Pleasant Cooperation

Silco's expression turned serious as he did everything in his power to disparage Jayce.

He still had a good idea of what the other party might be after—the Hexgate and Hextech!

For a powerful empire, unpredictable factors should be eliminated as early as possible. But just like Piltover, the greater the fame, the more one cared about reputation, which was why someone needed to do the dirty, thankless work.

And he, Silco, was the best man for that job. It was the same as how he had the Piltover sheriff under his control—to achieve certain ends, he needed people in the Upper City working in the shadows.

Understanding this, he quickly found his bearings, his expression easing slightly.

"I don't care if he's genuinely naive or not. I need you to work against him. He issued an order for a full investigation of Zaun the very morning he took office—that's helping yourself too," Ryan said with a faint smile.

His bright eyes fixed on Silco, as if he had already read the man's thoughts.

"I would very much like to follow your will, but..." Silco's face carried a note of regret. "Zaun's strength isn't on the same level as Piltover's."

"Two hundred sets of Noxian decommissioned military equipment."

"Sir, they have guns," Silco said euphemistically.

Ryan let out a quiet laugh, looking at the greedy viper before him, and said offhandedly:

"I seem to have come across some intelligence. Yesterday, the Kiramman girl went to Stillwater Hold, on Councilor Talis's orders, to retrieve a prisoner."

Seeing the feigned confusion and irritation on Silco's face, Ryan made a calming gesture and shifted his tone:

"That prisoner looked like a tomboy, pink hair, and I think the name was—"

Ignoring Silco's growing unease, Ryan tapped his temple and smiled:

"Look at my memory, forgetting such important intelligence."

"Tomorrow—no, tonight. I'll send people immediately to kill both the Kiramman girl and that prisoner," Silco said, his face twisting with ruthlessness.

"I admire your decisiveness. The one hundred fifty sets of equipment I promised will arrive in two days," Ryan said with a smile.

"No problem. I'll show you my sincerity."

Silco agreed without hesitation, as if that had been the original number of equipment promised from the start.

"Pleasure doing business, Silco."

"Pleasure doing business."

Silco suppressed the murderous intent in his heart and bowed his head to Ryan with a smile.

The other man knew his weakness—he understood that clearly.

He wanted to kill him badly, but without absolute certainty, he would never show even a hint of it.

Ryan took in Silco's posture and signaled with a glance behind him.

Katarina wore a cold smile on her lips, casting a provocative look at Silco and his men, and said arrogantly:

"Lord Meredith, please allow me to challenge Mr. Silco's strongest warrior. I cannot tolerate their earlier disrespect toward you."

Silco's pupils contracted. His gaze flickered between Katarina and Ryan as he grasped the intent behind this.

"If you don't mind, let Sevika have a match with this young lady."

He understood—this was meant to show him the gap between them. But he also wanted to see, after using Shimmer, just how big the gap between them and Noxus really was.

The dark-skinned woman, hearing her name called by Silco, twisted her neck with some excitement and taunted:

"You don't mind if I use some special measures, do you?"

"Go ahead. I'm not going to kill you," Katarina said coldly.

"Arrogant brat."

Sevika's entire left arm was forged from machinery. With a whir of propulsion, a vial of Shimmer was injected into her left arm.

Her left arm blazed with violent purple light. Her face twisted into a snarl as she swung her mechanical arm and charged at Katarina.

Shhk!

To her disbelief, the mechanical arm struck nothing but air, and a sharp pain erupted from her back.

It was the stinging pain of a dagger slicing through flesh!

"Too slow!"

A mocking whisper sounded in her ear. Another gash appeared on her right arm, blood streaming freely.

"Damn it!"

Sevika swung her arm in retaliation, but hit only empty air again.

"Fight me head-on if you've got the guts!"

"The words of the weak!"

Katarina's voice came from in front of her, and Sevika's face lit up with joy.

The other party was just fast—if she could land a hit, with Shimmer, she would surely—

The sound of steam propulsion rang out again. Another vial of Shimmer was quickly pushed into the mechanical arm, which now flickered with an eerie purple glow. Even a slight swing stirred up a gust of wind.

Sevika's face contorted with ferocity as she threw all her strength into swinging the mechanical arm, sending it crashing down toward Katarina with maximum momentum.

"Die, brat!"

Shiiing!

Arm met blade.

"How is that possible?"

The sound wasn't the booming clash Sevika had expected—instead, it was a crisp tearing noise.

Thud!

A heavy object crashed to the ground not far away. Sevika stared blankly at her half-severed mechanical arm, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"You thought machinery could be sharper than my blade? Foolish."

Katarina sheathed her sword with indifference, turning and walking back toward Ryan.

Her mission was complete. She had demonstrated Noxus's overwhelming power.

Silco had witnessed the entire brief battle. Even though he had anticipated the outcome, he couldn't help but marvel inwardly.

From start to finish, Sevika had been toyed with by Katarina. If this had been a real fight, even with Shimmer's aid, her throat would have been slit in the first instant.

And it wasn't just speed—the gap in strength was equally vast.

That mechanical arm had sacrificed a fair amount of durability to integrate Shimmer, but even so, a blade shouldn't have been able to sever it so easily.

That sword was no ordinary weapon.

"My apologies, Silco. I accidentally broke one of your mechanical arms. But I think my steward will be able to repair it for you."

Ryan's warm words interrupted Silco's train of thought. Just as he was about to say something, he caught the look in the other man's eyes—one that brooked no refusal.

He fell silent for a moment, then glanced at Viktor, realizing that must be the steward in question.

"To receive your steward's assistance, I am honored. However... will he be staying here? The environment in Zaun is not something just anyone can endure."

Silco wanted to refuse having someone planted at his side. He could tell Viktor wasn't in good health—perhaps this could be an opening.

If he had to choose someone to station near him, Katarina would have been preferable to that steward.

He had heard the rumors about Noxus—only the talented were valued. Katarina's strength clearly lay in combat, while that sickly steward seemed, by all appearances, to be a strategist.

"Mr. Silco, the environment I was born into is similar to this. I believe I can adapt." Viktor's hoarse voice carried a note of resolve.

He understood what Ryan meant by dressing him in these clothes—he was meant to keep watch over Silco from the shadows. And with Ryan's authority, he would have the chance to grasp control of Zaun.

Now, his goal of reforming Zaun was so close.

If his ideals could truly be realized, what did it matter if he submitted to Noxus? Piltover was merely their vassal as well. If both sides were vassals, he was confident Zaun could stand on equal footing with Piltover.

"Very well, then. I'll have someone arrange the finest resting place for you in Zaun." Silco didn't refuse further, instead going along with the flow.

"I hope you two get along well." Ryan smiled, then turned to Viktor. "Oh, by the way—I'll hold onto something for you first, so you won't have trouble bringing it along next time."