At dawn, dozens of Hex Airship docked one after another on Piltover's huge circular platform, with Piltover's law enforcement officers standing on both sides of the platform.
Chief of the Enforcement Bureau, Marcus, stood solemnly in the middle of the line in his uniform. For the past three days, the Hex Airship been shut down, and ordinary citizens and businesses could no longer use them.
This naturally caused considerable opposition, since most merchants rely on Hex Airship to sell their goods, and for them to lose access to these devices for even a day would be a huge loss.
Not only merchants, but also the noble class of Piltover, and even in cities outside the Twin Cities, many people now rely on Hex Airship for their livelihood.
The local guides in Freljord and Shurima, far away, certainly had their complaints, but what could they do about it?
What can we do?
When Twin Cities announced the reason for discontinuing the Hex Airship today, all dissenting voices vanished. Some wisely chose to keep quiet in the face of the prevailing trend, while others persisted in speaking out against the injustice done to Twin Cities, but their voices were drowned out by even more voices.
Thinking about it carefully, the Hex Airship originally belonged to the Twin Cities. The Twin Cities could give it to whomever they wanted. The Talis family controlled this huge gold-making machine, and the nobles of Piltover kept quiet since they hadn't used it. They watched the Hex Airship operate for three Big Eyes without making any money, so how could outsiders possibly criticize them?
"Line up!"
A Hex Airship was parked in front of Marcus. The Hex Airship was painted white, depicting a majestic white lion. It was a Hex Airship exclusively for Demacia's use, and Demacia had purchased it for over 300 kilograms of Petricite.
Mel and Jarvan III made a deal: Mel purchased Petricite from Demacia and, in return, granted Demacia the right to use a Hex Airship. Of course, the airship would still be operated by technicians from both cities. After all, Demacia are fine for fighting, but operating sophisticated instruments requires considerable training.
"Snap!"
With their hands behind their backs, all the law enforcement officers stood straight, legs apart, eyes fixed straight ahead, chests out and heads held high. The officers varied in height, making it impossible to select soldiers of the same height and build as in Noxus and Demacia.
However, the aura emanating from these law enforcement officers was in no way inferior to that of the elite troops of the two great empires.
The Twin Cities' status in Runeterra has instilled confidence in the enforcers. The Twin Cities now surpass any empire or city-state, and the spirit of the enforcers in the Twin Cities is naturally different from before.
The current law enforcement officers do not consider themselves inferior to anyone.
You're really good at fighting?
Can you break through the Hextech Shield that Ekko created?
You're really good at fighting?
Can you withstand a headshot from a fully charged Hextech Spear?
Cannot,
And you,
Are you kidding me?
As a result, the law enforcement officers in both cities seem somewhat arrogant at the moment.
Until Marcus shouted, "Welcome to His Majesty King Jarvan III of Demacia on his visit to Piltover and Zaun!"
The officers quickly followed, repeating Marcus's words and shouting loudly.
As the outer magical barrier of the Hex Airship closed, a tall man with white hair tied back and wearing golden armor appeared on the Hex Airship.
Jarvan III, clad in armor, though aged in appearance, was strong and robust. His lips, framed by a white beard, moved as he spoke in a clear voice, "Thank you for your warm hospitality, everyone in Piltover."
As soon as the words fell, Jarvan III took a step forward, and two figures immediately followed him on the left and right; they were Tianna and Xin Zhao Jarvan III.
Behind Tianna and Xin Zhao stood a man with a resolute face, a burly build, and a crew cut. Judging from his eyes alone, they were very similar to those of a blonde girl who was playing in Zaun, except that his expression was cold and his eyes lacked the girl's liveliness.
"This way, Your Majesty Jarvan III." Marcus stepped forward to greet him, gave a brief self-introduction, and calmly said, "The councilors are currently waiting for you in the conference building."
Upon hearing this, Tianna frowned but said nothing.
Xin Zhao remained silent, ignoring all diplomatic affairs; his only responsibilities were the safety of Jarvan III and some internal royal matters.
The old emperor nodded with a smile in response to Marcus's words. He was completely different from the man in the Demacia royal garden. In the back garden, Jarvan III was unkempt and looked old, but now, traveling Twin Cities, his eyes were clear and bright, and his beard and hair were carefully groomed, revealing a face with wrinkles, yet very naturally handsome.
Calling him an old man is less accurate than describing him as a middle-aged man, and Jarvan III's actions at this moment are just like those of a friendly neighborhood uncle.
He patted Director Marcus on the shoulder with a friendly gesture and said, "Then I won't disturb your work any longer. Just have a little guy show us the way. The Noxus airship is just behind us; you still have to entertain them."
Marcus paused for a moment. He had originally planned to greet Jarvan III and take him to the conference building.
After all, he couldn't quite understand why the councilors didn't personally come to greet Jarvan III; after all, the man before him was one of the most noble people on the Valoran Continent.
Seeing Marcus in a daze, Jarvan III joked, "Swain isn't as easy to talk to as I am. He's a tough soldier, and his style is different from mine."
Jarvan III patted Marcus on the shoulder again and led the group toward the elevator. Although he appeared calm, Jarvan III was actually in great turmoil.
This was his first time in the Twin Cities. As the Hex Airship lined up to land, Jarvan III looked out over Piltover and Zaun from the deck, and the shock he felt was indescribable.
That continent that stretches from Zaun to Shurima
Twin Cities truly spanned the ocean, connecting two continents and creating a new land!
Those strange and unusual buildings, and the densely packed, ant-like processions, all deeply impressed Jarvan III.
The Twin Cities had indeed taken the lead in the world. While Jarvan III was shocked, he also felt that his choice was wise.
Having abandoned old ideas and conservative choices, this Demacia, often criticized by outsiders for being old-fashioned and conservative, actually sees things further ahead than Noxus.
"Take a good look, Garen. You will be stationed here permanently as Demacia's diplomatic ambassador to the Twin Cities."
At the front of the procession, a burly young man who had been silently following along heard the old emperor's voice, took two steps forward, and bowed respectfully.
"Yes, I will." Garen Crownguard answered seriously, his body tense.
Seeing this, Jarvan III laughed and shook his head, saying, "No need to be so nervous."
"Fiora told me that Lux is doing very well in Zaun and has made many new friends. It's not that I don't value you anymore. I know very well your relationship with my son. You will be his sword and shield, just like I am with your aunt."
Tianna smiled slightly, her fingers lightly tracing the hilt of her sword.
She rarely smiled, but Tianna felt honored to hear the old emperor speak like that.
She joined the army in her teens and became Jarvan III's bodyguard before she was even twenty. Despite her youthful appearance and beauty, Tianna is actually approaching fifty.
Garen and Jarvan IV of Tianna and Jarvan III, and the Crownguard Family will be the Confidant of the Lightshield family for generations.
Although what happened with Lux was indeed a pity.
"Let's go see Li Ke." Jarvan III walked at the front, completely unconcerned about the stares of passersby, and said loudly with a smile, "I've only ever heard of him, but this is the first time I've ever met him."
When Jarvan III arrived at the Piltover Conference Building, many leaders of small countries were already there, as were the Freljord.
To Jarvan III's surprise, the Freljord seated at the head of the table was someone he didn't recognize—neither Ashe, the leader of Avarosa, nor Sejuani, the Warmother of Winter's Claw.
Instead, she was a woman with soft white hair, tied in a knot at the back of her head, and her eyes were closed.
Her face was small, her skin as white as snow, and a scar around her eye added a unique charm to her.
At the very front, seated was a young man with black hair. Behind him stood a woman with short red hair, dressed in the gray-black uniform of an enforcer, and another Vastaya wearing the same uniform.
"Welcome to Twin Cities, Your Majesty Jarvan III." The black-haired youth smiled upon seeing Jarvan III, rose, and waved.
With just one glance, Jarvan III recognized him. Although he had never met Li Ke before, rumors about him were everywhere in Runeterra, and his footprints had covered the entire Runeterra.
Shurima, Ionia, Freljord, Noxus, Bilgewater all have his stories. According to legend, he was handsome, slender, and had black hair, a typical Ionia appearance.
And now it seems that the rumors about Jarvan III were not wrong.
He did look very thin; any soldier you randomly picked from the Demacia army camp would be stronger than him. He had a gentle demeanor that made people unconsciously want to get close to him, which surprised Jarvan III.
Having lived half his life as the ruler of a nation and weathered many storms, Jarvan III no longer judged a person based on their appearance, much less showed any goodwill towards someone based on their looks.
But he has to admit that he now does have a favorable impression of Li Ke.
As for black-haired people, they're everywhere. There are Ionia in the Twin Cities right now, so isn't there a possibility of mistaken identity?
Ha, what a joke! Look at who's sitting in these seats.
To Li Ke's left is Silco, the person in charge of Zaun's external affairs, and to his right is Jayce Talis, the most powerful man in Piltover. Mugs with his portrait are currently selling very well in Demacia, after all, Jayce is considered very handsome by Demacia.
Talented, wealthy, physically strong, and handsome, this kind of man is the object of many noble ladies in Demacia.
Further to the side was Mel, who frequently corresponded with Jarvan III. Then came Lissandra, and behind her stood two women: a tall woman with white hair, exuding a wild beauty, and a shorter, more beautiful woman with an oval face, also with white hair.
Jarvan III's eyes flickered; he seemed to have realized something.
Are they Sejuani and Ashe?
But why are they both standing?
Isn't Freljord ruled by these two sisters?
"Come, please sit down. Wait a moment, Swain will be here soon. After he arrives, we'll have to wait for one more person," Li Ke said with a smile, extending his hand.
Jarvan III nodded with a smile and said, "We arrived around the same time; he should be on his way now."
The old emperor didn't ask who would come after Swain, since at the moment, Freljord, Noxus, and Demacia were enough.
As he spoke, Jarvan III sat down opposite the unfamiliar, white-haired woman with her eyes closed. Although his gaze didn't fall on her, Jarvan III's attention remained fixed on her.
He wasn't interested in women, so what attracted Jarvan III was her mysterious identity.
Then, Jarvan III casually asked, "Li Ke, may I ask who this gentleman is?"
"Lissandra, Freljord."
"I don't recognize that name. The two behind her, if I'm not mistaken, should be the two Warmother Sejuani and Ashe, right?"
Li Ke smiled and nodded, saying, "It's definitely them."
"I know what you want to ask, but as you can see, the real power in Freljord is Ms. Lissandra, who is sitting right here," Silco said quietly from the side.
His understanding of Lissandra came from Li Ke and Janna; the former said that Lissandra had lived for tens of thousands of years, and the latter said that he was far weaker than Lissandra.
Therefore, Silco had great respect for Lissandra, especially since he had heard many stories about Silco from Jinx.
This is Li Ke's capable assistant, who has done many things for Li Ke and has also saved and helped Jinx.
Naturally, even disregarding the other party's strength and status, Jinx alone was enough for Silco to respect Lissandra.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Behind Li Ke, Wei and Scar exchanged a glance. Scar Nunu and turned his head to look to the side.
Wei sighed and said loudly, "Come in!"
As soon as the voice faded, the door was pushed open, and a tall, thin man in a black trench coat walked in.
Military boots, gloves, meticulously combed white hair, and spotless clothes— Swain was followed by only one person, an old acquaintance from Twin Cities.
She winked at Vi when she came in, and then, when she saw Garen standing behind Jarvan III, she raised an eyebrow and smiled.
It's Katarina.
"I think I've arrived at just the right time," Swain he walked in.
"Indeed, come, please sit beside His Majesty the King." Li Ke smiled and nodded, gesturing with his hand.
Swain didn't stand on ceremony and led Katarina to the old emperor's side, where they sat down.
"There's one more person missing. Oh, she's already here."
As Li Ke spoke, his expression turned strange.
Everyone looked at Li Ke, unsure of his meaning. The door was open, but Jarvan III was nowhere to be seen.
But Swain suddenly caught his breath, and then instantly let his guard down.
"Wei, could you please open the window?"
"Fine, fine, you can boss me around then," Wei grumbled, walking past Scar to the window and pressing a button.
With a click, the window opened upwards, followed by the visible dissolution of the blue magical barrier.
As everyone looked, a rainbow-colored bridge suddenly appeared.
The next moment, a strange green light flashed, and two figures appeared on the rainbow bridge.
In the blink of an eye, the two figures entered the room.
A young woman with black hair, wearing red leather armor and a spirit blade floating on her back, stood beside a dark-skinned woman in green priestly robes with two spirit dragons on her back.
"Irelia, thank you for coming," Li Ke said, rising to greet her.
As soon as he finished speaking, Jarvan III's expression turned strange, as did Xin Zhao and Tianna.
Jarvan III looked at the girl, who was about the same age as Lux, with a look of shock in his eyes, as did Tianna.
Irelia
A few years ago, in a military report that passed through Demacia 'Tianna hands, there was a detailed account of an event from the Noxian-Ionian War. After learning about it, Tianna specifically informed Jarvan III.
And that report recorded --
A fourteen-year-old Ionia girl fought against a hundred men on the battlefield, personally severing the arm of the Noxus officer leader and leading the resistance to end the Noxian-Ionian War.
How old is she?
Tianna's life story is legendary enough. She became a sword captain of the Dauntless Vanguard at a young age and the Grand Marshal of Demacia before reaching middle age, commanding the army. But what was she doing at fourteen?
Practicing swordsmanship, learning to ride a horse
What was Lux doing when she was fourteen?
No, we're all human, so why is there such a huge difference?
Of course, Li Ke had no idea what Jarvan III was thinking, but seeing Irelia and Swain appearing in the same place did indeed amuse Li Ke.
Right now, Swain is mimicking Lissandra by closing his eyes and pretending not to hear anything, sitting there quietly, which is really funny.
You have to understand, if he really didn't care, given Swain's personality and character, he wouldn't have acted this way at all, because it would have been impolite.
As for Irelia, she's in an awkward situation right now.
At once.
Irelia: Can anyone tell me what to say when I'm sitting down and talking to the person whose arm I cut off? I need an answer urgently!
"Alright, everyone's here. Now I'll explain why I called you all here."
"Besides what I mentioned in the secret letter about the federal seats and witnessing the birth of the New Zaun, there's something else I want to tell you all, but let's not rush into talking about it yet."
Li Ke stood up, placed his hands on the table, and leaned down to look at the world leaders seated in their seats.
The people from the small country sat at the end of the long table, including Sarah, the sea empress of Bilgewater, and the head of the Zaun navy. At the front were—
Jarvan III of Demacia.
Swain of Noxus.
Irelia of Ionia.
Lissandra of Freljord.
As well as
Li Ke of Twin Cities.
From then on, leaders from various countries gathered together.
Yes, it's time to begin.
Opposite Swain, beside Irelia, Lissandra, radiating coldness, slowly opened her eyes.
Her pale eyes were lifeless. She sat there quietly, feeling fortunate for her decision.
Yes
This time, Lissandra will not be fighting alone.
She knew about the other thing Li Ke was going to say because she had already discussed it with Li Ke beforehand.
That is.
Kill the Frost Watchers!