Chapter 178
The Hand of Noxus is a symbol of the Empire's military might, its most loyal warrior. How could he... how could he stand against the Empire...!
"Damn it... damn it...!"
Darius slammed his fists into the desk again and again, and the expensive solid wood table soon shattered under his brute force.
The sound of guards' hurried footsteps immediately rang out outside the door.
"I'm fine!" Darius practically roared, ordering the guards to step back.
He only calmed down a little after the footsteps faded into the distance.
He bent down awkwardly and picked up the documents scattered on the ground again.
Finally, his gaze settled on a recent internal announcement.
That was given to him personally by the Trifarix Legion —or rather, by Swain.
[A conflict has broken out in the western part of the Empire, bordering Demacia, resulting in six deaths and twenty-three injuries.]
The commander of the Guardians of the Gate of Mourning has returned in glory.
[The Trifarix Legion 19th Infantry Regiment is heading towards the Gate of Mourning.]
"Chen Ce..."
Chapter 51 Ashe: You little slut!
With the crisis in the north largely resolved, Chen Ce, Ashe, Sejuani finally embarked on their journey home.
Before parting, Lissandra gifted them with many superior, well-trained ice beasts, as well as countless provisions stored up in warehouses. They had a fairly comfortable few days on their way back home.
When they saw the walls of the Freljord Alliance again on the horizon, the patrolling guard squad also spotted them.
Then came cheers that echoed throughout the entire camp.
Their Warmother, Warmother "boyfriend," and Warmother best friend returned with smiles, and the situation in the North was self-evident.
Countless tribesmen lined the road to welcome them, and some of the bolder ones even stepped forward to offer flowers, a rare treat in Freljord.
Although the damaged city walls and streets could not be fully repaired, the traces of decay had been repaired and covered up by the tribesmen, and the collapsed houses were being rebuilt in full swing. The entire camp was filled with a vibrant atmosphere.
The wounds of war have vanished, replaced by lusher vegetation and farmland, and more brave, strong, and well-equipped soldiers.
The cold winter has passed, and early spring in the south brings sunshine and streams.
"Ashe! Ashe! Ashe!"
"Chen Ce! Chen Ce! Chen Ce!"
Sejuani! Sejuani! Sejuani!
The loud shouts continued until sunset.
After a short rest, the three were ready to begin their work— Ashe was preparing her speech, Sejuani was distributing the supplies Lissandra had given them to the Winter's Claw, and Chen Ce...
Chen Ce's task was not as heavy as the two girls', but it was obviously more troublesome.
He carried the shield that resembled a door, or the door that resembled a shield, and walked towards a corner of the camp amidst the enthusiastic gazes of the crowd.
There were two bald, burly men there.
One was fatter, the other was stronger; one was taller, the other shorter.
The two of them were silently clinking glasses, surrounded by empty wooden Gragas.
Chen Ce slowly approached.
"Hey, brother..." Gragas grabbed the last barrel of liquor.
"Sigh..." Braum began chugging down the wine in his glass.
"You have to trust Mr. Chen Ce ... he's not the kind of person who borrows things and doesn't return them..." Gragas filled his brother's cup again.
"It's been eight days, thirteen hours, and twenty-eight minutes..." Braum downed his drink in one gulp.
"Then... let's wait one more day... just one more day..."
"You have no idea what that shield means to me..."
"I understand, I understand everything..."
No... you don't understand...
"I understand..."
"Don't know..."
"I understand... Why don't you take a break and stop drinking for now..."
"It's still early..."
"But you've been drinking for seven days straight without sleeping..."
"He's not dead yet..."
"..."
"..."
The conversation between the two burly men was truly astonishing.
Chen Ce's already slow steps became even more hesitant, the huge goat horn shield reflecting the afterglow of the setting sun on his back.
In the end, he gritted his teeth and went over.
"Braum, your shield!"
"...?" The bald, burly man with two small mustaches raised his head blankly, his eyes filled with a dazed look in the center of his deep eye bags.
A moment later, his lifeless eyes regained their light.
"My... shield!"
Braum jumped up excitedly and hugged the shield offered to him as tightly as if he were hugging a lover.
Seeing this, Gragas finally breathed a sigh of relief, "I knew Mr. Chen Ce wasn't the kind of person who wouldn't return something he borrowed."
"Yes, yes..." The joy of finding it again made Braum wipe his eyes.
The atmosphere immediately became very relaxed and comfortable.
It seems that everything has been perfectly resolved.
But... Chen Ce still looked nervous.
Even his back was covered in cold sweat.
Because... because...
"You know, Mr. Chen Ce ... this shield is my best friend..." Braum's voice trembled with emotion. "I thought... I thought I'd never see him again... Thank you... thank you so much for returning it to me..."
"Ah... of course... haha..." Chen Ce scratched his head, his eyes darting around.
"Great... my best friend is back safe and sound..."
"Hmm... uh..."
The more he listened to what Braum said, the more alarmed he became...
Some things are just impossible to say...
But...
Chen Ce stole a glance at the spot where Braum's hand was gripping.
The latter gently stroked the shield, his large hand moving from top to bottom.
They quickly reached the lower edge of the shield.
There...
"Hmm?" Braum suddenly felt something was off and immediately raised the shield above his head.
Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the goat horn shield gleamed.
But the huge gap also became particularly noticeable.
A gaping hole the size of a palm, with spiderweb-like cracks spreading outwards... almost half of the shield became incredibly fragile, shattering at the slightest touch.
The crack was so severe that it was almost indistinguishable from one that had been glued on.
"...?" Braum's eyes widened instantly.
Gragas grabbed the Gragas and ran away.
Chen Ce stood there awkwardly, his gaze darting away, almost to the heavens.
"Well... back then, to deal with Aatrox... um... Ornn intervened... and during the fight, it was an accident... this..."
Braum fell silent.
Chen Ce was filled with remorse. "This is indeed my fault... I apologize... I will try my best to make it up to you with other equipment..."
"No need." Braum's sobs subsided, his agitation vanished, and his tone became utterly calm.
But the more he acted this way, the more guilty and ashamed Chen Ce felt.
"I know that nothing I give you can make up for my mistake... but... if you need anything, please feel free to ask..."
I don't need anything.
"Feel sorry..."
"Hmm." Braum turned away dejectedly, then sat down on the ground, still clutching his shield.
This probably counts as accepting the other party's apology, but it's impossible not to feel bad.
This shield was his best friend, as intimate as his partner... He had never let go of it since he acquired it.
This time, Chen Ce not only took it and used it, but he also broke it...
It hurts, it hurts so much!
Seeing this, Chen Ce continued, "If there's an opportunity in the future, I will definitely ask the Master of Forging to do it for you again—"
"No need," Braum interrupted.
Chen Ce suddenly felt somewhat at a loss.
Just as he was about to apologize again, the kind-looking, bald, burly man suddenly stood up.
"I only want to know one thing right now..." Braum lowered his shield and approached his opponent step by step.
The massive figure cast a shadow that completely enveloped Chen Ce.
Chen Ce sighed inwardly, thinking that he should just hold back whether the other party was going to curse him or hit him later—after all, he had indeed been a bit unfair.
Braum approached.
Chen Ce was also prepared to "plead guilty with a bundle of thorns on his back".
However... the expected accusations did not materialize.
What Braum said...
Only one word of concern:
"I just want to know, did my shield protect you? And how many people did it save?"
Chen Ce was taken aback.
Braum then gave a hearty smile.
A cute little Poro popped out of his pocket and hopped onto Chen Ce's head.
"As long as you protect everyone with this shield..."
Braum patted Chen Ce on the shoulder, flashing his two rows of clean, white teeth.
"I won't blame you, I'll only thank you—my friend."