November 4th————
Piltov has recently become lively once again.
This is because the annual Progress Day is approaching.
Over the years, Progress Day in Piltover has become increasingly lively due to the existence of the Hex Gates. People from all over the world, as long as they are wealthy and influential, can easily come to Piltover to participate in the local festival.
This day has also become highly anticipated by the people of Piltover.
At three o'clock in the afternoon, the Council building was bathed in radiant sunlight.
Piltover's top elites gathered, commencing their year-end review.
This Council meeting was different from previous ones; a total of eight individuals were in attendance.
The Ferros family, who often skipped Council meetings, was represented by Councilman Ferrros, a slender middle-aged man, sitting in one of the seats.
At the moment, he was addressing the assembly:
"The issue with the Undercity must be resolved. Some of my factories have been forced to shut down for too long due to them. This isn't just a loss for my Ferros family but also a loss for Piltover. Hextech gems require Hextech crystals, and those factories are the processing points for making Hextech crystals."
"The production quantity of Hextech crystals is decreasing every year, and it's because of those Zaunites!" The Ferros Councilman exclaimed loudly.
"Councilor Ferros, the Undercity is no longer what we knew." One of the councilman shook his head.
"The people of the Undercity reject our control; they've been autonomous for many years."
"Who gave them that right? Why can they be autonomous?" Councilor Ferros, also the head of the Ferros family, Stevan, sneered, covering his mouth with a handkerchief as he coughed a few times. He continued, "I've been wanting to say this since last year. How long will you let Zaun develop under our noses?"
"Stevan, Zaun now has weapons, and they are not easy to deal with." Another councilor shook his head at him.
"Weapons? Don't we have weapons too? Even if Zaunites have weapons, what kind of weapons could they possibly have?"
"I agree with Councilor Ferros's words." The tall and thin senator interjected, "You should inquire more. Many people in Piltover are already complaining that, under our control, the air in Piltover is getting more polluted every year, and the environment is deteriorating year by year."
"How to handle the disposal of industrial waste is indeed a big problem we need to solve. It used to be easy because we could just send the waste into the Undercity. But now they've blocked the pipes, and it's difficult to clear the waste stuck in the pipelines."
Mel, upon hearing their words, furrowed her brows. She elegantly raised her hand and then spoke, "Everyone, although I am an outsider, I grew up in this city since childhood. I've witnessed many honors in this city, and I've always been proud to be a person from Piltover. But..."
"Councilor Medarda, if you have something to say, just say it."
"We've been too harsh on the people of the Undercity."
Mel continued, "But in recent years, our relationship with the people of the Undercity has become increasingly tense, placing us in a precarious situation. The discharge of industrial waste is the biggest reason for this."
"Jayce once told me that in the past, people in Zaun would die every year from lung disease and drinking water with toxic substances. On careful thought, it's actually our fault. We unconditionally discharged industrial wastewater into the Undercity, causing great harm to the people there."
"Try to look at it from a different perspective. We should be able to understand the anger of the people in the Undercity."
Mel looked at everyone present. The councilor who spoke earlier and the overweight senator, who played with his fingers, both slightly turned their heads, avoiding Mel's gaze.
Only Stevan stared at her with a deep resentment, his murky eyes filled with dissatisfaction towards Mel.
His displeasure with Mel was evident, and he made no effort to hide it.
"I agree with Councilor Mel," Heimerdinger spoke up, "Whether it's the Upper City or the Undercity, we should be united. Our arrogance has harmed them."
"As one of the witnesses and founders of this city, I must admit, I've been unfair to the people of the Undercity." Heimerdinger said earnestly.
Linwin, Viktor—they are Undercity residents, but they are not ignorant. They are not as they are portrayed.
Heimerdinger has always been focused on science and inadvertently overlooked many things around him.
Injustice is one of them.
"I also agree with Councilor Mel," Jayce stood up.
As he rose, all the eyes in the room turned to him.
This contemporary outstanding scientist of Piltover, the pride of the city.
Every on Progress Day, Jayce's portrait would be displayed everywhere in Piltover.
So, no one could ignore him.
"Have any of you been to the Undercity?" Jayce surveyed everyone, speaking seriously, "I have been. When I was still a student, I visited the Undercity. At that time, it was full of haze, poor people piled up on the streets, children a few years old rummaging through garbage bins, and people suffering from diseases begging on the streets. The living conditions they have now are the result of our actions."
"I hope everyone can take this issue seriously. If you go to the Undercity now, it has changed its appearance in just a few years. So, I believe it's not a time for our arrogance; it's not a time for us to give them charity. Instead, we should actively befriend them."
"The people of the Undercity have developed; they no longer need our charity."
"If we continue to maintain this arrogance towards them, it will be a harm to the people of both cities!"
Jayce thumped his chest, speaking unequivocally.
Viktor sat beside him. Although he shouldn't attend the council meeting, his current status is unique. Everyone knows that Viktor is associated with Jayce, so no one objected to his presence at the meeting.
With a ruddy complexion, Viktor stood up and elegantly said, "Jayce may have been a bit too forward, but I want to tell everyone."
"As an Undercity resident, I know best how the people of the Undercity view you."
"Viktor, you're from the Undercity?" A councilor looked at Viktor in astonishment and said with surprise.
Upon hearing his words, Viktor smiled soundlessly.
So many years, and no one knew that he was from the Undercity?
Viktor nodded at him, whispering softly, "Yes, I am from the Undercity."
"Such nonsense!"
Stevan stood up, loudly interrupting the conversation. He lifted a scepter made of gold, holding it with a sparkling gem, and walked straight out of the meeting room.
But when he reached the door, Stevan came back to his senses. He shouted loudly, "Don't just stand there, what are you waiting for?"
At his command, two councilor with complicated expressions quickly followed him out, and among these two was the overweight councilor.
They rushed to Stevan's side, and then, as Stevan looked coldly at Mel, he grabbed the scepter and pointed it at her. Stevan said meaningfully, "Councilor Medarda, I hope you can think about it again."
"I think your mother probably wouldn't allow you to show such weakness."
"I also hope everyone here thinks about it. How are the losses after the shutdown? Moreover, who among you can come up with a better solution? If we don't discharge this sewage downward, how do you plan to deal with it? Are you daring enough to discharge it into the sea?!"
Having said that, Stevan turned away, walked straight out of the council room with his hands behind his back.
"Sir."
Once Stevan returned to the mansion, a servant promptly approached, taking the cane and hat handed by Stevan and followed closely behind him.
Stevan entered the study, and as the servant placed the hat and cane in their designated spots, Stevan coldly said, "Summon her to see me immediately."
The veteran servant, familiar with Stevan's request, nodded and respectfully replied, "Yes, I will do so right away."
At the sound of this, Stevan proceeded to his seat, lifting a cup of tea. He gazed out of the window, patiently awaiting her arrival.
Outside, with winter approaching, the estate was covered in fallen leaves. Stevan observed this scene with a contemplative gaze.
His eyes followed a drifting leaf swaying in the wind until it landed in the estate's drainage channel, eventually flowing into the sewer.
These leaves had reached the end of their life cycle, transformed into discarded remnants – such was their fate.
A hint of resentment flickered in Stevan's clouded eyes. What thoughts occupied his mind at that moment were a mystery to those around him.
"Stevan."
Stevan didn't know how long he had been lost in thought, as the deep voice behind him interrupted his contemplation.
Aware of who had arrived, Stevan's initially cold expression gradually softened. When he turned around, a warm smile adorned his face, and his eyes reflected genuine affection for the newcomer.
He looked at her and said with a smile, "Dear Sister, you've come."
"Stevan, what do you want from me?"
Standing before Stevan was an exceptionally tall woman, towering over him by at least three heads. With legs that appeared powerful and beautiful, her lower legs were equipped with two razor-sharp metal blades.
She was Camille, the most outstanding spy of the Ferros family.
"Sister, we've encountered a major problem."
Stevan sighed, looking at Camille as he spoke softly, "During the time you were working on the Hextech weapon modifications, something unexpected happened in the Undercity. It's hard to believe, but the people of the Undercity have begun asserting their autonomy, and they've blocked all the sewage outlets from Piltover to Zaun."
"Now, the waste gas residues from the factories can't be discharged, and our industries are facing significant constraints. Sister, this is a big problem."
Camille silently looked at Stevan, her eyes emitting a dazzling blue light due to her enhanced vision.
She was no longer human but a killing machine.
"I need you to do something," Stevan said to Camille gently, "Are you willing to help the family?"
"I've given everything for the family."
Camille spoke calmly.
"The current leader in Zaun is named Vander. I need you to capture him. I want to teach him a lesson. However, if he remains stubborn."
Stevan smiled and said, "Then I will kill him. When that happens, I'll trouble you to hang his head on the Sun Gates."
"Let those people in Zaun see the consequences of independence."
"Also, give those hypocrites a little shock."
Stevan's voice grew colder.
They wanted peace and cooperation with Zaun? From the founding of Piltover to the present, the Ferros family had steadily risen to the top of Piltover. Now, they spoke of seeking peace with the people of Zaun?
If they achieved peace, whom would the Ferros family exploit?
Stevan's expression remained unchanged, maintaining a gentle smile.
However, the smile was becoming increasingly cold.
Over the years, the Ferros family's spies sent to Zaun had often been captured, beaten, and then thrown back into the Upper City.
This time would be different.
Stevan knew very well that, across the entirety of Piltover, and even into Zaun, there was no place where Camille couldn't reach.
She is the most outstanding spy the Ferros family has ever had, and even if Stevan harbors dissatisfaction, he must admit this fact, acknowledging that he might have been the one to become a family spy in the first place.
"I understand," Camille turned around, facing away from Stevan, and said, "The time."
"Let's set it during Progress Day; it's also an evolution, an evolution between Piltover and Zaun," Stevan said softly.
He touched the domino on the table, continuing, "I think you need to carefully consider the plan; he likely has a considerable number of associates."
After hearing Stevan's words, Camille didn't say more. She walked straight out.
They were siblings by blood, but their relationship had become increasingly strained.
However, Camille still followed his orders because he was the head of the Ferros family.
Standing by the window. Two thin hooks popped out from Camille's legs, and soon she disappeared within the Ferros family estate.
-----------------------------
November 5th, Zaun.
The academy was bustling lately.
Right now, a group of young Zaunites, around ten years old, chased a white-haired teenager in the corridor.
"Professor Ekko!"
"Professor Ekko, Professor Ekko!"
A boy ran the fastest, catching the hem of the teenager's clothes, breathlessly holding on.
"Hmm? Cody, what's up?" Turning around, the not-so-tall white-haired youth was indeed Ekko.
He looked at the boy and asked curiously.
Shouldn't it be break time now? Progress Day was approaching, and the Academy would have vacation for a few days. Ekko was getting ready to pack and return to the Undercity.
"Professor Ekko, I have a question I want to ask you."
Cody, the boy, looked up at Ekko and said loudly, "Why has Professor Powder been so happy these days? She used to bully us, but today, she gave us candy."
"Powder?" Ekko was stunned, evidently not expecting Cody to ask about that.
Didn't these kids fear Powder a lot?
Well, Ekko was quite young himself. He had just turned sixteen, and the oldest in this group of children seemed to be around thirteen, while the youngest was eight.
So, being called a professor or something like that...
Well, there were indeed quite a few talented people in Zaun, but there weren't many suitable for educating children with those radical ideas. To be honest, Ekko even thought that Singed wasn't suitable for teaching kids. Singed was undoubtedly formidable, but his educational philosophy was too direct.
He was only suitable for teaching geniuses, but were there so many geniuses in the world?
Not to mention, if geniuses became commonplace, could they still be called geniuses?
Ekko bent down, coughed, and pretended to be serious. "You're not allowed to inquire about the affairs of teachers."
"We didn't inquire; Professor Powder said it herself."
"Yes, Professor Powder gave us candy and cheerfully wished us a happy Progress Day."
Ekko: ...
Did Zaunites shout "Happy Progress Day" to each other?
Whatever, Powder could indeed do such things.
In recent years, Powder had become more and more confident. When her talents were unleashed, and she could help those around her, Powder was no longer the insecure little girl she used to be.
She remained cute and naive, but a mischievous streak had emerged from within her.
She wasn't the Powder who could only hide behind others for protection during fights.
Now, she was the Head of Weapons Department in Zaun!
All the formidable weapons in Zaun were designed by her!
"Professor Powder said her favorite brother is coming back, so she gave us candy to eat."
A little girl still held two candies in her hand, she opened her hand to show Ekko, saying, "Look, Ekko, it's this candy. Do you want it?"
"Wait, Who's coming back?" Ekko was stunned.
"I don't know; that's what Professor Powder said."
But Ekko had already run out from in front of her.
Ekko ran while revealing a big smile.
Big brother Lin Wen was coming back?!
"Was Professor Ekko just smiling?"
"Professor Ekko looked really happy."
Leaving behind a few little rascals standing in place, the girl who had shown the candy to Ekko wore a disappointed expression. She had wanted to give a piece of candy to Ekko because he was handsome and the only teacher at Zaun Academy who didn't scold people, both gentle and handsome.
However, it seemed like this affection was now out of reach for Ekko.
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