"Stop!"
Donna raised a hand and shouted loudly, a sudden outburst that stopped the Winter's Claw tribe members surrounding Li Ke from their actions.
Even so, this group stared at Li Ke like wolves, drawing all sorts of weapons, and their mounts roared.
Li Ke ignored this, with one arm around Jinx's shoulder and the other firmly pressing down on the Drüvask Boar.
Donna glanced at Vana beneath her, who was making terrified cries, then looked at Li Ke and calmly said, "No wonder you dared to come to Freljord with just two people. It seems John was fooled by you. How could someone like you just come to Freljord for tourism?"
"Tell me, who exactly are you?"
Donna dismounted from the wild boar and looked at Li Ke, her footsteps echoing in the snow.
Seeing that Donna actually intended to communicate with him, Li Ke released his grip on the Drüvask Boar.
As soon as Li Ke raised his hand, the huge wild boar kicked its hooves forcefully, then hid behind Donna, burying its large head. It dared not look at Li Ke again.
Li Ke, who frequently interacted with Ahri and Kindred Ahri, had long since acquired their scent. This scent was difficult for humans to detect, but for wild beasts like the Drüvask Boar, whose ancestors were Deity, it was readily apparent. In particular Kindred, when the boar named Vana made eye contact with Li Ke just now, it sensed an irresistible aroma.
There are many kinds of that dangerous smell in Freljord.
"Zaunite," Li Ke said, looking at Donna.
"Zaunite?" Donna sneered, reaching behind her back for her weapon as she said, "Vana's sudden anger is probably because she smelled a familiar and repulsive odor on you. And the only ones who can make Vana so enraged are the Noxians have hurt her in the past."
"You say you're from Zaunite? But to the eye of my eye, you're clearly a Noxians."
Li Ke was taken aback, then turned his head to look at the wild boar behind Donna.
Actually, if it weren't for the conversation between Winter's Claw and the caravan that changed Li Ke's opinion of Winter's Claw, and if it weren't for Jinx's rash charge that angered the boar, leading to the boar's attack on Jinx...
There's really nothing for Li Ke and Winter's Claw to talk about; they should just fight. It's not that Li Ke hates Winter's Claw, but rather that Li Ke came to Freljord to rescue Darius.
He and Swain are currently in a cooperative relationship, while Noxus and Winter's Claw are enemies. Under these circumstances, Li Ke would naturally favor Swain.
However, Li Ke is a reasonable person. The relationship between Winter's Claw and the caravan was one of mutual consent. Judging from John's attitude, the Freljord caravans were indeed under the protection of Winter's Claw.
Freljord is a chaotic place, with various tribes vying for power. Apart from Ashe's Avarosan Tribe, the other tribes don't even consider the concept of order. Fighting and seizing are the only ways for tribes to communicate.
To put it simply, Li Ke felt that if the Noxians were barbarians, then the Freljord were primitives.
In this most primitive and savage place in Runeterra, Li Ke cannot use his own thinking to judge the behavior of the locals.
Another point is that it was indeed Jinx's bewildered rush to greet them that caused the boar riot. Not to mention, looking back now, Donna's earlier rude act of telling Jinx to get out of the way was actually to protect Jinx.
When Vana lost control, her first instinct was to subdue Vana, but she failed.
That's why Li Ke subdued the wild boar instead of killing it directly.
Li Ke has always been a rather mild-mannered person; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to tolerate Jinx.
He Jinx, likes Jinx, and dotes on Jinx.
However, it must be said that Jinx's temper is really not something that ordinary people can tolerate. Just as many viewers who watched Twin Cities said, in the anime, they would like Jinx and feel sorry for Jinx, but if they really encountered someone like Jinx in the real world, even if Jinx is as beautiful as an angel, everyone's first thought would be to run away.
Who would want to spend their life with a mentally ill person?
But Li Ke was willing, so Li Ke remembered what he had said to Jinx before, and he himself felt it was very likely.
Jinx is the little madwoman of Zaun, Li Ke is the big madwoman of Zaun.
Li Ke had always known one thing: his enemy was not the Noxians, nor the Freljord, nor the Demacia.
From beginning to end, Li Ke was preparing for the future. When he was weaker, he wouldn't have thought this way. After all, if the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up. If the Void really invaded Runeterra one day, then it would be the big shots like Lissandra, Ornn, Azir, and Ryze who would solve the problem. And if Mordekaiser really returned, then it would be LeBlanc and Swain have a headache.
However, as his strength increased, the number of people he needed to protect also increased, and Li Ke changed his previous ideas.
He began to take on some responsibilities. From the day he was called the Lord of Zaun by the Zaunite, he carried the future of countless people on his shoulders. Therefore, Li Ke was secretly planning a big event.
First Bilgewater, then Ionia, and now Noxus— so why can't they cooperate with Freljord in the future?
The first thing to do when an alliance is formed and established is to communicate.
"I did come from Noxus, but I'm not Noxians." Li Ke looked at Donna and continued calmly and sincerely, "My name is Li Ke, I'm from Zaun, and I came to Freljord to find someone."
"Looking for someone?" Donna looked at Li Ke and narrowed her eyes.
She withdrew her hand from the weapon, looked at Li Ke, and met Li Ke eyes. Donna found herself somewhat willing to believe this guy?
It was strange, but Donna had to admit that her hostility towards the other person had lessened somewhat, though she still asked warily, "Who are you looking for?"
"Darius, a Noxians," Li Ke said.
John, who was behind him, was terrified when he heard this. He even regretted taking in Li Ke and Jinx in the first place.
Saying you're looking for Noxians in front of Winter's Claw?
Is this kid trying to get us all killed?
As expected, after hearing Li Ke's words, Donna had just begun to feel a little better about Li Ke and her hostility had lessened, sneered again.
A hint of anger flashed across her pretty face as she glared at Li Ke and said in a deep voice, "You said to my face that you were coming to Freljord to find a Noxians? You don't know what's happened between Noxus and us, do you?"
"I know, but it doesn't conflict with what I'm doing." Li Ke shook his head, then looked at Donna and said with a smile:
"I came to Freljord on the orders of the Noxus Grand Marshal to find someone. The war between Noxus and the Winter's Claw is over. Noxus was defeated, and you are the victors. But keeping those prisoners would be detrimental to you, wouldn't it?"
"I don't think you have any extra food for them, and they're not going to do anything for you anyway. They're always thinking about sabotage and escape. In that case, you might as well release them."
"Ridiculous!" Donna snapped, one hand on her hip, the other pointing at Li Ke's face. "You may be strong, and the dozen or so of us might not be able to do anything to you, but what do you take the Winter's Claw for?"
"You started the war, but when it ends is not up to you, but up to our Warmother!"
"Wait a minute, I haven't finished yet." Li Ke recalled the joyful expression on the faces of the Winter's Claw warriors when they took away the food, and continued with a smile, "Noxus, as the defeated party, naturally has to pay a corresponding price to get back its prisoners. For this, I am willing to make a deal on Noxians and the Winter's Claw."
"A deal?" Donna frowned.
"Yes, a trade." Li Ke nodded, spreading his hands, and continued, "You're short of food, aren't you? And I happen to have plenty. We'll trade Noxians you've captured, one Noxians for..." Li Ke held out his hand to Donna, raising one finger.
Donna's eyes lit up immediately upon seeing this, "One Noxians for ten pounds of food?"
If that's true, then Donna has really done a great job!
As Li Ke said, the Noxians couldn't withstand the cold of Freljord. After the Winter's Claw captured them, they certainly didn't treat them well. They were given barely enough food to fill their stomachs and then made to do hard labor to help the Winter's Claw set up camp in the harsh winter.
The Winter's Claw are a nomadic tribe, but every winter they also choose to camp, because food is scarce in Winter's Claw, and the elderly and weak in the tribe cannot withstand the cold and long journeys, so staying for the winter is a necessary thing to do.
Those Noxians are damned! They're utterly useless. Not only are they afraid of the cold, but they also don't work hard. The Warmother doesn't care about their lives at all. Those who die from exhaustion are thrown into the frozen ground, and those who starve to death are treated the same way. What, why not feed them to the mounts?
That won't do. Mounts that have eaten people cannot be kept, because wild beasts that have eaten people will attack people again. Therefore, keeping those creatures in the tribe is really not of much benefit to the tribe.
But if it could be used to exchange for food...
Each person needs ten pounds of grain, and the tribe currently has at least four hundred Noxus soldiers, which means over four thousand pounds of grain!
With the caravan's grain, plus the more than four thousand catties of grain that can be exchanged, Winter's Claw will truly not have to suffer through this winter!
Thinking of this, Donna immediately prepared to speak, agreeing to the deal on behalf of her Warmother.
Donna wasn't an ordinary warrior within Winter's Claw; she was being trained by Sejuani to be a general, and therefore, she had the authority to release Noxus prisoners.
After all, Sejuani looked down on those Noxians.
The Noxus general brought a group of men to fight in Freljord, but in reality, the Warmother didn't even show up. The one who defeated Noxus was Winter's Claw.
Yes, one division defeated Noxus.
But the next moment, the black-haired youth in front of her shook his head with a chuckle and said, "It's one hundred jin."
"A Noxians can be exchanged for a hundred pounds of grain, but if you give me the man I'm looking for, you can get two thousand pounds of grain."
"How much, how much?" Donna's mouth dropped open.
Beside her, the other Winter's Claw warriors stared wide-eyed at Li Ke, their faces filled with disbelief.
"Are you serious? You're not joking?" Donna instantly stepped in front of Li Ke.
She had kept her distance from Li Ke earlier because the man was too strong. If she got too close, he would grab her. Given the strength he had used to subdue Vana, Donna had no doubt that this man possessed the strength to tear her apart with his bare hands.
But now, after hearing what this person had just said, Donna had forgotten about her own safety and walked straight up to him.
"Can you really give us that much food?" Donna's tone was filled with hope, even longing.
Li Ke looked at the other person and was taken Li Ke when he saw that the other person was looking at him with pleading eyes.
Then, he nodded and said, "Let me introduce myself again. My name is Li Ke, I'm from Zaun, and I also have another name."
Li Ke paused, then smiled and said, "Lord of Zaun."
"The Lord of Zaun?!" It was John who spoke. He exclaimed and looked at Li Ke, his beard trembling and his face full of shock.
Donna looked at John, John, noticing Donna gaze, quickly bowed and said, "If what he said is true, if he really is the Lord of Zaun, then... he really can provide the Winter's Claw with so much food."
John had barely finished speaking when Donna grabbed Li Ke's hand.
She gripped Li Ke's hand tightly with both of hers, her face beaming with joy.
"Hey!" Jinx exclaimed, clearly displeased.
He raised his hands together and then slashed down, separating Donna's hand from Li Ke Donna's. He then stood beside Li Ke, looking at Donna with displeasure.
"I'm sorry, I... I lost my composure." Donna took a deep breath and gave Li Ke a fawning smile, completely losing her previous cold demeanor and no longer resembling a warrior.
Can a warrior's pride, even when joking, feed the people of his tribe?
Can a soldier's pride ensure the safety of the elderly and children during the winter?
Cannot!
For the Freljord people, food is everything, it is the most important thing.
Now, a wealthy man from outland is bringing endless food to the Winter's Claw, and Winter's Claw need to do is release those foolish and weak Noxians.
No, what's the difference between this and giving it away for free?
Forget about a warrior's pride; if Li Ke could really give Winter's Claw that much food, Donna would kneel down before Li Ke!
The girl, even younger Jinx, rubbed her hands together shyly and said, "My name is Donna. I was originally from the Frostwolf Clan, and now I am a warrior of the Winter's Claw."
"I... I'll take you to see our Warmother right now. This is no longer something I can decide. You must come with me to the Winter's Claw tribe to see our Warmother."
She spoke urgently to Li Ke Kedao.
Looking at Donna's appearance, Li Ke felt both amused and somewhat sentimental.
The Freljord are undoubtedly among the most powerful people in Runeterra.
This can be seen from Darius's defeat when he led his army to attack Freljord, failing to even see Sejuani, and Sylas's invasion of Demacia with the help of Winter's Claw, where he ended up fighting until Galio had to intervene.
Freljord is teeming with superheroes and monsters.
But these superheroes and monsters are troubled by one thing—food.
They were incredibly powerful, yet incredibly poor.
A thousand kilograms of food is nothing to Li Ke, because Zaun's fishing boats near Bilgewater can catch thousands or even tens of thousands of kilograms of fish meat in a single trip. When the Hextech cannons are used to shoot down the sea monsters, that's tens of tons of fish meat.
However, what is a small matter for Zaun is an extremely important matter for Winter's Claw.
Donna thought sending the Noxians was a small matter, but didn't Li Ke think sending food was a small matter as well?
And now he can go directly to see Sejuani, something Li Ke never expected.
Thinking of this, Li Ke couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Technology has truly changed our lives!