War and Glory

"Corin, you know that Councilor Talis has been busy with recruitment lately, so I wanted to ask your thoughts on the matter."

Mel's lips curved into a polite smile. Learning of his poor health, she had specifically instructed her butler to help him to a stone bench to sit down.

"My thoughts?" Corin coughed twice, genuinely sharing his opinion. "Councilor Talis's idea is quite good. I also believe Piltover needs more vitality, it's just…"

At this, Corin's expression became troubled, and he hesitated for a long time without speaking.

"Could you elaborate? If it's something I've done, I need you to correct me. I still remember how chaotic things were when I was an apprentice. You and Orianna were always direct in pointing out my mistakes."

Jayce felt a faint unease in his heart and looked expectantly at Corin.

"Many things have happened in Piltover recently. First, Zaun's independence. Ordinary people don't feel the impact of that much, only us in the workshop district are affected. After all, our suppliers are all from Zaun."

Corin was still a bit hesitant, but seeing Jayce's earnest face, he sighed and continued:

"And then, later, I heard that a councilor died. Those above said it was a terrorist attack by Zaun, but we don't really believe it in our hearts."

"Why? Zaunites really did that." Jayce's expression subtly changed.

"Councilor Talis, have you ever been to Zaun?" Corin asked hesitantly.

"Just call me Jayce. I always remember my time as an apprentice. As for Zaun, Viktor and I went a few times. It was really chaotic back then, making you not want to stay long," Jayce admitted.

"Yes, it's very chaotic and poor. It used to be Piltover's slum. I've been there many times for work. I understand they have their own rules of survival and wouldn't attack a councilor without reason," Corin muttered.

"Why?" Jayce was somewhat incredulous. "The Council has never lied."

They had never deceived the people below, yet the people below simply didn't believe them.

"We understand, so we suspect that a certain councilor, or some important figures in Piltover, thoroughly enraged Zaun. Afterwards, Ms. Camille also clarified this matter, so…" Corin's eyes darted away.

"So you think we're deceiving? No, more accurately, misleading? That we're actually eager to provoke a war?"

Jayce was a little exasperated, almost laughing. The blatant threat of Zaun was right in front of them, so why did some people always fail to see it?

"I don't know about these things. Councilor Jayce, we don't want war. In fact, everyone is very confused. We've already declared Zaun independent, so why are we still going to work in the factories? We might even have to go to the battlefield in the future. Zaun, will they really attack us?"

Coughing twice, as if feeling his time was short, Corin boldly spoke his mind.

He simply didn't believe Zaun would attack Piltover. Whether they were charging the bridge or destroying it, it was all for independence. They were barely managing their own territory; how could they attack Piltover?

What would they gain from a fight to the death with Piltover? They had just started to see hope in their lives; would everyone just perish together?

"This…"

Jayce's mouth hung slightly open. Watching Corin's retreating back, a hint of dejection appeared on his face.

"Understand anything now?"

Mel, who had been silent, placed a hand on Jayce's shoulder and asked with a subtle smile.

"No matter what Zaun thinks, our people absolutely don't want war, or would rather back down or soften their stance." Jayce's eyes held confusion. "That's the real reason we can't recruit. Now I'm even doubting whether I'm fighting for Piltover."

It dawned on him after hearing Corin's words; the people below didn't think they were protecting Piltover at all. Instead, they thought they were the source of the chaos.

Or perhaps, the people simply didn't care about the consequences of Zaun's rise, nor did they care if Zaun wanted independence. They just didn't want to get involved in war, didn't want to fight to protect this city.

"War doesn't represent glory, Jayce. This isn't Noxus."

Mel placed her hand on Jayce's shoulder, understanding his feelings well.

Just as she herself still couldn't agree with her mother's ideas.

She still remembered when she was a child, her mother leading her army to conquer a small city in Shurima.

The grand army of Noxus slaughtered all living forces of the small city in the desert. Immediately after, her mother asked her a question:

Facing the nobles and royalty of this small city, should it be slaughter or mercy?

She remembered that incident very clearly. At that time, she chose mercy, thinking it would benefit the empire.

But the result was the opposite. Her mother reprimanded her, and personally executed everyone.

Watching the blood flowing on the ground, Mel understood from that moment that she did not belong to Noxus.

For Noxus, blood meant military achievements, and war meant glory.

Only through continuous conquest and continuous slaughter could one gain more glory and climb to a higher position.

Take, for example, the current commander of the northern front, the Empire's Iron-Blooded General, Darius, known as the Hand of Noxus.

She grew up listening to his stories. He was born into a humble background, even lower than ordinary people.

But step by step, he climbed over mountains of corpses, rising from an unknown soldier to a commander. It was precisely the glory accumulated from countless wars, with every scar on his body a testament to victory in battle.

Afterwards, she was sent to Piltover, a city where peace and advancement coexisted.

It was Piltover that made her understand that not every place was Noxus. The weak also had their own soil to thrive, and even without relying on war, the people of Piltover could live well.

The price paid was not small, but compared to making the people constantly live on the edge of a knife, such an investment satisfied everyone.

"Do you know why Ms. Camille went to Zaun that night to carry out the decapitation plan?"

Mel broke free from her memories and suddenly asked with a smile.

"Why? Because the Ferros Clan's crystal mines are in Zaun?" Jayce subconsciously thought of those councilors who only cared about profit.

"Her vision isn't that narrow," Mel said, shaking her head with a wry smile. "It's because she understood that it was the last chance to unite Piltover."

"Last time? Why?" Jayce's eyes narrowed slightly.

He didn't quite agree with that idea in his heart.

If that night had been a success, it would undoubtedly have bolstered everyone's confidence, giving them the courage to face any new challenge.

But even if it had failed, they would still have had a next time, and a time after that. Piltover had always been a city that represented advancement and progress; that would never change.

He really wanted to know why Mel had come to such a conclusion.