On the border between Piltover and Zaun, in a closely guarded building in the border market.
Li Lin, wearing power armor, walked down the elevator, walked through the spacious and deserted corridor, and opened the door at the end.
In the smoke-filled room, a man wearing a dark red formal suit and holding a cigar between his right index and middle fingers raised his head, and a flash of surprise flashed in his intact right eye.
“Li Lin? What a rare visitor.”
Hilko put half of the cigar in his hand into the ashtray and extinguished it. Immediately, Li Lin at the door waved to him to sit on the chair in front of his desk.
“How is the work related to the power station progressing recently?”
Li Lin was not polite. He pulled out a chair and sat down while asking about the status of the power plant in recent days.
“With the active cooperation of those alchemy barons, half of the citizens on the lower floor of the middle square have replaced the alchemy technology for power generation, and the tidal power station is now operating close to the rated load.”
A rare smile appeared on Hilko’s face, “There have been a lot fewer alchemy accidents in that city for a while.”
“This is expected…” Li Lin lowered his head and thought for a moment, “Has the site for the new thermal power plant been decided?”
“Well, we chose the ditch area, the territory of Baron Middenstock.”
A look of disdain flashed across Hilko’s face.
“This guy seems to have been targeted by Gorask recently. She wanted to annex Middenstock’s Alchemy Technology Workshop and his industry, and then he came to me for help.”
Hilko paused for a moment, lowered his eyes and chuckled, “As for the price… the ownership of an alchemy technology power station and the sponsorship fee for its reconstruction in exchange for the remaining properties not being annexed, I think it is quite profitable.”
“Lienata?” Li Lin frowned, “This woman has been silent for several months, and now she’s making a comeback?”
When talking about Lenata, Hilko’s face instantly darkened.
Li Lin noticed his abnormal mood, “What happened?”
“I have been suppressing the business of Gorask Industries in the past few months. I thought that this old woman would understand my warning and get scared.
“But I didn’t expect that she actually bribed the family of one of my men who was in contact with Singed and asked him to steal a bottle of shimmering potion from Singed’s alchemy workshop.
“However, I have sent him and his family to the junction of Piltover Canal and Watcher’s Sea to say hello to the manta rays on the bottom of the sea.
“A family… always has to be neat and tidy, right?”
Li Lin shook his head helplessly. This phenomenon was too common in Zaun.
If you want to be a young man, you must first consider whether you are qualified to let your next family protect you…
“So, the formula for the shimmering potion was leaked? How far has Singed’s research on it gone?”
“The addictive nature of the drug has been completely removed, but it will still cause cell mutations with a probability, but even the mutations are not as serious as before.”
“Causing cell mutation… the risk is still too great.” Li Lin frowned and thought for a while, then raised his head and asked: “Do you think Lenata can perfect the shimmering potion?”
As soon as these words were spoken, Hilko laughed as if he had heard some joke.
“Even Singed, the best alchemist in Zaun, is not 100% sure of perfecting this kind of thing.
“How can a Gorask, who has climbed to his current position through dishonorable means, have an alchemist at his disposal who can be as good as Singed and can perfect the shimmering potion?”
However, Li Lin’s next words made Hilko’s smile freeze again:
“But even if she can’t perfect it, she can directly mass-produce it according to the current shimmering potion formula and put it into use, right?”
“Damn it!” He slammed the table, then rubbed his face a few times with his hands, “This woman is too much of a nuisance, it’s better to get rid of her…”
As he spoke, a thoughtful expression appeared on Hilko’s face.
The sound right eye turned and stared directly at Li Lin in front of him.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Li Lin guessed his thoughts immediately, “I won’t kill her.”
“Why? Didn’t you personally get rid of Baron Takeda a few months ago?” Hilko didn’t understand why.
“Takeda only has a few mines and alchemy workshops under his command. Although his overall strength is stronger than Lienata’s, his economic strength is far inferior to hers.” Li Lin slowly explained.
“What’s more, Lenata’s businesses are all industrial, which are different in nature from the mine alchemy workshop, and involve almost all walks of life in Zaun.
“And she is very good at winning people’s hearts. She has many loyal people under her command… Have you considered the consequences of doing this?”
Li Lin didn’t make his words too clear, but Hilko easily understood the underlying meaning.
If Lenata was killed directly, her property throughout Zaun would cause turmoil, not to mention the group of loyal men who would definitely avenge her.
When the time comes, Zaun, which has finally become more stable, will be in chaos again due to the struggle between the alchemist barons.
Maybe it will also attract the attention of the Gray Lady who likes to walk in the haze…
In addition, this is also contrary to Li Lin’s philosophy of stable development.
Hilko said with a somewhat unhappy tone: “Then what do you think we should do? We can’t leave this guy alone, right? After the completion of the thermal power plant in Shangcheng in the past few months, the demand for coal has soared.
“Although two of the mines where your Gilaman family annexed Takeda are also coal mines, the output is completely insufficient, isn’t it?
“Gorask also has several coal mines under her control. Just one thermal power station makes her a lot of money. The benefits I get from the border market can no longer compare with hers.”
“Hilko, how did I find that your mind has been a little confused these past few months? Are you starting to enjoy a comfortable life and becoming like Fander?”
Li Lin’s somewhat teasing words made Hilko’s face darken, “What do you mean by this? Are you mocking me?”
“I didn’t mean to ridicule you. What I wanted to express was, did you say you would retaliate in kind?” Through the mask, Li Lin’s voice sounded like a mechanical metal.
Hilko frowned and thought for a moment, then suddenly realized, “You mean you want me to send people to infiltrate her property?”
“Yes, it would be best to replace all the management with our people and directly ignore her…”
A flash of light flashed in Hilko’s right eye, and he immediately answered: “In this way, even if we get rid of Gorask later, our people can immediately take over her property, thereby ensuring the stability of Zaun’s order.”
Then, he turned to a smiling expression and looked at Li Lin, “I find that you are becoming more and more mature in solving things, and you are more thoughtful than me in some aspects.”
“No one is immutable.” Li Lin shook his head, “I’ve finished chatting, now let’s talk about business.”
“Let me just say, you definitely didn’t come to me today just to ask about the recent situation.”
Hilko picked up the cigar that was placed next to the ashtray, lit it again with the flip top, and took a deep puff with squinted eyes.
“Tell me, what else can trouble our congressman’s son-in-law?”
“How come you even know this?”
Li Lin complained helplessly, but was greeted by Hilko’s teasing expression.
“Forget it, how you know is not important.”
He took a deep breath and continued: “I came here this time to ask you to find a place for me. I want to build an arsenal.
“Well…it can’t be something that law enforcement officers and congressmen know about.”
