Since that's the case, then you have no reason to exist. It's just changing a king.

"Damn it! Looking at it this way, the Twin Cities and Noxus are practically no different! Hegemony, this is shameless hegemony!"

Beside the white stone pillar, Tren saw his emperor in a fit of rage, smashing things and roaring, a fleeting look of disappointment in his eyes.

He hesitated for a long time before bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, this matter is not necessarily a bad thing for us. The Twin Cities are forcibly forcing other countries to join them and establishing a federation exclusively for the Twin Cities in Runeterra. This is indeed hegemonic, but I have seen the monsters of the Void. If it is truly as the people of the Twin Cities have investigated, then the Void is indeed Runeterra."

"Get out of here!"

A loud roar interrupted Tren's words.

Tren's lips trembled, blood trickling from his forehead. He looked up and saw the King of Krishia, wearing a jeweled crown, a large belly, and a meticulously groomed beard. The hand that had thrown the object at Tren was adorned with several beautiful diamond rings.

Krishia is a small port country located by the sea, formerly under the jurisdiction of Noxus, situated below the Noxus port city of Basilich, and east of Piltover.

Basilich experienced several rebellions; let's set aside its distant history and focus on its more recent past.

During Darkwill's reign, Basilich experienced several rebellions, the most serious of which was when a one-armed female general of Noxus betrayed Noxus, opened the city gates, and released a large number of slaves and prisoners of war. She was eventually killed by Darius, who was at the height of his power.

The rebellion was quelled, but its consequences included a large number of war slaves and prisoners of war, as well as refugees whose homes were ravaged by the Noxus war. Those who did not want to Noxus gathered together and, in less than a decade, created this small nation.

Darkwill's later years were marked by incompetence and constant infighting among the Noxus military and aristocratic families, which gave Krishia time to develop. By the time Swain came to power, Krishia had already officially declared its independence.

Swain had considered forcibly sending troops to conquer Krishia, but he couldn't resist the fact that the Twin Cities were not far from Krishia.

Therefore, in order to avoid conflict with the Twin Cities, Swain had put the matter aside. And now, having cooperated with Li Ke and established contact, Swain no longer thinks about Krishia.

After all, the resources one could obtain from attacking Krishia were far less than those obtained by doing Li Ke a favor.

Is Noxus lacking land?

Noxus is not short of land; it is the largest country in Valoran by land area, Noxus to several Demacia!

So, is Noxus lacking population?

No, not at all.

Noxus doesn't care about background or origin; it only values talent. As long as you're willing to Noxus and call yourself a Noxians, Noxus will accept you regardless of who you were before.

Therefore, what Noxus ultimately lacks is always supplies, specifically food.

So why Swain need to clash with Li Ke over such an insignificant little country?

This is why Krishia was able to survive among large countries, and now it seems to be doing quite well.

The disappointment in Tren's eyes deepened. He trembled, prostrated himself on the ground, his posture humble, but his tone remained calm and steady. "Your Majesty, I urge you to recognize the situation."

"The Twin Cities are powerful, but not truly domineering. Lord Li Ke made a vow at the meeting that Twin Cities want is unity. We will not be used as cannon fodder on the battlefield, and the Twin Cities will pay us. This is the best time for our nation to become strong."

"Demacia and Noxus, the two great powers that dominate Valoran, have also joined the Federation. After we join, at least we don't have to worry about Noxus's retaliation. In recent years, Noxus has not openly declared war on us, but Noxian Plaza is placed just ten kilometers away from the border of Krishia."

"Join the Federation, Twin Cities will protect us from Noxus's invasion. Your Majesty, I humbly request your permission!" Tren declared loudly.

Upon hearing this, Kri I sneered. He pointed a finger at Tren's face and shouted, "Bullshit! You want me to obey the Twin Cities? Well, I'm curious, if I do that, will Krishia belong to me or to the Twin Cities?"

"This is my country!"

"."

Upon hearing this, Tren looked up at Kri I.

The disappointment in his eyes gradually turned into numbness. He didn't understand why this warrior, who was once chosen by the people to be the King of Krishia and was known for his bravery and justice, had become like this after less than ten years as king.

His muscles turned into fat, his wisdom into foolishness, and his fairness and generosity into selfishness.

What exactly went wrong?

Tren reflected on the past, but could never find the answer.

However, he knew one thing: joining the Twin Cities Federation would be far more beneficial to Krishia than harmful.

Although Tren's own power might be reduced as a result, Tren didn't care.

What he cared about was the future of Krishia; what did the throne, Kri I, or the royal family matter?

These things are absolutely unimportant!

The Twin Cities system led Tren to another direction, and Noxus's reforms also inspired Tren.

Even the Noxian Empire has seen power dispersed; Swain, the wise ruler who dictates Noxus, has never proclaimed himself emperor, but rather controls Noxus as Grand Commander.

The empire no longer has an emperor, so why would Krishia need one?

Etc?

A glint flashed in Tren's eyes. He looked up at Kri I, already having made up his mind.

"Yes, you are not stupid; you have always been very clever," Tren said, standing up to King Kri I.

Kri I paused, anger etched on his fat face. He shouted, "Are you now planning to rebel against me, Duke Tren?"

"How could you possibly be a stupid person? Of course you know Twin Cities, you can't possibly be unaware of the benefits of joining the Federation, and the reason you're doing this now, keeping quiet on the surface but secretly disagreeing, is simply because you're afraid." Tren suddenly laughed.

His smile was full of mockery for the king's cowardice and incompetence. Pointing his finger at Kri I's large face, Tren said loudly, "You're afraid that Krishia will learn from the Twin Cities' system, you're afraid that we'll be influenced by the Twin Cities, you're afraid that your throne will be threatened, you're afraid that Krishia will overthrow the monarchy!"

Ultimately, you're just afraid of losing your position!

"Shut up, shut your mouth!" Enraged that Tren had exposed his secret, Kri I roared, his obese belly bulging as he shouted, "Guards, where the hell are you all?!"

"Guards! Seize Duke Tren! He's been bewitched by the devil! Burn him at the stake! Burn him alive!"

Seeing the furious Kri I, Tren laughed until tears streamed down his face, shouting, "Krishia doesn't belong to you alone! Krishia is what it is today because of the collective effort of all of us; it's not your achievement alone! And your position was also elected by us!"

"Guards! Where have all the people gone?!"

Tren stood upright, letting Kri I yell at him. After seeing the man he had put on the throne in this state, Tren had given up hope.

Kri I was at least partly to blame for becoming what he is today; now that I think about it, it wasn't without warning that things would turn out this way.

He should have nipped this trend in the bud a few years ago, when minor nobles began sending maids to the king.

Kri I was indeed a wise and powerful leader ten years ago. He was good at fighting, listened to advice, and was not jealous, but he had one problem.

That is, Kri I was born into poverty, and when beautiful women, jewels, delicious food and wine became readily available, his mindset changed accordingly. It was extravagance and debauchery that changed him.

And the one who couldn't stop it all

"Come on, let me see how long you can hold onto your throne after I die! Even without the Twin Cities' intervention, the small federal states that voluntarily joined Twin Cities will unite and eliminate Krishia, sending a letter of goodwill to the Twin Cities. You will destroy everything you have now because of your foolishness!"

Strangely, although Kri I had been shouting for at least three minutes, the guards outside the door still hadn't come in.

This puzzled Tren, as did Kri I.

Then, a round of applause rang out from above.

"Slap! Slap!"

The applause was crisp and quiet, yet it struck the hearts of the two people in the room like stones.

Both Tren and Kri I looked up instantly, and saw a figure sitting on a magnificent white pillar above them.

A long leg clad in black leather boots dangled and swayed, and the person was still clapping. Then, a pleasant voice rang out.

"Well said, I admire you, Duke Tren, right?"

As the sound faded, the figure vanished and then reappeared beside Tren.

Tren was startled and instinctively took a step back, but he stumbled and was about to sit on the ground when a hand grabbed his arm and pulled Tren upright with a gentle tug.

Tren is 1.82 meters tall, is much taller than the other person. Judging from the voice and figure, it must be a woman.

"Who are you?" Kri I asked immediately, a flicker of panic in his eyes, then added, "Where are my guards?"

"You mean those weaklings?" A woman's laughter answered Kri I, her voice laced with disdain, followed by a soft, "They're all asleep."

"I gave them a sweet dream," Akali said with a smile.

Tren was taken aback at first, then instantly understood everything, and gritted his teeth as he said, "You're from Twin Cities?"

"The Twin Cities didn't really believe us," he added.

Akali blinked her Big Eyes and nodded at Tren: "You are indeed very smart."

"Li Ke is right. There are always smart people in this world, and smart people will make the right choices."

"Now, please tell me your choice," Akali said calmly, looking at Tren.

Tren glanced at Kri I and saw him trying to escape while the two were talking. Just as Tren was about to shout, the woman beside him waved her arm, and a blur flashed past Tren's eyes.

"Ah!"

Kri I screamed in agony, clutching his fat leg as he collapsed to the ground. A small dagger had pierced his right calf, and blood was pooling around him.

"Tell me your choice, and you will decide whether Krishia has any reason to exist." Akali didn't even look at Kri I.

Even a thousand of these ordinary Valoran wouldn't be enough for Akali to kill.

What kind of people did she deal with before?

They are Noxus's elite troops, magical creatures of Ionia.

She is a super genius who has only appeared once in hundreds of years in the Kinkou Order, and she earned the title of Fist of Shadow at the age of thirteen.

The difference between ordinary people and her level of understanding is too great.

Even so, Akali is not arrogant; she strikes when the time is right—that's Akali's motto.

"His death alone isn't enough," Tren said after a moment's thought.

He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "After his death, his faction will fight for the throne. Although I am a duke, I only have the title and no real power. Moreover, I have already been ostracized by them because I agreed to join the Twin Cities Federation this time."

"That's easy to do."

"Please guide me," Tren said earnestly.

Then, Tren saw the girl in front of him smilingly playing with a strange dagger. He recognized the weapon; it was an Ionia weapon called a kunai.

Playing with her kunai, Akali said with a smile, "Killing them all will just mean giving your little place a new king. I think you'd be perfect for the role."

Akali's answer was Tren's silence.

After a long silence, Tren nodded.

"Good."

At the same time, to the west of Valoran, hundreds of kilometers west of Zaun, lies a small country.

A tall woman in a blue uniform, with her white hair pinned back, walked gracefully into the palace, ignoring the kneeling man before her.

Behind her lay a field of wounded soldiers, their cries of agony filling the air; some had lost arms, others legs.

The blood flowed incessantly, the scene was horrific, but interestingly, none of them died.

The woman lifted her leg again, and what she raised was a huge, long blade, its tip piercing through the ornate carpet on the ground. She spoke coldly:

"Now, give me your answer, El III."

"You, you can't do this!"

"What about us?" Camille tilted her head slightly, her synthetic pupils flashing with indifference.

Her voice was icy, and with a slight exertion of her full, human-like thighs, she nimbly wielded her long blade, aiming it at the old man before her.

"We've already given you a chance. Even if you were just going through the motions of joining the Federation without putting in any real effort, we could accept that. But how dare you secretly contact other countries and attempt to use public opinion to resist?"

"I've said it before, if you're a good person for too long, others will easily treat you like a pig, but he never believed it. But now it seems he doesn't just believe it; he understands this principle. However, he's still willing to give you a chance."

Camille's coldness lessened considerably, and her tone softened.

Li Ke is indeed genuinely kind.

But it was also truly foolish.

"What a foolish choice."

The old man before her was silent and trembling, Camille seemed to be losing her patience.

"I know your answer. People get old, but their greed doesn't diminish."

"If that's the case, then you have no reason to exist."

"It's nothing more than changing the king."

Camille spoke in a cool, indifferent voice.

Even so, before she kicked out, she seemed to have thought of something, and changed the angle of her kick in mid-air. Instead of pointing the blade tip at the old man's neck, she used a change of direction kick, striking the old man unconscious with the thicker side of the blade.

Never mind

He already felt guilty for doing such a thing, although Camille and Silco both thought that Li Ke's actions were too womanly and foolish, because that's not how you be a good person.

When faced with momentous events, what choice do these people have?

This is a world war, not a local war, and it is not child's play.

But, that's what they say about Li Ke. However, neither Silco nor Camille would want Li Ke to change.

Li Ke is just like that.

It is precisely because Li Ke is a person like this that Twin Cities has achieved its current level of development.

I wonder how well that girl did.

Tsk, no matter what, Camille won't lose to her.

After all, she was Piltover's chief secret agent, with decades of experience that a little girl's ten years of experience couldn't possibly match!