Pero's Choice

Jiang Chuan looked at the sparkling silver potion in his hand. It held a fatal allure for ordinary people, and he really wanted to ask Zoe for another bottle. But lying to a child twice was wrong. Jiang Chuan smiled at Zoe and said, "All right, the Cosmic Spirit has received your wish. You'll soon get to have a beach date with Ezreal!"

Jiang Chuan snapped his fingers. If he was going to put on a show, he might as well make it convincing. A flash of white light appeared, and Little Blondie—no, Ezreal—materialized in front of Jiang Chuan and Zoe.

Unlike Zoe, Ezreal wasn't oblivious to his surroundings. In an unfamiliar environment, he displayed the alertness and instincts expected of an explorer. He warily scanned the area, the Gauntlets in his hands glowing azure as he stood ready to fire arcane energy at any moment.

Seeing Ezreal, Zoe spoke in an unusually ladylike tone. "Hi, Ezreal! It's me, Zoe. We meet again."

Ezreal said seriously, "Zoe, stand behind me. There could be danger here."

Zoe smiled. "There's no danger here."

Ezreal pointed at Jiang Chuan. "Who's he? How did I suddenly end up here?"

Zoe smiled. "He's the Cosmic Spirit. He's here to grant my wish."

Ezreal said doubtfully, "Is there really such a thing as a Cosmic Spirit?"

Zoe smiled. "I don't know either, but he must be real. He granted my wish, after all."

Ezreal smiled. "Where are we?"

Jiang Chuan looked out at the sea around them. "Bilgewater. Don't tell me you've never heard of it, Ezreal."

As an explorer, Ezreal had certainly heard of Bilgewater. It was a paradise that outlaws from other places longed to visit.

Ezreal asked suspiciously, "Why would a Cosmic Spirit who grants people's wishes live in Bilgewater?"

Jiang Chuan really wanted to wring the neck of this walking Ten Thousand Whys. Smiling, he said, "As a Cosmic Spirit who grants wishes, I have to travel all over the place. There are plenty of wishes in this world waiting for me to grant them. Oh, and I should tell you both that you only have thirty minutes. After that, you'll return to where you were before."

When he finished, Jiang Chuan walked over to a bench and sat down, gazing at the vast, rippling sea.

Kayn emerged from the shadows. "You even tricked a child? That doesn't seem like you. Besides, the wish she made was for endless Chocolate Mooncakes."

Jiang Chuan took the silver potion from his robes. "She's the Twilight Spirit, and I'm just a human. How else was I supposed to get this potion?"

Kayn sneered. "You think you count as an ordinary human?"

Jiang Chuan nodded. "We're all ordinary people. We just know how to do different things."

Jiang Chuan put away the potion and looked at Kayn. "Can you still return to Ionia?"

Kayn gazed into the distance. "That place isn't my home. All they want is this weapon."

"What about Noxus?" Jiang Chuan asked.

Kayn burst out laughing. "Ha ha ha! I may be from Noxus, but I've killed plenty of Noxians."

Jiang Chuan smiled. "Then does that mean you're homeless?"

Kayn picked up a stone and tossed it into the water, sending the seagulls fluttering into the air. "I'm just an assassin. To an assassin, home is nothing but a burden."

Jiang Chuan stood and patted Kayn on the shoulder. "Come with me from now on. I'll keep you safe. The Dark Sea Throne will be your shield."

Kayn looked at Jiang Chuan and gave a disdainful smile before slipping back into Jiang Chuan's shadow. That day, for the first time, Kayn felt a faint warmth in the darkness.

Half an hour later, Jiang Chuan ended his summons of Zoe and Ezreal. Each returned to where they had been, as if they had never left.

Jiang Chuan returned to the First Army's camp. Pero and an Old Mage were waiting for him in the hall.

Jiang Chuan smiled at Pero. "Chief Pero, have you made your decision?"

Pero looked at Jiang Chuan solemnly. "Chief Roland, I've decided to give up everything Red Hat has and join the Dark Sea Throne."

Jiang Chuan poured each of them a glass of water. "No, no, I don't need you to give up Red Hat. I want Red Hat to become another force within the Dark Sea Throne. Red Hat won't lose its independence, and joining the Dark Sea Throne won't make you any less of a top gang in Bilgewater. Red Hat will provide five hundred men, and I'll provide the weapons. The Dark Sea Throne will train them as a unit. You can continue using magic, too. We can hold a meeting and discuss the details and specific proposal."

Pero nodded. "That's no problem. Let's hold the meeting tonight. How does that sound?"

Jiang Chuan nodded. "That works."

Jiang Chuan placed the Stardust Potion on the table. "This is a Stardust Potion from the Twilight Spirit. Drink it, and you'll regain your ability to use magic."

The Old Mage looked at the potion on the table. "Good heavens! I never thought I'd see such a precious potion in my lifetime. What luck!"

Jiang Chuan said, "May I ask your name, sir?"

The Old Mage bowed. "Mage Kamanda pays his respects to you, Mr. Roland."

Jiang Chuan helped Kamanda up. "You're too kind, Mr. Kamanda. It's our honor to have you join the Dark Sea Throne. We welcome anyone with ambition to join our ranks. We're short on mages right now."

Pero picked up the Stardust Potion and said to Jiang Chuan, "I look forward to working with you."

After Pero drank the Stardust Potion, countless silver specks appeared around him, and starlight shimmered in the air. Pero let out a comfortable groan. A while later, he opened his eyes. His clothes were soaked with sweat, but he didn't bother to wash up. He stretched out his hand and recited an incantation. A tiny flame appeared in his palm. It was small, but its light filled Pero's eyes. Overcome with emotion, he said, "How wonderful this feeling is! Chief Roland, my life belongs to you from now on!"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "This is nothing. Our goal is the Sea of Stars and the endless reaches of Runeterra. I'll lead you across all of Runeterra. Go prepare for tonight's meeting. I'll present a proposal with all the details then."

Kamanda said, "Thank you, Mr. Roland."

Jiang Chuan smiled. "I'll be waiting to hear from you."

Kamanda took Pero back to Red Hat to prepare for that evening's meeting.

Kendi came over with a smile. "President, you won Red Hat over with just one little bottle of potion?"

Jiang Chuan smiled. "To him, it was impossible to refuse. If someone hasn't been able to walk for a long time, giving him a pair of legs he can walk on is worth more than a chest of gold coins."

Kendi pursed his lips. "That was a potion from the Twilight Spirit. Giving it to them just like that was far too generous."

Jiang Chuan tapped on the table. "Not necessarily. If we equip six hundred men with our current gear, is there anyone left in all of Bilgewater who can stop us?"

Kendi smiled. "President, then we can rule Bilgewater."

Jiang Chuan waved a hand. "It's too early to say that. How are the modifications to the Siren coming along?"

Kendi took out a small notebook. "The Siren has been mostly refitted. We're fine-tuning everything now. Also, Master Noah said we need to find another master blacksmith. There are all kinds of things on the island for him to handle, and he can't keep up on his own."