"Gentlemen, we can't repeat the same mistakes. Jayce has lost his mind. I don't think he's fit to be a senator anymore. I admit Hextech is a great invention, and Jayce is a promising star in Piltover, but what has he been doing?"
"Because of him, we removed Professor Heimerdinger from his position. I originally thought he would then develop Hextech weapons to strengthen Piltover. Well, he didn't want to. He believed that Hextech was meant to improve the quality of life for Piltover, not to become a weapon for Piltover to infringe upon others. I understand."
Saro spread his hands and said in a deep voice, "But what about now?"
"We've become the victims. If he were willing to hand over Hextech, how could we be in such a passive position now?"
"I propose forcing Jayce to hand over Hextech, and in return, we must agree to allow Ambessa to establish a presence in Piltover."
"Saro, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a while now." Mel suddenly tapped the table lightly, calmly interrupting Saro.
Saro looked over, and all the councilors' eyes also turned to Mel.
She looked at Saro and said, "When exactly did you start colluding with my mother?"
"Was it after she arrived Piltover, or before? I have no doubt that my mother was capable of such methods, but you, and Borborok, do you really think I'm an idiot?"
"Mel, I don't understand what you're saying," Saro frowned.
"Don't you know better than I what I'm saying?" Mel stood up, her gorgeous clothes concealing her impressive figure. Her face was gloomy, and the golden nail plates beneath her eyes were quite beautiful, moving with the movement of her facial muscles.
"What a coincidence! Jayce and I just rejected her idea in the council and got rid of her, and then a group of Zaunite came to Piltover and launched a terrorist attack? More than thirty Piltover residents died, all of them in the area bordering Zaun. They even deliberately left Zaunite clothing at the scene, as if to tell everyone that the Zaunite did it."
"But based on what I know about Zaun, they do come to the Upper City to cause trouble. However, the biggest incident so far was when the blue-haired madman blew up Jayce's building and stole the Hextech Gem and the manuscript. Several law enforcement officers who happened to be patrolling nearby were caught in the blast, resulting in their deaths."
"But is that explosion comparable to this one?"
"The graffiti left by the blue-haired madwoman at the scene is because she's crazy. And what's the story behind the Zaun clothes left behind in this incident?"
Mel's eyes were fixed on Saro. "Don't forget, I also have the surname Medarda. I know more about the Noxians' methods than you do, and I know my mother's character better than you do!"
"Absurd!"
"This is the will of the people!" Saro retorted, raising his voice. "Congressman Medarda, please go among the people and hear their voices!"
You know very well how we've gotten through these past three days. We've lost the people's trust, and the members of parliament who serve them haven't offered any explanation or response to the terrorist attack. What reason do we have to exist?
"I think Mel's guess makes sense," Kiramman said softly.
"This is too much of a coincidence, it's like someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes. The Zaunite may have many faults, but I don't think they would kill Piltover's civilians. That's not something they would do."
"Actually, I think you and Mel have too high a standard for how kind-hearted Zaun are. It's a fact that Zaun killed law enforcement officers during their rebellion; everyone saw it. It's also a fact that they privately modified the water pipes and formed their own self-governing system; everyone in Piltover knows that."
"Don't these things prove that Zaun is no longer the Zaun we imagined?" another councilor said in a deep voice.
Senator Hoskall nodded in agreement and stated, "That's well said, Mel. Piltover will not allow an invasion of Upper City or political interference. Our great citizens have already spoken for us; we refuse to yield. The heavy sacrifices and lost interests will only make us more united."
"Our former friends, Zaun, are now our enemies. They must answer for their shameful invasion of Piltover."
"I understand your thoughts, and I also think this is too much of a coincidence. But we must give the people an answer. From the last time the law enforcement officer was killed in the Bottom City, to this sudden attack, even if someone is behind all of this, what do you think we should do now?"
Hoskall looked at Mel meaningfully and continued:
"Or should we tell the people that it was actually the Noxians who did this, not the Zaunite? Mel, do you think they'll believe us?"
"Public opinion has been swayed. People no longer care who did this; what they want now is for Zaun to stop climbing over Piltover. Do you understand what I mean?"
After Hoskall finished speaking, he looked quietly at Mel.
Mel took a deep breath.
Then, she slumped down, burying her face in her hands, and said, "But, after we defeat Zaun and win this war, what then?"
"We and Zaun will both suffer heavy losses, and she... she will take everything from Piltover."
"You don't understand her at all; you have no idea what she's capable of doing for her own benefit!"
"Mel said painfully."
"That's something to consider later. As Saro said, she wants to use us, but why can't we use her to deal with Zaun?" Hoskall said.
"Using Noxus?" Mel looked up at Hoskall, suddenly finding this senator, with whom he had a good relationship, to be such a stranger.
"Ambessa is a wolf who lost a political struggle and was driven out by Noxus. But even so, the forces she now leads could easily swallow Piltover. If you use her, putting aside the possibility of failure, even if you succeed, how will you face Noxus's retaliation?"
"Noxus can kill their own people, but they will never allow outsiders to kill their people. Do you understand?"
"Alright, Mel."
"You're really exaggerating Noxus's abilities."
The lawmakers spoke to Mel in turn.
Mel stopped talking, because it was pointless to say anything now.
Piltover has changed, as evidenced by its transformation from a council of seven to an eight-member council, and now to a council of six.
They themselves got into chaos.
Even Congressman Kiramman fell silent, tacitly approving the action.
Mel understood Senator Kiramman's thinking; she did indeed support peaceful coexistence between the two cities, but she wouldn't actually support Zaun's independence and autonomy.
Because the Giramann Family controls Zaun's ventilation system, although how the Giramann Family operates is unknown and few people in the two cities know about it, it is not a secret to the council members.
Therefore, Zaun's autonomy would harm the interests of the Giramann Family.
This congresswoman may be kind, but she is more likely to consider her own family's private interests.
So
Mother, are you satisfied now?
Your plan has succeeded.
Mel reached up and rubbed her temples, then abruptly stood up and left the meeting without saying another word.
Hoskall looked at her, opened his mouth, then closed it again, and lowered his eyes.
Congressman Kiramman stood up, about to speak, when Saro said with displeasure, "Ignore her!"
He muttered, "What nonsense! She is indeed very rich and talented, but what qualifications does she have? Ever since she became a member of parliament, she has been forming cliques, acting as if she has the final say in Piltover's parliament. But in my opinion, she is nothing more than an outsider."
"Saro, you've really gone too far." Hoskall opened his eyes and looked at Saro.
"Sorry, I misspoke." Saro sat back down nonchalantly.
"Alright everyone, let's discuss how to subdue the rioters in the Bottom City."
Late at night, a group of people from Zaun who were on guard duty at the Dance Hall Bridge yawned, glanced at the dimly lit bridge, and started playing cards out of boredom.
Since some time ago, the Progress Bridge has ceased operation. This bridge, which connects the lowest point of Piltover and the highest point of Zaun, has never been lowered again. Whether it's Zaun or Piltover, if you want to go to the other city, you can only take the Screaming Engine or travel through the vertical building complex and elevators to each other's cities.
However, Zaun doesn't care, since everything is getting better in Zaun now.
Who the hell cares about Piltover?
That place has never treated the Zaunite as human beings; they've always treated them as inferiors, or even as dogs. Now that Zaun is letting them live, they have no reason to Skinny Guys's territory and suffer such humiliation.
Therefore, the closure of the bridge is actually a good thing for Zaun.
"I'm planning to apply to the Sump soon, what about you guys?"
Among the group of Zaunite sitting in a circle, one of them, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, spoke.
"Hmm, I'd like to join too, but hasn't the Lian Hua Gang stopped recruiting recently? I heard it's very difficult to become Lian Hua Gang now; you have to take an exam."
"My application was approved last time. Being a law enforcement officer in the Sump is much better than watching the Piltover people every day. Last time I almost couldn't resist throwing a grenade at those bastards. Damn it, do they still think Zaun is the Zaun they used to be? They even dared to look at us like that."
"Ha, they dare to do this, damn it. But what's with their claim that we killed their people?"
"Bullshit about killing their people. Who from Zaun goes to Piltover now? Don't pay them any attention, they're just talking nonsense."
A group of people were discussing something when one of them, a Zaunite, suddenly felt the urge to urinate. He then went to the bridge and prepared to let loose and enjoy the view of the sea.
He had just taken off his pants and was looking around boredly when he suddenly noticed a light.
Then came more and more light.
Blinking, the Zaunite squinted and saw the light grow larger and larger, rushing towards this side of the bridge, as if something had been launched.
Then
"Puff--!!!"
"Cough!"
He coughed violently, feeling a stinging pain in his eyes, while the other Zaunite also covered their mouths and noses.
"Enemy—" A Zaunite reacted quickly, standing up and shouting loudly, but the next moment, a spear flew from the other side of the bridge, piercing through his body and pinning him firmly to the ground.
"Dugu!"
The Zaunite nearby stared wide-eyed in horror at his fallen companion.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
"Send a signal flare immediately!"
"Click!" --- The Progress Bridge emitted a thunderous roar.
Zaun has no right to control this bridge; opening and closing it are entirely up to Piltover.
Now, the bridge that was originally closed is slowly being lowered, and blue signal lights are illuminating the sea in the dead of night.
The red armor and the blue uniforms of the law enforcement officers were interspersed together.
The fire was accompanied by incendiary bombs fired from the cannon by law enforcement officers.
On the side belonging to Zaun, a fire broke out, tents were set ablaze, and oil boiled and burned on the ground.
Piltover lit the fire.
Then, a small flame shot rapidly into the sky from the Zaun side.
"Smack!"
Upon reaching the highest point, the flames exploded, forming a blue firework pattern—a smiling face, a large, wicked smiling face.
The fireworks formed a long blue braid, a pink mouth, and a big smiling face with the corners of the mouth turned up.
This is a signal flare from Zaun.
"Noxus warriors!"
The moment the bridges closed, the white-haired woman at the front raised her weapon high, roared, and swung it forward.
"Suppress the rioters, find the criminals, and give our ally Piltover justice!"
"Kill!!!"
Blood rushed towards Zaun.