Peaceful Piltover

"Is this Piltover? It truly is different from Noxus, worthy of being called the City of Progress and Innovation."

Stepping off the airship bearing the Noxian insignia, Ryan set foot on Piltover soil.

The city-state of Piltover was not large, but looking down from the elevated Hexgate, he could see vast stretches of exquisite low-rise buildings, broad streets, and traces of technology everywhere.

Not only were scattered airships flying off into the distance overhead, there were also a few small aircraft, supposedly little gadgets made by Piltover Academy.

Piltover's ground was paved with white stone bricks, and its low buildings looked luxurious and expensive. Even from afar, one could sense the splendor of a city built upon gold coins.

"Good afternoon, Lord Meredith. I am Mel Medarda. Welcome to Piltover."

The elegant dark-skinned woman stood before the Noxian airship and gave a slight bow to express her respect.

Ryan cast her an indifferent glance and nodded slightly in return.

"Good afternoon, Miss Medarda. I have met your mother a few times. She was a brave and powerful warrior."

"In Piltover, please address me as Councilor Medarda." Mel's tone carried a hint of displeasure.

"Councilor Medarda, you truly are as naïve as your mother said. A Piltover councilor? In my eyes, that status is far inferior to being a Medarda descendant, even if you are an abandoned child."

Ignoring Mel Medarda's unpleasant expression, Ryan strode toward the exit of the Air Dock.

Katarina followed behind him, sympathy mixed with mockery in her gaze. But then she thought of it again—she seemed no different from Mel, both of them the most useless members of the younger generation in their fathers' eyes. She clenched her fists tightly, as though only the pain of her fingertips digging into her palms could calm her down.

Watching the two leave, Mel's eyes still burned with anger, yet she forced a smile onto her face and led Ryan toward Piltover proper.

No one in Piltover understood Noxus better than she did. They were a group of arrogant people who showed goodwill only toward the strong.

And Piltover, as it stood now, had no qualifications to earn Noxus's goodwill. Piltover called itself neutral, yet it not only had to provide Noxus with war supplies, but also help transport its soldiers to wage war upon other nations.

At present, Piltover could at best be considered a vassal of Noxus.

"Lord Meredith, may I ask what brings you here this time?" Mel asked probingingly, walking one step behind Ryan.

She had heard of Ryan Meredith's formidable reputation. This madman had not only followed his superior deep into Ionia, but had also returned to Noxus completely unharmed. He was an exceptionally powerful mage.

Unfortunately, aside from Heimerdinger, Piltover likely had no one capable of matching him.

Ryan's steps slowed slightly as he asked meaningfully, "I heard today is your Progress Day?"

"That's right. Today is the grandest day of the year in Piltover." Mel did not know why Ryan had brought it up, but pride still showed on her face.

Progress Day was Piltover's traditional festival. The entire city held celebrations, and in the evening, there would be speeches by the person who best represented Piltover's spirit of innovation, presenting the year's newest inventions.

Today was undoubtedly the city's most important day for showing itself to the outside world. They needed to tell the world that Piltover was still advancing and still pursuing progress and innovation.

"Heimerdinger's argument about the dangers of magic last year was quite interesting. I would very much like to hear his speech today." A faint smile appeared on Ryan's face.

It was not that he agreed with Heimerdinger's ideas. He was simply curious as a mage. What confidence did Heimerdinger possess to make such domineering claims—that using magic would destroy the world, and that the world should ban magic?

That speech on magic bringing destruction had caused quite a few mages to become hostile toward Piltover, and many had cut off their business dealings with the city.

Of course, aside from Noxus's battle mages, most mages kept to themselves and minded only their own affairs.

If mages could truly unite and form some sort of guild, then forget weak Piltover—even powerful Demacia would not dare loudly call for a ban on magic. Push them too far, and the mages would smash them to pieces.

Hearing him, Mel instead said meaningfully, "Then Lord Ryan may be disappointed. This year's Progress Day speaker is not Heimerdinger."

"Oh? Interesting. There has never been such a precedent. Still, Heimerdinger's views are indeed rather outdated. Is this year's speaker Jayce Talis?" Ryan guessed.

He had studied Piltover's records. It was a harbor city built hundreds of years ago, and it was Heimerdinger who had brought the city to its present heights.

But now that Piltover had established the Hexgate, its trade had risen by several levels. With Jayce, the creator of Hextech, speaking this year, it was well deserved.

Suddenly, an odd expression appeared on Ryan's face, and he even stopped walking.

"Councilor Medarda, while Progress Day is certainly something to look forward to, Piltover's public security is truly worrying."

His gaze turned toward a dilapidated airship not far away. Just moments ago, his keen senses had detected a fight inside.

Was Piltover not supposed to be a peaceful and harmonious city-state? Even if there was trouble, it should have been in Zaun. Why did it look even more chaotic than Noxus now?

Under Mel's stunned gaze, the airship Ryan had been watching gave off a muffled boom. Gray gas billowed out from beneath it, filling the air with the fragrance of gunpowder.

"Damn it, was that a bomb?"

Ryan glanced at the furious Mel and replied calmly, "Relax. The yield is not very large. At most, it will blow someone to pieces."

He was not talking nonsense. If his magic had sensed correctly, two unlucky people had indeed been blasted into minced flesh.

Before his words had even faded, gunfire roared from inside the airship. Bullets burst through its outer shell in a violent barrage, the sound thunderous and imposing.

Listening to the pleasing sounds by his ear, Ryan looked delighted. He turned to Mel with a smile.

"Anyone using a gun is either a novice or a madman. That aim is atrocious. Those bullets were enough to wipe out a hundred-man unit, yet she barely hit her target four or five times. Even Noxian children are much better than that."

"Lord Meredith, my apologies, but it seems I must excuse myself."

Fire flashed in Mel's eyes as she gestured to the Enforcers who had come to receive Ryan. They formed up and rushed toward the airship where the incident had occurred.

Ryan smiled as he watched several figures fly out of the airship on Greenfire Hoverboards, then gave an order.

"I need one alive."

"Understood!"

Without a word, Katarina drew the two daggers from her back. Her body became an afterimage and vanished from where she stood.

When she appeared again, she was standing atop the railing at the edge of the Air Dock.

Her black boots stomped heavily against the railing as she launched herself at incredible speed onto a Greenfire Hoverboard, kicking the mohawk thug from it and into the Air Dock.

Ignoring the obstruction of the others on Greenfire Hoverboards, she did not pause. Using the board beneath her feet as a stepping point, she returned to the Air Dock, her dagger held across the thug's throat.

Seeing how agile she was, and noticing the Enforcers closing in around them, the others could only give up and retreat helplessly.

"I was not confident I could capture their leader."

Seeing Ryan's gaze, Katarina reported honestly and directly. She had reflected on yesterday's incident for a long time. Until she had completed her mission, she would never act on her own again.

"There was no need to go out of your way. Their leader has nothing to do with us. The one who should be worried is our Councilor Medarda."

With great interest, Ryan gestured toward the other side. After receiving the Enforcers' report, Mel's expression was anything but pleasant.

"Councilor Medarda, it seems you have discovered something. If you do not mind, I would like to ask for a little of it."