Twin Cities: Who says scientists can't be conquerors?

Chapter 82 "Hot Commodity" Aaron

Jess didn't realize that his promise to take Aaron to see the Hextech Gems in person had been "snatched" by Stevan.

Just as he could never have known that the Hextech crystal he had acquired through special channels nine years ago was actually something Stevan had intentionally arranged to be distributed.

His current headache was figuring out how to get rid of Mrs. Giraman.

Or rather...

How do you introduce Aaron's Shadow Tactical Mech?

"Madam, we will discuss that mecha in the council meeting later, so you don't need to ask about the details now."

"It is powerful, but we don't need to worry."

"Oh right! The Urgot who kidnapped your daughter was taken down by Aaron piloting the Shadow Mech!"

Jess thought that once he brought things up, Mrs. Giramanen would wisely stop the conversation so that he and Mel could continue analyzing Aaron and Caitlin's whereabouts.

Unexpectedly, it backfired.

Not only was Mrs. Giramann not satisfied, but she also nodded thoughtfully, muttering, "So her name is Chengying," before moving on to the next question:

"How do you know it's so powerful?"

"I mean, besides what happened with that Urgot thing, what else?"

"I……"

Johns was stunned and stood there for a moment.

Before returning to Piltover, he had spoken with Aaron and learned that Aaron had no intention of hiding the Cheng Ying mech from him. Instead, he planned to take this opportunity to make a stunning official debut for the mech.

The problem is, Mrs. Giraman was also among those who "should be shocked"!

Now that Aaron is missing, the mech is certainly not something he can control.

Whether or not to reveal the answer to Mrs. Giramann became a major source of distress and headache for Jess.

Regardless, Aaron saved his life and gave him a stylish trench coat imbued with magical power.

Jess couldn't go against his conscience and act on his own.

If he revealed everything he knew, and Aaron didn't intend to tell him that much, wouldn't he be seen as a traitor to his friend...?

"The Chengying Tactical Mech is a powerful weapon of war in Aaron's hands, possessing absolute military deterrence."

"Besides Urgot's affair, the fall of Stillwater Prison was also the work of that mech!"

Jess was still hesitating, but before he knew it, Mel beside him had already revealed the "glorious record" of the Shadow Mech.

Mel looked very calm, almost to the point of being silent.

She keenly sensed the concern hidden in Mrs. Giraman's tone, and then unhesitatingly demonstrated her familiarity with the mech.

Jess might not be perceptive, but Mel had already guessed what the other was concerned about, so she had to shut Mrs. Giramann up.

The fall of Stillwater Prison?

What potential threat does the Cheng Ying mech pose?

Mel knew perfectly well that Mrs. Giramann didn't care about these public matters at all!

Prisons can be repaired if they break down, and when funds are allocated, some favors can be incurred as well.

Piltover is under threat and can negotiate terms; as long as Aaron isn't insane, anything is negotiable.

There was only one reason why Mrs. Giraman was able to temporarily set aside her daughter and focus on inquiring about the details of the mecha—

With such formidable combat power, who wouldn't want to have it in their hands!

Mrs. Giraman didn't know what gave Jess and Mel their confidence, but she knew that as the first person to recognize and "invest" in Aaron, she already had an information gap with others.

That won't do!

She may have initially only valued Aaron's ambition and talent, hoping he could achieve something in Zaun and bring unexpected benefits to the family.

But when the profits were quickly realized, Mrs. Giraman felt that this was completely unexpected!

Hearing Mel and Jess's concern for Aaron, she couldn't wait to see the profits in Aaron's "accounts"—accounts that she believed should only be seen by her.

Whether it was wishful thinking or not, he had already given his daughter away.

If this "rising star" she handpicked were to betray her now, Mrs. Giramann would truly find it unacceptable...

"Uh, how come I didn't know... cough cough, indeed, Aaron's mech is very powerful."

Jess was halfway through his sentence when Mel subtly pinched his waist, making him quickly change his mind.

When Mel suddenly revealed the truth about Stillwater Prison, it was a subtle reminder to Mrs. Giraman: I know more about Aaron and the mechs than you do.

This is a tactical deterrent, intended to "assert sovereignty" and to ensure that Aaron will take their cooperation seriously in the future.

However, from Jayce's perspective, the situation is rather strange.

He had no idea that the Jing Shui Prison incident was related to the Cheng Ying mecha!

So when Mel confirmed the news, he inevitably thought of more things—no wonder Aaron wanted him to be a witness in the council, so that's the crux of the matter.

For a moment, all three people present fell into deep thought, each with their own thoughts.

If Mel hadn't remembered, after a moment of silence, that her most important task was to find the missing Aaron, the three of them might have remained in this stalemate for a while longer.

"I'm sorry, Madam, we cannot tell you these things on our own initiative. Perhaps you should ask Aaron directly."

Mel played the "truce card," which Jess, who had long held this view, readily agreed with.

She turned and left without hesitation, continuing her analysis along the lines of her previously interrupted train of thought:

After eliminating the impossible options, it seems that only one reason remains for Aaron's disappearance!

"Jace!"

Without turning around, Mel called out urgently to her lover beside her.

"Come with me to Bluesmoky Manor. I can assure you, Aaron and Caitlin are definitely there right now!"

"No passage ahead, please turn back."

"Who cares if it's banned or not! We'll just use the congressman's warrant..."

Halfway through his speech, Mel, who was still deep in thought, suddenly stopped.

Because the person who answered her wasn't Jess, but a voice she knew very well, but one that should never have been heard in Piltover—

"Miss, please stop."

Captain Ricks, clad in red Noxian armor and sporting a thick brown beard, stood expressionless in front of Mel.

He repeated his words, the sword in his hand gleaming coldly in the night.

"Ricks? What are you doing here! Could it be...?"

Mel's eyes instantly filled with terror!

Of course she recognized him; she recognized him as the most loyal adjutant by her mother's side.

Logically, the other party should follow their mother, Ambissa, and arrive in Piltover the day after tomorrow.

But now...

The clanging sounds of armor clashing echoed continuously.

Mel felt as if her limbs were rusted, and it took a lot of effort for her to turn around.

Under the cover of night, the Middarda family's personal guards had already lined up without anyone noticing.

They exuded the inherent malevolent aura of Noxians, forming a wall of flesh and blood that tightly surrounded the Blue Smoky Manor atop the nearby hill.

"No, that's impossible!"

For the first time, Mel tasted the bitterness of a miscalculation.

She seemed to have connected all the information at once:

The sudden intervention of the Philos family, Aaron's mysterious disappearance, and his mother Ambissa's unreasonable interference...

"Aaron, you're really in high demand!"

Mel did not disobey her mother's will again.

She pondered the name, which wasn't particularly eye-catching to begin with, in a daze, and then let out a heartfelt sigh.

She knew in her heart that a storm was brewing, concerning Piltover, Zaun, the Middarda family, and even most of Noxus...

Its prototype has already been developed!