Zaun only took three days to expel Noxians from Zaun territory, while Piltover took longer because the business between Zaun and these Noxians was usually just a seller-buyer relationship.
Noxians come to Zaun to buy resources and weapons, Zaun would sell them back. That was the only connection they had. After all, Zaun used to have nothing that Noxus would be interested in, except for its strange and unusual weapons.
However, Piltover is different. Piltover and Noxus have various business ties, not just simple buying and selling relationships. Many of these relationships involve investors and those being invested in. Therefore, if Piltover wants to drive out the Noxians, it will take a long time of wrangling, and the compensation payments will be substantial.
Although Silco felt that since Piltover had already chosen to do this, why bother showing any consideration to the Noxians?
Isn't this like taking off your pants to fart? Isn't this just making trouble out of nothing?
However, Renata rejected Silco's idea. Although Piltover could indeed avoid paying back the goods or breach of contract fees to the Noxus merchants and simply drive them away, since war had already been officially declared.
This would save them a considerable amount of money, but it would also damage Piltover's reputation.
Renata is a genius businesswoman. She didn't inherit her family's alchemy, but she mastered the art of alchemy on her own. She is naturally gifted in business; in Zaun, she uses Zaun's methods, and in Piltover, she uses Piltover's methods.
Her business methods differ depending on the location. From Piltover's perspective, Renata believes that Piltover is indeed a technological city-state now, but before the advent of Hextech, Piltover was a trading city-state.
Its means of livelihood and the way it accumulated wealth all relied on maritime trade and transportation. It cannot be said that it abandoned the means of survival it once relied on after acquiring new technologies and methods.
After all, the tech products Piltover makes need to find a market, right?
As a result, it took a full half month for Piltover to meet with not a single Noxus merchant.
The Twin Cities haven't officially announced a break in relations with Noxus, but having learned of this and observed the recent actions of the Twin Cities towards smaller cities and states, everyone knows that Valoran's future is about to change.
Once a jewel of trade, it is no longer content to merely serve as a commercial transit point for various city-states; it now formally intends to take center stage on the Valoran Continent and flex its muscles.
Interestingly, Noxus hasn't made a single move in response. Just as Mel said, the Noxians simply don't have time to deal with the two cities right now. Perhaps in Darkwill's eyes, Piltover and Zaun combined are nothing more than small bugs that the Raiz Guard Army can easily wipe out in one wave.
Therefore, Noxus continued its conquests, ignoring the provocative actions of the "little bug" from the Twin Cities.
The little insects also stayed hidden in the shadows, evolving rapidly at a speed unimaginable to the Noxians.
At the end of February, Jayce arrived at the Zaun council building this afternoon.
With a smile on his face, he looked at Li Ke and Silco and said, "Although we haven't been able to capture all the War Masons in the city-state yet, Mel thinks our two cities should hold a banquet."
"It's time for the top brass of Zaun and Piltover to meet. We need to get to know each other, right?"
Jayce is here to relay a message for Mel.
Hosting the banquet was Mel's idea, firstly to solidify the relationship between the two cities. The two cities are now cooperating not only economically but also militarily; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they are essentially one entity.
Although the Zaunite didn't mention it, and the people of Piltover didn't have the nerve to say that the people of the two cities were one family, everyone tacitly understood the situation.
They shared the same Deity, had a common culture, and now faced a powerful enemy abroad. These factors, in a way, brought the people of the two cities together.
Moreover, Zaun does need Piltover's financial resources, and Piltover also needs Zaun's trust.
The second reason was that Mel wanted to show the War Masons still in Piltover how the current relationship between Piltover and Zaun had completely bound the two cities together in Noxus's eyes.
Make Piltover heavier!
"Where is it?" Silco asked.
"Blue Smoke Estate, that's the estate behind the Piltover Parliament Building."
"Oh, that rich neighborhood, Li Ke, I went there when I was little," Jinx said, looking at Li Ke.
Li Ke searched his memory and then realized he had never been there. He asked, "Then why haven't I been there?"
"You were hanging out with Malson back then, so Vi definitely wouldn't have taken you along," Jinx said.
She did visit Blue Smoke Estate when she was little; Wei took her there, saying they were going to get some valuable stuff. Unfortunately, manors in wealthy areas aren't so easy to enter.
In the end, Vi could only slink away with Jinx.
"I think it's feasible. I've never been to a high-society party before," Li Ke said after thinking for a moment. He looked at Jinx and asked, "Do you want to go?"
"I'm a little tempted, but also a little reluctant," Jinx said after thinking for a moment.
Seeing Li Ke tilting his head to look at her, Jinx explained, "I also want to see what they eat at their banquet, hear their music, and watch their dancing, um. But I don't have anything suitable to wear for that occasion. Won't I embarrass myself if I go?"
"Jinx, anyone who dares to say anything to you, I'll rip their head off," Vander said from the side.
Jinx's style has always prioritized comfort and convenience. She occasionally wears dresses now, but rarely. She usually opts for cargo pants and denim jackets, an outfit that doesn't suit her personality and temperament at high-society events.
Silco smiled and looked at Jayce, saying, "Vander's idea is also mine. We can go up and attend this dinner to discuss the future development of the two cities and talk about business opportunities. But if anyone can't keep their mouth shut, then our mouths will only get dirtier."
"I understand, but no, I've been in Zaun for so long already, how come you treat me like this after I've only been back for a short time?" Jayce said helplessly, spreading his hands and sounding a little aggrieved.
Jayce then spoke:
"Actually, the dinner party in Piltover wasn't that interesting. It was just a bunch of well-dressed guys wearing expensive jewelry, elegantly eating and drinking to soothing music, then wandering around with glasses of wine they barely touched, chatting with other pretentious people, talking about business all the time."
Jayce said with a mocking smile, "So, to be honest, I'd actually prefer attending a dinner party in Zaun, where everyone gathers together, eating roasted meat with their hands, drinking heavily, playing drinking games, that's what a real party is all about!"
"However, you should still go and take a look. After all, it's always good to experience new things, isn't it?" Jayce said to Silco.
"What about time?"
"You can enter at 5 PM tomorrow, and it will officially start at 7 PM."
"You can come at 6:30 p. m.," Jayce said.
After saying goodbye to Li Ke, he returned to Piltover alone.
After Jayce left, the Zaun council members started chatting.
"To be honest, I used to really want to sneak into one of those Piltover dinners. I heard they have lobsters, lamb chops, steaks and stuff like that on their tables," Scar swallowed and said.
Auntie Marna's eyes sparkled. "Can I meet the actors in that musical? I've been to a few musicals with Caitlyn and Vie recently, and I've fallen for one of the actresses."
"Oh, children, don't be nervous." Heimerdinger clapped his hands, stood up and said, "I've attended countless banquets. If you have any questions, just ask me."
"Councilor Heimerdinger, what kind of clothes do you think we should wear?" Marna asked quickly.
Heimerdinger looked at her and laughed, saying, "My child, you just need to wear whatever you think looks best."
"Heimerdinger is right, everyone should just wear what they like," Silco said, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.
"We are equals with the Piltover people. They invited us to the banquet, and what we wear is our freedom. We don't need to please or cater to them."
"Okay, let's leave work early today, and we'll have a half-day off tomorrow. Everyone, get ready."
Silco smiled, clapped his hands, and announced the end of the meeting.
Li Ke and Jinx were the first to run out of the Capitol together, leaving a group of newly-standing members watching their retreating figures.
Marna suddenly muttered, "I have something to say, when are they planning to get married?"
Silco was taken aback, a complex look appearing in his eyes, while Vander beside him also looked conflicted.
Jinx / Jinx is getting married.
So, who will be Jinx's father and attend the wedding?
Without realizing it, the congressman shivered and suddenly felt a chill.
Then, Scar discovered the reason, reached out and tugged at Marna's shoulder, gesturing for Marna to look in a certain direction.
Marna looked over.
Then, Silco and Vander stared at each other, and a chill emanated from them.
"Let's go too," Marna said quickly.
"I need to buy some clothes, Jinx, can you help me?"
"I want to buy cosmetics later too!"
"Cosmetics? Do you even know how to apply makeup?"
"With my drawing skills, makeup is a piece of cake, isn't it?"
"That's true. So what are you planning to wear tomorrow night? Jeans and black pants again?"
"I won't tell you, you'll find out tomorrow night~"
As they walked toward the market in Zaun, Li Ke and Jinx chatted.
A dinner party.
Li Ke's first thought was naturally a suit, but he felt that his congressman's attire was also quite good. The white shirt had a beautiful white petal on the chest, and the dark black trousers were a classic combination of black, white, and gray.
However, what Li Ke was most concerned about was what Jinx would wear.
Thinking about tomorrow, hey, you know what, Li Ke is actually getting a little excited now.