43 Ahead of You

Chapter 45: 43· One Step Ahead

Entering the carriage, Qiyana didn't play any tricks. Instead, she seriously inquired about the dragon hunt process.

Facing Qiyana's questions, Yuan Chen answered as detailed as possible. However, regarding the Azure Starfire, Yuan Chen still chose to conceal it, attributing its function to Nedeli instead.

"A lion that emits Dawnlight? I've never heard of such a Devil Beast before..."

Qiyana pondered with some confusion.

Ixialia was far removed from the mundane world. Although its land area was only half that of Demacia, due to its natural environment, it was home to nearly seventy percent of the world's known Elemental Drakes.

Under such circumstances, not to mention the Elemental Sacred Beasts, which were even more powerful than Elemental Drakes and resembled demigods...

Although Ixialia had been established for a long time, it could only operate on the outskirts of the Miasma Jungle. Why couldn't they venture deeper? Because even for Ixialia, the Miasma Jungle was too dangerous.

Runeterra might seem ordinary on the surface, with only reclusive demigods and sacred beasts, appearing like a magical medieval era. But in reality, there were always hidden things.

"The Lion Transformed Into Human struck the Dragon's chest with a javelin. Then, Mordas and I seized the opportunity to thrust our spears into the Dragon's heart."

Yuan Chen didn't deliberately mention the difference between Elemental Drakes and Dragons, nor did Qiyana. Because to ordinary people, there was no difference between a Dragon and a Drake; both were powerful and invincible.

Therefore, publicizing the killing of a Dragon would undoubtedly boost morale more than killing a Drake. After all, if you emphasized killing a Drake, some might think you only killed a Dragonkin Subspecies like a Dragon Blood Hound or a Dragon Blood Horse.

After hearing Yuan Chen's account, Qiyana fell silent for a long time, finally sighing and saying, "It sounds like a hero's tale..."

"Fate is always full of twists and turns."

Saying this, Yuan Chen paused and added, "We will present the Dragon in your name."

"..." Hearing this, Qiyana didn't feel excited. Instead, she pursed her lips and asked with some confusion, "Why are you doing this? For me? Or for yourself?"

"Both."

Yuan Chen said, "My Precognition Magic is excellent. I foresee many troublesome disasters in the future. If Ixialia can integrate with the world and interact with the outside, Runeterra will have more strength to face these disasters."

"Of course, I won't give up the title of Dragon Slayer."

Yuan Chen stated frankly, "This title will make my future actions much more convenient."

"No problem, but it seems something has been misunderstood." Qiyana said with a strange expression:

"Ixialia is isolated from the world. Even if I actively help spread the word, it will only be within Ixialia's borders. To spread it outside... requires precise connections with the outside world."

"I have a way."

"What way?" Qiyana was curious.

Facing Qiyana's inquiry, Yuan Chen said, "Piltover... they should have already started exploring Ixialia's borders, right?"

Heard Yuan Chen mention Piltover, a flicker of disgust flashed in Qiyana's eyes. It wasn't directed at Yuan Chen, but purely at Piltover.

"Hmm... those guys who use dirty machines to control magic are indeed destroying the woodlands. You say what they're doing? Letting them flatten the Vine Veil? This would indeed connect Ixialia and Piltover."

"Ixialia will destroy them at all costs!"

"Don't be so angry, your emotions are too intense." Sensing Qiyana's disgust towards Piltover, Yuan Chen wasn't surprised.

Piltover, District 5 of the Telecommunication Zone, is a prosperous and progressive city built by the sea. It controls the only trade route between the Valoran Continent and the Shurima Continent. The wealth brought by maritime trade once provided unprecedented impetus for the city's growth.

And with the appearance of the Hextech Gate, it has become the world's trade hub.

Trade brings wealth, wealth brings prosperity, and prosperity brings art. Therefore, Piltover is also the cultural center of the Valoran Continent. Here, art, craftsmanship, trade, and innovation go hand in hand.

More and more inventors eagerly pursue cutting-edge Hextech Knowledge. Now, Piltover has become a natural magnet attracting skilled craftsmen from all over the world.

The resources required for research and development, besides trade from all over the world, also come from the exploitation of nearby areas.

The Shurima Continent is rich in mineral resources, especially the mountainous regions to the east of the Shurima Continent. In the past, Piltover's workers only mined in the Kumungu Mountains. Now, with the depletion of resources, they have begun to advance towards Ixialia.

In Ixialia, which reveres nature, Piltover's barbaric exploitation and deforestation of natural resources are incomprehensible.

Especially for Qiyana, she felt it was an invasion of her territory. She wanted to fight back, but unfortunately, Ixialia's traditional concepts of isolationism and seclusion deeply influenced the country.

For this reason, Ixialia has only been secretly destroying the Piltover people's machines through Elemental Magic, striving to avoid direct contact and interaction.

With the advent of Hextech, Piltover's demand for resources has greatly increased. Even the Mining Equipment has undergone upgrades and iterations from inventors.

"Since you are preparing to become the Queen of Ixialia, you had better restrain your personality and temper."

"Why?"

Qiyana asked indignantly.

"Because you are not strong enough yet, nor have you gained an advantage in the Heir Competition," Yuan Chen explained.

"Since we are currently at a low point in the Heir Competition, we should unite with those we can, make more friends, reduce enemies, let neutral parties see our value, and then invest in us, increasing our mutual interests."

He paused, then said with a strange expression:

"Born into royalty, shouldn't you have known these rules of the game long ago?"

Qiyana, who had been listening, wanted to retort immediately upon hearing Yuan Chen's question. However, she subconsciously recalled her Father King's appointment during the Elemental Festival.

In fact, it wasn't just the appointment letter...

Besides the appointment letter, her Father King had also said more than once that she was breaking the rules...

No... it's not that I'm breaking the rules, it's that my sister is inferior to me! It has nothing to do with the rules!

With that thought, Qiyana's gaze was filled with stubbornness.

"Tch, I just couldn't be bothered to use such methods..."

Just as expected of a child.

Seeing Qiyana stubbornly refusing to admit that she hadn't realized this fact, Yuan Chen, standing beside her, rubbed his temples with a headache...

When it came to politics, he was a complete amateur. He could talk about grand principles, but when it came to practical application... well, he'd find some external help from Lupe later.

Thinking this, Yuan Chen said, "Regarding this matter, I can only offer some simple suggestions and grand principles. However, about Piltover, I do have some of my own thoughts and experiences."

"You want to use them?" Qiyana said hesitantly, "That's not a good thing. The Yuentar people really dislike those nouveau riche without any substance."

"Neither the Yuentar nor the Ixialia commoners have had direct interaction with outsiders. The so-called dislike and like are merely ingrained notions based on stereotypes."

Yuan Chen said, "Piltover is the closest external civilization to Ixialia, and it's also the trade hub of the entire world. Regardless of the angle, there's a necessity for interaction."

"And the final outcome of this interaction will depend on how we guide it..."

"..."

Hearing Yuan Chen's words, Qiyana remained silent. After a moment of quiet, she asked with some confusion:

"Why are you so confident? You can't be sure either, right?"

Qiyana didn't understand why Yuan Chen could be so full of confidence.

She herself felt that this matter carried immense risk.

"If no one else believes, then believe in yourself," Yuan Chen said straightforwardly. "Isn't that what you're doing too? Or are you just saying you can do it, but in reality, you don't..."

"Enough! Stop lecturing me here!" Hearing Yuan Chen trying to make a point, Qiyana rubbed her temples in despair and said:

"I have no problems! I, Qiyana, am the most perfect! I've never doubted myself!"

Although she said this, her head was lowered, and her eyes were filled with complexity.

Yuan Chen didn't disturb her, just letting Qiyana quietly process her emotions there.

A moment later, taking a deep breath, Qiyana raised her head, closed her eyes, and said, "How much longer until the caravan reaches Yishuaoken?"

"About four more days. Just enough time to catch the opening of the Elemental Festival."

"Four days? That's too slow, can't we speed up?"

"We can't. The wagons transporting the dragons are not sturdy; they were temporarily modified from Dragon Hunt ballistae. If we go too fast, given Ixialia's environment, accidents are likely to occur. Moreover, there's the villagers' supplies behind us. Four days is already the fastest time thanks to the Road Protectors clearing the path."

Hearing Yuan Chen's explanation, Qiyana finally understood and nodded, then said:

"Since that's the case... then let's head to Yishuaoken first."

"Hm?"

Hearing Qiyana's words, Yuan Chen's eyes showed a hint of confusion.

In response, Qiyana excitedly jumped off the carriage.

She swung a Ring Blade at the nearby woods. The low bushes of the jungle bent and swayed with the rotation of the Ring Blade. With each rotation, the bushes lowered a bit more.

As if alive, the short trees separated to the sides. Roots and stems sprang from the ground, kicking up small clods of dirt and revealing a narrow, flat path.

"Keep up! My Vassal! This is my first appearance! I need to go back and prepare properly!"