122 Bloody Baroness

Upon hearing Stevan's words, a hint of hesitation flashed in Camille's eyes.

Noxus trying to tighten its grip on Piltover? Is it because Ixialia's involvement has made Noxus uneasy, and they want to abolish Piltover's neutral status?

Thinking this through, Camille simply asked, "What happened? Tell me in detail."

"Because of Ixialia."

Just as Camille had thought, Stevan said with some excitement:

"Ixialia's visit has caught Noxus's attention! Those connections that were previously monopolized by the Medarda Family are now starting to reach out to us!"

"With Noxus joining the family, the Ferros Family will be freed from the shackles of the Medarda Family! With our development of Hextech, it won't be long before the entire Piltover becomes our backyard!"

Camille nodded thoughtfully after hearing Stevan's words.

Just as Stevan said, even though the Ferros Family has lost its absolute monopoly on Hex Crystal, it still maintains a leading position in the Ferros Family Hextech due to its first-mover advantage.

But Piltover isn't the kind of place where intelligence and invention can change a person's life, as some claim.

To ensure the Ferros Family's dominance, Camille did countless dirty and arduous tasks: assassinations, threats, sabotage, espionage... Camille knew better than anyone how the Ferros Family had gotten to where it was today.

Undeniably, the Ferros Family suffered greatly due to the lack of a powerful patron. The most obvious example of this was their difficulty in hiring artisans for Hextech.

Compared to the Ferros Family, the other four major families have gone to great lengths to suppress the Ferros Family's expansion and growth...

Now, will they really sit idly by and watch their own advantages become part of the Ferros Family?

Thinking it over, Camille narrowed her eyes and asked bluntly, "So, what is the price?"

"Expel Ixialia!"

Stevan said with some excitement:

"This is practically a risk-free deal! Sister! We don't need to hesitate any longer! Even if we don't agree, the other three major families will choose to expel us in order to gain Noxus's support!"

"And now, all we need to do is nod and stand with them. We don't even need to lift a finger, Noxus will wipe out the Yixialian for us!"

Upon hearing this, Camille did not fall silent like Stevan. Similarly, Camille did not refute it.

Before pledging allegiance to Yuan Chen, Camille was well aware that she was first and foremost a spy for the Ferros Family.

For her family's sake, Camille was willing to pledge allegiance to anyone. As the saying goes, nothing in this world is off-limits. But even in a simple comparison, Camille didn't think cooperating with Noxus was a good thing.

At least... Camille doesn't think Noxus is more valuable than Yuan Chen.

Thinking it over, Camille looked at Stevan and calmly said, "Then what is the foundation of the family?"

"... What's the meaning?"

Stevan was slightly taken aback upon hearing Camille's words.

"Hextech Gemstone Vein," Camille said.

"More than 90 percent of Hex Crystal rough originates from north of the Kumungu Mountains. According to explorers, the closer the Hex Crystal vein is to the 'Ixialia,' the more abundant and higher quality it will be."

This is also a key reason why the Ferros Family never gave up on developing the Ixialia Forest.

"Without the supply of Hextech Gemstone, and without the foundation upon which our family stands, how will we cope?"

Camille looked at her younger brother, her eyes filled with a hint of disappointment and frustration.

"To be Noxus's dog? Or to scavenge the scraps left over from the Medarda Family?"

Piltover is ostensibly a city-state controlled by various conglomerates and families. But in reality, the four major families have divided everything in Piltover from various angles.

The Medarda Family, the Keworld Family, the Abinno Family, and the Ferros Family. These four families respectively represent trade, industry, art (culture), and the technology controlled by the Ferros Family... or perhaps, the "future".

"Currently, artificial Hex Crystal, in terms of both size and purity, are far inferior to raw Hextech Gemstone produced through purification processes."

The Ferros Family controls over 90% of the Hex Crystal mines, and 90% of that originates from the area north of the Kumungu Mountains."

"Abandoning the advantages upon which the Ferros Family depends for survival, in exchange for the insignificant support of the Noxians? Stevan, if this is your well-thought-out plan, then I am deeply disappointed."

"No!" Upon hearing this, Stevan's expression changed, and he argued forcefully:

"We have received support from Noxus! We will no longer be controlled by those three families! We will start on a level playing field—"

"As a price, we will lose the advantage we rely on for survival."

Looking at Stevan before him, Camille's gaze held a hint of coldness:

"Having it or not having it makes no difference! Value is what matters most!"

"The value of the Ferros Family stems from Hextech! Without this, what distinguishes the Ferros Family from other families? A dog that can be replaced at any time?"

"Have you gotten so old that you can't even tell the difference between these things, my brother?"

Upon hearing Camille's words, Stevan initially wanted to argue, but when he heard Camille's comment, "So old that you can't even tell the difference between these things," he sat down in his chair, clutching the front of his shirt with his hands, completely dejected.

His eyes were filled with anger, and the veins on his aged face were bulging with rage. His pale, loose skin also showed a sickly flush.

"Yes! I'm old! Of course I'm old! Because you're the one who underwent the enhancement and modification!"

Stevan gritted his teeth in anger, his dry hands clenching so tightly on the chair that his knuckles creaked.

"Just because you're a so-called spy! I, the head of the family, have to rank after you! But what's the result? This heart is the only one available! Your strength isn't because of your spirit or any of that bullshit! It's because your parents chose you to undergo the enhancement surgery!"

Stevan was clearly pushed to the limit by the remark "I'm old".

"I hate all of this! Why wasn't I the one who had the surgery? I could have done so much better!"

"Do you know what? Every time you walk around in front of me! Every time I see those children walking around in front of me, I feel immense mockery! It's as if everyone is reminding me of my disability!"

"But now, I won't wait like this anymore!"

As he said this, Stevan suddenly threw away the sheepskin blanket covering his knees, much to Camille's abrupt surprise. Though somewhat clumsy and weak, Stevan stubbornly stood up.

Stevan, leaning on the table, paused briefly. After a moment, a glint of excitement flashed in his eyes, and he said:

"That's right! They weren't lying! It worked! I can finally get rid of that awful chair!"

In his words, Stevan showed none of the elegance expected of the head of the Ferros Family. Instead, he turned around and, without hesitation, picked up a chair and slammed it aside.

Perhaps because his lower limbs had just recovered, Stevan's control was not yet very good. He almost fell to the ground with just a simple movement.

Even so, after regaining his balance, Stevan still kicked the chair away, bracing himself on the table with excited, bloodshot eyes.

"The Duchess is right! I no longer need to sit on that chair! I no longer need to be manipulated like a useless person! I am the head of this family! Noxus is the future of Ferros!"

Upon hearing Stevan's words, a cold glint flashed in Camille's eyes. She then stepped forward and, without saying a word, grabbed Stevan's arm.

Camille placed her hand on Stevan's wrist, feeling the vibrant pulse within, a hint of puzzlement flickering in her eyes—

Even though age spots have already appeared on his face, why does Stevan look like he's only in his thirties or forties in terms of physical characteristics?!

Although being in your thirties or forties isn't young, it's considerably younger than Stevan's previous sixties or seventies!

"What happened? What kind of deal did you make with Noxus?!"

Upon hearing Camille's question, Stevan let out a cold laugh, then unhesitatingly shook off Camille's hand, his eyes widening, bloodshot, as he gritted his teeth and said:

"I no longer need Hextech Heart... Even without Hextech Heart, I can still be reborn!"

Camille didn't care about that; she was just constantly thinking about what had made Stevan the way he was now.

A moment later, a look of realization dawned on Camille's eyes.

"Blood Magic... it's the Crimson Circle!!"

Upon hearing Camille's words, Stevan also revealed a smug smile:

"That's right! It's the Crimson Circle! The Crimson Circle's Bloody Duchess personally presided over my Blood Exchange Ritual! Even without Hextech, I can still rejuvenate, possess a youthful body, and achieve immortality!"

Upon hearing this, Camille narrowed her eyes with a serious expression.

The Bloody Duchess, Falis Norra, is a renowned commander of the Noxus. Her Grey Legion is feared throughout Valoran for its infiltration capabilities and brutal, ruthless tactics.

Her abilities, much like her title, originate from the Blood Magic of the classical era—a powerful force said to have originated from the Dark Descendant.

But compared to this...

Looking at Stevan, and seeing his restored youthful vigor, Camille knew this was a reward Stevan had earned at the cost of his family's loyalty.

"You have betrayed the family!"