Choices Stem from Strength

The clamor of war had already passed, and Noxus had won a glorious victory.

Du Couteau's army had won far too many victories like this. Everything continued in an orderly fashion.

As an army mage assigned by the Empire, Ryan sat upright in his private tent, having prepared a pot of potent Noxian liquor as though he were awaiting certain visitors.

Before long, the tent flap was pushed open, and the tall, imposing Du Couteau stepped inside first.

Behind him followed Katarina, her face ashen. She looked as though she had completely lost the firm conviction she once possessed.

Ryan briefly regarded her with appreciation before turning his gaze back to Du Couteau.

"I brought this strong liquor from the Immortal Bastion. I heard General Du Couteau likes to have a drink after every victory."

"You don't look like one of the Trifarix at all. You look more like you belong to the Black Rose."

Du Couteau strode forward, grabbed the pot, and took a great swig.

The flame-like liquor scorched his throat. There was no doubt about it—it was Noxus's strongest alcohol!

"No one said the Trifarix are all war maniacs, and the Black Rose isn't made up entirely of delicate mages." Ryan gave a slight shrug.

The Trifarix had been secretly established by his former superior to reshape the increasingly decayed Empire of Noxus.

The Black Rose, meanwhile, had formed in the shadows at the very beginning of Noxus's founding. Their influence could be found behind every succession to the imperial throne.

In truth, he had had a choice. The Pale Lady of the Black Rose had personally invited him. As long as he betrayed his former superior, he could not only join the Black Rose, but also receive immortality from her personally.

Yet he sincerely admired his former superior. During the Battle of the Presidium, when the Empire had abandoned them and their comrades were nearly wiped out, his former superior had helped him survive those difficult days.

The memories ended, and Ryan fixed Du Couteau with a solemn gaze.

"General Du Couteau, we of the Trifarix are tired of the Empire's internal strife. Noxus must rise!"

Ryan had not originally been a Noxian. He did not even belong to this world.

He had traveled through Demacia and Ionia, but in the end, Noxus had accepted him.

This was the finest soil for those with talent. Whether in martial prowess, magic, trade, politics, or alchemy, anything beneficial to the Empire would be accepted.

In Noxus, one's station was determined by ability and one's height by strength. That alone was enough for Ryan to acknowledge the Empire.

After all, no one considered themselves an incapable mediocrity.

Du Couteau continued drinking deeply, yet as more alcohol entered his body, his expression only grew clearer.

Ryan's meaning was obvious. He had come with an invitation from the Trifarix, offered in goodwill.

Though he wielded considerable power and had no need to choose a side so soon, he still had to make preparations in the face of the great changes about to sweep through the Empire.

Having made his decision, Du Couteau glanced at his daughter, who was still in a daze behind him, and said coldly,

"I am a general who expands the Empire's territory. I obey only the orders of the Empire's upper ranks. I came here today to discuss something else."

Ryan's gaze likewise swept over Katarina, his smile unchanged.

"Please, go on."

"My army has no need for soldiers who act as they please." Du Couteau's voice was icy.

As the words fell, Ryan could clearly sense Katarina's body trembling slightly. Perhaps she had already broken down inside, but the harsh training and instruction of her past kept her from storming out of the tent.

Ryan stood in a different position from Katarina, and he understood Du Couteau's meaning perfectly.

Du Couteau did not wish to take the initiative in choosing a side, but the Empire's situation had already become dire. An eldest daughter cast out from her family might serve as the hope of the Du Couteau Family. And within that hope lay a father's expectations for his eldest daughter.

"The Trifarix does not run a charity." Ryan smiled.

He was playing along with Du Couteau's performance as a father. Though he did not agree with the idea of hoping one's child would grow stronger through hatred, it was another family's business. Since the father himself was willing to become a tool for his daughter's growth, Ryan had little to say.

Hearing herself evaluated like merchandise by the two men, Katarina showed no unusual reaction. There was neither anger nor hysteria, only a trace of unwillingness.

That was Noxus. The strong decided the fate of the weak, and the strong would not limit the weak's growth. Only one's own talent was the best proof on the path to power.

Here, one had to use the frost on one's face to hide the cowardice in one's heart. Katarina had understood that truth at the age of six.

"Piltover has been somewhat restless lately. The Empire's nobles have suffered losses in their dealings there. The Emperor wished to assign the matter to me, but I prefer war. Judging by Noxus's recent troop movements, we cannot go to war with Piltover for the time being," Du Couteau said.

He had no objection to going to Piltover to kill and burn. But if he was merely going there to serve as a diplomat, it would be a complete waste of his time.

What he meant was that he wanted to hand over this troublesome assignment.

This was more than just a troublesome assignment. The Trifarix represented by Ryan needed a pretext. With it, they could seize the lifelines of quite a few nobles.

"Piltover? It has developed rather quickly in recent years because of the Hexgate. I would quite like to meet that Jayce Talis. Miss Du Couteau and I will take this matter."

Ryan agreed readily. The outcome of the Battle of the Presidium had left him somewhat disgusted with war. He had heard Piltover was a peaceful city, so taking a vacation there would not be bad.

However, there was one thing he still needed to confirm.

"General Du Couteau, under what capacity am I going this time?"

He gestured toward Katarina.

"From today onward, Katarina is a subordinate of the Trifarix. There is no longer such a person in the Du Couteau Family! I will give you the Du Couteau Family's magic insignia. It can represent both my will and that of the Du Couteau Family."

Du Couteau spoke in an icy tone. After speaking, he carried the pot with a little liquor remaining and walked out, seemingly unwilling to stay even a moment longer.

After quite some time, Ryan stopped idly turning the Du Couteau Family's magical insignia in his right hand. He turned to look at Katarina, whose face was habitually cold like her father's.

"Ryan Meredith, one of the founders of the Trifarix. You should know me well."

Only after hearing Ryan's introduction did Katarina finally react. She dropped to one knee, lowering her head deeply.

"Every Noxian has heard of your deeds, sir. I am willing to serve you!"

"Get up first."

Ryan waved for Katarina to rise, then leaned back in his chair and said,

"While I was in the Immortal Bastion, I heard countless times that Katarina was the most talented assassin of the Du Couteau Family, a genius destined to surpass Du Couteau. I would like to hear what you think of that."

"I am nothing more than trash who failed her very first mission." Katarina wore a self-mocking expression.

In today's battle, Demetrius had killed twenty-five Noxian soldiers. Every life lost was her responsibility.

She held not the slightest pity for life, but neither would she deny her own mistakes.

"Where do you think the problem lay?" Ryan asked.

"I failed to follow orders. If I had another chance, I am confident I could kill Demetrius." Katarina was filled with confidence when she mentioned that name.

In her eyes, if she had not acted on her own initiative, it might have been a perfect mission.

"Miss Katarina, I do not think so. We are both Noxians and understand each other well. Answer me seriously: after killing the enemy commander, what were you thinking?" Ryan's indifferent gaze met Katarina's directly.

"I..." Katarina parted her lips, but in the end answered dejectedly, "I wanted to continue the assassination mission."

"Killing the commander was a bonus. That was absolutely not a mistake. Your mistake lay in only one thing."

Ryan did not finish, but Katarina already understood what he meant. Her fists clenched tightly, and intense unwillingness filled her eyes, but she still voiced it herself.

"I made my choice, but I did not possess the strength to carry it through."

"Very good." Ryan nodded with satisfaction. "Maintain that mindset. Tomorrow, an airship will take us to Piltover. There, I hope you can complete your transformation."

"I will follow your arrangements, sir!"