial thing—
"I have two reasons for refusing, one is rather distant, and the other is more realistic. Would you like to hear them?"
Aaron's lips curled slightly into a smile.
Without waiting for a surprised Stevan's reply, he began to explain on his own:
"Let me start with that more distant reason for rejection."
"I am a Zaunite. This mech of mine is also a Zaunite mech."
"So I can't..."
"Foolish! Still these narrow-minded prejudices!"
Stevan, whose reactions had become sluggish due to old age, finally realized what Aaron was saying.
He was visibly annoyed and interrupted Aaron with a shout.
"Do I need you to give me a history lesson on Piltover and Zaun? The two cities are one; they were forcibly separated and placed in opposition!"
"If you're willing, I can push for Zaun's independence tomorrow, or even crown you king in Piltover. I don't know what you're hesitating about, cough cough!!"
Stevan couldn't help but cough.
He was indeed very concerned about Aaron's mech, this powerful weapon that even his sister Camille was helpless against, and he was extremely agitated.
Even in front of Caitlin, Stevan, in order to persuade Aaron, didn't bother with any pretense and went straight to the point about the Twin Cities' true predicament—
What kind of progressive city is this?
How could there be any city that is inherently poor?
Ultimately, all of this is a deliberate act driven by desire and self-interest!
Just as he said, if Aaron's reason for refusing him was really just due to the conflict between Piltover and Zaun, then although he would inevitably be somewhat disappointed, he would easily grant Aaron's any request.
What Mel had promised Aaron—"to advance Zaun's independence"—was, in Stevan's eyes, merely a matter of issuing an order...
You've misunderstood.
Aaron seemed to have guessed Stevan's attitude.
He shook his head, unsurprised, and decided to be more explicit—
"As the head of the Feros family, you may not fully understand the significance of this mech to me and to the future of Zaun."
"It's my research achievement, and it's also the foundation of my confidence in leading and transforming Zaun, so I can't..."
"I can!"
Stevan couldn't help but interrupt again.
He has now openly revealed his desire for the Cheng Ying mecha, so he might as well stop pretending to be stupid.
"How do you want to transform Zaun? Sewage or toxic gas? I can handle it all!"
"Whether you leave that guy here, or you stay, it's fine!"
His voice, unusually tinged with hysteria, made Camille, who had been silent as if dead, look up at her brother.
In Camille's eyes, today's matter is actually very simple:
Stevan, the younger brother, wanted both the mech and Aaron, so he sent himself.
In this situation, if he were to let Aaron and the mech leave unscathed, it would be tantamount to violating his duty as a family spy.
Even though she had noticed Stevan's various underhanded actions over the years, Camille didn't pay any attention to it because the concept of time was too broad for her.
She only felt that her younger brother was too weak, just as weak as before.
Why get angry?
I didn't go all out just now; if I just...
"Sigh, you still don't understand."
Did you know? This world is actually very big.
Aaron's voice suddenly rang out again, stopping Camille, who was about to make a move.
This time, Aaron seemed no longer concerned with explaining to Stevan, but instead spoke with some emotion about things that others couldn't understand:
"It's really big!"
"Whether it's Zaun or Piltover, once they're placed on a real map, they'll appear so small that they're impossible to find."
"To the north of the Twin Cities lies the Noxian Empire, to the south Shurima, and to the east lies the legendary, untouchable Shadow Isles."
"Besides these places, have you heard of the city-states and civilizations further afield? Do you know about the momentous events that occurred there, events powerful enough to change the fate of the world?"
Aaron shook his head again.
He piloted his mecha and left the reception room, seemingly intentionally leaving the center of the stage empty.
"Remember when I said I had two reasons for refusing?"
"The more distant reason is this: I can't give the key to changing one's destiny to a frog at the bottom of a well."
"As for another, more realistic reason..."
Aaron waved his hand, attempting to close the black box interface that only he could see—
[WARNING! High-energy matter detected approaching!]
[Based on the black box database, the high-energy substance has been identified as the Demon-Slaying Runestone (complete)]
Aaron, with an air of anticipation, smiled and spoke into the deserted open space of Lanxun Manor:
"Stop hiding it, General Ambeza."
"If you don't come out soon, Ms. Camille will probably find you too."