An Irresistible Temptation

After Jiang Chuan left, Pero sat on the sofa in a daze, thinking over his words. To Pero, magic was as tempting as a drug to an addict. Jiang Chuan's words had stirred up a storm in his heart. Although he hated the Dark Sea Throne with all his being, what if Jiang Chuan really could help him wield magic again...

Pero went down to the basement and said to the Old Mage, "Master, I'm lost. My adversary came to tell me they could help me regain my magic, and I don't know what to do."

The Old Mage smiled. "My child, isn't that wonderful? The Red Hat you built is just a gang, and it's nowhere near as important as magic. Once you regain your magic, you'll immediately reach my level. And my divination tells me this choice will decide your future. I saw two versions of you in my vision. One was beaming, dressed in a mage's robe and holding a staff, enjoying the admiration of others. The other was lying in the Slums of Bilgewater, staring blankly at the sun. No one knew you were a Mage, let alone the leader of the Red Hat. My child, don't let greed blind you. Countless lessons have taught us that unchecked greed often leads us to ruin. Tomorrow, we'll go together and meet the person who can help restore your body."

After thinking for a while, Pero smiled. "Master, I've made up my mind. I can't let money and power corrupt me. I'll continue learning magic from you."

The Old Mage smiled. "It's never too late to learn magic."

Seeing the determined light in Pero's eyes, the Old Mage felt as though he had returned to the days when he first taught him magic.

Pero smiled. "Master, I'm ready to come back and study magic by your side. Are you still willing to teach me?"

The Old Mage smiled and tapped Pero on the head with his staff. "Kara Pero, are you willing to become my student, follow me in learning magic, and treat it with reverence and respect?"

Pero knelt on the ground and said solemnly, "I'm willing to become your disciple and follow in your footsteps to explore the great and boundless world of magic."

The Old Mage stroked his beard and smiled at Pero. "Good. You're now my apprentice."

Things had ended happily for Pero. Jiang Chuan returned to the First Army's camp and said to Kendi, "We can call off the First Army's defensive preparations. Get those poor people out of here. Tell them that if they want money and food, they can go work on Bloodfang Island."

Kendi asked in confusion, "President, how did you resolve things with the Red Hat just by going out for a while?"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "From now on, the Red Hat and we are one organization. They're about to become the Dark Sea Throne's Second Army."

Kendi asked, puzzled, "President, did you get dirt on the Red Hat? Would they really give up the gang they worked so hard to build?"

"I offered Pero terms too good to refuse. He'll agree."

Kendi shrugged and smiled. "President, should we speed up weapons production on the island?"

Jiang Chuan thought for a moment. "Go back to the island and tell Noah to put new weapons research on hold for now. Focus on producing grenades and Machine Guns. Also, work with Sarah to plan out the steel trade. There's a lot of profit in it. I expect a lot of poor people to come to the island looking for work soon, so have Laurie screen them carefully. We can't hire just anyone."

Kendi nodded. "Understood, President."

After assigning the First Army's training tasks, Kendi set off for the island. Jiang Chuan sat in his office, thinking about the Twilight Spirit. In the known records of Runeterra, the Twilight Spirit had never appeared definitively. She had only been mentioned in passing during the Darkin wars. In the official records about the Darkin, there was a figure who resembled the Twilight Spirit and was named Myisha. The description sounded very much like the current Twilight Spirit, Zoe. And the conflict between the Titan Race and the Darkin had lasted a long time. On the surface, the Titan Race had attacked the Darkin in the name of justice, but history was often unreliable. The victors wrote it, while the defeated were swallowed by the river of time. Just as no one knew that a place called Icathia had once existed in Shurima. Shurima's armies had conquered Icathia, its cities and homes were destroyed, and its people had been slaves for hundreds of years.

Things only changed after the people of Icathia discovered the Void. They opened a passage to it, and the Void's armies erupted from beneath the earth. Shurima paid a heavy price for it. The Darkin came into being at that time: some of Shurima's Ascended were corrupted by the Void during the battle and became the Darkin. Now, the only Icathian left anywhere in Runeterra was the Weapons Master, Jax.

Jiang Chuan smiled. "I wonder whether the Void or the Titan Race destroyed the Darkin."

Jiang Chuan went to the seaside and summoned Zoe. A flash of white light, and she appeared before him. Zoe looked much like her in-game character, with long hair streaming behind her. Most striking of all were her big eyes, just like in the game: one was a clear blue, and the other a captivating purple.

Zoe was fascinated by suddenly appearing in an unfamiliar place. Her big eyes sparkled as she looked at Jiang Chuan. "Wow! How did you do that? That's so cool!"

Jiang Chuan thought he'd tease Zoe. In a lifeless voice, he said, "I'm a Cosmic Spirit. I heard your wish and summoned you here to grant it."

Zoe happily spun around. "That's amazing! Then I want an endless supply of Chocolate Mooncakes that never run out!"

Realizing he couldn't keep up the act, Jiang Chuan said, "All right, I've received your wish. I'll arrange a date between you and Ezreal."

Zoe's eyes sparkled. "Really?"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "Cosmic Spirits don't lie to children."

At the same time, Jiang Chuan cursed Ezreal in his heart. Ugh, what a beast! He goes after men and women alike, and now he's even trying to get his hands on a little girl. Damn blondie!

Zoe could barely wait. "Cosmic Spirit, take me to Ezreal right now!"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "I'll bring him right in front of you."

Zoe looked blissful. "Wow, I'm so happy."

Jiang Chuan said, "But there's a price."

Zoe asked quietly, "What price? Aren't you a Cosmic Spirit who grants wishes?"

Jiang Chuan said with a deadpan expression, "If Cosmic Spirits granted wishes for free, this world would have ceased to exist long ago."

Zoe pouted. "Fine. What do you want?"

Jiang Chuan said coolly, "According to mortal rumors, you can let people use magic power. I need you to cast that spell or give me the item that does it."

Zoe smiled. "So you want a Stardust Potion. Wait here."

Zoe jumped into the ring beneath her feet. A moment later, she came back out holding a bottle of silver potion. It shimmered in the sunlight and looked just like a bottle of mercury.

Jiang Chuan shook the potion. "Pero, now you can become the Dark Sea Throne's Second Army without worrying."