Marcus didn't particularly care where Silco had obtained the crystals. After all, that was their business to manage. He only cared that the Crystal Tower's construction could finally begin.
"Vander, get your people ready," Marcus announced. "The undercity can finally make genuine changes."
As his voice carried across the crowd, Vander raised his hand and waved. A group of undercity workers he'd recruited weeks ago pushed through the assembled masses.
They were all from the Lanes—the same people who frequently traveled to Piltover for brutal manual labor. Now Vander had recruited them all, bringing them here ready to contribute toward transforming their home.
"See these crystals?" Vander said with deadly seriousness. "They represent the beginning of undercity transformation. So I expect everyone to remain honest. If you slow down our progress, if you jeopardize what we're building here, I absolutely will not forgive you."
Vander understood perfectly the impact these crystals would have on desperate people, especially in this impoverished undercity. Anyone who obtained even a handful of these crystals could become wealthy overnight, escape the undercity's suffering, and live a life of indulgence.
So before work commenced, he seriously warned everyone about what they absolutely must not take, asking them to internalize this prohibition completely.
"And you..." Silco gripped his cane and turned toward the many undercity residents watching from beyond the work area. "I'll be watching this location constantly. If any of you harbor thoughts you shouldn't, I will personally tear you apart and feed you to the sump-rats."
Silco's deterrent power was obviously stronger. After hearing his words, everyone took an involuntary step backward.
Perhaps Vander wouldn't punish them too harshly—but Silco would absolutely follow through on his threats. After all, he was a boss who ruled substantial undercity territory through calculated ruthlessness.
"Ha! You don't need to threaten them," Marcus said casually. "If anyone can actually steal even one crystal from here, I'll let them keep it as a reward."
Marcus would have Will use the Dark Aster to project a specialized force field. Using crystals to construct the tower here was perfectly feasible—but attempting to remove crystals? Will would demonstrate what dimensional superiority truly meant.
Seeing Marcus's confidence, neither Vander nor Silco spoke further, though their eyes remained full of warning.
As bosses who'd established themselves in the undercity, they understood exactly what desperate people would do to survive. With so many valuables right in front of them, it was essentially impossible they wouldn't attempt theft.
However, they were willing to trust Marcus's claim. After all, his power far exceeded theirs, and they believed he genuinely possessed methods to prevent crystal theft.
"Alright, Viktor, come here."
After calling his student over, Marcus began examining the crystal shipment. Overall quality was acceptable. Though most crystals were inferior grade, they were sufficient for tower construction.
Besides, Silco now controlled a crystal mine. If they needed high-quality crystals later, they could simply extract more.
Hearing Marcus's summons, Viktor hurried over with his cane, his eyes already locked hungrily on the crystals.
During recent days studying with Marcus, he'd learned basic crystal techniques and understood what power high-quality crystals possessed. Though high-grade crystals weren't numerous here, there were definitely substantial quantities.
"Sort these crystals by quality," Marcus instructed. "Then we can begin foundation construction."
Different crystal grades served different purposes. The tower foundation required substantial quantities of high-quality crystals to properly gather and focus energy.
Following Marcus's orders, Viktor directed everyone to begin sorting. When workers saw the dazzling crystal varieties, their eyes went wide with avarice.
They'd never witnessed such quantities of valuable gems in their entire lives. In Piltover, gemstone jewelry the size of a fingernail tip was completely beyond their reach.
With their wages, they'd need to work an entire year without spending anything on food or shelter just to afford the cheapest gemstone jewelry Piltover sold.
And now, crystals they casually picked up were as thick as their arms. Even low-quality crystals this size would make someone wealthy beyond imagination.
Many workers felt overwhelming temptation. They reasoned that carefully pocketing just a small piece wouldn't be noticed. With so many people here, surely others would also attempt theft. With such crowds, constant surveillance was impossible, right?
The more they thought, the more determined they became. While some workers remained hesitant about stealing crystals, others had already hidden gems on their persons.
"Crystal theft detected. Locking targets."
Suddenly, a mechanical voice emanated from the air above. Beams of light descended, illuminating everyone who'd concealed crystals.
Workers already feeling guilty panicked when strange light targeted them. They immediately stood and attempted to flee.
But before they'd run more than a few steps, the beams suddenly became tangible—solid light imprisoning them and suspending them in mid-air.
"Let me go! I didn't steal anything! You've made a mistake!"
One restrained man shouted desperately. He knew perfectly well whether he'd hidden crystals, but he'd never admit to theft.
"Target shows no remorse. According to Central Adjudication protocols, transformation will commence."
As the mechanical voice concluded, the worker released a pained wail. Everyone watched in horror as his physical body was worn away bit by bit. Within moments, only a sphere of pure light remained where the thief had been.
"Transformation initiating..."
Following that announcement, observers watched the light sphere being compressed and solidified through some incomprehensible process.
After a series of treatments, the thief had transformed from a living human into a diamond-shaped construct composed of two interlocking triangles.
"What... what is that thing?"
Though thoroughly angry at the thief, Marcus's method had genuinely frightened both Vander and Silco.
That had been a living person, but he'd been erased so easily, reduced to this geometric object floating in space.
"That thing is him," Marcus explained calmly. "Though his consciousness has been wiped clean. Now he's been converted into a Hub."
Hub?
Vander and Silco exchanged confused glances. The diamond thing was the thief's soul? But what did "Hub" mean?
"In the future, it will assist you in managing the undercity," Marcus continued. "But remember this carefully—people are the foundation of any civilization. The Hub exists only to assist, never to rule."
Marcus had no intention of taking this new Hub with him. Better to leave it with Vander and the others for governing the transformed undercity. After all, intelligent Hubs were extremely useful administrative tools.
The reason for his warning was that Marcus had witnessed a world ruled by artificial intelligence—the Kree Empire operated exactly that way. Will's predecessor, the Supreme Intelligence, had originally been created to help the Kree people develop. But it had eventually become the Kree Empire's absolute emperor.
With a casual wave, the new Hub descended into Marcus's palm.
"This is the Hub's core. You'll need to provide it with a physical carrier before it can function properly."
Intelligent cores required bodies. A core consisting solely of digitized consciousness couldn't operate normally without hardware.
After handing the core to Vander, Marcus looked at the remaining thieves with an amused smile.
"Should I handle this personally, or will you remove the crystals yourselves?"
After witnessing the first thief's fate, how could anyone be willing to die for mere gems? They frantically removed crystals hidden on their persons and begged for Marcus's forgiveness.
"Heh, you've got decent taste, I'll grant you that," Marcus observed. "All the crystals you planned to steal are high-quality specimens."
With a gentle gesture toward them, the crystals flew from their hands back to the sorted piles. The would-be thieves were delivered to the temporary guard force Vander had established.
Those who'd attempted theft would never be hired again. As for their future prospects, nobody particularly cared.
Time Passed Quickly
News that the undercity had obtained substantial crystal quantities reached Piltover's ears. When these greedy councilors heard about undercity crystals, their acquisitive hearts began beating faster.
"Those scum in the undercity don't deserve owning such wealth!" one councilor declared coldly. "We should confiscate the crystals. No—those were originally our crystals, stolen by those sewer rats!"
That represented enormous wealth. Once those crystals fell into proper hands, their fortunes would grow exponentially and their political positions would become unassailable.
"Such greed," the dark-skinned female councilor said mockingly, her face resting on one hand. "Have you already forgotten what happened to our enforcers last time?"
The undercity had obtained powerful force. With just Piltover's current resources, they couldn't advance a single step into that territory.
"Hmph, Mel, what do you suggest we do?" the aggressive councilor shot back. "Just watch while countless crystals are claimed by sewer rats? Whether upper or lower city, everything exists under our governance. Since those crystals appeared in our territory, they naturally belong to us.
Or do you genuinely believe undercity rats who scavenge for scraps could legitimately acquire such fortune?"
The councilor responded with sharp intensity. He wouldn't concede a single step regarding those crystals. He'd already mentally claimed them as personal property, even planning how to leverage them for maximum profit.
"So I obtained my crystals from you?" Marcus's voice rang out of nowhere in the council chamber.
The next moment, a portal crackling with blue sparks opened in the room's center. Marcus stepped through casually.
"Answer me—did I acquire my crystals from you?"
Seeing Marcus's method of arrival, every councilor fell silent. They recognized magic when they witnessed it.
Seeing their silence, Marcus studied each council member carefully.
A fat bearded man. A flattering blond man. An elegant middle-aged woman. A bald woman with mechanical augmentations. A figure composed almost entirely of robotic components. And a dark-skinned beauty who radiated intelligence.
"Hmm... where's the yordle?" Marcus chuckled. "As the council's oldest member, you've already expelled Heimerdinger?"
He stepped lightly and appeared directly beside Mel.
"Mel, is it? You're quite beautiful. And intelligent."
"Thank you. You're the one transforming the undercity, correct?" Mel nodded gracefully, maintaining her composure.
She wasn't Piltover-native—she hailed from Noxus originally. She'd witnessed far more magic and powerful individuals than these sheltered councilors, which allowed her to remain relatively calm facing Marcus.
"You already know the answer," Marcus replied with an easy smile. "My possessions will always remain mine. Don't entertain thoughts of claiming them. I won't be so diplomatic next time, beautiful lady."
As he spoke, Marcus transformed into thick mist and dissipated completely.
He'd simply come to warn these politicians—or more accurately, to warn the true power behind the council, the Philos family.
If they were willing to coexist peacefully, he wouldn't attack Piltover. But if they harbored inappropriate ambitions, he didn't mind sending them to their deaths.
After Marcus departed, the chamber's oppressive atmosphere finally eased slightly. The blond councilor spoke indignantly.
"He associates with sewer rats, so he clearly can't be a truly powerful wizard. Why don't we—CRACK"
Before he could finish, red light enveloped his head. A charred hole appeared in the wall behind him where the beam had passed completely through.
"I said—don't harbor thoughts you shouldn't."
Marcus's voice echoed through the chamber, freezing every councilor in place. Even Mel turned with rigid features to look at the blond man. His head... was simply gone.
"I believe everyone now understands what to do and what not to do, yes?"
The bearded Speaker of the Council said tremulously. He'd originally agreed with the blond councilor's perspective, but witnessing the man's fate completely changed his thinking.
Even if they somehow obtained undercity crystals, what then? They'd have wealth but no life to enjoy it.
"Seconded!"
"Agreed!"
Every surviving member voiced immediate approval. Better to pretend this news had never reached their ears.
"Perhaps we need to elect another council member," Mel observed, looking at the Speaker. With this vacancy, their council was incomplete.
"That's definitely a concern. Do you have suitable candidates in mind?"
Discussing succession allowed the Speaker's terrified heart to calm somewhat. They were discussing council membership, not crystals. That monster shouldn't attack them for this.
"Actually, I do have someone in mind," Mel said thoughtfully. "Though he hasn't yet achieved the expected accomplishments, so he may not qualify for this position."
She wanted to propose Jayce as the new councilor. His Hextech crystal research showed tremendous application potential—he'd make an excellent political ally.
But currently, Jayce had only created Hextech crystals without developing practical applications. That made qualifying for council membership difficult.
"Ah, then leave the position vacant," the Speaker decided. "Wait until someone meets requirements, then we'll discuss it properly."
With that declaration, the Speaker rose and hurriedly left the chamber. The headless corpse beside his seat made him feel perpetually cold.
The Undercity – Crystal Tower Foundation
Compared to Piltover's council crisis, the undercity's Crystal Tower foundation had been completed.
Everyone gathered around the construction site, awaiting Marcus's instructions.
"Viktor, rotate the fourth crystal from the right exactly seventeen degrees, twenty-two minutes, and fourteen seconds," Marcus directed with precise specificity. "Then prepare for activation."
Hearing Marcus's instructions, Viktor approached the designated crystal carefully. He gripped it gently and began rotating with exacting precision.
The Crystal Tower's success or failure depended entirely on this single adjustment.
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