Three days later, at night.
In Ryan's room.
He sat upright at his desk, holding a book that recorded all manner of runes. Water flowed around the fingers of his other hand as he traced patterns through the air.
At that moment, a raven flew in through the window and landed on the wooden stand beside his bed.
This raven differed from the last one. It had two pairs of scarlet eyes, making it look eerie and bloodthirsty. Its mere presence far surpassed that of the previous bird.
"The Empire has noticed this place. Darkwill even threw a fit over it." The raven spoke in the deep, magnetic voice of a middle-aged man.
"This was part of our plan to begin with. Has the Pale Lady made any moves lately?"
Ryan kept his gaze on the book, committing each rune within it to memory, his tone unconcerned.
The commander would handle Noxus's affairs. All he needed to do was stir the waters in Piltover.
Recently, the Empire's nobles had grown deeply dissatisfied because of Piltover.
Even though the Flying Gate remained open, trade had declined considerably compared to before. Despite Piltover's best efforts to maintain it, Noxus's military deployments through the Flying Gate to destinations across the world had steadily decreased as well, causing the Empire's spoils of war to shrink drastically.
Almost everyone in the Immortal Bastion suspected that Ryan was behind it. They believed he was venting the resentment he had carried since the Battle of the Presidium.
The raven's four scarlet eyes focused on Ryan as he said in a low voice, "She still hides behind the scenes, like a sorceress deceiving the world. Her schemes are considerable, but her vision is not."
"She controlled the Empire for centuries, and that's all you have to say about her?" Ryan laughed in disbelief.
Before the Battle of the Presidium, the Pale Lady had once invited him to join her. So long as he was willing to betray Swain, he would gain endless rune knowledge and even eternal life, with her personally preparing the ritual.
Power, wealth, authority, longevity.
Thinking of her confident tone back then, Ryan could not help but smile.
The raven raised his head, his voice filled with lofty disdain:
"The Empire alone stands at the pinnacle of Runeterra among all nations. That is the greatest glory in this world! Yet all she thinks about is petty romance and the suffering she endured in the past."
"Commander, you can't expect all our enemies to be like you. I couldn't handle it." Ryan shook his head with a helpless laugh and turned another page.
"If Noxus had people like you, I would not need to step forward. In the entire Empire, you and Darius are the only ones I can rely on." There was regret in the raven's voice. "But a few days ago, I received word through the contract. Our power has grown stronger still."
The raven's two pairs of scarlet eyes glanced out the window, sweeping over Piltover as though he could see something deeper through the city:
"Compared to last time, the sphere of water enveloping Piltover and Zaun has become more sealed. A few days ago, there was still hope of breaking through from within, but after she joined the Trifarix, the final gap was closed. Such ability should be used for Noxus as it now stands."
Ryan understood Swain's meaning. He knew the other man wanted to know why he was using a cannon to kill a mosquito, and the corners of his lips curved upward.
"Commander, Noxus will sooner or later be shrouded beneath the raven's wings. But before then, we can make certain preparations. Piltover and Zaun are the best testing grounds."
"I am accustomed to taking one step at a time. Before victory, one must focus entirely on the war at hand." The raven shook his head and revealed another piece of intelligence. "News of Zaun's independence has spread across the continent. Darkwill is gathering the Reaver Guard for an expedition against Zaun, and they are expected to march in three months."
"The Hexgate is Noxus's guarantee for transporting troops. It is hardly strange that he would think this way. That means we have three months to prepare."
"That will be enough. By then, I will have made sufficient preparations to bury him alongside the Empire's decay." The raven's voice was low, yet imbued with conviction. "When that time comes, the Empire will enter a new chapter."
"I will welcome the Reaver Guard in Zaun. It is time for the old Undead Warlord to take his final bow."
Ryan closed the book and grasped at the air from afar. Water gathered on the ground, surging together into a burly body over 4.5 meters tall.
It was a magical construct known as the war god. In life, he had been an impeccable warrior who had once strangled a Demacian king to death with his bare hands. Before dying, he had willingly undergone undead transformation so that he could continue serving the Empire after death.
He currently served as the vanguard general of the Reaver Guard, Darkwill's elite force, and was fighting in Demacia.
"Before that, let us witness which can stir boundless fighting spirit in people's hearts: a beautiful future, or an approaching crisis."
With a wave of Ryan's hand, the water forming the Undead Warlord scattered, then gathered again into a three-dimensional water model of Piltover and Zaun.
"Zaun yearns for what the future may bring, while Piltover clings to what it possesses in the present. An interesting experiment."
The raven offered his assessment, anticipation flickering in all four of his scarlet eyes. Unfortunately, he had to face the present. Otherwise, he would certainly have observed this experiment up close. Anything of value to the Empire's future was worth taking seriously.
After the man and the raven discussed the state of the world for a while longer, the raven flew out through the window and vanished into the night.
Half a month later, Black Alley, Zaun.
A burly young Black man with a white mohawk and his face covered walked along the clean avenue, surprise written across his face.
He had grown up in Black Alley. There had once been a general store there that sold strange little trinkets and dealt in information on the side.
Back then, Black Alley had been filthy and foul-smelling, but it had been safe, and life had been happy.
After Silco rose to power, Black Alley had become a gathering place for criminals. Every kind of scum could be found there, except for those simple, honest Zaunites.
But a few years later, Viktor came down from the Upper City. He had heard of the man's exploits: a Piltover Academy genius born in Zaun, a traitor whom the Zaunites hated to the bone.
But he had returned. He had returned to Zaun.
On the day he returned, he first leveled a councilor's home, then blew up that bridge, which embodied Zaun's humiliation, in full view of everyone in Zaun and Piltover.
From that moment on, he understood that Zaun had a new master.
His name was Viktor, a man who had truly brought hope to Zaun through his own strength.
Honestly, if not for those memories of Black Alley, he might have joined Viktor's side long ago.
The burly young man mocked himself as his gaze wandered over the new changes around him.
Ever since Piltover announced Zaun's independence half a month ago, Zaun had begun changing in ways he could not understand.
First, a large group of robots carrying huge pipes had begun roaming Zaun's streets and alleys, constantly sucking harmful gases out of the air. According to Silco's men's propaganda, these things were called Air Purification Devices, meant to eliminate harmful substances from Zaun's air.
He did not understand the principles behind them, but at least the air in Black Alley was far better than before. The pungent stench was gone, as was the sour reek of rotting flesh. There was even a faint fragrance in the air.
Oh, Zaun above, he had never smelled air this pleasant even in Piltover.
The burly young man touched his nose through his mask, almost desperate to take it off and breathe in the fragrance properly.
"You, stop!"
Before you continue