Arcane: Twin Cities Mechanic

It was currently around 1:40 PM, still not quite work time. 

Li Lin connected to the main AI system of the estate and quickly located Caitlyn, who was in her room preparing for something. 

Now that she had a nanotech suit, she could easily form a hovering bike if something urgent came up—or at the very least, use a teleportation device to reach her destination directly. 

As such, she was never in a rush to leave unless it was for an important case. But Caitlyn disliked drawing too much attention to herself; most days, she still went out riding a bicycle—or more accurately, an "electric bicycle" powered by a nano-energy core. 

Given the growing demand for bicycles and earlier attempts by others to develop electric vehicles, Li Lin had provided the Kiramman family with designs for a more modern electric bike. These bikes didn't require Hextech energy crystals and could instead be powered by household electricity. 

Since Caitlyn often rode hers in public, people mistakenly thought it was a regular electric bike. Thanks to this, the Kiramman family's launch of an electric bike brand quickly opened up a lucrative market. The bikes were far more convenient than regular bicycles, though admittedly, they used a bit more electricity. 

As the estate's servants tidied the courtyard and noticed Li Lin, they immediately paused their work to greet him and inquire if they should inform Miss Caitlyn or Lady Cassandra of his arrival. 

Li Lin waved them off with a smile, instructing them to continue with their tasks. He intended to surprise Caitlyn after being apart for so long. 

Responding politely to the greetings of the staff along the way, he soon reached Caitlyn's door. With a flick of his wrist, the nano-material on his sleeve reshaped itself into a key, effortlessly unlocking the door. 

"Who's there?" 

Hearing the sound of her door being opened, Caitlyn, who had been about to change clothes, froze and frowned. 

Ever since her coming-of-age ceremony, she had changed her room's lock. No one else had access—not even her parents. 

As for Li Lin... 

He didn't need a key at all to get in. 

Considering the advanced AI defense system Li Lin had implemented across the estate, and with no alerts triggered inside her room, it couldn't possibly be an intruder. 

Her mind quickly pieced everything together. Before the door was even pushed open, she already knew who it was. A bright smile crept onto her face. 

Outside the door, Li Lin pushed it open and stepped inside, only to find no sign of Caitlyn—just a pile of clothes lying on the bed, waiting to be changed into. 

Before he could process the scene, Caitlyn, who had hidden behind the door, suddenly darted out. She grabbed him, spun him around, and pinned him against the wall. 

"Cait, you—" 

Before he could finish, a delicate scent of violets filled his senses. The next moment, he felt the warmth and softness of her lips pressed against his. 

The tension in his body melted away, and he responded to her fervent greeting with equal intensity. 

The kiss lasted for over a minute before Caitlyn finally pulled back, her cheeks tinged with a soft pink as she caught her breath. Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled, though they held a hint of reproach. 

"You still remember how to come back, huh?" she teased, poking his cheek twice. "You didn't even bother to visit me last time!" 

"Well, it was the middle of the night. I didn't want to disturb your rest," Li Lin replied with an awkward smile, pulling her into an embrace and planting a soft kiss at the corner of her lips. 

Two months had passed since they'd last seen each other. 

Though they could talk anytime through the AI and satellite communications, both of their busy schedules often made that difficult. 

"Hmph! That's not like you at all," Caitlyn pouted lightly, though she didn't press the matter further. 

She understood the weight of responsibility on Li Lin's shoulders. After all, the confrontation with Bel'Veth, who called herself the "Void Empress," was just ten months away. 

No matter how much she longed to have him by her side, Caitlyn knew she couldn't selfishly hold him back. 

"I heard from the AI that you built another satellite during your last visit?" 

"Yes, a space-based satellite," Li Lin confirmed, casually recounting its functions and describing his battle against Kayle, one of the Demacian Winged Protectors. 

When she learned that he had used the satellite to defeat a Starf Aspect Host, Caitlyn was stunned. 

She knew very well how powerful Zoe was, and now, her partner had the strength to rival those who wielded celestial powers... 

It was hard to believe that just two years ago, when he first stepped into the Kiramman estate, he had been a frail, malnourished apprentice mechanic. 

"You..." Caitlyn looked up at Li Lin with a complicated expression. "Be honest, how strong are you now?" 

"Somewhere between a Star Aspect Host and a demigod, I suppose?" Li Lin shrugged nonchalantly. "If the Host doesn't use their special abilities, I don't even need the satellite to handle them. That said, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't stand a chance against Nasus in his Ascended form." 

Caitlyn: "..." 

She reached out and pinched his waist in frustration, only to find that, as usual, her fingers couldn't make a dent, thanks to his reinforced physique and "Steel Body" abilities. 

"What's the matter, my lady?" Li Lin chuckled, catching her hand and kissing the back of it. "Did I do something to upset you?" 

Caitlyn narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously, locking her gaze with his. "I feel like you're messing with me." 

Since she had also undergone injections of "Active Enhancer," her strength was now on par with, if not slightly above, Li Lin's. 

With their power nearly equal, victory would ultimately come down to combat skill. 

And given that Li Lin had only just begun training in basic combat techniques, he was far from a match for Caitlyn. 

By his logic, didn't that mean her strength was nearing that of an Ascended being too? 

"How is this even possible?" 

Caitlyn initially thought Li Lin was just joking with her. 

"I'm completely serious. Every word I said is true," Li Lin replied, his playful expression giving way to a more earnest one. "Haven't you noticed how different you feel compared to ordinary people?" 

Caitlyn paused, quickly reflecting, and realized he wasn't wrong. 

Even though she had always been skilled in combat techniques, her petite frame as a woman had always been a limiting factor. 

When facing someone taller and stronger, she could confidently take them down in a one-on-one fight. But if there were more than five opponents, and especially if they were unarmed, her chances would diminish. Against ten opponents? She wouldn't have stood a chance. 

Yet now, even without her futuristic armor or any weapons—just her bare hands—Caitlyn felt like she could take on all of Zaun by herself. Even Camille wouldn't pose much of a threat. 

"Are we really that powerful now?" 

Caitlyn glanced down at her tightly clenched fist, still finding it hard to believe. 

"Of course. What else did you expect?" Li Lin chuckled. "If we weren't, all my efforts with genetic technology would have been a waste." 

"This feels too surreal," she admitted. "Back then, having power akin to a god… that was something I wouldn't even dare dream of." 

"And now?" 

"…I don't even know how to describe it," Caitlyn said, biting her lip. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of emotions. "But even with all this, it's probably not enough to deal with Bel'Veth, is it?" 

"No," Li Lin confirmed with a nod. "But don't worry. I've already figured out a way to surpass the current limits of the human body. Plus, the armor can be further upgraded, and I've got new ideas for mech designs. 

"Once I refine these technologies, we'll be able to enhance ourselves even more and develop new tools. Bel'Veth's mistake was giving me an entire year to advance." 

Caitlyn stared at him, momentarily dazed by the determination on his face, before covering her mouth with a soft giggle. 

"What's so funny?" Li Lin asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"I think you look kind of adorable when you're being serious~~" 

"Adorable? How could you use that word to describe me?" Li Lin said, feigning displeasure as he lightly tapped her nose. "You should say I look manly instead." 

"I'm not going to… Ah!" 

Caitlyn gasped as she found herself being swept into his arms in a bridal carry. His gaze, filled with mischief, locked onto hers, making her cheeks flush a deep red. 

"Stop… it's the middle of the day!" 

Li Lin strode toward the back of the room with large steps. "So what if it's daytime? It's not like this is our first time." 

Panicking, Caitlyn feebly hit his chest with her hand. "I still have to go to the precinct this afternoon!" 

"Just take the day off. The AI told me you don't have anything urgent on your plate right now," Li Lin said, glancing at the time. "Hmm, it's already past two. Since you're already late, you might as well not go." 

"But don't you have work to do…" 

"I just got back, so I deserve a little break," Li Lin replied, leaning close to whisper by her now scarlet ear. "Besides, we haven't seen each other in two months. I need to spend some quality time with you." 

(End of Chapter)

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