Professor Heimerdinger

The corridor of a classroom at Piltover Academy

Chen Nuo sat on a chair, holding a pen and calculating various formulas on a white sheet of paper. The answers derived from these formulas were all different Ark Rune.

Just as using resonant frequencies can reveal the various runes hidden within a hextech crystal, the runes contained within the Arc Reactor also have their own inherent patterns.

And magnetic confinement is the key to finding these patterns.

Currently, the energy output from the ark rune reactor is no longer clean nuclear energy, but nuclear energy imbued with magical power.

Simply put, the Arc Reactor has been tainted by magic.

Chen Nuo should have realized this long ago. After all, the reactor he created was based on the materials existing in Runeterra, so it was impossible for it to be completely free from the influence of magic.

Magic exists in every corner of this world, merely separated from the material realm by a dimension, making it impossible to detect through conventional means.

And runes are the most direct interpretation of magic. By arranging these different runes together and infusing them with magical power, one can create magic with different effects.

Just like the acceleration magic that Jayce is currently exploring.

He named it the Hexgate.

Actually, Chen Nuo felt that Hex Acceleration Gate would be more fitting, but Jayce was quite insistent on the matter.

The difference is that the runes Jayce discovered from the hextech crystal touched upon the magic of time, whereas those manifesting in Chen Nuo's Arc Reactor involved the magic of space.

Although they are all runes, they seem to belong to different series.

As for exactly how many runes are currently contained within the Arc Reactor, Chen Nuo cannot be entirely certain. Based on existing formulas and patterns, there appear to be only nine.

But you must remember that runes possess self-awareness and can evolve based on different environments.

We can only excavate nine now, but that might not be the case in the future.

Just then, a furry, round figure appeared before Chen Nuo.

The little creature placed its short, stubby front paws on Chen Nuo's knee, cocked its head, stared at him with its dark, beady eyes, and stuck out half of its pink, tender tongue.

It was a Poro, a rare creature from the Howling Abyss.

Only one person in the entire Piltover Academy possessed such a creature. Seeing the Poro appear meant that Professor Heimerdinger was not far away.

"It seems to like you."

Professor Heimerdinger came around the corner of the corridor with small, quick steps. His small body and large head, covered in fluff, made him almost as cute as the Poro.

Although he was a Yordle, Heimerdinger gave off an unusually steady impression, like a wise old man full of knowledge.

"Are you here to inform me that I passed the written exam?"

Chen Nuo closed his notebook, stood up from his seat, and looked at the professor, who was less than a meter tall, with a smile.

"I think you should remain seated. Are all children developing this fast nowadays?"

Heimerdinger looked up at Chen Nuo, his thick, fluffy beard twitching a few times, before continuing in a friendly tone.

"But you are correct, I am indeed here to congratulate you. The last person to pass the written exam with a perfect score was Jayce; your talent is as dazzling as his. Welcome to Piltover Academy."

"Then may I touch your head now, as a reward for passing the written exam?"

"What?! Absolutely not!"

Professor Heimerdinger expressed his refusal with a solemn look.

However, after glancing around to ensure no one else was present, the professor showed an expression of 'I can't do anything about you' and sighed helplessly.

"Just once."

"Of course."

Chen Nuo eagerly reached out. Just as he suspected, Professor Heimerdinger's head felt excellent to the touch, which also proved one thing.

The professor's head was solid, not just puffed up by hair.

"That should be enough; it's been more than once."

Professor Heimerdinger reminded him.

Although he tried hard to conceal it, the slight trembling of his ears betrayed the professor's true inner feelings.

A Yordle is still a Yordle; even the most mature outward behavior cannot hide the childlike innocence deep within.

"If nothing unexpected happens, my academy mentor should be you, Professor, right?"

After satisfying his urge to touch, Chen Nuo inquired.

The Poro at his feet nudged his calf, looking up with an expectant gaze: After touching my master, shouldn't you touch me now?

"Yes, that's right."

Heimerdinger coughed lightly, attempting to adopt the demeanor of a strict teacher. He had taught too many students to not know how important first impressions were.

Otherwise, some mischievous students could truly cause a lot of headaches.

Especially for someone Chen Nuo's age.

"That's wonderful. I wonder if you have time now, Professor? There are some questions I'd like to ask your guidance on."

Chen Nuo said with delight.

It wasn't a waste of the effort he put into the written exam; he had indeed attracted Professor Heimerdinger's attention.

Frankly, few instructors in the academy could understand the things Chen Nuo had written on the exam paper, and Professor Heimerdinger was famously willing to teach in the academy.

"Of course."

Heimerdinger stood with his hands behind his back, but the relaxed and indifferent expression on his face gradually became serious and focused as Chen Nuo continued to ask questions.

To implement the knowledge from another world into feasible results required too much time for Chen Nuo to integrate and verify bit by bit. If he had the help of a learned professor like Heimerdinger, the situation would be vastly different.

"Uh, it's getting late. How about we go eat first? You haven't tried the academy cafeteria's lunch yet. I heard the head chef caught a rare, large fish today."

Heimerdinger blinked, asking a bit nervously.

He couldn't immediately provide correct answers to some of the questions Chen Nuo raised. To maintain his professorial dignity, Heimerdinger could only resort to the 'Eating Escape Maneuver'.

"Really? Then I'll look forward to it!"

Chen Nuo played along, picked up the long-waiting Poro, and followed behind Professor Heimerdinger.

There would be plenty of time later; he couldn't scare the professor away now, or where would he find such a useful encyclopedia?

The Piltover Academy cafeteria was indeed surprising; the dishes inside were extremely delicious. It was rumored that the chefs here were poached from the mansions of great nobles.

Professor Heimerdinger's appearance attracted the attention of many students, who politely greeted him.

It was clear that Professor Heimerdinger quite enjoyed the admiring gazes of the students, which explained why he often wandered around the academy.

Of course, Chen Nuo, who followed closely behind Professor Heimerdinger, also drew a lot of whispering among the students.

Heimerdinger had quite a few students personally taught by him, but one this young was truly the first, and some of the more inquisitive students had already started making inquiries.

It must be known that there were quite a few noble students at the Academy; their purpose for studying there wasn't to acquire knowledge, but to build their connections and invest in the futures of geniuses.

And Chen Nuo practically had the label of 'Genius' branded onto his forehead.

However, it wouldn't be long before these noble students learned that Chen Nuo was already an investment student of the Jiramane Family, but this wouldn't dampen their enthusiasm to get close to him; on the contrary, it would become even more fervent.

A genius student doubly certified by Professor Heimerdinger and Madame Kiramann was definitely a foolproof investment.

Money was the lowest and most mediocre form of investment.

Do not underestimate the vision and boldness of these upper-middle-class nobles; when they invest, they invest big.

As soon as Chen Nuo returned home, countless invitations to balls arrived at his residence, many of them from noble young ladies.

Smelling the fresh, girlish fragrance on them.

Looking at the brilliant flower petals and silks scattered within the layers.

As for why they weren't all from noble young ladies?

Who knows what Chen Nuo's taste is? They have to try them all to find out.

It's not about whether you have a need, but whether you have a need at all.

Damn it, Chen Nuo isn't even an adult yet!

Caitlyn, who had rushed over, could tell the sordid thoughts of the nobles just by looking at these letters. She snatched them all away and threw them forcefully into the trash can.

"These things aren't suitable for you to see; they'll dirty your eyes."

Caitlyn explained to Chen Nuo.

She felt a surge of relief in her heart, thankfully she had arrived in time, otherwise Chen Nuo might have been tricked by some noble young lady.

In other aspects, Caitlyn might look down on those young ladies, but when it came to snatching men, noble young ladies were professionals.

"..."

Alright, it had to be admitted that some of the contents inside were a bit too explicit, but the question was, when was Chen Nuo ever 'clean'?

"Sister Caitlyn is right."

Orianna clapped her hands in approval, strongly agreeing with the action. If she could compete with Chen Nuo, she would have done this long ago—a bunch of old aunties, hmph.

"Miss, what brings you here?"

Chen Nuo glanced regretfully at the trash can; there was still half of it he hadn't gotten a chance to appreciate.

"Mother asked me to come and offer you congratulations. I really didn't expect Professor Heimerdinger would actually agree to take you as a student."

Caitlyn's tone sounded a bit sour.

It was true; which student at the Academy didn't want to study under Professor Heimerdinger? Unfortunately, the vast majority of students lacked the IQ for such an opportunity.

Caitlyn was undoubtedly one of those who lacked the IQ.

Her own failure was certainly terrible, but a friend's success was even more agonizing.

"What's so surprising about that? With Professor Heimerdinger's discerning eye, it's only natural that he would take an interest in me."

Chen Nuo shrugged, and Orianna beside him nodded in deep agreement.

Given Orianna's adoration for her big brother, if Heimerdinger hadn't chosen Chen Nuo, she would definitely have thought the Professor needed to have his eyes checked.

"..."

Caitlyn desperately wanted to retort upon hearing this, but she couldn't find an opening because, deep down, she believed the same thing, even if she was unwilling to admit it out loud.

"Besides congratulations, what else?"

Chen Nuo asked back. In his memory, Madame Kiramann was quite a pragmatic woman. Given his rapidly soaring valuation, she should be aggressively increasing her investment.

"Mother is prepared to build a Mechanical Workshop for you, and other investments and rewards are detailed in this contract."

Caitlyn produced a contract. She disliked this kind of aristocratic transactional exchange; it was too direct and naked.

Elevating some while stepping on others, it lacked human warmth.

But this was still a task assigned by Madame Kiramann.

Chen Nuo had no issue with this. If a noble family wanted to maintain a long legacy, they had to be cold and realistic.

Besides, hadn't Madame Kiramann sent Caitlyn herself, considering every aspect and showing consideration?

"I really won't be able to spend all this money now."

Chen Nuo exclaimed as he looked at the shining figures on the contract.

The patent rights for the Magic Cube alone were enough for their small family to advance to the lower nobility. If they developed according to the terms of this contract, they would have a place among the upper nobility in the future.

The prerequisite was that Chen Nuo had to maintain his value.

Overall, the treatment offered by Madame Kiramann was already quite generous.

Compared to the nobles of Noxus and Demacia, the nobles of Piltover seemed much more naive and adorable. After all, the latter's lineage hadn't been established for very long and hadn't reached a stage of decadent decay.

Moreover, the city of Piltover was in a phase of rapid development; the cake was constantly growing, allowing room for newcomers at the table.

Chen Nuo only glanced over the document briefly before signing his name.

"Aren't you going to look closer?"

Caitlyn couldn't help but ask upon seeing this.

"What? Don't tell me Miss is going to sell me off to Zaun to mine?"

"Hmph, that's not out of the question."

Although she was still putting up a front, Caitlyn's expression showed that Chen Nuo's attitude was quite pleasing to her.

Miss Caitlyn was indeed still too naive.

What truly constrained people was never a contract or agreement, but the strength you personally held.

"Are we moving?"

Orianna was still young and didn't fully grasp the changes her life was about to undergo, but the clever girl could interpret some content from the conversation between Chen Nuo and Caitlyn.

"Yes, we are moving to the villa district in the city center to be Caitlyn's neighbors,".

Chen Nuo said with a smile, stroking Orianna's head.

"Then can I have my own dance studio?"

Orianna's eyes held a bit of nervousness and apprehension, but more so, anticipation for a beautiful future.

"Of course. You can also ask Sister Caitlyn to teach you how to dance."

"What? Me?"

Caitlyn was momentarily stunned. Looking at Orianna's expectant gaze, she started stammering.

She had received systematic aristocratic etiquette training, but what was hard to admit was that dancing was not her strong suit; there were even some jokes made about it.

Miss Caitlyn once stepped on her dance partner's foot so hard it fractured a bone, and since then, very few people dared to invite her.

Caitlyn explained that it wasn't intentional.

But Madame Kiramann was deeply skeptical.

In fact, Miss Caitlyn truly wasn't doing it on purpose; she was just genuinely careless.