Runeterra: Begging for Help in a Parallel Universe!

"The law enforcement officers have all rushed over, I hope everything is safe over there."

"Who could have done such a terrible thing?"

"In my opinion, it must be the scum from the lower city's sewer gangs. They've always had a grudge against us. They even caused trouble during the Evolution Day event in the past. This must be their doing!"

...

Walking down the street, Link could occasionally overhear pedestrians discussing the recent explosion incident.

He carried his toolbox, following Tamara.

They had already left the apprentice dormitory for a while.

The apprentice dormitory was located near the Gate of the Sun, quite far from the city center of Piltover.

And since the Gate of the Sun was very close to Zaun, housing prices in that area had always been quite low, unable to rise.

However, because of this, rents were affordable, and the apprentice dormitory where Link and Tamara lived was one of them.

However, even the cheapest rent had drained Link's savings. The original body hadn't left much money, and what was left wouldn't even cover next month's rent.

Fortunately, Tamara had some ways to make money. While doing her research, she also worked as an intermediary to earn extra cash.

For example, this current repair job for a clock. Tamara handled the connection with the employer and took a commission of 15% once the job was done.

Although the commission was high, the work she provided was always high-return technical tasks.

As long as your skills were good, the money would flow in quickly!

Also, the employers Tamara found were always trustworthy and paid immediately.

Moreover, most of her clients were the middle and upper class gentlemen and ladies of Piltover. Not only did interacting with them offer more opportunities to make money, but it could also potentially lead to further connections, even opening doors to greater opportunities.

"We're almost there. Hurry up," Tamara urged, and Link adjusted the strap of his toolbox and quickened his pace to catch up.

After a while, Tamara stopped in front of a clothing store and pointed to the door, saying, "This is the place. By the way, are you okay?"

Link forced a smile, suppressing his heavy breathing, and nodded.

The original body's physical strength was incredibly weak, even worse than his past self.

No wonder he had designed that clockwork enhancement device. If he succeeded, he might have been the first to use it on himself.

"You look exhausted," Tamara said, pulling out a handkerchief and offering it to him. "Wipe the sweat off and rest for a bit. We can't have Mrs. Norlin seeing you drenched in sweat."

"It would leave a bad impression!"

"Thanks," Link rasped, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He returned the handkerchief to Tamara and, after resting for a moment, entered the store with her.

"Mrs. Norlin—" Tamara greeted the shop owner, who was showing clothes to a customer.

The shop owner, dressed in a wool coat with graying hair and a kind face, looked up.

"Oh, darling, have you brought me good news this time?"

Mrs. Norlin nodded at the customer while walking towards Tamara.

Tamara opened her arms, greeting Mrs. Norlin with a kiss on the cheek, and introduced Link. "This is Link Star, an excellent apprentice."

"As soon as I heard your beloved clock was malfunctioning, I brought him over right away."

Tamara waved to Link, who stepped forward confidently, chest out and head high.

Mrs. Norlin examined Link, smiling. "Dear, this young man is quite handsome, but he looks a bit fragile."

"A craftsman doesn't need big muscles but a smart mind, just like your husband once had," Tamara complimented lightly, and Mrs. Norlin squinted her eyes. "You have a way with words."

"However, as you know, several people have already looked at my clock, and they all say it can't be repaired."

"Can he really fix it?"

Tamara slapped Link on the shoulder reassuringly.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Norlin, Link is the best clockmaker we have."

Mrs. Norlin didn't respond verbally, just eyed Link with a scrutinizing gaze.

After a moment, she sighed. "I hope so."

"Come, let me show you the clock."

Tamara gave Link a look, and he adjusted the strap of his toolbox, quickly following her.

The clock sat in the corner of the first floor on a table, covered with cloth.

It was an old-fashioned grandfather clock.

The outer shell was exquisite, with enamel filigree, and the clock hands were adorned with jewels.

Seeing the clock, Tamara sincerely said, "It's beautiful! Mrs. Norlin, your husband must have loved you dearly."

"Of course," Mrs. Norlin gazed at a portrait on the wall with a hint of nostalgia as Link carefully examined the clock.

Hmm, a classic clockwork-powered clock.

The power was supplied by a power valve, using a unique set of gears for motion.

It likely also had a gear mechanism for energy recovery, helping to collect surplus energy to recharge the power valve.

A single turn of the power valve could keep it running for three months.

As for the problem with the clock—

Link opened the clock's casing, exposing the gears.

Holding the clock with one hand and a screwdriver with the other, he quickly dismantled the clock into its parts.

Just as Mrs. Norlin was reminiscing about her late husband, she turned to see her beloved clock turned into a pile of parts.

"My heavens, what have you done?!"

Mrs. Norlin screamed, and the customer nearby rushed over upon hearing the noise.

"What happened, Mrs. Norlin?" The customer looked at the dismantled clock and immediately covered their mouth. "Oh my, this—"

Tamara's expression became awkward, and she glared at Link subtly. Just as she was about to say something, Link pulled out a pair of tweezers and carefully picked up a few tiny gears.

"Mrs. Norlin, your clock malfunctioned because small bits of fluff have entered the gear mechanism through the airflow."

Link glanced at Mrs. Norlin's wool coat. She raised a hand and touched her coat.

"The fluff got stuck in the axle of the gears, making it hard for them to move and causing wear, which resulted in poor gear engagement."

Link set the tiny gears down and took out a piece of wrought iron, using the smallest gear as a template to make a few new ones.

"I'll make new gears for you now. Once installed, it'll be as good as new."

While speaking, Link had already reassembled the clock, placed it back on the table, and inserted the key into the power valve. After turning it a few times, the sound of the gears clicking and the clock hands moving could be heard.

"It's fixed."

Link placed the clock back on the table, and out of the corner of his eye, he noticed a few books under the table.

"My heavens—" Mrs. Norlin quickly picked up the clock to check it, and when she saw it was working again, her eyes lit up.

"Your skills are incredible, dear..." Mrs. Norlin paused, and Tamara promptly reminded, "His name is Link Star."

"Dear Link!!" Mrs. Norlin smiled so widely that her eyes squinted, and the customer couldn't help but glance at him again.

Such a young and talented craftsman was rare to see.

Especially since he was still an apprentice; it made him even more remarkable.

Currently, the famous Jestarilis in Piltover was discovered and invested in by Lady Kiranmen when he was an apprentice.

She saw the same qualities in this young man as she did in Jestarilis.

Focused on science, passionate about research.

"Excuse me—" Link pointed to the books under the table. "May I take a look?"

This made the customer admire Link even more. Valuing knowledge over wealth was an excellent quality.

"Of course," Mrs. Norlin bent down to retrieve the books and handed them to Link. "These are all books my husband read before his passing. If you like them, they're yours."

"Thank you." Link nodded politely, also signaling to Tamara with his eyes to remember the payment.

Tamara understood and led Mrs. Norlin aside to discuss the payment.

With some free time, Link opened the books to read.

It was a work detailing clockwork technology, describing the functions of the power valve, gear systems, and energy recovery devices, as well as how to design and utilize them more effectively.

"Excuse me, young man," Mrs. Norlin's customer spoke softly. Link looked up, puzzled, and asked, "Is there something you need?"

"It's not important who I am. What matters is that I serve the Phiros family."

The customer handed Link a business card with a gray background and blue accents. The Phiros family name was in the center, with a family crest formed by a gear.

On the back of the card, there was a motto:

"For my family, I am willing to sacrifice."

The Ferros family...

It sounded familiar.

"You have great talent, young man." The customer stepped closer with a friendly smile. "Talent needs a platform to flourish."

"Madam, I will consider it."

"Hehe..." The customer smiled casually. "I'm just a gardener, not worthy of being called a madam. But perhaps the master of our family, Lord Stevan, will be interested in you."

"If you want a contract or an investment, come to the Blue Scent Manor. It will give you an opportunity."

The customer pointed to the card in Link's hand and turned to leave. Tamara returned with the payment, and they left.

On the way back, Tamara chattered excitedly like a little sparrow.

"Link, you're amazing! I didn't expect you to fix the clock so quickly."

"I bet you'll be the first apprentice in our dormitory to sign a contract!"

"It's nothing. Just had a sudden realization," Link casually said. "Besides, didn't Xiya already get a contract?"

"Xiya?" Tamara rolled her eyes. "He got scared out of his wits when he was walking home the other night and has already fled back to Zaun."

"Back to Zaun?" Link was puzzled, and Tamara leaned in mysteriously and gossipingly said, "Yep! I heard he encountered a human spider monster, with its legs like knives, its chest glowing dangerously, and blue eyes even scarier than a shadow wolf!"

Tamara babbled on in Link's ear, but he wasn't really listening.

The sound of grinding gears, knife-like legs, glowing chest, blue eyes...

Wasn't that Camille from Piltover?

Wait...

Link suddenly stopped. Now he understood why "Ferros" sounded familiar.

The full name of Camille was Camille Ferros.