Say You Like It

Three in the afternoon, Piltover Council Building.

The circular tower at the very top pierced the clouds. Through the glass, one could see the Hex Gates flashing blue, ships coming and going in Piltover's harbor, white doves flying past, and the sun shining high overhead.

At the council's round table, white light streamed down from the domed ceiling. Mel sat in one of the seats, dressed in gold. Not far from her sat a tall, broad-shouldered young man in white, with handsome features.

To Mel's left sat council members from various families.

As a newly appointed councilor, Jayce Talis was young, but his Hextech patents had made him a powerful presence on the council.

No one would underestimate him, even if he was a political greenhorn who knew nothing and couldn't do a thing.

But his relationships with Mel Medarda and Councilor Kiramman were common knowledge.

He had received support from the Kiramman family, was now on good terms with the Medarda family, and was Professor Heimerdinger's prized student. Naturally, he had become the hottest prospect among the councilors—not a future prospect anymore, but a force in the present.

Of Piltover's eight councilors, three had close ties with Jayce Talis. And Jayce was a councilor himself. Without even realizing it, he had gained a faction and become one of the leaders of this city-state.

At the far left of the table, a councilor with a gaunt face and fair skin suddenly raised his hand and spoke up.

"Everyone, I recently learned something about the undercity."

"The undercity? Haven't they been behaving themselves lately?"

"Behaving themselves? Councilor Hoskall, do you mean the building of ours that was blown up, the Hextech Gem that mysteriously vanished and still hasn't been recovered, or the attack on the harbor, where an enforcer was killed and the culprit still hasn't been found?" Councilor Saro said, rolling his eyes.

"But wasn't the explosion just an accident?" Hoskall scratched his cheek, his mustache bristling.

"An accident?" Saro looked even more exasperated. "How could you possibly think it was an accident?"

"I actually agree that it's time we brought Zaun to heel," another councilor said. His name was Borborok, and from his appearance, it was impossible to tell he was human.

His voice rumbled as he continued, "Shimmer has poisoned Piltover. At the recent ball, I saw plenty of our people using the stuff."

At that, Saro shrank back a little in his chair.

But he soon sat upright again and said, "Councilor Borborok is right. So I propose that it's time we took control of Zaun."

"They make a mess, and we're the ones who have to clean it up. We might as well settle things once and for all. That would be good for everyone, wouldn't it?" Saro said with a smile.

Heimerdinger clasped his little hands together, looking from one side of the table to the other. Then he tapped the table and said, "I disagree. We've been divided for far too long. This city was founded to be a beacon of enlightenment, independent of a chaotic world that prizes power above all and pursues fame and fortune.

"But look at us now. We indulge ourselves and cling to comfort, casting aside our moral restraints and trading genuine credibility for hollow prestige. We were once united, but now we're nothing more than a pile of loose sand."

Heimerdinger continued, "That's why I oppose oppressing Zaun. We should guide them and help them change, too. Don't you agree?"

Saro frowned and exchanged glances with two councilors at the table.

"I support it," one councilor said, raising her hand. A strange metal collar encircled her neck. Mel looked at her in surprise.

"I support it, too," Saro said, raising his hand.

Borborok raised his hand next.

When Hoskall saw Saro and Borborok looking at him, he raised his hand as well.

"Councilor Kiramman, what do you think?" Saro asked, looking toward the middle-aged woman across the table.

"I disagree. Our tensions with the Bottom City are already bad enough. Oppressing them and cracking down on Zaun now would be a mistake. Besides..." Kiramman glanced at Mel and shook her head.

Noxus had come to Piltover, and they were still thinking about fighting among themselves?

Of course, Kiramman would support cracking down on Zaun once the Noxians had left.

As Borborok had said, Shimmer had poisoned the Bottom City, and now its influence had spread to the Upper City.

Mel lowered her eyes and said nothing.

She, Councilor Kiramman, and Heimerdinger had all made their positions clear.

But just then, someone raised a hand.

Mel's head shot up. She looked at the person with surprise and asked, "Jayce?"

"I support it." Jayce stood up.

"Jayce, how can you—"

"That's enough, Professor." Jayce looked at Heimerdinger, then continued, "Shimmer is running rampant in the Bottom City. Thugs are attacking the Upper City, killing enforcers and blowing up buildings and the harbor. Now the enforcers don't even dare go into the Black Alley!"

"I'm sorry, Professor, but pretty words aren't enough to govern this city. You've warned everyone time and time again about the lines we mustn't cross. But I have to ask: what solutions can you offer?"

Heimerdinger froze, staring blankly at Jayce. "How can you say that?"

Jayce looked at the councilors. A flash of reluctance crossed his face, but then he steeled himself.

He couldn't back down. Viktor couldn't wait any longer.

"I support cracking down on Zaun, controlling Shimmer, and fighting crime." Jayce braced both hands on the table, then raised his voice. "At the same time, I believe the founder who has devoted everything to this city, and who deserves all the credit for its creation, should retire and enjoy his well-earned rest."

"That requires the consent of the entire council."

Kiramman's face flashed with alarm. She raised a hand, clenched it into a fist, and looked from Heimerdinger to the others, her mouth open.

The other councilors exchanged glances, too.

Mel watched Jayce. Seeing the resolve in his eyes, she bit her lip.

She knew why Jayce was doing this.

As she looked around the chamber, all the other councilors were hesitating. Only Heimerdinger, his ears drooping, stared at Jayce in disappointment. After much hesitation, Mel raised her hand.

"Clap!"

Light fell across the table. After Mel raised her hand, one hand after another went up.

Finally, Jayce raised his hand.

Heimerdinger's pupils contracted as he looked at Jayce, deeply moved.

But Jayce kept his head lowered, unable to meet Heimerdinger's eyes.

Zaun,

In Hope Community, which was thriving by any measure, Li Ke sat in front of a mirror. Behind him, Jinx gathered his hair and styled it, tying it all up at once before putting a hat on him.

"What do you think of this hat?" Jinx asked.

"I don't think it's very good, Jinx." Li Ke looked at himself in the mirror and gave a wry smile.

Damn, he'd become Jinx's toy.

She wasn't content with playing with Isha anymore.

"How could it possibly be bad?"

Jinx draped an arm over Li Ke's shoulder. With her other hand, she casually flicked the hat on his head and said with a cheeky grin, "I made this with Isha. Press this button—see? This one protects you from poisonous fog. Press this one and goggles pop out to cover your eyes, giving you night vision. And this button, Li Ke, is my favorite!"

With that, Jinx pressed it.

"Ta-dah!" she announced with exaggerated fanfare, spreading her arms wide. If she'd had a party popper, she would've set it off.

She leaned down beside Li Ke and looked at him in the mirror, chattering away:

"Adorable cat ears!"

"I love them so much!"

Li Ke looked in the mirror.

There he was, wearing a blue hat. A pair of huge cat ears had sprung out from either side, making him look adorable. On the front were pictures that Jinx and Isha had doodled together: three exaggerated smiley faces drawn in crayon, one blue, one brown, and one black.

Li Ke recognized them. They represented Jinx, Isha, and him.

"Say you like it!" Jinx pouted. She tugged at Li Ke's cheek and pulled it upward.

"All right, I like it a lot. Thank you, Jinx."

Jinx immediately turned to look at Isha.

The two of them, one big and one little, burst into laughter.

Li Ke touched the hat and smiled, too.

Oh, well. It's just a hat. It's cute, even if it feels a little weird to wear.

But it was a gift from Jinx.

Li Ke tugged the hat lower.