"I will take responsibility for what happened last night. Whether it is the Ferros Clan's losses or the deaths of the Council members, I will bear it all myself."
Camille withdrew her gaze from Stevan, her sharp eyes sweeping across every Council member present.
Quite a few lowered their heads, but several quickly raised them again. Camille silently marked each of them down.
Medarda, Noxus, Ferros.
"Camille..."
Caitlyn looked at Camille with anguish. What happened last night had clearly been their fault.
If they had possessed Camille's strength, things would not have turned out like this today.
Jayce wore a similar expression, his head hung low, his face filled with regret.
They should have been the ones taking responsibility, yet now they were acting like ostriches again.
Why? Why did doing the right thing mean having to bear the consequences of something else?
"The civilians' issue has been resolved. Now, let us discuss the final matter: Zaun."
Seeing that the atmosphere was off, Mel took the initiative to speak.
Today's Council meeting was highly unusual. It appeared to be discussing Piltover, but in reality, several factions were struggling against one another.
The esteemed figure in the embassy, the head of the Ferros Clan, and Camille, who had become the target of everyone's attacks.
A certain young lady had already warned her at her bedside last night. All she could do was remain a spectator.
"You went to Zaun yesterday. How long until we can deal with them?" the blond Council member asked impatiently.
"If we spare no expense, today. If we hesitate, there will be no future." Camille's blue-glowing eyes swept over every Council member as she spoke expressionlessly.
"Well... the cost would be too great. They will fight us to the death. At least half the Council members here would die. We need time."
Jayce interjected. Yesterday's experience had taught him that hot-bloodedness alone could not change the outcome.
"Time? One day? One month? One year?" the short, fat Council member blurted out.
"At least three months. Rigorous science requires extensive time for testing, especially when it is intended for military use." Heimerdinger estimated a timeframe in his mind before slowly voicing it.
"That is why I said we should pursue peace talks." The female Council member propped her head up with one hand, looking bored.
Thud!
A spotlight shone down upon the female Council member. She raised her right hand and said calmly:
"Let us end this meeting quickly. I propose peace talks with Zaun to buy us enough time. As for the terms, we can negotiate first, then hold a Council vote, and each side can make some concessions."
Immediately after—
"Agreed!"
"Seconded!"
Two beams of white light fell upon two male Council members.
The sight filled Caitlyn with indignation. Her fists clenched tightly. Her mother was still lying in bed, and her father's remains had yet to be found!
Thud! Two spotlights lit up at the same time.
Mel and Jayce exchanged a glance and raised their right hands, signaling that the proposal had passed.
Heimerdinger also raised his hand symbolically. Everyone turned to Camille, waiting for her rejection before passing the proposal.
To their surprise, Camille expressionlessly raised her gloved right hand, her voice unusually cold.
"I will personally speak with Viktor. At the same time, to take responsibility for what happened last night, my Council seat will be assumed by Stevan from today onward. I will remain at the Enforcement Office from now on."
"That is your freedom. You are qualified to represent the Council, Lady Camille." Mel smiled.
Other than Jayce, Heimerdinger, and Caitlyn, who remained silent, the rest nodded with smiles to indicate their approval. Every expression was friendly, without the slightest hint of friction or conflict.
Having received her answer, Camille cast one final look at her younger brother before leaving the Council Hall without looking back.
As the Council Hall's doors closed, Camille could still hear Stevan saying something inside. She did not listen closely, instead striding toward the Noxus Embassy.
Everything at today's Council meeting had been manipulated. Perhaps her foolish younger brother had aligned himself with Noxus, or perhaps Noxus had forced him to do so.
But no matter how she looked at it, what happened today was connected to Meredith. She believed she could obtain the answer she wanted from him.
"Were you waiting for me? Viktor, and... Meredith."
At the Noxus Embassy, in the same reception room, Camille walked in with her head held high, her voice exceptionally calm.
"Lady Camille, we have been waiting for quite some time."
Ryan sat in the seat of honor, with Viktor standing behind him.
Seeing Camille enter, Viktor gave a slight nod in greeting.
"It is a pleasure to meet you again, Lady Camille."
"I do not wish to see you or Meredith. Your information network is certainly efficient. Yesterday, you called me a Council member. Today, it has become 'Lady.'"
Camille wore a mocking smile as she sat down on the sofa she had occupied yesterday.
"Meredith, people are always willing to submit to the strong, but few are willing to think about the price they must pay."
Her deep-blue eyes locked onto Ryan, as though she might launch a fierce attack at any moment.
Ryan's expression stiffened. He understood that she was alluding to certain people in the Council.
Camille had come here seeking an answer regarding Ferros. Or perhaps she had come seeking a solution to the Twin Cities' problems.
He took a sip of tea and replied calmly.
"Lady Camille, admiring strength is a biological instinct. The strong cannot personally handle every matter; they must have one or two followers. Besides, often the strong do not intend to exploit anything from the weak. It is merely the chain reaction caused by an insignificant action."
"That is all? Are the strong truly such creatures without ambition?" An indescribable emotion crossed Camille's face. "Sometimes, the weak are like ants. They do not even know why they are crushed to death by a monster beside them."
"When people become strong, it must be for something. The strong do not enjoy spending every day resolving trivial troubles, either. Take Viktor. He grew stronger to change the Zaun that Piltover had ravaged, yet people often came looking for trouble with him at night. For the sake of his own aspirations, someone must handle those little troubles for him."
Camille raised her head, glanced at Viktor, and shook her head slightly.
"It is a decent reason, but he needs capable subordinates, not a group of useless fools."
"Lady Camille, everyone has their own value. Even the most despised person can find something that makes them shine somewhere. Noxians are quite willing to discover such qualities, and at the very least, their results are not bad."
"That truly sounds like your style—more candid than Demacia, yet more worldly than Ionia. Of course, I must admit that you have good judgment. You successfully stirred their ambitions. Tell me, what does Zaun want?"
"Three months of superficial peace, with neither side's conflicts brought into the open. That is Piltover's demand."
Viktor gave Ryan a grateful look, then shifted the subject.
"Zaun's demand is simple: acknowledge Zaun's independence externally."
Before you continue