Chapter 193

Lestara didn't know when she had fainted; all she knew was that when she opened her eyes, she saw the beautiful but haggard faces of her two daughters. Their eyes were filled with sadness, worry, and pain.

Lestara didn't speak, but just stared blankly for a long time.

The pure white ceiling reminded her of something... The walls of the King's main hall, the Hall of Valor, were also just as white...

Hall of Valor...

[Back then, I was young and impetuous, fearless, with a fire burning in my heart that seemed to radiate the light of justice, dispelling all the clouds of worry. That's when I first met Barrett Buvelle.]

He stood silently beside King Jarvan III, who had been crowned fourteen days earlier. The messenger called my name, and I strode into the Hall of Valor. Both young men gave me a brief look of approval—I knew I was attractive at that age, but I did my best to conceal my beauty.

The young king looked weary, perhaps bored with dealing with the discontent of various noble families all day long.

Jarvan didn't speak immediately, but waited for Barrett to whisper something in his ear. I could only see Barrett's left silhouette, his body leaning forward toward the king. At that time, and always had been.

"Lestara de Moiselle," Jarvan's voice was loud and clear, echoing between the Petricite and marble walls surrounding the spacious hall.

What brings you here today?

["For your inaction."]

I remember they immediately perked up. Jarvan's eyes widened, his eyebrows practically touching his crown. Barrett's eyes were also wide open, one hand pressed tightly against the king's shoulder.

"I did nothing?" Jarvan asked, half-doubtfully, half-jokingly. "In what way did I fail to act? The coronation was only fourteen days ago; how much could I possibly have accomplished in that time?"

"You have been king for two weeks, yet you have not shown any concern for the suffering of your subjects."

He glanced up, thinking he had figured me out. There must have been many noble ladies who had come to see the king these past few days, hoping to elevate their own and their families' status; he must be tired of it all. "I cannot bestow titles upon members of the Demoiselle family without reason. I have said the same thing many times today to the other visitors. If you serve the kingdom with merit in battle..."

"I wasn't talking about nobles," I interrupted Jarvan rudely. May God forgive my impolite and foolish behavior.

[The first time Barrett faced me directly, his face was full of surprise. I still remember his gleaming armor, with the illustrious Barrett family crest emblazoned on the center of his chest. It shone like a diamond, like his eyes.]

"I am speaking of your people," I said to the king.

"There are many people in Demacia who are homeless and unemployed, and you turn a blind eye to them, do nothing, and spend all your time mediating disputes among noble families."

"There are many kind and honest people who have to sleep on the streets or sneak into granaries for shelter. If you truly want your kingdom to improve, you must prioritize these people..."

"Instead of those who are already well-off."

[Barrett Buvelle chuckled, then uttered my name: "Lestara Demoiselle... a nice name."]

This was the first time I heard him pronounce my full name.

And the last time was...]

"His Majesty the King intends to hold the funeral immediately after his father's body is brought back..."

Kahina lay exhausted by the bedside, her swollen eyes unable to shed a single tear; only her hoarse voice conveyed her pain.

"Hmm..." Lestara gently stroked her daughter's head. She knew that she had to be strong now.

She sat up in bed and stared blankly at the pure white ceiling.

After a moment, she shook her head. "I will go to see the King this afternoon... I will tell him that he must first mourn the deceased marshal. His love for my husband should not overshadow his responsibilities to others, especially those who served faithfully with their swords and souls."

Kahina looked up, her mouth slightly open. She seemed surprised, but ultimately said nothing.

Lestara didn't explain anything further to her daughter.

She knew... actually...

The real reason was that I couldn't bear that terrible feeling.

After the funeral, he really died...

Chen Ce finally arrived in Great City of Demacia.

This magnificent city was even more prosperous than the capital of Noxus, with every house and every brick arranged in perfect order, and the people coming and going appearing orderly.

The atmosphere just wasn't very good.

Or rather... the atmosphere wasn't so good at the moment.

On one hand, there is sadness; on the other hand, it is reflected in strict control measures.

Yes, recently all the towns in Demacia have been very strict about the entry of outsiders—especially in Great City, where you can't get in without a legitimate reason.

Perhaps Jarvan III didn't want anything to go wrong at Barrett's funeral? Maybe...

But no matter what, this has no impact on Chen Ce.

Because he possesses demonic power.

He can see into people's hearts [the truth].

When questioned by the gatekeeper, he could directly use his ability to uncover the truth to give the answer the gatekeeper wanted.

Although this ability is currently at a low level and its effect is slightly weaker, it is more than enough to deal with ordinary people.

While it might be a bit unrealistic to expect to see the inner workings of powerful characters like Syndra and LeBlanc, it's definitely not a problem to see the inner workings of ordinary, normal humans.

Therefore, infiltrating Great City of Demacia would naturally not be difficult.

He even received a plaque—a sign proving he had been vetted—for gaining the gatekeeper's trust.

With this item on my person, I can remain safe even if other soldiers become suspicious of me later.

"The power of the demon is truly impressive..." Chen Ce, as usual, squatted down in an inconspicuous alley.

And he remained squatting there for three whole days.

If you get thirsty or hungry, use [Future's Market] to borrow some gold coins to get some food from the tavern next door, then continue squatting.

To be honest, this feeling is not pleasant.

But thankfully... today is almost over.

In the early morning, before the sun had fully risen.

I spent three days staking out the area, just to figure everything out and find a suitable opportunity.

"Now..."

As a tall figure walked from the street corner, Chen Ce emerged from the alley at the same time.

Then, quite "coincidentally," he startled the other person.

The tall man couldn't dodge in time and had to lean back to avoid a collision, accidentally dropping the water bottle from his hand.

Chen Ce, who was prepared, simply feigned surprise.

Then, he quickly turned to the side, bent over, and reached out, all in one smooth motion.

They not only avoided a collision but also caught the other person's water bottle, which was about to break.

He had practiced this set of movements in his mind many times.

He already knew exactly when the other person appeared, their route, their speed, what they were carrying...

"That was close..." Chen Ce handed over the water bottle he had borrowed. "I'm so sorry I almost bumped into you."

The tall man looked bewildered. "Oh... thank you... I should be the one apologizing, I was a bit in a hurry..."

As he spoke, he also looked at the young man in front of him with a surprised expression.

That reaction speed, that skill... really impressive...

While the man was observing Chen Ce was also observing him.

Standing over two meters tall, with a muscular physique, he wore a thick suit of heavy armor made of mithril; underneath was a plain blue cloth shirt, which he sometimes wore alone during training...

He would walk along this street precisely at six o'clock every morning, his destination being the Dauntless Vanguard's barracks in Great City.

He was a renowned swordsman throughout Demacia and an outstanding member of the Crownguard family.

His name is...

Garen the Crownguard.

"Is it... Garen, the Swordmaster?" Chen Ce feigned a surprised expression.

"Yes, it's me." Garen nodded, a hint of doubt flickering in his eyes. "Is this the first time you've met me?"

"Yes!" Chen Ce swallowed hard, his words tumbling out incoherently. "I know you... but this is the first time I've met you... I've heard of your deeds! You are truly admirable!"

"Cough cough... um..." The sudden praise caught Garen off guard, but he wasn't too flustered—he had heard similar praise many times since he became the First Swordsman Captain.

Rather than being humble or arrogant, he was now more concerned about the identity of the person in front of him.

"Perhaps this is the first time I've seen you... You look unfamiliar. I pass by here every day and am very familiar with the residents of this area, but I don't think I've ever seen you before?"

"Because I just arrived in Great City..." Chen Ce made an embarrassed expression again, "I haven't even found a place to stay yet..."

"An outsider?" Garen was pleased with his accurate guess. He took the sign the other person handed him.

The badge was issued by the gatekeeper, proving that the young man in front of him entered Great City through legal channels and was completely trustworthy.

"Well... I come from Ionia ... You know, Ionia was invaded by Noxus some time ago, and it was destroyed beyond recognition... I thought I'd try my luck elsewhere..." Chen Ce added.

"I see." Garen nodded, not doubting the explanation much.

A hint of sympathy even arose in my heart.

He knew Ionia; its closeness to nature appealed to him... but Noxus's invasion made him regretful about that beautiful land. His dearest sister often helped the poor people who fled from Ionia.

But... he can't help everyone.

Moreover, this applies to a young person with all four limbs intact.

"It's nice to see you, but perhaps I should go." Garen pointed in the direction of the military camp. "I still have to start today's training."

After saying that, he took another step.

Chen Ce calmly called out to him again, "Wait, Garen, the Swordsman..."

"What's wrong? Is there something else?" Garen patiently stopped in his tracks.

"Um... I want to... I want to make a deal with you..."

"What transaction?"

"I want to sell you something... The price... I don't want money, I just ask that you give me a place to stay..."

"Hmm?" Garen turned back with interest. Actually, he wasn't in a hurry to go to the military camp—today was a day of worship, and he should have been resting.

Chen Ce was aware of this as well.

That's why it took three days to wait for this day.

"What are you going to sell me?" Garen asked with a hearty smile.

Actually, he wasn't expecting the young man in front of him to give him any great treasures; he just wanted to help if he could.

"A weapon..." Chen Ce lowered his voice, "A very good ranged weapon... produced in Piltover ..."

"It sounds a bit mysterious, why don't we take a look?"

"Certainly..."

Having received the answer he wanted, Chen Ce reached into his coat.

Then he took out a uniquely designed revolver.

[Hextech Revolver]

"A powerful revolver..."

"A gun?" Although Garen was in Demacia, a country that revered traditional martial arts, he wasn't entirely unfamiliar with such a thing.

His friend Jarvan IV had previously shown him a batch of guns that Piltover had given him.

As for its power... well, I'd say it's not bad?

It might be a little more powerful than a regular bow and arrow, but the power is still very limited and it's quite inconvenient.

"This isn't an ordinary revolver," Chen Ce added. "It's powered by magic, and it works perfectly with the Petricite ... You don't need to worry, it's not a magical weapon, and it's been approved in Piltover; it's a legal and compliant weapon."