Chapter 110

His younger brother... has always been like that. He's immature and easily fooled.

Even the most basic gambling games in taverns could swindle him out of everything.

Not to mention that treacherous and cunning strategist...

"Swain." Darius turned to look at the lame man in the center of the hall—he didn't even address him as "Grand Commander."

"Long time no see, Darius, my good brother." Swain a graceful bow, but did not step forward to embrace him. "I have difficulty walking, and I think you won't mind if I don't give you a warm hug."

"I understand you." Darius scoffed and strode towards the other man. "Then I'll go over there."

"Very well." Swain smiled and opened his arms, revealing his arm that had been assimilated by the demon.

Darius had heard of this before, so he wasn't afraid at all. He grabbed his giant axe and charged forward.

Instantly, the surrounding guards lowered their halberds—their duty was to prevent anyone in danger from approaching the Grand Commander.

Clearly, it is Darius wielding the giant axe.

Even without the giant axe.

"Is this how you welcome me?" Darius's voice grew deeper, like that of an enraged lion. "Swain ...you did a wonderful job."

"No, no, no, my brother, I will never be on guard against you." Swain continued to smile, waving his hand to signal all the guards around him to step back.

Soon, the distance between the two was less than half a meter.

Darius did not approach further, while Swain slowly raised his hand.

The dust on the general's shoulder guards was gently wiped away.

"Thank you for coming all the way back from Freljord."

"You know that's not what I want to hear..." Darius's voice remained low. "I openly stood up for you when Darkwill attacked you, and now you haven't even given me a choice..."

"It's a matter of necessity," Swain a smile.

"Situation? Does the situation mean acting first and reporting later? Does it mean using Draven to force me into this?"

Darius was barely able to contain his rage.

He and Swain were old acquaintances, and he had always admired Swain's talent and loyalty. For this, he went so far as to openly speak up for Swain Darkwill, even at a considerable cost.

But this is how this old friend treated him in the end?

Taking advantage of his expedition to Freljord, they launched a coup, dragging their own younger brother into it, giving him absolutely no chance to choose?

The strategist who had always been loyal to the empire has now become the culprit who orchestrated the coup and overthrew the empire's leader?

"Swain ...!"

"Believe me, my brother." Having said that, Swain saw no further reason to conceal his intentions and stated directly, "Darkwill's devastation of the Empire is evident to all. I only wish to lead the Empire towards a brighter future—"

"Enough!" Darius finally roared, interrupting the other man. "You didn't even consult me! You even deliberately had Draven kill countless old nobles! You're betraying me, all for your insatiable ambition and thirst for power!!"

"I have no desire for power; my only goal is to make the empire better—nothing more."

"Then you shouldn't have done that to me, to Draven!"

"But I won't monopolize this power."

"What else are you trying to argue about?!"

"From now on, there will never be a situation where one person controls the empire again."

As he spoke, Swain suddenly turned around and looked at the top of the hall's steps—where there was nothing.

And there should have been the throne of the Grand Master there—as everyone knew, Darius included.

"Noxus doesn't need an emperor. I will establish a new system that allows all talented individuals to contribute to the empire—and receive corresponding power and status."

"What exactly do you want to do?" Darius frowned, glancing at the nobles in the hall out of the corner of his eye.

He saw many familiar faces.

Not only Draven, but also General Du Couteau and some other renowned generals.

Finally, he turned his gaze to Swain.

The latter turned around, its outstretched arms resembling a pair of malevolent raven wings.

"I want to establish a new parliament."

"Noxus will henceforth be governed jointly by the entire parliament."

"Strategic planning, military strength, and cunning are all indispensable; Noxus will reach a new level!"

"His name is... Trifarix!"

The small boat that has traveled across the ocean is about to reach the shore.

Chen Ce's life as captain is about to come to an end.

In the final days of his "career," he chose to spend time with his first mate on the ship.

"Syndra, step forward! Take the helm for one hundred minutes!"

"..." Syndra floated from the ship's corridor into the captain's cabin with a speechless expression.

"Chen Ce, I hope you won't be so naive."

"What do you mean 'childish'? Aren't I the captain?" Chen Ce patted the ship's wheel in front of him, his tone full of pride. "This has always been my dream, and now I've achieved it!"

"..."

"Syndra, your second-in-command, step forward!"

"... I want to refuse."

Syndra sighed inwardly—how come she hadn't noticed how childish the other person was before?

Even if it's just the two of them in the captain's cabin right now, and they don't need to worry about their image, this is still... ridiculous!

Who has a second-in-command at the helm? Isn't that ridiculous?

That assistant isn't supposed to do this kind of work!

"Chen Ce, please respect my profession." The girl pointed to the homemade sign on her chest. "I'm the deputy, I can't steer the ship. Please don't be so childish."

"That seems to make sense." Chen Ce nodded thoughtfully, then continued to steer the ship.

The land beyond the horizon is getting closer and closer; in fact, it's no longer necessary to steer.

Then, an even more important question arises, "By the way, Syndra, you were floating around in Ionia because you didn't want to touch the First Lands. Will you continue to float around in Noxus?"

"It depends on my mood," Syndra, the second-in-command, replied casually.

"So that means there's still a chance they'll be able to walk again, right?"

"Maybe... What's wrong?"

"This brings us to a very important issue..." Chen Ce suddenly opened the drawer with a mysterious expression and pulled out a pre-prepared box.

Under the girl's curious gaze, he slowly opened the box.

Inside was... a pair of high heels.

"Here, wear this if you want to walk around in the future." Chen Ce didn't want the other person's originally spotless jade feet to get covered in mud—that would truly shatter his illusions.

Syndra's jade feet are the most perfect jade feet in the world, closest to those in anime.

"... Strange shoes." Syndra had never worn these shoes before and found them a bit odd, but she accepted them anyway.

Chen Ce nodded in satisfaction.

But before he could say anything more about the precautions, the other party suddenly launched an attack—

Syndra floated up several dozen centimeters, her jade-like feet resting right in front of Chen Ce.

She looked down at him with an arrogant expression and a mocking tone, like a queen teasing her servants.

"Help me put them on, and I'll allow you to take off my foot warmers."

Half an hour later, the small boat was very close to the shore.

Chen Ce also walked out of the captain's cabin looking somewhat uneasy.

LeBlanc stood guard at the door.

"Got bullied again? Tsk tsk tsk... I thought you'd never be trampled on by a woman, but I never expected... Heh, Miss Syndra is quite assertive."

"This isn't being trampled underfoot, it's just... my choice, understand?" Chen Ce retorted slightly, trying to sound tough.

Fortunately, LeBlanc was too lazy to expose his lame excuse. "Let's get down to business, Mr. Pervert who willingly lets himself be stepped on by a bare foot and a foot covered in a foot sock."

"We don't need to add so many prefixes," Chen Ce said expressionlessly.

"Hehe... We'll be arriving in Noxus soon. I'll take you directly to the Grand Commander's palace in a bit."

"Going to do what?"

"Attend the meeting."

What meeting?

"The Trifarix Council."

"Hmm?" Chen Ce had certainly heard of this name before, but what he didn't quite understand was... why the other party dared to bring him to the conference so openly.

In theory, the establishment of the Trifarix Council is now unstoppable.

Moreover, LeBlanc's Black Rose an "underground organization" in Noxus that cannot be openly operated and is not officially recognized. It would obviously not be a wise move to play its cards openly during a coup in Noxus.

We can't just... kill Swain, Darius, and the others right there in the meeting, can we?

"Sorry, I might not have explained things in enough detail." LeBlanc suddenly smiled and then waved her hand.

The next moment, an eerie mist veiled her flawless face, obscuring her features.

"To be precise, the person attending this meeting is you, not me."

"Only you."

"The first step in taking Noxus."

"Besides, Swain very interested in you... He's been wanting to meet you for a long time."

Chapter Two: Katarina's Second Target

Chen Ce has reached the shore.

The sky over Noxus's capital was always overcast, as if it were about to rain. A suffocating atmosphere enveloped every corner of the land. The roar of shoddy machinery and the complaints of the laborers on the docks mingled together, creating a steel symphony that celebrated bloodshed, oppression, and expansion.

This is Noxus.

Noxus where the strong reign supreme.

Here, there is no harmony between humanity and nature, no peaceful atmosphere, and no monks who help the weak and needy or do good deeds. Here, there is only an extreme yearning for force and power.

This place is not as peaceful, natural, friendly, and magical as Ionia, nor as civilized, polite, and law-abiding as Demacia. Here, the only thing that can bring people a good life is their own strength.

Here, having power means having everything.

This barren land welcomes everyone equally, whether you are a glorious paladin or an evil Black Mage; as long as you have enough power, you are welcome here.

Noxus doesn't require anyone to be polite or follow traditions, nor does it view mages as monsters and forcibly ban them from magic. The only thing it forbids is useless people— Noxus doesn't support idlers.

Power is everything.

Even the most wicked, cunning, and despicable villains can gain respect, status, and money here, provided they have power.

This "simple and honest" folk custom is destined to nurture a fierce and valiant nation.

Chen Ce sensed this from the moment he landed—the dock manager was whipping his dark-skinned slaves over a trivial matter.

"What's wrong? Are you not used to it?"

LeBlanc seemed to notice Chen Ce's unease, and her words revealed a hint of "pride" in her expression, "[That's just how Noxus is]."

"There aren't all sorts of formalities and people who follow them here, nor are there as many gentle and beautiful young ladies as in Ionia... But with your strength, getting a woman in Noxus is much easier than in Ionia."