Blade and Water

"Good afternoon, Lady Camille. This should be our second meeting."

Ryan greeted Camille, who was seated not far away.

She sat cross-legged on the sofa in the reception room, showing none of the bearing of a Piltover lady. Instead, she looked somewhat like someone from Zaun.

"You should know why I came to see you." Camille's gaze scraped across Ryan's face like a blade.

"My lady, I do not quite understand. This is the Noxian embassy. If you have come seeking assistance, I would be happy to help you."

"Hmph. You are even harder to deal with than Swain. He is far more straightforward than you." Camille looked displeased. "Tell me, what do you want? If Piltover has it, I do not mind giving it to you."

"Would I need to scheme for Piltover's possessions?"

Ryan leisurely pulled out the chair in front of Camille and sat down, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"That is precisely what confuses me. You seek neither power nor profit, and you have no grievance to air. Noxus can barely take care of itself right now. Was there really a need to come all this way just to bully us?"

Camille lightly sipped from her teacup, yet a grappling cable extended from beside her foot and shot straight at Ryan.

Swoosh!

Ryan lightly clenched his hand in the air. A ball of water appeared in the cable's path. Once the cable entered the water, it lost all momentum and could not advance another inch.

Helplessness hung on his face as he gave a slight shrug.

"Why assume I harbor ill intent? I have done nothing at all."

"Meredith, I do not like beating around the bush."

The blue glow in Camille's eyes intensified. She slightly raised her right foot, and the sharp blade at its tip swept through the water sphere, cutting the invisible water into two masses.

"You met Viktor twice. The first time was at Medarda's banquet, and the other was here. Afterward, you went to Zaun with him."

"That did happen."

Ryan chuckled and clapped his hands once. The divided streams of water scattered in every direction, as if nothing had happened, though the air became even more humid as the water dispersed.

"I know certain things, but it seems I have no obligation to tell you."

"Only the weak need explanations and the truth. I merely wish to solve the problem."

Camille rose expressionlessly and swept a roundhouse kick at Ryan.

Swoosh!

Her kick passed cleanly through Ryan's neck, but it only sent a great spray of water flying.

"Solve the problem? Power cannot solve every problem, Lady Camille. After serving Noxus for so many years, you should understand that."

Ryan remained seated, completely unharmed. He even had the leisure to take an unhurried sip of tea.

"More threats. You have broken your own agreement. Piltover should not be watched by Noxus."

Camille's expression was icy as she kicked out again and again.

This time, however, shields made of water appeared at Ryan's side.

Water could be yielding yet strong. No matter how sharp her blades were, they could not break through the water's defense even once.

"Noxus has not crossed the line. Besides, the agreement should have been renewed long ago. Piltover cannot remain uninvolved."

Ryan looked solemnly at Camille, deep blue magical light flickering in his eyes.

"Interesting. Has Piltover become embroiled in your internal conflict? You are dealing with Medarda, while Swain is dealing with Darkwill?"

Though Camille phrased it as a question, certainty filled her tone.

She had not been entirely unaware of the Empire's situation over the past few years. The defeat in the Battle of the Presidium had set the Empire on a path toward decline.

And within the Empire, there would always be a group of people who wished to turn the tide.

"So your target is me? Or perhaps Heimerdinger? No, Heimerdinger is not important enough. It must be that darling of the new age, Jayce Talis."

Ryan smiled without denying it, merely giving a light push with his hand.

A ripple of water spread outward.

Not wishing to be touched by it, Camille retreated several steps. When she stopped before the sofa where she had been sitting, the ripple vanished at just the right moment. With water appearing so frequently, even breathing made the moisture in the reception room palpable.

She took the opportunity to sit back down, crossing her legs with a smile on her face.

"Lady Camille, have you ever considered joining the Trifarix?"

"The Trifarix? I have never heard that name." Interest shone in Camille's eyes, knowing that he was making a demand.

"It was founded by several core members of Noxus, with the restoration of Noxus's greatness as its central guiding principle," Ryan said with a smile.

"It sounds interesting, but I am from Piltover." Camille's tone carried refusal.

"There is no contradiction. Piltover depends on Noxus. If Noxus grows stronger, Piltover will become even more prosperous." Ryan spoke bluntly.

"Absurd. If I join the Trifarix, will you help me solve Zaun?"

Camille's intrigued gaze instead made Ryan withdraw the magical radiance from his eyes, revealing once more his dark pupils, where a smile lingered.

"I cannot agree to that. When Piltover or the Ferros Clan faces a crisis, I will act once."

"So joining the Trifarix will not solve Piltover's urgent crisis, and you are certain we will lose." Surprise showed in Camille's eyes.

"Piltover has been at ease for too long. Other than you, I see no chance of victory."

Ryan stood and took a yellowed scroll from his person, covered in various runic markings.

He handed the scroll to Camille, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.

"It is not a compulsory invitation. However much you are willing to give for the Trifarix, that much we will help you. Noxus will not intervene in the Twin Cities' battle through force."

"A contract scroll. The soul of any violator will suffer endless torment. You and Swain truly are people meant for great things. If I refuse to keep this secret, would I be unable to leave this room alive?" Camille accepted the scroll calmly.

"No. You will keep the Trifarix secret. You are different from the others. I will be staying in Piltover for the foreseeable future." A sincere smile hung on Ryan's face.

He had not openly voiced any threat, but Camille understood perfectly well that Ryan himself was the greatest threat in Piltover.

Once word of the Trifarix spread through Piltover, the city would become a city of the dead in an instant.

Whether it was the Ferros Clan, Piltover, or even Zaun, all would be reduced to a vast ocean.

Piltover and Zaun bordered the sea. He possessed more than enough strength to accomplish such a thing. She understood the might of powerful mages better than anyone.

"The Trifarix, is it? I need to consider it. But I do not think it will be many days before you change your mind. Piltover is not without a chance of victory. Three days from now, have Viktor wait to bare his neck for execution."

Camille rose to her feet and leaped out through the window without looking back, leaving Ryan alone in the reception room.

"She just left that suddenly?"

Katarina, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly asked.

"Camille did not want to let me take the lead."

Ryan chuckled. The glow from the ring on his right hand gradually dimmed, and the humidity in the air slowly began to fall.

Katarina inhaled the dense moisture in the air and looked at the droplets of mist clinging to the walls, a flash of realization appearing in her eyes.

Seeing Katarina's expression, Ryan could not help smiling and nodding.

"Tell Silco that Camille will launch a surprise attack on Zaun tonight. Tell him to use every method he has. Oh, and let him know that Piltover's defenses will be very weak tonight. The Ferros Clan is the key to breaking the deadlock."

"Understood. I will deliver the message, sir!"

Katarina did not ask further questions. Her figure flashed away from the room as she raced toward Zaun.