Arcane: Mage from Noxus

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"Blitz! Machines! Every! All! Blitz!"

The robots that had been busy collecting corpses suddenly spoke, its disjointed words echoing through the room. Silco narrowed his eyes, studying the machine.

It became clear to him now—these robots shared a collective consciousness. At last, he began to understand the mechanical intelligence Viktor had described.

If the regulations set by Viktor were perfectly implemented and enforced by this machine network, Zaun would possess an unparalleled force of order.

As for human nature? That was not a concern for Silco.

The people of Zaun had endured endless suffering. As long as the outcome was progress, no one would question the means.

When obedience to mechanical intelligence became habitual, management would be effortless.

In that brief moment, Silco envisioned countless possibilities—visions of a Zaun ruled by order, precision, and absolute control.

The sound of mechanical whirring brought him back to the present. The robot had completed its task, cleaning up the battlefield and disposing of the bodies.

Silco allowed himself a rare expression of relief.

At least now, he was certain. Viktor had a vision for Zaun's future—a vision Silco himself had never considered. But it might just work.

"Clear... finished! Please! Continue! Command!"

Silco straightened and assessed the lineup of Blitzcrank units before him.

Two perfect rows, five machines in each—ten in total.

"Blow up the warehouse," he commanded calmly, his voice devoid of hesitation.

"Then prepare to cross the river with me."

"Listen to orders! Anytime... go!"

One row of Blitzcranks followed Silco while the other marched toward Warehouse 2.

Moments later, a deafening explosion tore through the air as the warehouse erupted into flames.

The roar of the detonation was so intense that even Piltover, perched on the opposite side of the river, could hear and see the destruction.

The flames danced in Silco's heterochromatic eyes—one a vibrant green, the other an icy blue.

He watched silently, his gaze fixed on the ruins of a place where he had once killed Vander, his former brother-in-arms.

"Silco! Next step! Order!"

The robotic voice snapped him out of his thoughts. He turned decisively, his long coat billowing in the fiery wind as he spoke:

"Follow me. Prepare to cross the river."

With steady steps, he made his way toward the shoreline, his silhouette cutting a dramatic figure against the blazing backdrop.

On the roof of the Noxian embassy, Seraphine was practically bouncing with excitement as she chatted with Orianna, who had just arrived.

But in the midst of her enthusiasm, her words were interrupted by a distant fireball erupting in Zaun.

The explosion's thunderous sound made her cover her ears, her pink hair swaying in the shockwave.

Stunned, Seraphine turned mechanically toward her teacher, Ryan, her wide, curious eyes seeking answers.

"Teacher... why did it explode again?" she asked hesitantly.

Ryan, ever composed, smiled faintly.

"Why do you say 'again'? This is the first time Zaun's been bombed."

With a flick of his fingers, he conjured a water mirror in mid-air, revealing the scene of Silco walking away from the chaos, his expression cold and deliberate.

"Oh! That's right... I guess it was all just skirmishes before..."

Seraphine muttered. But as her gaze landed on the figure in the water mirror, her voice rose in surprise.

"It's Mr. Silco? But... why?"

Her head tilted slightly as she blinked, curiosity evident in her expression.

Zaun was Silco's home. Why would he destroy it himself?

Unless...

Her thoughts raced. Was Silco trying to imitate Piltover's tactics? Could he be staging chaos in Zaun to take someone important from the other side—perhaps to exchange them for Jinx?

But Ryan offered no answer. Instead, he waved the water mirror away, his expression unreadable as if he were waiting for something.

Seraphine, who had recently learned to choose her words more carefully, held her temper in check.

Although she chatted occasionally with Orianna, her gaze often drifted toward Ryan, as if seeking his approval.

After some time, Katarina's figure appeared on the rooftop, drawing Seraphine's attention instantly. She straightened up and thought to herself, Finally, she's here.

"Your Excellency!"

As always, Katarina greeted Ryan with the utmost respect. Ryan waved his hand lightly, and a gentle breeze lifted him effortlessly to his feet.

Ignoring Seraphine's frantic hand gestures to get his attention, he walked to the guardrail on the top floor.

His eyes scanned the crimson-tinted clouds over Zaun, painted by the fires below.

With his usual calm demeanor, he asked, "Tell me what happened in Zaun."

"Silco, dissatisfied with Viktor's rule, summoned his Chem Barons and launched an attack on Warehouse 2," Katarina reported swiftly.

"The peacekeepers fought valiantly but managed only to kill the barons. Silco emerged victorious. The robots stored in the warehouse are now missing."

"How can that be?"

Seraphine was the first to express her disbelief. She had heard the music of Silco's soul before and knew he respected Viktor deeply.

But when Orianna gently tugged at her sleeve, she paused, her excitement tempered, and chose to listen quietly to the conversation unfolding before her.

Ryan's lips curled into a faint smile. "Where did you get this information?"

Katarina responded without hesitation, "From the Last Drop, passers-by in the Lanes, and our insiders at the Peacekeepers. The news is already spreading to Piltover."

"It sounds credible," Ryan mused.

"Now, what do you think Piltover will do in response?" He looked at the three women before him with curiosity.

"Ignore it," Orianna answered succinctly, her tone calm and analytical.

"They'll have a meeting first, then celebrate in private," Katarina added with a smirk.

Ryan chuckled. "Quite likely. And you, little Seraphine?"

He turned to his apprentice with genuine interest.

Seraphine pursed her lips, thinking deeply before replying, "I wonder if some members of the council might approach Silco privately."

"Impossible," Katarina interjected, raising an eyebrow.

"He's painted himself as a cornered dog. No council member would risk their reputation to approach him."

Ryan neither confirmed nor denied her statement but instead motioned for Seraphine to continue.

Encouraged, Seraphine brightened and spoke more confidently.

"I've heard the soul songs of Councilors Talis and Heimerdinger. They believe Jinx could be a bridge to understanding Zaun better. They wouldn't outright oppose Zaun—at least, not without reason."

She hesitated, then added thoughtfully, "In fact, Councilor Heimerdinger feels personally responsible for Zaun's decline. He's even considered visiting Zaun himself to fix what he sees as his mistakes."

"And Councilor Talis..."

As Seraphine spoke passionately, Ryan's face showed subtle admiration.

Katarina, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel uneasy.

When she first arrived, she'd met Mel, who seemed so far ahead of her in political acumen.

Then there was Orianna, whose brilliance had helped create the miracle of hextech runes.

Now, even Seraphine, several years her junior, had developed an impressive ability to analyze complex situations.

Katarina clenched her fists discreetly, her insecurities bubbling up.

No matter how hard she worked, it always felt like she wasn't good enough.

"Katarina," Ryan called, pulling her from her thoughts.

She turned to him and bowed slightly.

"Please, give your orders."

"If Jayce decides to meet with Silco, where do you think it's most likely to happen?" Ryan asked, his smile cryptic.

"The harbor between Piltover and Zaun," Katarina answered immediately.

"The hex gates are inactive, and countless boats come and go each day. With all the fishing activity, it's the perfect place for a private meeting."

"Sister Katarina, you're amazing!" Seraphine said, her wide eyes brimming with admiration.

Seraphine knew Zaun well, but even she hadn't thought of the harbor. At best, her own guess would have been one of the abandoned docks.

Katarina glanced at Ryan, who smiled approvingly.

The faint smirk on his lips, however, made her uneasy.

Almost instinctively, her hand drifted to the dagger strapped to her back.