"Everyone—we can't make the same mistakes again. Jayce has lost his mind. I don't think he's fit to remain a councilor anymore. I admit Hextech is a great invention, and Jayce is one of Piltover's brightest rising stars… but look at what he's done lately?"
"Because of him, we forced Professor Heimerdinger off the Council. I thought he would develop Hextech weapons next and strengthen Piltover. Fine—he refused. He believes Hextech should improve Piltovans' quality of life, not become a weapon for Piltover to violate others. I understand that."
Salo spread his hands and said heavily, "But what about now?"
"We're the ones being violated. If he were willing to hand Hextech over, how could we possibly be this passive?"
"I propose we force Jayce to surrender Hextech, and at the same time we must agree to let Ambessa station herself in Pilt—"
"Salo. There's something I've wanted to ask you for a while."
Mel lightly tapped the table, calm as she cut him off.
Salo looked over. Every councilor's gaze followed to Mel.
She looked straight at Salo. "When exactly did you start colluding with my mother?"
"Was it after she came to Piltover? Or before she came? I don't doubt my mother has the methods to do it—but you, and Bolbok… do you really take me for an idiot?"
"Mel, I don't understand what you're talking about." Salo frowned.
"What I'm talking about—aren't you clearer on it than I am?" Mel stood up. Her lavish clothes draped over her striking figure. Her expression darkened, and the golden plating beneath her eyes looked beautiful as her facial muscles moved.
"What a coincidence, isn't it? Jayce and I had just rejected her proposal in the Council, just kicked her out—then right after that, a group of Zaunites came to Piltover and launched a terrorist attack? Over thirty Piltovans died, and they all died right at the places connected to Zaun. They even deliberately left Zaunite clothing at the scene. It's like someone wanted to tell everyone: Zaun did this."
"But based on what I know of Zaun, yes, they might come topside to cause trouble. Yet the biggest incident they've ever caused was a blue-haired lunatic blowing up Jayce's building, stealing a Hextech Gemstone and the research notes—an explosion that just happened to catch a few Enforcers who were patrolling nearby, leading to Enforcer deaths."
"But is that explosion even comparable to this?"
"The lunatic left graffiti because she's insane. So what is it supposed to mean when this attack leaves behind Zaunite clothes?"
Mel's eyes locked onto Salo. "Don't forget—I'm a Medarda too. I understand Noxian methods better than you ever will, and I understand my mother even more clearly!"
"Absurd!" Salo snapped back.
"This is what the people want!" he shot back, raising his voice. "Councilor Medarda, go and look among the people yourself—listen to them!
You know exactly how the last three days have been. We've already lost credibility with the public. Councilors who are supposed to serve them refuse to explain or respond to a terrorist attack—what reason do we even have to exist like that?"
"I think Mel's suspicion makes sense," Kiramman said softly.
"This is far too convenient. It feels like… someone is pushing things from behind the scenes. Zaunites may have many faults, but I don't believe they would slaughter Piltovan civilians. That isn't something they would do."
"Honestly, I think you and Mel are imagining Zaun as far kinder than it is," another councilor said coldly. "Zaun rioted and killed Enforcers—that's a fact everyone saw. They illegally rebuilt the pipes and formed self-rule—that's also a fact. The people of Piltover already know it."
"Doesn't all of that prove Zaun stopped being the Zaun we thought it was long ago?"
Councilor Hoskel nodded in agreement and declared his stance. "That's right. Mel, Piltover will not allow an invasion of Topside, nor interference in our politics. Our great citizens have spoken for us—we refuse to bend the knee. And the cruel sacrifices and the loss of profit will only make us more united."
"Zaun—our former friend—is now our enemy. They must answer for the shameful assault on Piltover."
"I understand what you mean. I also think it's too coincidental." Hoskel's gaze grew weighty as he looked at Mel and continued, "But we still have to give the people an answer. From the Enforcers going down to the Undercity and being killed, to this sudden attack—even if someone is pushing it all from behind, what do you think we should do now?"
"Or are we supposed to tell the people—tell them it was Noxians who did it, not Zaunites? Mel, do you think they'll believe it?"
"The narrative has already been driven. The people don't care who really did it anymore. What they want now is for Zaun to stop climbing onto Piltover's head. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Hoskel finished and quietly watched Mel.
Mel drew in a breath.
Then she slumped back down, clutching her head with both hands. "But… if we beat Zaun—after we 'win' this war—then what?"
"Piltover and Zaun will tear each other apart… and she—she'll take everything Piltover has…"
"You don't understand her. You have no idea what she's capable of when it comes to her interests!" Mel said in pain.
"That's something to consider later," Hoskel replied. "Just like Salo said—she wants to use us, but why can't we use her to solve Zaun?"
"Use Noxus?" Mel lifted her head, staring at Hoskel, suddenly feeling like this councilor she'd gotten along with was a stranger.
"Ambessa is a wolf who lost a political struggle and was pushed out of Noxus. And even so, the forces she has with her could swallow Piltover whole without effort. Use her? Forget whether you fail—let's say you succeed. How do you plan to face Noxian retaliation?"
"Noxus can kill its own people, but they will never allow outsiders to kill theirs. Do you understand that?"
"Enough, Mel."
"You're exaggerating Noxus too much."
The other councilors spoke over her.
Mel fell silent—because at this point, nothing she said would matter.
Piltover had already changed. From the old council of seven, to eight, to the point where now even six was enough… the proof was right there.
They were already tearing themselves apart.
Even Councilor Kiramman said nothing anymore—quietly consenting to the operation.
Mel understood Kiramman's thinking. Kiramman did support peace between the two cities, but she would never truly support Zaun becoming independent and self-governing.
Because House Kiramman controlled Zaun's ventilation system. How they did it wasn't widely known among the people of either city, but to the councilors, it was no secret.
And so, Zaun self-rule would damage House Kiramman's interests.
This councilor might be kind—but more than that, she would still prioritize her family's interests.
So…
Mother, are you satisfied?
Your plan worked.
Mel rubbed her temple—then abruptly stood and left the meeting without another word.
Hoskel watched her, opened his mouth, then closed it again, eyes lowering.
Councilor Kiramman rose, about to speak—only for Salo to say impatiently, "Don't bother with her!"
He muttered, "What does she think she is? Sure, she's rich and talented, but what experience does she really have? Ever since she became a councilor, she's been forming cliques, acting like Piltover's Council belongs to her. But in my eyes, she's nothing but a foreign—"
"Salo. You've gone too far." Hoskel opened his eyes and looked at him.
"...Fine. That was out of line." Salo shrugged and sat back.
"Now then," he said, "let's discuss how to subdue the Undercity thugs."
——————
Deep night. On the Promenade Bridge, a group of Zaunites on guard duty yawned, glanced at the dim bridge, and started playing cards out of boredom.
Ever since a while ago, the Bridge of Progress had stopped operating. This bridge that connected Piltover's lowest level to Zaun's highest had not been lowered again. Whether you were in Zaun or Piltover, if you wanted to go to the other city now, you could only ride the Shrieker—or take the vertical building clusters and elevators between the cities.
But Zaun didn't really care.
Because right now, everything in Zaun was getting better.
Who the hell still cared about going to Piltover?
That place never treated Zaunites like people—always as lesser, or even like dogs to be used. Now that Zaun was letting them live, Zaunites weren't going to go onto Piltie turf just to swallow humiliation.
So for Zaun, the bridge being shut down was practically a good thing.
"After a while, I'm going to apply to transfer down to the Sump. What about you?" one of the Zaunites said, a cigarette hanging from his mouth.
"Mm, I want to go down too, but isn't the Spirit Blossom Gang not recruiting anymore lately? I heard it's hard to become a member now—there's an exam."
"I got approved last time. Being a Sump Enforcer beats staring at Piltovans all day. Last time I almost couldn't stop myself from chucking a grenade over and blowing those bastards up. Like—do they think Zaun is still the old Zaun? They still dare look at us like that."
"Hah. That's all they dare do now." Another spat. "But… what's this thing they're saying about us killing their people?"
"Bullshit. Who in Zaun is still going to Piltover these days? Ignore them. They're just making things up."
As they talked, one Zaunite got a sudden urge to piss. He wandered over to the edge of the bridge, ready to face the sea and let it fly.
He'd just pulled down his pants when, out of boredom, he glanced around—and suddenly saw a light.
Then more lights.
He blinked, squinting, and saw the lights growing larger—shooting straight toward the bridge like something had been launched at them.
Then—
"Pff—!!"
"Cough!"
He started hacking violently, eyes stinging. On the other side, the Zaunites who'd been playing cards covered their mouths and noses too.
"Ene—" one Zaunite reacted fast, springing up to shout, but in the next instant, a spear flew from the far side of the bridge, punched through his body, and pinned him to the ground.
"Dorgu!"
A nearby Zaunite's eyes went wide in terror as he watched his partner drop.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
"Fire the signal flare!"
"KA-DA!" —the Bridge of Progress let out a thunderous roar.
Zaun never had the right to control this bridge. Opening and closing it was always Piltover's decision.
And now, that bridge—once sealed—began to lower. Over the dark sea, blue signal lights lit up.
Red armor intermingled with blue Enforcer uniforms.
Along with incendiary shells blasted out from Enforcer cannons.
On Zaun's side, fire blossomed. Tents ignited. Burning oil boiled across the ground in flowing sheets of flame.
Piltover lit the first fire.
And then—a small flare shot from Zaun's side, streaking up into the sky.
"Pop!"
At its highest point, it burst into a blue fireworks pattern—a smiley face. A huge, wicked smile.
The firework formed a long blue braid, a pink mouth, a laughing face with the corners stretched high.
Zaun's signal flare.
"Noxian warriors!"
The moment the bridge locked down, the white-haired woman at the front raised her weapon high and roared, slashing it forward.
"Suppress the thugs, find the criminals, and give our ally Piltover justice!"
"Kill!!!"
A tide of blood surged into Zaun.
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