"Technology changes everything, my esteemed Yuental Ale!"
Facing the sudden exclamation from Iniesa — Qiyana's elder sister — Duke gave a slight bow.
"Of course it's true. Technology changes everything."
"Lying is not a virtue befitting a noble!"
Among the Elders of the Yuental Ale Council, someone replied in a tone dripping with sarcasm:
"Our honored Yuental Ale Iniesa's legs are completely crippled. She will never walk the earth again."
"This conclusion was reached unanimously by all the physicians of the entire Ixtal Kingdom — even magic cannot heal her legs!"
"And you—on what grounds?"
"That's right!"
"Technology is nothing more than the self-indulgence of outsiders. If even magic cannot achieve it, the so-called technology you speak of is even less possible!"
"If he can truly make Yuental Ale Iniesa stand again, I'll eat my wind-element staff!"
The old crone, clutching a special guiding rod shaped like an ear of wheat, spoke in a grim tone. Those around her nodded vigorously in agreement.
In their eyes, an ailment incurable by magic was certainly beyond Duke's ability.
Even if he brought forth the "technology" he spoke of, it would not be enough.
The Ixtal people, over thousands of years, had distilled their Original Principles — revered as absolute truth by all.
To them, the entire world was merely an interplay of forces between various forms of matter — and only they could truly master that force.
The complete permutations of elemental magic, from the simplest to the most complex, were all determined by a set of axioms.
The Great Towers that taught these axioms were held as near-supreme.
Duke's words were, in effect, a direct challenge to their sacred Original Principles — akin to telling a steamed-bun seller to his face, "Your buns are black," and expecting not to be laughed at.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have said it before," Duke spoke steadily, neither servile nor overbearing.
"Technology changes everything."
"You rely on studying the arrangements of matter to derive your Original Principles.
Then why can't others, by observing the world, also deduce new truths?"
"Technology is precisely such a truth — born from exploring the world!"
"Arrogant brat!"
An Elder of Yuental Ale barked sharply, but before she could continue, the King cut her off.
"Enough. Whether it is right or wrong, we will know by testing it."
"My daughter — are you willing to try?"
The King looked toward his eldest daughter. Twelve years Qiyana's senior, the princess glanced at Duke, at the gifts he had brought, then back at her father.
Touching her numb, unfeeling legs, she showed a flicker of resolve.
"Father, I want Ambassador Duke to try."
"Everything he's brought has been extraordinary. Perhaps it can give me new hope."
"Hmph. Just be sure your hopes don't lead to even greater disappointment," someone muttered with biting sarcasm.
At that, Pride — the iron-plated beast — fixed the speaker with a scorching stare and let out a hiss of steam. The unspoken threat was enough to make the man freeze.
The Elder turned away quickly, avoiding Pride's gaze, but the creature swept its eyes over the other Elders who had ridiculed Duke moments ago.
Duke ignored Pride's petty satisfaction and addressed the King instead:
"Then please grant me a quiet room… and ten minutes."
"In ten minutes, I will have Yuental Ale standing once more."
The King studied Duke for a moment, then clapped his hands for servants to escort Duke and Iniesa to the requested room.
Inside, Duke dismissed everyone else and faced Iniesa.
"Tell me in detail what you feel now."
"No sensation at all in my legs — I can't feel heat, cold, or pain."
"Any control over… bodily functions?"
A blush spread across Iniesa's face. Even though she was married, having such a question asked by a stranger stirred deep embarrassment.
"No… I can't control it."
"…I see."
Duke stroked his chin thoughtfully. He now understood the cause. He couldn't help but think Qiyana had been truly ruthless — to do this to her own sister.
Iniesa's injury was clearly a severe spinal cord trauma. Without her magical training since childhood, she might have been left completely bedridden for life, unable to do anything unaided.
It wasn't brainstem damage — otherwise she would be drooling on a pillow. Rather, her spinal cord had suffered a massive impact, disrupting her central nervous system.
"Then… let's begin."
From his inventory, Duke produced an object that made Iniesa's eyes widen in shock.
"Ambassador Duke, this is…"
"Don't be afraid. The pain will only last a moment, my esteemed Yuental Ale."
Ten minutes later.
Duke returned alone to the throne hall. Seeing him by himself, the courtiers burst into ridicule.
"So this is your great demonstration?"
"Technology changes everything?"
"Hah!"
"Arrogance and ignorance!"
"Take your toys and crawl back to Piltover!"
"Exile is too merciful — he should be executed as a warning!"
Through their jeers, Duke stood calmly. Iniesa was… taking a bathroom break — the procedure had been a bit too stimulating.
"Ambassador Duke, where is my daughter?" the King demanded.
"She'll be here shortly, Your Majesty," Duke replied with a shrug.
"Hmph! Still stalling?"
"…Perhaps he's only feigning calm!"
Then — silence.
Iniesa entered, walking on her own. The princess who had been bedridden for years now approached the throne as if nothing had ever been wrong.
"Father — look. I'm healed."
At thirty-two, she smiled like an unwed girl seeing the world anew. The joy in her eyes brought a sting to the King's nose.
How had this been possible?
The King looked closer — Iniesa's legs were wrapped in strange metal frames, etched with runes that channeled magic.
"I used a Hextech exoskeleton," Duke explained.
"It adds a secondary spine and supportive leg braces, allowing her to walk again like a normal person."
Iniesa turned, revealing a glowing steel spine fixed to her back, connecting to the leg supports.
"This is… incredible!" the Queen exclaimed, overjoyed to see her once-despondent daughter standing tall again.
"This is Hextech," Duke told the King.
"And my purpose in coming to Ixtal is to request diplomatic relations — in part for the sake of this technology."
They began to discuss further — the Hextech Gate, the potential for rapid travel, and the controversial proposal to develop Ixtal's northern jungles. The Elders raged, but the King, after a tense exchange, finally agreed to send an envoy to Piltover.
The first step toward formal relations had been taken.
🔹 Hexcore Initiate – 15 chapters ahead
🔸 Arc Reactor Elite – 35 chapters
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