The bloodstains on the Progress Bridge, which hadn't been wiped clean, caught Jayce's attention. The law enforcement officer driving the car noticed Jayce's gaze and spoke up:
"We have utterly lost this war, Congressman Talis."
"How many of us died?" Jayce asked, frowning.
The enforcer's expression turned uneasy, and he whispered, "We didn't lose too many people, not even as many as during the last conflict in the Bottom City, but the Noxians are basically all dead."
"So, you mean the Zaunite intentionally let us go in this war?"
"I think that's how it is. Otherwise, it would have been easier for them to kill us than for the Noxians. But instead, they captured us all, tied us up, and put us on the bridge until they came out of Piltover and returned to Zaun, at which point they released us all," the enforcer said.
As he said this, his eyes were filled with fear.
If that wolf-like monster and the Boss of Zaun had charged into the law enforcement ranks back then, would he still be driving for Senator Talis now, or even speaking here?
The result is clearly not possible.
Jayce nodded at the officer's words.
Perhaps, as Mel said, Zaun showed considerable sincerity.
They possessed power that Piltover could not comprehend, yet instead of conquering Piltover, they chose to cooperate between the two cities.
Although it's called a cooperation, Piltover is clearly at a disadvantage. Leaving aside the land, control, and resources given to Zaun, just consider the docks and jointly operated trade routes – Zaun and Piltover jointly operating? It looks like Piltover is unilaterally supporting Zaun.
But after putting himself in Zaun's shoes, Jayce felt that Zaun's actions were somewhat merciful.
He has been involved in politics for many years. If it were him, or if those Piltover senators had won this war, then Zaun would have been exploited even more severely. Forget about autonomy and independence; their backbone would have been broken, and they might have been completely crushed.
Therefore, Jayce was very Zaun about what Zaun was thinking.
"We've arrived. I can't go any further. The cooperation agreement between the two cities hasn't been signed yet, Zaun still prohibits Piltover residents from entering during this period," the enforcer told Jayce.
Jayce found this both bizarre and amusing.
Previously, Zaunite needed the permission of the Piltover residents to enter Piltover.
Now, the situation is reversed. Without the consent of the Zaunite, even if the Dance Hall on the other side of the Progress Bridge is unguarded, the enforcers still dare not cross that line.
Jayce nodded, calmly reached for his bag, and then walked alone towards the Dance Hall.
There was really no one guarding it. Jayce followed the route the enforcer had given him to Zaun and found the Screaming Engine that the Sump.
At that moment, a group of Zaunite were waiting for the Screaming Engine. When they saw Jayce, a strange look appeared in their eyes.
Tall, with a wealthy air, and dressed in a white senator's uniform, Jayce was incredibly conspicuous. But just as Jayce thought the other party was about to do something, the Zaunite looked away and went back to talking about their own business.
"My Big Sister is going to be a councilor in the Upper City, and they're recruiting people right now. Are you planning to go?"
"To be honest, I really want to Piltover with my Big Sister to help Big Sister, but, well, I still prefer to stay in Zaun right now."
"Damn it, do you have to say that? Who wouldn't want to stay in Zaun if they could? But if everyone thought like you, what would happen to Zaun's development? I think we should go. Weilan isn't coming because his wife is about to give birth. What about you?"
"My mom is about to give birth?"
"You motherfucker! Where did you get a mother from? Your mother died on a bridge back then."
"Can you speak more politely? Honestly, I was just joking, okay? I'll go, I'll go, alright?"
Jayce listened to the conversation, his expression turning strange.
Zaunite can legally go to Piltover, and yet these people seem quite unwilling?
No, what's going on?
Zaunite used to be desperate to get to Piltover!
Jayce thought strangely, and then, with a "click," the Screaming Engine reached its peak.
Taking a deep breath, Councilor Talis stepped into the Screaming Engine, while the Zaunite remained outside, seemingly waiting for someone.
Inside the enormous, Screaming Engine, only Jayce was present, which allowed Jayce to calm down.
When the Screaming Engine stopped, Jayce stepped out. The machine had arrived at the Mid-level Plaza of Zaun, and this was Jayce's first time in this place.
Frowning, he saw a gray expanse, followed by various oppressive colors and twisted, meandering "alchemical monsters" that crawled like living creatures. The densely packed buildings greatly displeased Jayce, who had a slight case of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
This is still the Mid-level Plaza in Zaun. I've heard that the Sump are even more chaotic, dirty, and worse!
Jayce felt a bitter taste in his mouth. Although he told Mel that he didn't care and was willing to be the sacrifice for Piltover's future, how could he really not care?
With each breath, his nose and throat felt uncomfortable, and his lungs burned. Jayce couldn't even adapt to the air here, let alone go down to Zaun and interact with the people here.
As he stood there bitterly, a group of people suddenly walked up to Jayce.
The one leading the group was a long-haired woman, tall, a little shorter than Jayce, but stronger than him.
"Heh." She looked at herself, chuckled, raised an eyebrow, and took a big drag of the cigar in her mouth. She exhaled the smoke toward Jayce, then threw the cigar on the ground and stomped on it.
"Big Sister, the Boss said we can't litter," a Zaunite stood up and said sternly to her.
Sevika was startled, rolled her eyes, but bent down, picked up the stubbed-out cigar, stuffed it into her trench coat pocket, and muttered, "So many damn rules. How much of an impact can a cigar have?"
"Big Sister, every little bit counts. The Boss said that our priority now is to improve the sanitation situation. The wastewater pipes have been repaired, but the Junkyard dump is full of all sorts of toxic substances, and there's the bad habit of Zaun throwing everything on the ground and into the water. If these problems aren't changed, Zaun's air will never be good."
"Don't lecture me!" Sevika glared at him, then looked at Jayce, her eyes scanning Councilor Talis, and squirm out, "You're Councilor Talis, right?"
"I saw your picture on the airship. You are indeed very good-looking, and there's no difference between you and the picture."
"Who are you?" Jayce asked, frowning.
"Sevika, or rather, I am Piltover's new councilor," Sevika said, straightening up.
Jayce nodded and replied, "I understand, I'll remember your name."
"Why does that sound like you're threatening me?" Sevika's expression suddenly turned displeased.
The younger brother who had followed Sevika for many years sighed, went to Sevika's side, and whispered, "Big Sister, you're overreacting. It's not like before anymore. He really just remembers your name."
"..." Sevika was taken aback, then realized that it seemed to be true.
She is no longer the Sevika of the past, no longer the Sevika who had an officer point a finger at her face and say, "I'll remember you," and then had to hide from the officer to carry out her Sevika.
She is now a new councilor in Piltover.
Thinking of this, Sevika said to Jayce:
"Well then, welcome to Zaun, Zaun's eighth councilor."
"Congressman Jayce Talis."
Jayce nodded, but the expression on his face clearly showed that he wasn't very pleased with the title.
Sevika didn't seem to care and continued, "Should I send someone to take you to see our Boss?"
"No need, I can browse around by myself, thank you," Jayce said.
"OK."
"Let's go, let's take over Piltover!" Sevika raised his hand, beckoning to his men. A group of them passed by Jayce and boarded the Screaming Engine.
Jayce turned and walked forward.
This chapter says