Arcane: Thicker Than Blood

"Mr. Cipher, please be patient for a moment; Councilor Kiramman will be here shortly." The butler's voice carried the practiced warmth of someone who had welcomed countless distinguished guests.

He led Cipher to the reception room.

Even their servants carry themselves like nobility here.

"Would you like coffee or black tea?"

"Black tea, please. Thank you."

"Please, no need to be polite. It's my duty. Let me know if you need anything; I'll be just nearby." The butler's movements were smooth and practiced as he arranged the tea service.

He served Cipher a cup of freshly brewed tea and some exquisite snacks before quietly retreating.

Soon, the large reception room was left with only Cipher. There was no sign of nervousness or anxiety on his part; it was as if he wasn't visiting the home of a high-ranking and powerful councilor.

Crossing his legs, he leisurely sipped his tea, nibbled on snacks, and casually observed the interior design of the Kiramman residence.

Each piece of furniture seemed carefully chosen.

Although it was luxurious, the overall white color scheme gave it a surprisingly warm and cozy feeling.

"Not bad taste," he remarked, closing his eyes for a brief rest.

He had been utterly exhausted over the past few days, constantly busy from morning until night. 

Tap, tap, tap!

Light footsteps echoed from the staircase.

He opened his eyes and saw a blue-haired young woman with a ponytail descending the stairs. She carried a rifle on her back and wore casual attire suitable for outdoor activities. The weapon wasn't just for show—it hung with the comfortable familiarity of a well-used tool.

It was Caitlyn Kiramman, the Sheriff of Piltover.

Unlike her depiction in the original Arcane series, this Caitlyn had a more delicate and refined appearance, closely resembling the promotional posters from the early days of League of Legends.

She was breathtakingly beautiful. Her movements carried the grace of someone equally comfortable in ballrooms and back alleys.

"Hello, Miss Caitlyn."

Beauty often had the power to alleviate fatigue. Cipher's eyes lit up as he initiated a greeting, his posture straightening almost unconsciously.

"Hello." Caitlyn responded briefly. Her tone was polite but carried an undercurrent of assessment.

She approached Cipher and curiously observed him, her eyes missing nothing.

He wore cheap clothing, clearly not a member of one of Piltover's elite families, nor did he look like a wealthy merchant. The fabric was sturdy but worn, chosen for function over fashion.

There was a faint smell about him—barely noticeable but detectable to her. It was the peculiar scent that comes from frequent exposure to industrial fumes.

A Zaunite.

Caitlyn's curiosity deepened.

The tea on the table was brewed from the finest leaves in the household, a luxury more expensive than gold. Only distinguished guests were treated with such hospitality.

For a Zaunite to receive such treatment, there could only be one explanation: this person was an exceptionally talented scientist.

The disparity intrigued her.

She happened to know of such a person from Zaun, and the age matched. Her mind worked through the possibilities like solving a particularly interesting case.

Scientists visiting councilors typically had only one purpose—they sought funding for research projects. The pattern was as familiar as her morning patrol route.

Caitlyn suddenly lost interest in going hunting. She put down her rifle and sat across from Cipher.

"Mr. Cipher, you're here to visit my mother today. Are you seeking investment for your research?" Her question was direct, but her tone remained conversational.

Cipher, the genius mechanical engineer from Zaun, was known for rejecting offers from elite families, declining invitations from Piltover Academy and Heimerdinger, and refusing any investment in the past.

His reputation preceded him like a shadow.

For someone like him to now be seeking investment was a rare occurrence, and Caitlyn was intrigued. She leaned forward slightly.

"The research is already complete," Cipher replied. "I'm here to discuss a factory collaboration with Councilor Kiramman." He met her gaze steadily.

A hint of surprise flashed in Caitlyn's eyes, but knowing her exceptional skills in criminal investigation and reasoning, he wasn't entirely shocked. The smile that played at the corners of her mouth suggested she was enjoying the puzzle he presented.

She could visit a crime scene once and perfectly reconstruct the entire sequence of events in her mind.

Her reputation for brilliance was well-earned.

"A factory collaboration? Are you planning to manage a factory yourself? That would take up a lot of your research time." Her tone suggested genuine curiosity rather than criticism.

Caitlyn couldn't quite understand Cipher's reasoning. The current mainstream model of collaboration involved scientists contributing their technology in exchange for dividends.

Production, operations, and marketing—these commercial activities were handled entirely by elite families, allowing scientists to focus exclusively on research. It was a system as old as Piltover itself.

Jayce's ongoing research on the Hexgates followed this model. The mention of his name often opened doors in Piltover's higher circles.

It was a win-win arrangement, benefiting both scientists and the elite families by allowing professionals to do what they did best.

This system had built Piltover's prosperity.

"No, it's different. I want to build a factory in Zaun," Cipher said, shaking his head.

"In Zaun? Forgive my bluntness, but Zaun lacks a favorable business environment. My mother might not agree to invest," Caitlyn said as she poured herself a cup of tea, not particularly optimistic about his idea.

Her mother was a shrewd and professional investor who always assessed the returns before making any decisions. The business world was as much her territory as the streets were Caitlyn's.

Given Zaun's chaotic law and order, it didn't seem like a viable location for production. Every officer knew the challenges of operating across that divide.

"No, Councilor Kiramman will agree," Cipher replied meaningfully.

Caitlyn was about to say more when a well-dressed middle-aged couple walked into the room.

It was none other than Councilor Kiramman and her husband.

"Mom, Dad, how was work today?"

Caitlyn stood up to greet them, her face lighting up with a sweet smile.

"There were some challenges, but we managed to resolve them. Overall, it went smoothly," her mother replied with a smile before turning to Cipher and apologizing, "Sorry to keep you waiting!"

"You're too kind. I'm deeply grateful that you could make time to meet me despite your busy schedule," Cipher responded, offering a polite but insincere compliment.

In truth, he held little regard for Councilor Kiramman.

The Kiramman family was somewhat akin to city planners. They were well aware of Piltover's emissions of waste gases, industrial residues, and sewage into Zaun.

Councilor Kiramman had even designed a ventilation system, ostensibly to allow Zaun to breathe "clean air."

But in reality, the system gave her the ability to flood any corner of Zaun with toxic fumes whenever she pleased.

In the original lore, when Jayce proposed Zaun's autonomy, she was among the most vocal opponents. Why? Naturally, because of vested interests. Her opposition had helped maintain the status quo.

Handling industrial pollution was costly and troublesome; dumping it into Zaun was far easier. The math was simple if you didn't count human lives.

With the ventilation system in place, she essentially held the lives of Zaun's people in her hands. The system that gave life could just as easily take it.

Cipher's willingness to work with the Kiramman family wasn't because of the councilor herself, but rather her daughter, Caitlyn.

Sometimes you had to work with people you despised to reach those worth reaching.

And Caitlyn was a genuinely good person, someone worth trying to win over.

"I still have matters to discuss with Mr. Cipher. Caitlyn, since you plan to go hunting, you should hurry up. Don't come back too late," Councilor Kiramman said, noticing the rifle at Caitlyn's feet.

"Alright, Mom," Caitlyn replied, though her eyes stayed on Cipher.

She had wanted to chat with him a bit more, but it was clear her mother had her own agenda.

Left with no choice, she picked up her rifle, waved goodbye to her parents and Cipher, and left for her hunting trip.

Her footsteps faded away, taking the room's warmth with them for Cipher.

The large reception room was now left with just the three of them.

"Mr. Cipher, I understand the purpose of your visit. Wireless communication devices are indeed an excellent commercial product," Councilor Kiramman began.

"But I urge you to reconsider. Building a factory in Zaun is not a good idea. Based on your requirements, just the labor costs alone would be astronomical."

As if you care about the worker, Cipher thought.

"Perhaps we should look at reducing costs in other areas," she added, subtly hinting that Cipher should establish the factory in Piltover instead.

Jayce's letter of recommendation had been detailed, and Councilor Kiramman, before becoming a councilor, was herself a skilled artisan. Her technical knowledge made her more dangerous, not less.

She clearly recognized the potential of wireless communication devices. And precisely because she recognized their value, she wanted to maintain complete control over them.

And control was the currency of power in Piltover.

If the factory were built in Zaun, even as a councilor, controlling it would be far more challenging. The thought clearly disturbed her carefully maintained composure.

Zaun's people were known for their fiery tempers; if they were provoked, they wouldn't care whether you were a councilor or not. If they decided to retaliate, they wouldn't hesitate to send you "sky-high."

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30 advance chapters!

[email protected]/Malphegor