Chapter 109
After navigating several familiar corridors, he soon arrived at a fairly spacious lounge.
Ahri, Syndra, and Irelia were already there waiting for him.
Pushing open the door, I saw three girls sitting in three corners of the lounge, not speaking to each other and not even exchanging pleasantries.
Chen Ce sat down, looking embarrassed.
The three girls didn't even glance at him—they couldn't stand each other when Chen Ce wasn't around, but now that he was here, they had a common "enemy."
If you want to see someone, just see them alone. What's the point of coming here and finding two other people there?
Do you want one person... or three people... or whatever...?! That's outrageous!
Shameless!
"Ahem..." Chen Ce coughed twice, trying to break the awkward silence.
The three girls simply turned their heads away, even more displeased, as if they were ignoring him.
Left with no other option, Chen Ce got straight to the point. "Um... I called you all here to discuss the trip to Noxus..."
"What's there to discuss? Go ahead, do you think I'd stop you?" Irelia retorted sarcastically. "It's like you want to find a lover, do you think I could stop you?"
"Hmm, darling, go ahead... Anyway, I'm just a toy you can do without, right... I won't bother you, I... You don't need to worry about me, I'll find something to eat in the trash when I'm hungry..." In comparison, Ahri Daiyu's offensive seemed more difficult to deal with.
"Oh." Syndra simply and bluntly chose to ignore it.
Chen Ce suddenly felt a headache coming on.
But now is really not the time to talk about these things...
"What I mean is... I'd like to discuss with you guys the idea of going to Noxus together."
As soon as he finished speaking, the previously noisy lounge fell silent.
Then, Chen Ce added, "I'll probably be away for about a year and a half this time. After thinking it over, I've decided it's better to discuss it with you guys first, since it's not one of those 'mini-trips' that last a few days or a week."
"Hmm..." Irelia nodded, but there was no joy on her face, only a hint of melancholy—clearly, she already knew the answer after hearing the words "a year and a half".
She definitely wouldn't leave Ionia at a time like this—not even for a few days. But if Chen Ce were only gone for a short while, she could see him again soon. Instead, it's been a year and a half...
She had originally planned to live a peaceful and happy life with Chen Ce after the war ended...
The journey will be long and dangerous— Noxus is no peaceful place, and her beautiful vision is destined to be in vain...
How could she not feel melancholy and worried?
"I... I'm sorry." Irelia sighed softly, her meaning unspoken.
Chen Ce expressed his understanding—or rather, he had never imagined that Irelia would accompany him to Noxus. "It's alright, I understand— Ionia can't live without you."
"We... can only meet again after a long time..."
"If I have time, I might come back a few times in between."
"Really?"
"Certainly."
"Hmm..." Irelia felt a small sense of relief.
Then came the clingy little Hu woman. "I want to go! I want to go!"
"You..." Chen Ce also turned his gaze to Ahri, "As for you... not for now."
"Huh? Why? Don't treat me differently!" Ahri stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
However, Chen Ce really didn't mean to target or exclude her. "Your Vastaya identity is too obvious, even your coat can't cover it up, it's hard to escape the Noxus' eyes, and I don't plan to reveal my identity in Noxus."
"But... but I can transform into a fox!"
"Have you ever seen a nine-tailed fox other than yourself? And you can't maintain your fox form for long, can you?"
"This..."
"Sorry, Ahri." Chen Ce reached out and patted the other's head, then rubbed its two fluffy and sensitive fox ears to comfort it. "It really wasn't possible at first... but I promise you, once I've established myself in Noxus, you can come whenever you want."
"Ugh..." Ahri pouted, looking aggrieved and unhappy. "Then I'll starve to death here..."
"I will leave the Corrupting Potion for you," Chen Ce reassured her.
"What I want isn't medicine at all... You know that perfectly well..."
"It won't be long—I assure you."
"Snort..."
Ahri was still unhappy, but she stopped arguing—she was a reasonable person... no, a fox, and she wouldn't act unreasonably when it came to important matters, much less sabotage Chen Ce's plans for her own sake.
"Then... then I'll wait for you for a little while... I really can't do anything with you..."
"I'm sorry." Chen Ce patted the fox girl's head again, then looked at the last person— Syndra.
Syndra is the only one of the three who doesn't have any attachment to Ionia and doesn't have to worry about being discovered as Ionia.
Her answer was also very concise and clear:
"I'm fine with anything—as long as I can leave Ionia."
"Then please take care of me from now on." Chen Ce smiled and extended a hand to her.
Syndra hesitated before touching hands with the other person.
"I... who needs your help... I just happen to be leaving Ionia too..."
Chen Ce and the other two girls couldn't help but smile.
Syndra, feigning aloofness, blushed slightly and turned her head to the other side.
The lounge had become unusually harmonious.
Outside the lounge, the Pale Lady had been waiting for a long time.
Finally, the laughter inside subsided, and Chen Ce pushed open the door and went out.
"Ready to come to Noxus with me?" LeBlanc asked with a smile.
But Chen Ce shook his head.
"It's about conquering Noxus."
Chapter One: Arrival at the World's Highest City, the Capital!
News of Braum Darkwill's death spread like wildfire, reaching all of Noxus in just a few days—even the expeditionary force far to the north learned of it.
The capital city, the center of Noxus power, was plunged into chaos.
The vast majority of the people had long suffered under Darkwill's tyranny and were naturally happy about Darkwill downfall and death. However, Jericho Swain's rise to power also raised the same concerns among them—it was hard to say whether the new president, who seized power through a coup, would also be a brutal ruler like Darkwill.
Seizing power through bloody violence is something that hasn't happened in Noxus's history for centuries.
Such egregious behavior makes it hard to believe that this newly appointed "President" is capable of such actions.
Not to mention that his past feud with Darkwill had long been known throughout the streets and alleys.
Is this a "reform" for the country and its people, or an "assassination" for revenge and the pursuit of power? No one can give a definitive answer.
Many members of the old aristocracy openly questioned the legitimacy of Jericho Swain's ascension to the presidency in the halls of power.
Swain simply waved his hand dismissively at the various speculations from the outside world.
The price he paid for waving his hand was that countless old nobles had their past misdeeds dug up overnight by the "Liquidators"—how many of those old nobles who had risen through the ranks and made fortunes thanks to Darkwill were truly innocent?
The power transition in Noxus was not merely a matter between Braum Darkwill and Jericho Swain; it was a major event involving a reshuffling of the upper nobility.
The Liquidators unearthed countless messy accounts, with files documenting murders, embezzlement, bribery, and abuse of power nearly filling Swain's desk.
Under such a tough stance, those nobles who had originally wanted to wait and see had no choice but to immediately take sides.
At first, about half of the nobles were unwilling to recognize the legitimacy of Swain's ascension to the throne, but soon only a few scattered nobles remained—they had thought they could rival Swain, but it turned out they were completely wrong.
Even if they had never done anything illegal or violated Noxus laws, or had no past transgressions to dredge up, Swain could still use more direct and brutal methods to purge them one by one.
Thus, in less than a few days, only those who recognized Swain remained within the capital city—perhaps they weren't genuinely aligned with Swain, but they were forced to "acknowledge" the legitimacy of his actions.
Until their other hope—the legendary "Pale Lady"—arrives, they can only feign compliance with this new president who seems even more ruthless than Darkwill.
Perhaps they will turn against Swain when Swain is also ousted, but certainly not now.
Some far-sighted individuals even genuinely pledged allegiance to Swain —by the morning after Swain's coup, they had astutely grasped the rules of the game in this power transition.
Among them was the legendary Noxus assassin, General Du Couteau.
General Du Couteau was not only Noxus's most legendary assassin, but also a powerful high-ranking general. His House Du Couteau an ancient and prestigious family that had existed in the empire for hundreds of years—rumored to have played an indispensable role in the founding of Noxus.
After General Du Couteau swore allegiance to Swain, many of the old nobles and families who were vassals of the House Du Couteau chose to submit.
It can be said that General Du Couteau cleared many obstacles for Swain.
Swain himself did not forget this "favor," and on the third day after seizing power, he invited General Du Couteau into his palace.
Until now.
"The Empire will never forget your help, and time will prove how wise your choice was."
Inside the magnificent hall, Swain continued to praise the middle-aged man before him—the tall, yet always unassuming, legendary assassin.
"I only did what I was supposed to do." The latter bowed respectfully, his tone full of humility. "Darkwill has long plagued the Empire, and you have saved it—even if some fools call you a 'usurper.' I will silence them for you."
The second half of the sentence sounds like a pie-in-the-sky attempt to ingratiate oneself.
But the truth is... he does have that ability.
He alone cannot silence public opinion, but his Assassin Guild can.
He practically controlled all the assassins in Noxus, and those assassins were scattered throughout every corner of the empire—even in the most remote towns and the dirtiest alleys, there might be an assassin who looked like a drunkard or a beggar.
They gathered all the intelligence on the empire for General Du Couteau, and also handled some shady, dirty business for the upper-class nobles of the empire.
"No need, time will tell." Swain waved his hand magnanimously, the smile on his face making it impossible to tell whether it was hypocritical or genuine.
The only certainty is that his other hand, hidden inside his coat, wields demonic power.
"On behalf of all the fools of the Empire, I thank you—and praise your kindness and generosity." General Du Couteau bowed again, his humble and obsequious manner completely incongruous with his aloof status.
But Swain will accept it calmly.
After a round of pleasantries, silence fell over the hall—not just between the two of them, but also among a group of nobles who had chosen to surrender.
The silence was broken just a few minutes later by the sound of footsteps.
A loud, powerful sound—the sound of iron military boots stomping forcefully on the granite floor.
Draven, who was standing by the door, was initially a little drowsy, but he immediately perked up when he heard the footsteps—he was all too familiar with them.
So, in a voice that was half joyful and half playful, he began the countdown. "Three, two, one..."
With a clang, the moment the countdown ended, he personally opened the hall doors.
Then a big foot that was trying to kick the door missed its target.
The moment they saw who it was, the nobles in the hall instinctively felt a chill.
Draven had just finished his "prank," was not afraid at all. Instead, he deliberately raised his voice and shouted, "Welcome our hero—the most powerful general of the Empire— Darius, the Hand of Noxus!"
Thump! The person took the final step with force.
Immediately afterwards, those eyes, brimming with anger, glared fiercely at Draven.
He was very dissatisfied with the other party's behavior.
But it wasn't because he was being tricked.
Rather, it was because... he felt the other person was still very immature—like a little boy who never grew up.
If it were anyone else, he might have already chopped them down with an axe, but he showed Draven boundless leniency.
Because that was his younger brother.
He was Darius's younger brother.
"Get your attitude straight!" He only verbally reprimanded his perpetually immature younger brother, "I'll settle your score with you later!"
"Oh, that's really bad news." Draven just shrugged nonchalantly. "But maybe we can settle things over the drinks—yes, you still owe me a shot of ale, that'll have to do with that too."
Upon hearing this, Darius was even more displeased, but more than that, he felt helpless.