Under the Storm

"Shocking!! Zaunites Take Drastic Measures Over Discontent with Piltover Refugee Policies!! Is This a Collapse of Morality or the Extinction of Humanity?"

"A Freezing Point in Bilateral Relations, How Will the Twin Cities Escape This Mire of Conflict?"

"Hungry Wolves Circling at Our Doorstep? Undercity Dwellers Finally Show Their Fangs to Uptown!"

"Renowned Experts Predict, a Final War Between the Twin Cities May Be Inevitable!"

Ling Ying sighed, casually tossing the newspapers, each with a headline more sensational than the last, onto the table. They all reported the same event – the attack on Piltover that occurred on the Long Bridge. On the first day of the attack, these media outlets scrambled to put the report on their front pages. A week later, it still occupied the front pages of the newspapers. The content had gradually shifted from on-site reports to interviews, discussions, and expert analyses, yet it still firmly captured the attention of Piltoverians.

"The Valiant Guardian, the Purple Phantom of the Long Bridge!"

Well, apparently, some tabloid had stumbled upon an angle the major newspapers had missed. This editorial, fifty percent fabrication and fifty percent speculation, had successfully piqued the curiosity of Piltoverians, causing newspaper sales to triple. This once left the person in question, Ling Ying, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation. And our Miss Chief Constable, using a seemingly joking reason like, "Then you should respond to the eager expectations of the citizens," gave Ling Ying a new task – to assist the Enforcement Department in establishing defense nodes near the Long Bridge to prevent further attacks. And naturally, the vast majority of Zaunites were temporarily forbidden from entering Piltover until the Enforcement Department's investigation yielded satisfactory results.

"Sigh, blockade and isolation, won't this truly push the two cities further apart?"

Ling Ying sighed, stood up, and opened the door of the mobile alloy booth. The sounds outside immediately became a cacophony.

"Damn Piltover scum!! Come out and give us an explanation! You're all cowards!!"

"You butchers! Executioners! Do you have any conscience?! You'll go to hell!"

"Waaah, my child... he was only 5 years old... waaaah..."

Each sentence was either a furious denunciation or a heart-wrenching cry. They all came from the same group. These incensed Zaun civilians, some of whom were refugees from Lower Zaun, but more were simply civilians looking to cause trouble. The attack on the Long Bridge had claimed the lives of many Zaun refugees. Regarding this incident, some Zaun civilians had clearly received some incorrect signals, mistakenly believing that Piltover had dealt ruthlessly with Zaun refugees. Thus, they indignantly rushed onto the Long Bridge, which had just experienced a bloody battle, and arrived beneath the new defense nodes Piltover had set up by the riverside. They stood just outside the absolute warning line drawn by the Enforcement Department, demanding an explanation from the bewildered Piltoverians. This clearly put the officers manning the defense works under immense pressure. And people, under pressure, often make irreversible mistakes.

"Officer Dilana."

After surveying the metal rampart, which was several times higher than before, Ling Ying stopped beside a female officer on duty.

"Yes! Cecilia... Defense Commissioner."

The other party saluted Ling Ying with a clear, loud voice. Her fiery red hair made her look full of spirit.

"Do you have any instructions?"

"No instructions, but..."

Ling Ying paused, her gaze falling on the Enforcement Department Standard Rifle tightly held in the officer's hand.

"If you're not prepared to shoot that rifle, it's best not to put your finger on the trigger."

"Reporting, Commissioner. My mother told me never to let my guard down in the face of possible danger, especially when dealing with despicable Undercity dwellers."

The young officer's fiery words surprised Ling Ying somewhat. She glanced at the officer and said in a tone devoid of emotion, "I've heard about you. Let's just say, I don't care how you view those Zaunites across the way, but I don't want any unmanageable mess to occur because of your personal feelings. Especially at this critical juncture. You'd best remember this clearly."

As Ling Ying spoke, she intentionally released a sliver of her void-like killing intent. This immediately made the young officer, unaccustomed to such pressure, tremble all over. Her lips quivering, she replied.

"U-understood."

"Very good."

Ling Ying nodded simply, then walked off the parapet without looking back. She no longer looked at the police officer who was almost frozen in place.

"Perhaps Caitlyn's assessment was too conservative. The storm above the twin cities had already formed. It just didn't erupt for some reason. But sooner or later, it will."

With this thought, Ling Ying walked back to the small cabin assigned to her. Then she found that the door she had left ajar was now wide open.

"Yo!"

Perhaps sensing footsteps outside, the uninvited guest inside walked to the doorway to greet her. It was Vi. A week had passed, and she looked... still as unprofessional as ever for a police officer.

"What are you doing here?"

Ling Ying was a little surprised.

"Aren't you supposed to be with Caitlyn..."

"Reporting to Caitlyn and those councilors? Spare me."

Vi rolled her eyes and plopped down onto Ling Ying's chair.

"If there's anyone I hate most in Piltover, it's definitely that damned Council. They're all snobbish jerks."

"Then why are you here?"

"Ah! Hi, I was just about to tell you something, but you interrupted me and I forgot."

Vi patted her forehead with her right hand.

"Caitlyn told me to tell you that you can clock out and rest for a while. I'll take over your shift."

"Huh? Didn't we need to guard against another possible attack?"

"That's why I'm here to relieve you. Otherwise, we might as well all pull out."

Vi looked at Ling Ying with a strange expression.

"How should I put it? Caitlyn believes that a week has passed, and the possibility of a second attack has dropped considerably. So, she thinks we can lower the defense level appropriately. In other words, she wants to let a high-end combatant like you rest. Go on, I've got things covered here."

"Eh? But..."

"No buts."

Vi waved her hand, interrupting Ling Ying.

"We still haven't figured out what that attack was all about. Zaun seems to be just as clueless as we are, and those Alchemy Barons all look like they don't know anything either. I suspect it'll take a while to get any results. So, while things are quiet, take the chance to rest. You won't find leisure time when things get busy. Besides..."

Vi spoke, her voice suddenly lowering, tinged with sympathy.

"Your friend... she'd probably really want you to visit her, right?"

Outside the hospital doors, Ling Ying took a deep breath and stepped inside. The paper bag she carried swayed with her movement, rustling pleasantly and releasing a rich, milky aroma. Inside were freshly made Cream Cookies from the most popular dessert shop on Stellar Boulevard. Back at the academy, Ling Ying remembered Orianna loved these. It meant that she, as Orianna's roommate, often got to share in the treats. Ling Ying hoped these cookies could cheer Orianna up a little.

"No visitors allowed? How could that be?"

As soon as she entered the lobby, Ling Ying heard someone loudly questioning something. At first, she thought it was an agitated patient. But upon listening closer, the voice sounded somewhat familiar. She turned her gaze towards the sound and found a familiar figure—Jayce.

"This..."

The young nurse he was questioning looked flustered, clearly not adept at handling such situations.

"This was decided by the Attending Physician... we don't know the details..."

"I'll explain."

Just as Ling Ying was drawn to the conversation between Jayce and the nurse and stepped forward, an unfamiliar voice came from a corridor beside the lobby. Ling Ying followed the sound with curious eyes. A tall, middle-aged man was walking over. He wore a well-tailored uniform shirt and a wool coat, looking very refined. Though his chiseled face showed the passage of time, his heroic spirit remained. He must have been quite talented in his youth. Under the gaze of several pairs of eyes, the man walked into the middle of the group and adjusted the Monocle on his nose.

"Regarding my daughter's condition, let me tell you. Come with me, this isn't the place. Let's find somewhere else."

"Mr. Colin Levick?"

As they sat down on chairs in the hospital's rest area, Jayce and Ling Ying both stood up in the next second, surprise in their voices. It was because the man who claimed to be Orianna's Father, sitting before them, suddenly lowered his head and said sincerely:

"Before I inform you of my daughter's condition, please allow me to apologize on her behalf for involving the two of you in her ill-considered actions. It was selfish and reckless of her to have you accompany her to a dangerous place like Bottom City without knowing the risks."

"Uh... we..."

"Honestly, we don't feel Orianna did anything wrong to us."

Ling Ying interjected, taking over from a stammering Jayce.

"She's our friend. Everything we did wasn't at her request or under duress; we just wanted to be with her. If anything, I owe her, and you, an apology. I said I'd protect her, but instead..."

Mr. Colin listened intently to Ling Ying's words, then after a pause, he said with emotion:

"You truly are the friends she described. I am relieved that you were not harmed by my daughter's actions. However... although she was fortunate enough not to cause any major harm to those around her, she herself could not escape unscathed... a severe Lung Infection and lesions caused by toxic gas. The doctor said the mixed gas she inhaled wasn't extremely potent, but it easily binds with blood, causing damage to internal organs. Combined with the delay in getting her to the hospital..."

Mr. Colin choked up suddenly as he spoke, a look of loss and worry appearing on his face.

"Mr. Levick..."

"No... I'm alright..."

He waved his hand, signaling Ling Ying not to worry, and Colin Revec continued.

"In short, the current situation is that Orianna's lungs are severely damaged by eighty percent. She's even at the point where she needs a respirator to breathe. And the doctor's advice... is to remove her diseased lung and replace it with an artificial mechanical lung."

"How could this happen!?"

As soon as Mr. Colin finished speaking, Jayce jumped up from his seat in agitation. As for Ling Ying, she was somewhat calmer than him, but still wore a worried expression.

"Is there no other way? One that preserves the overall organ."

"With current medical technology, no. If there were, perhaps it would be magic."

Mr. Colin gave a self-deprecating wry smile.

"This artificial mechanical lung... it's considered Piltover's most cutting-edge biotechnology. Part of my research is in it, but I never imagined it would be used on my own daughter one day."

The brief meeting ended in a somber atmosphere. After informing the two of Orianna's condition, Mr. Colin quickly excused himself, citing the need to spend more time with his daughter. Ling Ying and Jayce were left in their seats, unsure of what to do.

"Magic!!!"

Just as Ling Ying was about to say something to comfort him, Jayce, who had been stunned since the conversation ended, suddenly leaped up. He seemed several times more excited than when he had first heard about Orianna's condition.

"Eek! Yes! Magic!!"

Under Ling Ying's bewildered gaze, Jayce gesticulated wildly as if possessed, muttering something under his breath. This drew the attention of the nurses and patients in the hall, as well as the two security guards standing at the entrance.

"Sorry, sorry, this is my friend. Uh-huh, his mother is finally being discharged today, he's just too happy, yes, he's really not crazy."

After babbling nonsense to send away the two security guards who seemed to believe her, Ling Ying turned back helplessly. She raised her hand, intending to pat Jayce to calm him down, but was suddenly grabbed by the hands by the overly excited Jayce.

"Junior Student! Do you know! Magic, magic can definitely save Orianna!"

Ling Ying was still confused by his nonsensical words when he suddenly flung her hands away, then smacked his own forehead forcefully.

"The Academy! Yes! I need the Academy's laboratory right now, I need it now!"

Jayce took off and dashed out of the hospital. By the time Ling Ying, who had finally snapped out of her "is this person crazy?" thoughts, chased after him, Jayce had already disappeared into the crowd on the street.

"Sigh, it never rains but it pours."

Still not understanding the situation, Ling Ying could only sigh. She looked down and happened to see the cream cookies she had bought for Orianna. After a moment of silence, Ling Ying let out an even heavier sigh.

"I really hope I'll have the chance to share this food with you again. Orianna."

As she was contemplating this, a strange voice called out to her from behind.

"Hmm, excellent dessert. It would be a shame not to pair it with afternoon tea."

A calm, yet intellectual female voice. Ling Ying didn't recall knowing anyone with such a voice. But it was clear the owner of the voice was speaking to her. Without further thought, Ling Ying turned around. A tall figure entered her sight, standing in an elegant posture.

Ling Ying's eyes warily scanned the other person. The figure seemed to dislike drawing attention. A grey veiled hat obscured most of her face. A wool coat of the same color as the hat, paired with an inner dress, belonged to the type that wouldn't stand out in a crowd. However, Ling Ying soon noticed the conspicuous aspect of the figure – she wasn't wearing shoes, or rather, she didn't need to. Beneath the long hem of her coat, a pair of sharp blades were vaguely visible. As if completely unbothered by Ling Ying's scrutiny, the figure slightly nodded in greeting and then spoke.

"Young lady, would you be so bold as to accept an invitation for Afternoon Tea with an old fellow like me?"

Zaun, a nondescript abandoned mine. A thick layer of dust coated the metal warning sign at the entrance, indicating it had been abandoned and unvisited for a long time. Of course, this was merely an illusion. If one possessed enough curiosity and courage to traverse the dark mine, while also having enough luck to avoid a swarm of hungry mutated rats, they would find a sealed metal door at the end. Make no mistake, there were no treasures inside. Beyond it lay hell for the vast majority, and paradise for a select few.

"Hmm hmm hmm..."

A tuneless Zaun folk song, sung in a hoarse, unpleasant voice, echoed through the vast laboratory, a true ear-ripper. But Singed paid it no mind, continuing to hum absentmindedly. As if in response to his tune, the Purple Liquid in the towering cylindrical cultivation pods lining the room swayed. However, some things remained unaffected. For instance, the grotesque bodies submerged within the pods. Some still bore the outline of humans, their bodies unnaturally swollen, with strange purple patches growing on their skin. Others could barely be recognized as human. Some had tentacles growing from their feet, while others sported jagged mouths on their shoulders. These bizarre experimental subjects looked like malformed fetuses. Yet, Singed could guarantee that if the cultivation tanks were opened, these creatures would "leap to life" and wreak havoc.

"Hmm, it seems the stability of Glimmer still needs some improvement."

Singed muttered to himself, chin in hand, staring at a test tube filled with a purple potion on the workbench. The faint fluorescence of the purple liquid was, in his eyes, the most magnificent color in the world. After all, it was his creation – a potion capable of greatly unlocking human potential, a masterpiece worthy of the ages.

"Drip."

Suddenly, a drop of bright red landed on the test tube, instantly destroying the unique, mysterious aura of the fluorescent purple Glimmer. Then came two drops, three drops. Singed instinctively reached for his neck. A voice, however, abruptly rang out at that moment.

"I advise you not to move."

It was a clear and pleasant female voice, but Singed was clearly in no mood to appreciate it under the circumstances. He heeded the voice's owner's advice, remaining motionless in his previous posture. His eyes, however, involuntarily flickered over, and he discovered that someone was now sitting on the chair beside him. A Girl, with skin as white as snow and hair as black as a waterfall. Only her bright black eyes held a depth that seemed impossible to fathom.

"Very good, you've temporarily kept your head."

The Girl wore a half-smile, and simultaneously twisted her right hand outwards. Now Singed could see clearly. Wrapped around her fingers were black threads, as fine as hair.

"However, whether it remains on your neck next depends on whether your answer satisfies me."

"What do you want me to do?"

Singed was very cooperative. He didn't ask questions like "Who are you?" He believed that if he did, his head would be severed the next second. There was no point in bargaining with someone who could crush him with ease. He knew very well that the only reason he was still alive was that he was still useful to the other party.

"Oh? You're quite clever."

The Girl glanced at him with interest. Singed keenly noticed this, but just as he was about to continue flattering her, the Girl's expression suddenly changed. She flicked her right index finger, and the black threads shot upwards, instantly leaving a bloody gash on Singed's already disfigured face.

"But has your cleverness made you forget who your sponsor is, who your true boss is?"

"No, no! I can explain!"

Having felt the pain, Singed finally understood the other party's identity and intentions, and cried out urgently.

"Of course, I remember! My research is funded by Noxus. All my experiments are for the benefit of Noxus, including the recent attack on Long Bridge, which was also for the purpose of necessary experimentation!!"

"Oh?"

The girl's hands paused.

"Continue."

"That, that is..."

Singed naturally didn't dare to delay. He took a deep breath and continued.

"We recently... with Noxus's funding, successfully created an alchemical potion, which is what you see now, Glimmer. I assure you, it is absolutely a milestone..."

"Get to the point."

"Uh... Okay, cough, cough, in short, Glimmer can greatly enhance human physical functions. Even a small child who drinks Glimmer can easily overpower adults several times their size..."

"But, it has side effects, doesn't it?"

"Uh... Yes... Yes."

Singed wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Glimmer can greatly strengthen human cell activity, and correspondingly, it overdraws their average lifespan. The potion's berserk effect also inevitably causes negative impacts on the user's consciousness and intelligence. Furthermore, this time we also discovered that Glimmer has poor stability in actual use, and the problem of losing control from excessive inhalation... Ah! Of course, these are all because Glimmer is far from a finished product. We will do our best to reduce its side effects in subsequent experiments. I am well aware that Noxus does not need this kind of semi-finished product, but a veritable war potion that can be used on the front lines."

Having finished speaking with his heart pounding, Singed couldn't help but glance at the girl's expression. However, just like before, in her eyes.

"Swish!"

The girl suddenly yanked her right hand upwards, and Singed instantly trembled all over. He thought he was done for, but the next second, a faint breeze, almost imperceptible, brushed past the side of his head. Fortunately, it was only a breeze. His head was still attached to his neck.

"You should be grateful that I'm the one who came here, not someone like Darius. Otherwise, your head would have rolled by now."

Putting away the threads, the girl then crossed her legs on the chair.

"These young officers of theirs. They value the will of Noxus immensely. And you, disregarding the military's order to try not to attract the attention of Piltover, privately used experimental subjects to attack Piltover, causing a city-wide uproar. This is enough reason for you to die more than ten times over."

"..."

"But then again..."

The girl suddenly smiled slightly, changing the subject.

"You're lucky. Before I came here, the military changed its plan. Simply put, the covert development is over. Noxus now needs actual control over Zaun. The overt and covert agents we've planted in Zaun will be activated soon, and according to plan, we will gradually seize control of Zaun from the Alchemy Barons and the Piltoverians. And you and your Bio-Legion are an important part of the strategy. Speaking of which, you should understand what you need to do next, right?"

"We will accelerate the completion of Glimmer's improvement. To create an even more powerful Bio-Legion."

Singed nodded subserviently.

"However, I dare to ask, is Noxus's goal only Zaun?"

"..."

The atmosphere instantly fell silent. Singed's heart skipped a beat, wondering if he had said too much. The girl spoke.

"Like I said before, you're quite cunning. Indeed, Noxus's goal has never been just one of the twin cities, but both. In that regard, your unauthorized attack has had an unexpected effect. I heard the Piltoverians are divided. The Bottom City, which has always been trampled under their feet, suddenly has the ability to threaten Uptown. This has clearly frightened some people. The faction composed of these individuals, who advocate for negotiation with Bottom City, is arguing fiercely with the Enforcement Department and the Council. So, congratulations to you, you lucky fool. However, I hope that from now on, you'll use your cunning where it's needed. If something like this happens again..."

"Naturally, naturally."

Singed quickly agreed.

"From now on, I will naturally follow Noxus's lead."

"That is for the best. I won't say more about other matters. Don't pry, keep your mouth shut, and do what you're supposed to do. Then you can keep your head and continue your research, understand?"

"Understood, understood."

"Then, here's the last thing."

As the girl spoke, she stood up from her seat and handed him a folded piece of paper.

"In the next few days, prepare a batch of Glimmer and transport it to the address above. I have my uses for it."

"You need Glimmer?"

Singed took the paper from the girl with trembling hands. He glanced at it. He recognized the address. It was a lawless zone on the border between Zaun and Piltover, a place frequented by many Black Market Dealers and Smugglers.

"Okay, I'll do it as soon as possible..."

Singed looked up as he spoke, only to find that the girl was nowhere to be seen. She had vanished before his eyes as silently as she had arrived. The only thing that could prove she had been there was a Black Rose lying on the chair, gradually wilting and dissipating.