Peaceful Piltover

"Is this Piltover? It truly is different from Noxus, to be hailed as a city of progress and evolution."

Stepping off the airship emblazoned with the Noxian crest, Ryan set foot on Piltover soil.

The city-state of Piltover wasn't large, but looking down from the elevated Hexgate, one could see vast expanses of exquisite low-rise buildings. The streets were wide, and signs of technology were everywhere.

In the sky, not only were there scattered airships flying into the distance, but also some sporadic flying devices, reportedly small gadgets developed by Piltover Academy.

Piltover's ground was paved with white stone bricks, and the low-rise buildings appeared luxurious and expensive. Even from a distance, one could sense the city's splendor, seemingly paved with gold.

"Good afternoon, Lord Meredith. I am Mel Medarda, and I welcome you to Piltover."

A graceful woman with dark skin stood before the Noxian airship, bowing slightly in a gesture of respect.

Ryan's calm gaze swept over her, and he nodded slightly in return:

"Good afternoon, Lady Medarda. I've met your mother a few times; she is a brave and powerful warrior."

"In Piltover, please address me as Councilor Medarda," Mel said, her tone slightly displeased.

"Councilor Medarda, you truly are as naive as your mother said. A Piltover councilor? To me, that's far less significant than being a Medarda scion, even if you are an outcast."

Ignoring Mel Medarda's visibly upset expression, Ryan strode off in the direction of the exit from the airship port.

Katarina followed behind him, her sympathetic gaze tinged with amusement. But then she reconsidered; she seemed no different from Mel, both being the most incompetent of the next generation in her father's eyes. Her fists clenched tightly, as if only the pain of her fingertips digging into her palms could bring her calm.

Seeing the two walk away, Mel's eyes still flashed with anger, but she forced a smile and led Ryan into Piltover.

No Piltover native understood Noxus better than her; they were an arrogant people who only showed goodwill to the strong.

And current Piltover lacked the qualifications to elicit goodwill from Noxus. Piltover proclaimed itself neutral, yet it not only had to provide war materials to Noxus but also help transport its soldiers to battle various nations.

Currently, Piltover could at most be considered an appendage of Noxus.

"Lord Meredith, may I ask the reason for your visit?" Mel cautiously inquired, walking a step behind Ryan.

She had heard of Ryan Meredith's formidable reputation; this madman had not only followed his superior deep into Ionian territory but had also returned to Noxus unscathed, an exceptionally powerful mage.

Unfortunately, it was safe to say that currently, no one in Piltover, apart from Heimerdinger, could be his match.

Ryan paused briefly, asking pointedly:

"I heard today is your Progress Day?"

"That's right, today is Piltover's grandest day of the year." Mel didn't know why Ryan brought it up, but her face still beamed with pride.

Progress Day was a traditional Piltover holiday, featuring city-wide celebrations. In the evening, there would be speeches, with Piltover's most innovative minds presenting the year's new inventions.

Today was undoubtedly the most important day for the city's external image. They needed to show the world that Piltover was still constantly progressing, still pursuing advancement and innovation.

"Heimerdinger's theory on the dangers of magic last year was quite interesting. I'd very much like to hear his speech today," Ryan said, a faint smile gracing his lips.

He didn't necessarily agree with Heimerdinger's ideas, but he was curious as a mage. What kind of confidence did Heimerdinger possess to declare so boldly that using magic would destroy the world and that magic should be forbidden worldwide?

Because of that speech on the destruction of magic, many mages had developed hostility towards Piltover, and quite a few had cut off business ties with the city.

Of course, apart from Noxian military mages, most other mages were homebodies, only minding their own business.

If mages could truly unite and form a guild or something, let alone the weak Piltover, even mighty Demacia wouldn't dare clamor for magic prohibition; if angered, they could be obliterated by mages.

Hearing his words, Mel said meaningfully, "Then I might have to disappoint Lord Ryan. This year's Progress Day speaker isn't Heimerdinger."

"Oh? Interesting, that's unprecedented. But Heimerdinger's views are indeed a bit outdated. Is Jayce Talis speaking this year?" Ryan guessed.

He had researched Piltover; it was a harbor city established centuries ago, and Heimerdinger had brought it to its current heights.

But now, with Piltover's Hexgate, trade had soared even further. Jayce, as the creator of Hextech, was a well-deserved speaker.

Suddenly, Ryan's expression changed, and he even stopped walking forward.

"Councilor Medarda, while Progress Day is exciting, your city's public safety is truly concerning."

He looked towards a dilapidated airship not far away. Just moments ago, his keen senses had detected a brawl inside.

Wasn't Piltover supposed to be a peaceful and harmonious city-state? Chaos was supposed to be confined to Zaun, yet now it seemed even more chaotic than Noxus.

As Mel stared blankly, the airship Ryan was watching emitted a muffled thud, and gray gas billowed out from below, filling the air with the scent of gunpowder.

"Damn it, is that a bomb?"

Ryan glanced at the exasperated Mel, calmly saying:

"Relax, the yield isn't that high. At most, it'll just blow someone to smithereens."

He wasn't exaggerating; if his magical senses weren't mistaken, two unfortunate souls had indeed been blown to bits.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the airship erupted with the roar of gunfire, its exterior riddled with surging bullets, creating a massive, deafening sound.

Ryan listened to the pleasant sounds, a look of delight on his face, and turned to Mel with a smile:

"Whoever is using that gun is either a novice or a lunatic. Their aim is terrible. Those bullets are enough to wipe out a hundred-man squad, yet they only hit the target 4 or 5 times. Noxian children are far better than this."

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

Mel's eyes flashed with fury, and she gestured to the Piltover enforcement team that had greeted Ryan, ordering them to charge towards the airship where the incident occurred.

Ryan watched with a smile as several figures flew out of the airship on skateboards trailing green flames, then instructed:

"I need one of them alive."

"Understood!"

Katarina silently drew the two daggers from her back, her figure blurring into a phantom as she vanished from her spot.

When she reappeared, she was standing on the railing at the edge of the spaceport.

Her black boots stomped down hard on the railing, and she quickly stepped onto a green-flame skateboard, kicking the Mohawk Thug who was on it into the spaceport.

Ignoring the attempts of others on green-flame skateboards to stop her, she didn't hesitate. Using the skateboard as a pivot point, she returned to the spaceport, her dagger held across the thug's throat.

Seeing her agility and realizing the Enforcers were closing in, the other few could only give up and retreat.

"I didn't manage to capture their leader."

Seeing Ryan's gaze, Katarina reported truthfully and directly. She had reflected for a long time on yesterday's events and vowed never to act on her own initiative again before a mission was completed.

"There's no need for that extra effort. Their leader has nothing to do with us. It's our Councilor Medarda who should be worried."

Ryan gestured with interest to the other side, where Mel's expression was anything but good after receiving the Enforcers' report:

"Councilor Medarda, it seems you've discovered something. If you don't mind, I'd like a share of it."