Swain slowly descended the staircase covered in a red carpet as the other faction representatives stepped forward to greet him.
"General Medarda, your heroic deeds are still spoken of in the army to this day. Whether as a Noxian general or the matriarch of the House Medarda, you have done well. I truly admire that."
Spreading his arms slightly, he expressed his respect for her.
As a member of the old nobility, Ambessa led from the front in battle, fighting with unmatched ferocity. She never suppressed talented individuals, on the contrary, she promoted them. In the decaying aristocracy of Noxus, she was a breath of fresh air, and Swain made no effort to conceal his desire to win her over.
"Thorns are like a bone stuck in one's throat, yet your rose is the most beautiful sight in the garden. I should thank you. You made me realize that the rose was still hidden in the shadows." Swain cast a casual glance at Camille, nodding slightly in acknowledgment before walking past her without another word.
His words, however, made her pupils contract. She was beginning to understand why the Pale Woman had warned her, Swain was not easy to deal with.
"Lady Medarda, I admire your achievements in commerce."
Without waiting for a response, he turned to Jayce.
"Jayce, your advancements in Hextech hold great promise. I have high expectations for them."
Mere pleasantries, he saw no value in either Mel or Jayce, nor in the forces backing them. He spoke only out of courtesy, as a senior figure acknowledging their presence, and even that was merely for Ambessa's sake.
With his intellect, he hardly believed that Ambessa had truly fallen out with her daughter. Opposition was, at times, a form of protection.
"Cipher, Noxus does not mistreat its allies. The injustices you and Zaun have suffered, I will see that they are made right."
Weaving past the representatives of the Upper City, Swain finally stopped in front of Cipher.
A single offhand remark from him was enough to make the aristocrats in Camille's faction break into a cold sweat. They knew that unless they were willing to pay a hefty price, there was no way they would get through this unscathed. Inevitably, they began to resent her.
"We are deeply grateful for your support and the Noxian Empire. Zaun will always stand as your partner, as the Empire's partner."
Lowering his head with precise depth, Cipher showed the appropriate deference before Swain. As he straightened, he met Swain's eyes briefly. There was no shame in bowing before him, after all, Swain made sure his people ate well, so long as they had the ability to earn their keep.
Looking at the young man before him, a faint smile surfaced on Swain's otherwise stern face.
Through the layers of fog that shrouded this youth, he could see the makings of a titan, one whose brilliance would illuminate the world. By standing on the shoulders of such a titan, drawing from its wisdom, and courage, Cipher had managed to breathe new life into Zaun, earning Swain's recognition.
His intelligence reports suggested that Cipher's actions were far from flawless, riddled with missteps and vulnerabilities. But his unyielding drive to uplift Zaun was something Swain found rare and commendable.
A mere child, yet one who had forsaken wealth and comfort to shoulder the fate of an entire city. Faced with threats and temptations, he would rather die with honor than surrender.
Such individuals were scarce, even across the vast expanse of Noxian territory. Those who walk similar paths recognize one another. Looking at Cipher, Swain saw a reflection of his own younger self.
"Let's talk tonight."
With a firm pat on Cipher's shoulder, he signaled his approval.
"I look forward to it, Grand General," Cipher replied with a respectful nod.
Swain then led a procession of Piltover and Zaun's elite into the council chamber.
His primary purpose in coming here was to oversee the logistical arrangements for Noxus' southern campaign against Shurima. Supplying an army of hundreds of thousands was a colossal trade opportunity, one that Piltover and Zaun would surely compete over.
He intended to manage the distribution of this "cake" carefully. He had to ensure that no fool, left without a share, would be desperate enough to sabotage the entire operation, even at the cost of their own ruin.
Helping a smaller ally was merely a side task, after all, he was far too busy. Noxus had always played the role of an emergency firefighter, rushing from crisis to crisis. But since he was here, he would make sure his allies got a proper share of the feast. If they could eat their fill of meat, perhaps they wouldn't have to settle for mere scraps.
"Camille, regarding your recent attack on a Noxian ally, what explanation does the Clan Ferros have for this act?"
Inside the vast council hall, Swain did not rush into business negotiations. Instead, his first words were directed at Camille, holding her to account.
The room fell silent, all eyes turning to Camille.
"The attack nearly killed one of Noxus' loyal allies. This has caused us great losses. You've set a dangerous precedent. If everyone followed your example and turned on Noxian partners, who would still dare to work with us? If the Clan Ferros cannot provide an explanation, perhaps I can help you find one."
Ambessa crossed her arms, supporting Swain's pressure on the Clan Ferros. A wolfish grin played at the corners of her lips, eager to sink her teeth into the oil-rich Ferros holdings.
With two warlords commanding vast military power bearing down on them, even if actual conflict was unlikely, the Piltovan aristocrats in Camille's faction trembled in fear, too afraid to speak.
"Noxian law demands that those who err must face consequences. We understand this well. We will pay for our actions. Here is a record of all our family's enterprises. We are willing to give up 50%, but no more than that."
She produced a document.
"The remaining shares are beyond our control."
Unlike the other nobles, Camille remained composed, even carrying an air of defiant arrogance. She produced a prepared document listing all of her family's publicly acknowledged assets.
The Clan Ferros' power and wealth had already reached the limits of what Piltover would tolerate. Even half of their declared holdings amounted to an astronomical sum.
Yet this precise percentage made Swain and Ambessa exchange a subtle glance.
The information had been leaked. This was the exact bottom line they had privately agreed upon. There was no point in pressing further. The ones who had intended to corner Camille now found themselves cornered by the forces backing her.
Her final remark made it clear: they could either accept the deal or prepare for a direct confrontation with those standing behind her.
"How interesting. On behalf of Noxus, I accept the Clan Ferros' offer."
With the southern campaign looming, Swain chose compromise. He glanced briefly at the document handed to him by a servant, then casually selected two holdings.
"These will suffice for Noxus," he said, passing the rest to Ambessa.
Ambessa, in contrast, was far more deliberate. She carefully picked the most valuable assets before handing the document to Cipher.
In this game of power, Swain and Ambessa had lost in terms of intelligence.
But speaking up for a minor ally carried no real downside in the grand scheme of Piltover and Zaun's political landscape. If anything, it gave Swain an opportunity to press his advantage elsewhere.
His brow furrowed deeply.
"The Empire is about to embark on a grand campaign against Shurima. Piltover and Zaun will serve as critical supply hubs for the Noxian army. I have decided to entrust this responsibility to General Medarda, Lady Medarda, Jayce, and Cipher, each overseeing their respective fields."
His gaze bore down on the assembly. "Does anyone support or oppose this decision?"
Silence.
Under Swain's imposing presence, no one dared to object, not even Camille.
He had distributed the spoils among the others, deliberately leaving out the most powerful faction: Camille's. It was a clear move to isolate them, punishing them for their earlier defiance.
The strategy was simple. By ensuring her faction received nothing, he could redirect the resentment of the excluded aristocrats toward the Clan Ferros.
All he had to do next was discreetly instruct those who had received their share to sacrifice a small portion to placate the discontented. This would prevent unnecessary unrest while ensuring that their anger remained focused solely on the Clan Ferros.
A coalition of merchants formed through shared profit would crumble just as easily when profit was taken away.