The streets of the Undercity are just as the cloaked man recalls: filthy, dangerous, and overcrowded. If not for the glare of chemtech signs pedestrians wouldn’t be able to see who’s next to them—even midday; The black smog that covers the fissures blocks most of the light that attempts to sneak its way through.


    It’s no wonder pickpocketing is such a popular and lucrative business in the trenches. Although, Viktor notices a lot less of it. More gang violence, of course, with Silco in charge and the chembarons following his lead. But, the streets seem safer in an odd way. It’s more like people are afraid of stealing from the wrong person than being unwilling to do so at all. Thieves must’ve become more selective, Viktor guesses. When he was growing up, he did some of it himself. The generous academy grants of Piltover eliminated the need for him to resort to such things, but he remembers those times vividly. It was easy even as a pre-teen to slink away in the dark, densely populated city. So, trying to find a three-legged flesh ball feels nigh impossible.


    Jayce informed him of the Solver’s interjection in one of the shimmer refineries. It having made its way down here is a bad omen. If there’s anywhere to get away with easy murder, it’s the Undercity.


    In the time since the factory raid last night, the little beast could’ve snatched up and ‘assimilated’ dozens of shimmer addicts or gangsters. In the Undercity, the blame would always find someone to land on, and it wouldn’t be the Solver. By Janna! If it could dig up dozens of graves in broad daylight, who knows how many people it could snatch up in these neglected alleys.


    Viktor pulls his cloak tightly around his chest, lowering himself onto an opened crate in an alley. The inside of the old container is full of moss and moldy grain. One of the decomposing bread loaves has a large bite taken out of it, some poor soul having recently tried their luck. The nearby compost swarming with flies lets him know how that went. He can relate to such desperation. Considering his current predicament it’s no mystery why. In his earlier conversation with Jayce, the Hextech partners decided on a plan of action: Jayce talks to Silco, Viktor searches for the Solver. The counselor is going to do his best to negotiate with the kingpin, the man hoping to find a mutually beneficial agreement to prevent any further bloodshed between the cities. Meanwhile, Viktor will scour the Undercity for any information regarding the loose Solver. He’s not seeking to confront or challenge it, obviously. His only aim is to find information. Most importantly: the missing body parts.


    Jayce claims the Solver didn’t have any body or imply that it assembled a humanoid form at all. With this knowledge, Viktor finds it probable that the creature has set up a nest—or some kind of storage area—to hold its stolen objects. He doubts it would wander far from its home to hunt, so he needs to find where a monster like that would set up. In the Undercity, that’s no easy feat: millions of nooks and crannies make endless possibilities. His task is especially difficult since his search is relying on so many flip-of-the-coin assumptions.


    Viktor buries his head in his hands, sighing heavily and contemplating where to look next until a familiar, concerned voice chirps up from the street, “Excuse me, lad. You didn’t try eating that, did you?”


    Viktor bounces up, meeting an unforgettable, orange-colored yordle in addition to the young, painted face of a rough-looking, hooded trencher. The boy looks down at Viktor’s mentor with a glare, whispering something to him angrily.


    “Professor?” Viktor mutters, Heimerdinger’s orange fur peeking out from his oversized shroud.


    “Viktor? Fancy meeting you here! Why, I was beginning to believe the worst after my most recent encounter…” The wizened yordle shudders.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    “You know this guy?” Ekko turns to Viktor, scowling, “Who are you supposed to be?”


    Heimerdinger tries to interject as Viktor stands up, but simply looks on at the free-standing scientist in amazement, “Y-you’re cured! Viktor, this is marvelous! How did you do it?”


    Viktor winces, “Eh… not here, Professor. May we go somewhere more private to discuss?”


    “Not without me,” Ekko steps in, clutching the dented pipe on his back, skittish from recent perils.


    Heimerdinger yanks on his coat, pulling the Firelight back, “Boys, boys! Don’t fight when we haven’t even had proper introductions!” The yordle chuckles, “Ekko, this is my former pupil Viktor. Viktor, this is my current host Ekko.”


    “Host?” Viktor questions. The dean disappeared shortly after his retirement. Viktor simply believed he was holed up inventing somewhere, the yordle never being one to sulk. Ekko looked equally curious, his suspicions of the alley lurker fading away to intrigue upon the reveal of him being the founder of Piltover’s former pupil.


    “I found young Ekko yesterday by the bridge. He took me in and I’ve been living with him since. Him and his crew are a hospitable bunch, that’s for certain I’m sure they’d love to have—ugh!” Ekko elbows Heimerdinger., “I mean… at some time, in the far, far future! Long time from now…”


    “Right…” Viktor brushes his cloak off and turns toward a darkened street, “Walk and talk?” He offers.


    A quick pair of nods later and the trio descends, making their way to a sparse area of the fissures. Abandoned warehouses and chemical plants become abundant. Although it’s unlikely residents ever lived in this part of the lanes, in recent years it seems even workers have become extinct. The faculties have been shut down so long the skyline of Piltover is visible clearly, the Council Building’s towering visage stapled in the center. Viktor must’ve lost track of time while searching, the orange glow of the sunset dancing on his face as a reminder to maintain a sense of urgency.


    First, though, he needs to come clean to his mentor: It won’t take long, and it’s necessary if he wants Heimerdinger’s help in good conscience.


    “I was cured by the Solver,” Viktor states bluntly, unwilling to sugarcoat his lethal mistake, “It evolved, killed my assistant and another. Like a fool, I thought I could contain it. You were right all along, Professor. I should’ve trusted your guidance. I humbly request your expertise, please…” Viktor drops to one knee, putting his hands together and crossing his fingers.


    Heimerdinger smiles, grabbing one of Viktor’s hands gingerly, “How could I forsake a young lad in need?” He stops, pausing briefly before adding quietly: “Again…”


    Ekko waits patiently for the two to stand back up, his questions piling up like snow after every passing minute, “So, what’s the Solver? Does that have something to do with the monster girl that attacked us?”


    Viktor looks concerned at the mention, “Monster girl? Someone attacked you two?”


    Heimerdinger nods his head, “It was that Solver. The girl… she was like a walking corpse, puppeted by machines. She wielded that sigil: nearly killed us both.”


    Viktor’s sweat drips across his face, a terrified expression manifesting. In stark contrast, Ekko holds his chin with a pensive expression, a trickle of annoyance flowing down his features, “So, let me guess this straight: you took this thing, tried to control it, failed. It escaped, and now it’s the Undercity’s problem? Typical…”


    Viktor nods solemnly, “Not an inaccurate summary, unfortunately. It’s what sacked the cemetery too. It seems mine and Jayce’s fears have come true: it has built a body.”


    Heimerdinger and Ekko lock eyes, a tacit horror shared between the two.


    Viktor reaches his hand out to Ekko, “If you helped Heimerdinger, I’d be happy to have you assist searching as well,” Viktor said before quickly adding: “If you’re willing of course.”


    Ekko bites his lip, sighs, then grabs Viktor’s hand firmly, “I can’t leave my people out to dry though, so I’ll be back in a bit; I’ve gotta let them know what’s what,” Ekko gestures to his hoverboard, “I detoured the long way through the fissures not to lead that thing anywhere important, so my gang’s gotta be worried sick,” he unslings his hoverboard and drops it to the ground, “I’ll be back soon, maybe with a few of my guys, too.”


    Just like that, he flies off, the blades of his hoverboard stirring up storms of settled dust as it zooms.


    Viktor turns to the professor, taking note of the sun’s descent below the horizon, “Best make use of what’s left of the sun,” he looks ahead ominously, “Run back here and yell if you find any evidence of the Solver. Footsteps, remains, anything.”


    Heimerdinger nods, “Let’s get started my boy!”