Argument in the Council

A few days later.

The council meeting originally scheduled for the night of the rupture was forced to be postponed due to Councilor Kiramman falling into a coma.

Fortunately, that councilor woke up within two days, though still bearing injuries. She nonetheless transferred her authority to her daughter, Caitlyn Kiramman.

"Ladies and gentlemen! We need to remain calm."

Seated in the councilor's chair, Mel watched the bickering councilors before her with a headache, frustration plain on her face.

Zaun's secession was never part of her plans. She feared Jayce wouldn't be able to handle this situation, but since it had already happened, solving the problem was key.

Piltover had no magic. The only thing that could counter Hextech was Hextech itself. She could only rely on Jayce.

"Councillor Medarda, how do you expect us to stay calm? The Hexgate is forced shut, my goods are piling up every day, and the whole world is laughing at us!"

The stout councilor pounded the council table, indignation written across his face.

He vented his frustration on Jayce, blaming him: "Councillor Talis, this is your dereliction of duty. Your assistant was harboring ill intentions all along, and you had no guard against him."

"Mr. Councillor, this is my fault, and I deeply apologize. If I had agreed to his request sooner, perhaps it wouldn't have come to this." Jayce gave a bitter smile.

"Now is not the time to discuss that. I only want to ask everyone here, on behalf of my family: does Piltover still have the ability to execute justice?"

Caitlyn's brows were tightly knit. She rose from her councilor's seat, her gaze sweeping coldly around the room, causing the others to instinctively look away.

Vi, standing behind her, shot her an unexpected glance before resuming her stance like a bodyguard, though her eyes never lost their mocking edge toward the councilors.

"This matter should be directed to Councillor Talis and Councillor Heimerdinger." The blond, slender councilor muttered.

At those words, everyone's attention shifted back to Jayce and Heimerdinger, who sat at the head of the table with a pained expression.

Jayce faced the gaze of many eyes, fell silent for a moment, then spoke with difficulty: "If it were a Zaun without Viktor, our chances of victory would be one hundred percent. If Viktor doesn't have enough Hex Gems, then our odds are still eighty percent."

"And if he does? We cannot pin our hopes on the enemy being unarmed." Mel asked calmly.

"Then... our chances of victory are less than fifty percent."

After uttering that final number, Jayce slumped back into his councilor seat.

Those words essentially admitted that Viktor far surpassed him in weapon development.

Zaun's foundational strength was nowhere near Piltover's, but relying on Viktor, their odds had skyrocketed.

"Only half a chance? The founder of Hextech is inferior to him?" The stout councilor sneered in reproach.

"His ideas are more... radical than mine. I suggest permanently shutting down the Hexgate until we settle this. Otherwise, too many smuggled goods are coming through the gate right now, and our odds will only drop further." Jayce proposed.

"No! No! That's impossible, I—"

The tall, stout councilor was about to say more when Mel cut him off: "If Councillor Talis can ensure Piltover's safety, I think this proposal is worth putting to a vote."

"At least that way, my chances are extremely high." Jayce said honestly.

"Then let's call a vote. I propose that Piltover enter an emergency war readiness phase, stockpile resources for full-scale war development, shut down the Hexgate, and have Professor Heimerdinger and Councillor Talis take charge of weapon manufacturing." Mel raised her right hand first.

A spotlight fell from above, enveloping her—this was Piltover's council voting tradition, symbolizing the start of a democratic ballot.

"I second that!" Caitlyn raised her hand decisively.

Immediately after, Jayce and one councilor from the Machine Clan raised their hands, white light enveloping them.

In an instant, the supporting votes reached four. Meanwhile, two male councilors and one female councilor cast opposing votes.

Mel should have been pleased with the majority, but instead she frowned, staring at the three who voted against.

They were supposed to be her supporters. The losses from shutting down the Hexgate would be borne solely by the Medarda family. So why...?

Just as everyone's eyes fixed on the deeply conflicted Heimerdinger, the council hall doors were shoved open with a bang.

"I personally object, everyone."

In walked Ryan, clad in a pure white robe, followed by Katarina and Viktor, who now wore a monocle.

"Lord Meredith, this is Piltover's Council Hall." Mel said tactfully.

Ryan swept his gaze around the room with a calm yet commanding presence, pulled out a parchment scroll, and tossed it to the nearest councilor, whose body was entirely mechanical.

Seeing this, Vi whispered in Caitlyn's ear: "Who's that guy? Quite the show of authority. All those big shots have gone quiet."

Caitlyn replied softly: "He's from Noxus, seems to be a mage. Last time I muttered a few words about him, my mother scolded me and warned me not to provoke him, or the whole of Piltover would be buried with me."

"Heh, sounds like a good deal. If I go cause him trouble under Zaun's banner, would he help us take out Silco and Viktor together?" Vi grinned wryly, making a throat-slitting gesture.

"I'm afraid he'd take you out first." Caitlyn said with exasperation.

"Haha, trust me, Cupcake. I've never met a mage, but I hear they're all frail weaklings. A few close-range punches and they're down." Vi said confidently.

While they were chatting, the councilor finished reading the parchment. He handed it to the blond councilor beside him and spoke with a respectful tone: "I support Lord Meredith's proposal—open the Hexgate."

"Why?" Mel shot to her feet, her eyes locked onto the parchment.

The previous few had all been councilors opposed to closing the sky-gates. The parchment quickly reached her hands, and she focused her gaze to begin reading:

"Noxus Proclamation:"

"Piltover has the following three choices:"

"One, maintain the status quo. As long as Noxus's military transport and resource supply are sustained, no matter how chaotic things get internally, Noxus will not intervene."

"Two, lose the supply of resources and sky-gate access, forcing Noxus's army to set foot in Piltover in person."

"Three, hand supreme authority over to Ryan Meredith. From this day forward, become a part of Noxus. Zaun will be erased."

"--Written personally by Darkwill, Supreme Emperor of Noxus."

On the parchment, the National Seal of Noxus was also affixed. Clearly, if this parchment failed to serve as a notice, then it was a declaration of war—or, alternatively, a letter of appointment.

"Impossible. Piltover has always operated independently, free from interference by other powers."

Jayce shot to his feet after reading the parchment, glaring at Ryan, who had just sat down.

"Councilor Talis, this is a notice from the Immortal Bastion. If the Empire's armies weren't simultaneously waging war against four nations, Piltover would already be occupied by now." Ryan didn't even lift his eyelids, continuing to toy with the ring on his finger.

"I—"

"Enough, Councilor Talis. I think everyone finds Option One quite agreeable, but we're somewhat helpless against Zaun. Noxus ought to give us some aid." Mel wore a helpless expression on her face.

She really didn't want Noxus meddling in this, but since things had come to this point, whether she could squeeze out some tangible benefits was the key.

If the Empire was willing to help, Zaun would only be a minor problem.

"Aid?" Ryan looked at her with a half-smile. "I wonder if you'd mind me bringing you a councilor."