Camille of the Ferros Clan

"That's it? I think they'll agree. Piltover can't control Zaun anymore. I never thought Piltover would be forced to acknowledge Zaun's independence. It's sad to see them so sick."

Camille's face held a self-mocking expression:

"Meredith, I don't understand why you're hesitating. You could utterly destroy it in an instant with your power. I couldn't stop you."

As she spoke, a hint of relief even appeared on her face.

"Madam Camille, why use force when you can solve things with your mind? Power is just our guarantee that we won't have to overturn the table," Ryan said, shaking his head with a smile. "Three months isn't long, but it's not short either. I think you'll gain a new understanding of the Twin Cities."

"Arrogance is the strongest's most fatal weakness," Camille stated sharply. "Peaceful negotiations are always built on equal strength. You can't maintain excellence forever, Meredith."

"If I can't always maintain excellence, I look forward to the day I'm surpassed."

Ryan's expression was filled with profound confidence, as if he feared no challengers and even found joy in every challenge.

"Oh, Madam Camille, I almost forgot. I received a letter not long ago."

He clapped his hands, then smiled as he pulled a parchment document from his pocket. He held it between two fingers and twirled it, allowing Camille to see the beautiful family magic seal on it.

In Runeterra, all major families except those from Demacia have their own magic seals, which symbolize their family. If a document or contract bears a magic seal, it's equivalent to the family head's personal signature.

He had no family behind him, but he held three seals: one for Carkao, which he managed on Katarina's behalf, one for Swain, and the last one arrived with this letter.

"Sigh, he's always like that, thinking I don't understand him, thinking I'm like a ruthless machine." Camille raised an eyebrow, a hint of sorrow in her eyes.

She was all too familiar with that seal—the Ferros Clan's magic mark. She had personally given that seal to her younger brother, Stevan.

This letter meant the Ferros Clan's submission to Ryan and Noxus, and it also meant she had been abandoned by her family.

She didn't need to look to know that among the family's sincere offerings to Noxus, the top condition was to give her to Ryan or Trifarix.

She had no intention of refusing; she existed to ensure her family's prosperity. She didn't agree with Stevan's ideas, but she wouldn't risk angering Noxus just to gamble.

"Are you really not going to look?" Ryan saw the resolve in her eyes and regretfully put the letter away. "I used to think he didn't understand you, but now I'm certain he understands you best."

Camille's expression froze slightly, a rare look of surprise on her face.

Viktor stood behind Ryan, casting a regretful glance at Camille:

"When I was still a teaching assistant at the academy, my first teacher took me to the Ferros family library. There was an experimental report written by Mr. Stevan there."

"Why didn't I know my brother was doing experiments?" Camille raised an eyebrow, her face showing amusement.

Viktor's face was lost in memory as he murmured, "The 312th human mechanization experiment. Sufficient data supported the previous conclusion: human emotions are stored deep within the brain, the heart is unrelated to thought, and controlling thought requires locking down hormones secreted by the brain. All Augmentation Technology products underwent consciousness control surgery, with only one exception."

"What does that sentence mean?" Camille looked at Viktor with interest.

"You're not absolutely rational, everyone knows that. Madam Camille, machines eventually retire, let alone a machine like you that wasn't precise from the start. You've been abandoned by your family, or rather, Mr. Stevan wants you to abandon your family," Viktor said calmly.

"The latter theory is extremely interesting, but I think it's the former."

Camille smiled widely, but there was a hint of something unusual in her tone.

She hadn't returned to her family since last night. From the moment she was bombed in Zaun yesterday, she had already understood her family's intentions.

After years away, the family was no longer what it once was.

She… didn't know when she had become unwanted.

Camille sighed softly, no sadness on her face, but rather an endless sense of ease:

"Meredith, perhaps I really should ask a question."

"Swain once said you and he are the same kind of people, but you're not thorough enough. You always talk about cutting ties when necessary, but in reality, you're the indecisive one. You knew long ago that Stevan couldn't be a revivalist leader, but you still propped him up, let him become obsessed with power, and even personally killed Hakim, for whom you once harbored feelings," Ryan revealed her past actions mercilessly.

"Undeniably, the remaining emotions are my greatest weakness. But that's not the answer I want, Meredith." Camille's gaze was fixed on Ryan's face.

She hadn't killed Hakim, but he had died because of her. She didn't want to explain too much about that.

"Does that answer really matter? In the face of time and outcomes, the initial motive is merely an excuse," Ryan said flatly.

"Yes, perhaps it doesn't matter so much."

Camille's lips curled slightly, and she let out a long sigh of relief, her eyes showing a sense of release.

Whether her brother acted out of selfish desire or for her sake, the outcome was already determined. What was the point of dwelling on it?

Just like years ago, when he staged an attack on her to prevent her elopement with Hakim, forcing her to finally decide to undergo the surgery.

Everything… was for the family…

But she was a little tired.

She took out the scroll Ryan had given her yesterday when he left, and opened it in front of him.

It was a piece of paper covered in Runes, all written in blood, alluring and mysterious.

"Trifarix, perhaps you'll get to experience an unforgettable sight."

Camille smiled, cut her slender finger, and drops of blood fell onto the scroll, blooming with a crimson light.

This light enveloped the scroll, finally transforming into two Runes: one floated into Camille's heart, and the other entered Ryan's brow.

The contract was signed.

From this moment on, Trifarix gained a new member named Camille.

"Madam Camille, Trifarix welcomes you. You are the fourth member, also holding the fourth seat. We welcome any internal challenges. Noxus, strength above all!"

"Sounds good. There are at least three people stronger than me. Chairman Meredith, do I have specific tasks to handle?"

Camille raised an eyebrow. That contract didn't just bind her; it also conveyed a lot of information about Trifarix.

She had thought Swain would be the leader of Trifarix, but to her surprise, it was Ryan standing before her.

What intrigued her even more was that the third member was actually the frontline commander who had fought in Freljord.

Noxus, it seems a change is not far off.

"There's no rush for that. First, the Twin Cities' overture needs to conclude. You and Viktor can discuss the specifics of the negotiations; I won't be involved."

Ryan got the answer he wanted, stood up, and headed out.

As he reached the door, his figure suddenly paused, and he spoke:

"The first line of that letter states, 'The Ferros Clan will forever follow the will of Camille Ferros; she is the executor the family will always rely on.'"

With that, he didn't wait for the reaction of the person behind him and stepped out of the reception room.

Inside the room, Camille's eyes, covered in blue light, flickered intensely, revealing a silent smile that quickly settled. She then looked apologetically at Viktor:

"Mr. Viktor, Zaun will have to pay a price to be recognized as independent. Due to your actions last night, the Ferros Clan requires compensation."

"I don't refuse that point, but your actions in Zaun last night—"

"Failure means paying for one's actions; that is the price those who flee in haste must bear."

"..."

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