"Because if we failed, the people's hearts would scatter. How many people truly cared whether Zaun belonged to Piltover? Jayce, we had to ask ourselves: did we really want to solve Zaun's problems? Would compromise, peace, and mutual assistance be the better path?" Mel smiled.
Having spent so many years in Piltover, she understood its people's thoughts all too well.
As great noble houses, neither Medarda nor Ferros cared about anything except whether their own families profited.
The lesser nobles depended on them, but they had their own schemes and interests as well. If Zaun could be destroyed with ease, they would certainly be the best catalysts. But if the other side was too strong—strong enough to threaten their lives—then saving face would no longer matter so much. They would be the most likely to switch sides.
The middle class went with the flow, doing whatever those above them said. But because Piltover's benefits had been divided among most of the nobles, who knew how many among them had ties to Zaun? They survived on the profits from that side and had no desire for the two cities to go to war.
Among those willing to fight, more had likely already changed sides and hoped to use this chance to reshuffle the board.
The common folk were even simpler. War meant going to the battlefield, or endless labor in weapons factories. They had enjoyed peace and comfort for too long and had long since lost their fighting spirit.
Not to mention, they were the best at weighing costs and benefits. If Piltover being defeated by Zaun would not be worse than joining the war, how could they be willing to risk their lives for it?
Jayce had thought of all this as well. For a moment, he was left speechless.
Forget everyone else—was he himself truly concerned about the split between the Twin Cities? Did Zaun really matter that much to him?
When it came down to it, why had he proposed strengthening their defenses and confronting Zaun?
Jayce raised his head and looked toward Zaun in the distance.
Perhaps it had begun on the night Viktor left.
Perhaps it had been when he saw Viktor again and could not even defeat the two robots Viktor had built.
So he was no better than the other councilors after all. It was not for Zaun, nor for Piltover. He only wanted to prove to his former partner that he was not weaker than him.
"Mel. What should I do?"
Jayce's voice was full of hesitation. He did not know what the right choice was.
Perhaps future Zaun would surpass Piltover and come for them, but that was the Zaun of the future.
Did they truly have to defy the people's wishes and pour all their strength into subjugating Zaun now, merely to eliminate a threat?
When had Piltover, the symbol of advancement and progress, begun to fear being surpassed?
"Jayce, Medarda is always willing to prepare funding for you to recruit workers. But I need to know what you truly want before I can help you."
Mel stood beside Jayce, took his hand, and watched Zaun across the water with him.
There was concern in her eyes, but even more encouragement for Jayce.
Ryan's involvement meant she no longer had much time to let Jayce grow. She had to break through his unrealistic stubbornness and make him do things that would truly help Piltover.
He was the future she had chosen for Piltover, and she believed this was the best time for him to grow.
Jayce closed his eyes for a long while. In the end, all his thoughts became a sigh. He shook his head, then suddenly opened his eyes.
The confusion had vanished from his gaze.
Piltover
"I had let my inner demons consume me. Piltover has never feared war, but neither will it start one. The best way to prove ourselves is to protect the peace we have now. We cannot turn our people into war machines living on the blade's edge. Otherwise, how would we be any different from the foolish things Piltover once did to Zaun?"
"Do you have a goal now?"
Mel looked at Jayce's face and understood that he had escaped the loop of his stubbornness.
"Piltover owes Zaun much. Their independence is understandable, but we belong to Piltover, and we cannot simply let them cause us trouble. So developing military strength to counter threats is still necessary. But we need a new approach—one that takes advantage of Piltover's strengths as a city of progress."
As he spoke, Jayce's eyes suddenly lit up.
"I have a new idea. I had originally intended to follow Viktor's path of building machines, but this new idea of mine might be even better than his mechanical approach."
"Let's hear it. I'm sure it's a wonderful idea."
Mel smiled and praised him before he could even explain.
"Give every Enforcer new equipment."
Confidence returned to Jayce's face as he spoke enthusiastically.
"Forge weapons capable of handling Hex Gemstones. They could be used for both ranged attacks and close combat. If the Enforcers fought with these new weapons, their combat strength would increase dramatically. And it would not require more manpower—our current craftsmen and academy students would be enough."
"That is a fine idea. Medarda is willing to cover all the expenses for your experiments and make the best weapon for you," Mel promised.
"I already have my own hammer, but as Viktor said before, it is only half-finished. The true finished product should further improve my close-combat strength and might even strengthen my body. Oh, right—the idea behind Viktor's robots was good. Add an electric current to the hammer, and it will be difficult for anyone to get close."
"But if you choose this path, Medarda can only provide funding and material support." Mel looked at him with a smile.
"That will be enough. I remember there is a material we need. What was it called again?"
Jayce stroked his chin and pondered for a while.
Suddenly, he struck his fist into his palm, his face filled with excitement.
"That's it! There is a material called Mercurial Stone. If I can fuse it with a Hex Gemstone and my hammer, then my idea can become reality."
"Mercurial Stone is quite a good name. I will have them keep an eye out for it." Mel teased, "Perhaps your hammer can be called the Mercurial Hammer someday. It will be the exclusive weapon of Jayce, Piltover's guardian, just like Heimerdinger's Apex Turret."
"I had not thought that far ahead, but I need to speed up my progress. I do not want Viktor leaving me too far behind. Oh, and besides weapons, research into Hextech Armor also needs to be put on the agenda. Just imagine it—if every Enforcer wore a Hextech Suit, how safe would they be?"
"Then all the Enforcers would look like big stupid bears." Seeing Jayce brighten up, Mel could not help teasing him.
"Ha ha ha." Jayce placed a hand behind his head. Imagining the scene, he could not hold back his laughter. "Then I will need to design it carefully, so I do not become the big stupid bear leading them in the future."
"At most, you are a bear cub. Learn to walk before you run," Mel reminded him with a smile.
"I know. That is why time waits for no one—we need to start now!"
With that, Jayce took Mel by the hand and jogged toward his laboratory.
His eyes were filled with excitement at competing with his former partner, along with
the determination to protect everything Piltover had now!
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