Chapter Text
Jayce’s stomach churned as he looked over the papers on his desk in preparation for the council meeting about to start. The theft at the hextech lab had stirred the council into a frenzy. It was bad enough when one gem had been stolen along with some notes. Now several gems were missing, along with blueprints and the secrets on how to refine the gems. The council was scared, and demanded the enforcers go and track them down to be locked up, all while Caitlyn’s words from the last time he saw her echoed through his head.
“Is everything alright Jayce,” Mel asked, shaking him from his thoughts. He turned to see her looking up at him, worry in her eyes. He took a deep breath, a frown marring his features.
“No, Mel,” He replied, “But I think that is obvious considering the situation. A massive amount of hextech was just stolen, and we don’t know who did it or what their objective is. What’s more, it’s been over two weeks since I met with Silco to discuss terms and we haven’t heard anything from him.”
“You’re worried that he’s not going to uphold his end of the bargain,” Mel surmised, and Jayce nodded with a sigh, “Does this have anything to do with what Caitlyn said before she disappeared?”
“Yes,” Jayce admitted, “She told us to stop treating him like the leader of the undercity and a revolutionary and instead treat him like a crime lord.”
“Being a crime lord doesn’t make it impossible for him to be the other two,” Mel replied, “Sarah Fortune and Gangplank are both infamous criminals and pirates, yet Gangplank has been the ruler of Bilgewater for decades and Miss Fortune is leading a revolt against him.”
“But just because it’s possible doesn’t mean that it always will be,” Jayce countered, “And it’s not just what Caitlyn said that night. Vi, the girl she was with, said something similar after we raided a Shimmer factory.”
“You mean when…” Mel started, and Jayce gave a short nod.
“When I accidentally killed that kid,” he replied, “And I wanted to stop, Vi’s response was that there were hundreds more dead kids thanks to Silco and people like me who stuck our heads in the dirt.”
“That sounds similar to what Caitlyn said at the dinner,” Mel replied, “You sure Vi didn’t just tell her that?”
“Yes,” He answered, “I have known her since she was a little girl. Caitlyn wouldn’t have said those things unless she knew them to be true. I only spent about an hour down in the undercity and saw how they were suffering, and it changed me forever. Caitlyn spent three days down there. Who knows how much more she saw, and how much it changed her.”
“I understand,” Mel assured him, placing a hand on his shoulder, “I changed when I saw someone die as well, when I saw the cost of war. It’s what sets us apart from the other councilors. They haven’t seen that, haven’t undergone that change. They don’t understand the true horrors people face in those situations.” She reached out and lifted Jayce’s chin up so that he was staring her in the eyes. “But I still feel like our best option is to take this deal. Don’t forget, Caitlyn also said that the main reason the Firelights are fighting Silco is because of Shimmer, and this deal means that its production will end. With it gone their conflict will resolve and bring peace between them.”
“Shimmer is also how he maintained control over the undercity according to Vi,” Jayce countered, “What will happen without it?”
“They’ll adapt,” Mel replied, “With free trade routes, goods unique to the undercity will spread throughout Runeterra. I know Noxus will be interested in several advances they’ve made with augmentations.”
“So we let Silco go,” Jayce said, “Despite all the people he’s killed.”
“We can’t govern a people we don’t understand,” Mel told him, “Piltover and Zaun are two separate peoples, with completely different cultures, beliefs, and philosophies. Silco, despite all his crimes, knows the undercity in a way none of us do. If we tried to maintain control over them it would only lead to more deaths. Letting go is the best thing we can do. Let the denizens of the undercity create their own government.”
“You’re right,” Jayce agreed, “You always seem to know what to do in these situations.”
“Not always,” Mel replied, stopping Jayce as she turned to him, “You were the one who realized that the undercity needed to be free from the council’s rule. I have been a counselor for years and never thought of that. I was so caught up in playing the political game that I was blind to the issues we were creating for the people down there.”
“So what now,” Jayce asked.
“Now we wait for Silco to uphold his end of the deal,” She told him.
“And if he doesn’t?” Jayce pressed.
“Then we’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” Mel replied, “I’m certain there will be others willing to work with us if he isn’t, beit his own people or his enemies like the Firelights. Until then we must continue in the direction we are going and hope for the best.” She held out a hand. “Now stand up, the meeting’s about to start.”
Jayce accepted her hand, and she helped him to his feet. She then straightened his jacket and brushed some stray hair out of his eyes, and the two left his study and started for the council chamber, where the others were no doubt waiting for them. As they approached the doors Viktor joined them, leaning heavily on his crutch.
“Are you sure you’re up for this Viktor?” Jayce asked, “After what you went through, combine with your health-”
“I’ll be fine,” Viktor replied curtly, “Besides, I witnessed what the thieves took from the lab and even managed to get one to have a short conversation with me, giving me valuable insight into their motives. The council would have called for me sooner or later, better to get it over with now than delay and have them become even more panicked.”
“Of course,” Mel agreed, “But please let us know the moment your strength begins to flag. Your wellbeing is more important than satisfying the council.”
Viktor nodded as Jayce pushed the doors to the council room open, where the rest of them were already waiting. As they each took their seats Jayce scanned the faces of each of the other council members. Bolbok looked the same as he always did, and Jayce still hadn’t figured out how to get a read on him. Hoskel had a deep scowl on his face as he glared at him and Viktor, and Salo had a dark look in his eyes. Shoola was frowning, but other than that her look betrayed nothing about her thoughts and feelings. Finally there was Cassandra, who while looking as composed as ever, Jayce could make out slight bags under her eyes that were mostly hidden by makeup. No doubt a result of her worry for Caitlyn, who had disappeared from her room after that dinner and hadn’t returned home or been seen in over a week.
“Now that you're here,” Hoskel grumbled, “Would you please explain how the bloody hell did a group of thugs break into your hextech laboratory and escape with Twelve Hextech Crystals and the BLUEPRINTS TO REFINE MORE! ”
“They were clearly watching me,” Jayce said, “Everyone knows that I’m the face of hextech, it’s plastered all over Piltover. Wouldn’t be too hard for them to figure out where I do my work and my usual routine. They picked the perfect night to make their move, and it’s only because Viktor was there that the enforcers were alerted. If he hadn’t, we wouldn’t have known until sometime today when either him or I went to the lab and realized some things were stolen.”
“ vvrrsshhvv -How were they able to make it to the heart of our city undetected,” Bolbok asked, “ sshhrrbvv -We have enforcers patrolling every street.”
“They didn’t use the streets,” Mel said, “I’ve talked with a few of the enforcers about that very same question, and they told us that most people from the undercity are skilled in techniques that allow them to travers rooftops and scale walls. It would have been a simple matter for them. What’s more, in the escape they used hoverboards, negating any need to follow the streets and allowing them to easily lose any pursuers.”
“Viktor,” Shoola began, “You were present during the break in, and it was you who sounded the alarm. What can you tell us of the thieves?”
“I only saw two of them,” Viktor said, “Though I know there were more in the building as after they subdued me one ordered the other to go alert the rest of them. There is at least one of their number who has some form of education, whether self taught or by someone else, as the one who did talk to me admitted they were going to make their own hextech devices, most likely weapons. This person is most certainly the one behind their crystal grenades, which they used to subdue me.”
“What are these crystal grenades,” Salo asked, “And how do they work?”
“They are a small device that explodes on impact,” Viktor replied, “Rapidly generating crystals that will encase their target. Most likely some kind of chemical reaction. It’s only temporary, as the crystals will quickly start to decay and become brittle, which is how I escaped. As a means of subduing a foe without harming them, it is rather ingenious, far superior to the bolas used by the enforcers in my opinion.”
“Something to look into,” Hoskel said, “Perhaps by taking a page out of the undercity’s book and using their own creations against them we can more effectively counter any criminals from there that decide to invade our city and our homes.”
“I’ll admit that the idea behind the device is certainly intriguing,” Jayce said, “But it also shows that whoever is behind their creation is almost certainly capable of building hextech, especially with the blueprints they stole.”
“And if not, they have someone who can provide any information or technical knowhow that they lack,” Viktor stated ominously.
“What do you mean?” Mel asked.
“The one that I managed to talk with knew my name,” He replied, “And when asked they responded with ‘A certain ex-councilor mentioned you.’”
Jayce paled. “You don’t think…” He trailed off, and Viktor nodded.
“Heimerdinger,” Viktor confirmed, “He’s the only one who they could be referring to with that statement. What’s more, it would explain why their operation went so smoothly. He is intimately familiar with our work on hextech, as he’s been supervising it since the start. My guess is that they’ve captured him and forced him to talk, but he didn’t mention that I liked to work late in the hope that I would be there while still telling them about me so that they might accidentally slip up and reveal they have him, ”
“Then we must act at once!” Salo demanded, “Heimerdinger may not be a part of this council but he is still the founder of our city! If people learn he’s been kidnapped there will be a riot! Not to mention what those nameless ruffians might be doing to him.”
“They are not nameless anymore,” A strict voice said, and the councilors all turned to the doorway, where the new Sheriff Camille stood. Jayce had initially been unsure about appointing her to the position, but the other councilors, including Mel, had assured him that she had the knowledge and experience they needed right now. As she strode into the center of the room, he noticed that despite carrying herself with the same cold aloofness she did when they first met, he noticed that she seemed rather stiff, the same way Caitlyn would be after a long day of training.
“ vvrrrsssk -Sheriff Camille,” Bolbok said, “You know who these thieves are?”
“I do,” She answered, “I managed to confront one during their escape. The mask and hoverboard allowed me to instantly identify them as a member of the Firelights.”
“I know that group,” Jayce said, “Marcus originally blamed them for the stealing of the first gemstone, before Vi revealed it to be the work of Jinx, whoever they are. Caitlyn later told me that they are Silco’s main enemies for control of the undercity.”
“That is correct,” Camille stated, “And there are many in the undercity who want them to succeed in killing the man, and taking control from the chembarons.”
“But isn’t Silco the leader of the undercity?” Jayce asked, his mind flashing back to what Caitlyn had said about Silco being a crime lord, not their leader, making him shift uncomfortably.
“He is,” Camille agreed, “But no leader is without their enemies, especially in a violent place like the undercity. The Firelights have been in opposition to him and his shimmer operations for years. Recently though they’ve become bolder in their actions, more brazen in their attacks, and have started to rapidly expand the amount of territory under their protection. Which is no doubt why they stole the hextech.”
“Can you get it back,” Salo asked.
“In time,” Camille replied, “But the Firelight’s base is kept secret. I would need to begin patrolling the undercity with a group of enforcers in order to find what we are looking for, which is something I will not do right now.”
“Why not,” Hoskel demanded.
“Because right now going into the undercity is a death sentence for an enforcer,” She replied, “We do not have the means to defend ourselves against the threats in the undercity. Ordinary rifles are useless against chemtanks, a deadly new weapon used by the chembarons. The only thing that has proven to be effective against them is hextech, as we learned from Jayce.”
“I propose we immediately begin the construction and arming of the enforcers with hextech weapons,” Hoskel said immediately.
“Hold it,” Jayce said before anyone could second the motion, “Hextech was not created to make weaponry.”
“Yet you have made a weapon,” Camille stated, “And with it you forced Silco to parley with us and stopped him from creating his own. Now the firelights are building their own hextech arsenal, which means we need to do the same before they get the chance.”
“But it is very likely the reason the firelights stole hextech is because they heard of how one weapon was used against Silco,” Mel stated, “Building an arsenal will lead to more people learning of its potential as a tool of warfare, which will lead to more people wanting these weapons and more people attempting to steal them.”
“Exactly,” Jayce agreed, “And if someone steals one of these weapons, it will be worse than them just stealing a gemstone and notes. With those it will take time for them to craft it, giving us a chance to stop them. If they steal a weapon, they won’t have to wait before turning it against us.”
“I understand your concern,” Camille replied, cutting off Hoskel just before he could speak, “How about we wait until tomorrow before returning to this matter. I will begin going over what I know so a more informed decision can be made.”
“Very well,” Mel agreed, and though Jayce wanted to insist against it, he knew better than to push right now. He needed time to prepare an argument against this idea. The rest of the council agreed, before they started preparing to leave, Cassandra Kiramman being the first to go. Jayce watched her leave with a worried look. He noticed that she hadn’t participated in the discussion, which was abnormal for her as she always made a point to contribute in at least one way.
“You two go on without me,” He said quietly to Mel and Viktor, before following after Cassandra. He exited the council room just in time to see her turn around a corner. He continued after her, and eventually caught up to her just as she stopped in front of her private office.
“Councilor Kiramman,” He said as he did so, and she turned to him, “Are you alright?”
“I’m well enough,” Cassandra replied, and he nodded.
“Would you mind if we discuss a few things in private?” He asked.
“Not at all,” She agreed, opening the door to her office. The two went inside and took a seat on opposite sides of the desk. “So mind telling me what you wanted to speak with me about?”
“You didn’t speak at all during the council meeting,” Jayce stated, “Even when Sheriff Camille started talking. In the past you’ve always questioned her thoroughly over all her suggestions.”
“I guess I’m just not feeling like myself today,” She replied, and Jayce frowned.
“Still no sign of Caitlyn?” He asked quietly, and after a moment, she nodded.
“I get that she was upset over the deal with Silco,” Cassandra said, “She’s always had a strong sense of justice. But she lacks perspective on the matter. If we don’t make some sort of deal, it will lead to war, and I’ve seen the aftermath of war in when I visited Ionia not long after being elected to the council. That’s why I agreed to the deal, because I didn’t want to see that happen here in person.”
“I get it,” Jayce said, “How’s Tobias handling everything.”
“He’s worried out of his mind,” She replied, “As far as we can tell, Caitlyn isn’t anywhere in the overcity, which means-” Whatever she was about to say was cut off by a knock at the door, making Cassandra frown. “Come in,” She called, and the door opened to reveal Camille Ferros.
“May I come in?” She asked. After a moment, Cassandra nodded, and the sheriff stepped inside. She waited until the door closed before speaking. “Hello Cassandra, I was hoping to speak with you about your daughter.”
The Kiramman matriarch stiffened. “What about her,” She asked curtly.
“I was hoping she would rejoin the enforcers,” Camille replied, “She was the one who discovered the corruption, and from what I read she shows remarkable potential as a detective that was only held back by the late Sheriff Marcus, for obvious reasons.”
“Caitlyn is still recovering from the bridge attack,” Cassandra said cooly, “She will not be seeing anyone right now.”
“If she’s recovering at home,” the sheriff countered, “Then why is it that she is often spotted frequenting several locations in the undercity?” Cassandra and Jayce froze. “You didn’t know? My sources tell me that she is often seen either at Babette’s brothel or a food stand run by a man named Jericho.”
“What is this really about Camille?” Cassandra asked, her eyes narrowed.
“I didn’t tell the council everything about the thieves,” She replied, “I had a run in with one of them, one that the two of you are fairly familiar with. Vi, the red-haired brawler that Caitlyn brought before the council and who went with you Jayce to help raid a shimmer plant.”
“Vi’s a firelight?” Jayce asked.
“It’s a recent development for sure,” Camille continued, “But how would the council react if they learned this, as well as the fact that she has a pair of functioning hextech gauntlets that you let her walk away with.”
“If you’re intending to blackmail me for those hextech weapons, just tell me up front,” Jayce replied.
“Relax, I’m not going to blackmail you,” Camille replied, “I’m going to make a deal.”
“And what is this deal?” He asked.
“You are right that arming the entire force with Hextech weapons is a bad idea,” She said, “Along with the risks you stated, it is far too likely that one of them will simply decide to sell the weapon if offered enough money or threatened with their life. We cannot allow that to happen.”
“So what do you propose,” Cassandra asked.
“Tomorrow I will propose that we begin hiring people from outside the enforcers to form an elite task force,” She stated, “If you vote in favor of this then I will keep Hextech out of untrustworthy hands from either side of the river. With them I will bring peace to the undercity.”
“What’s the catch,” Jayce asked suspiciously.
“The catch,” Camille replied, “Is that should one of this task force die while fighting in the undercity, you must provide me with my own hextech weapon to use as I see fit.”
“I’m not going to just let you have a hextech weapon,” Jayce scoffed, “Especially not keep one.”
“Yet you let Vi have one and keep it,” She countered, and Jayce flinched, making the woman smirk ever so slightly, “Don’t feel too bad. Overall, your raid on Silco’s shimmer factory was a resounding success, though you made two mistakes afterwords.”
“People died,” Jayce replied stiffly, “A child , died.”
“Children die all the time in the undercity,” Camille responded, “It’s a fact of life down there.” Jayce’s mind immediately jumped to what Vi had told him. “Now, back to the two mistakes, the first was approaching Silco too soon.”
“He said much the same thing when we began our negotiations,” Jayce replied.
“He’s a smart man,” Camille said, “He’d have to be in order to stay on top. If you had waited, you would’ve had more bargaining power. Silco’s chembarons have been getting more and more desperate. Still, I understand why you would want to put an end to all this. You haven’t lived with death as a fact of life.”
“And what was the second mistake,” Jayce sighed.
“Letting Vi go too easily, with or without the Atlas Gauntlets,” She stated, “Though that one was an easy mistake. I’m certain I’m the only one in the Overcity who knows her true value.”
“And what is her value,” Cassandra asked with a raised eyebrow.
“She’s the only one that could break Silco’s hold over the undercity, which the man knows,” Camille told them, “That’s why he made sure to get her out of the way when she was fifteen. He probably wanted to kill her, but Marcus didn’t have the stomach and instead locked her in Stillwater.”
“Wait,” Jayce said, “She was in Stillwater? At fifteen?”
“And was only released a couple weeks ago by Caitlyn,” Camille confirmed, “She actually forged your signature to do so, earning my respect, just like you earned mine when you created hextech. Both of you clearly understand that in order to get the results you need, sometimes you need to either bend or break a few laws.” Jayce glanced at Cassandra to see her scowling fiercely. “Moving on, Vi could have been used as a bargaining chip in order to make Silco more agreeable, and if the deal didn’t go through, our weapon against him. If we provided her with the materials, she could lead a revolution against him and take over the undercity herself. Something that she’s actually started now that she’s a part of the Firelights. The only problem is we don’t control her revolution, which means once she’s defeated Silco we have no guarantee she’ll play nice.”
“And how is this,” Jayce asked, “Supposed to convince me to give you a hextech weapon?”
“Simple,” Camille replied, “The task force I have in mind should prove capable enough to handle most threats in the undercity, at least for the time being. But it’s only a matter of time before there are threats we can’t face without a power equalizer. For us, that is hextech. And tell me, would you rather put that kind of power in the hands of dozens of men, or just one.”
“Meaning you,” Cassandra stated, “What happens if we refuse?”
“Nothing,” Camille replied, “But do keep in mind, I told the council that I would provide all the information I had tomorrow so they could make an informed decision. How I present it is up to me, which includes the fact your daughter, Cassandra, is running around in the sumps and that you, Jayce, let a Stillwater prisoner leave with a pair of hextech gauntlets unmolested.”
Jayce growled, standing up and running a hand through his hair. “Fine,” He spat, “We’ll take your deal. We’ll vote in favor of your task force, and if one of them dies, I’ll build you one hextech weapon for your personal use, happy?”
“A pleasure doing business with you,” Camille replied, before turning, “Oh, and Jayce? Be sure not to destroy that hammer of yours. You might need it again someday.” With that she left, and Jayce collapsed in his chair with a deep sigh.
“Now you understand why I question everything she suggests?” Cassandra asked rhetorically, “She’s as crooked as the chembarons. And now she’s got us in a bind where we’ll have to support her or she’ll ruin us.”
“I know,” Jayce said tiredly, “This will only mean trouble.”
The Chembarons were all yelling at each other when Silco arrived with Sevika. He frowned internally, already having a headache after talking with Singed about his “experiment.” Apparently the mad doctor was working on creating the ultimate hunter, turning a man into a beast. When questioned as to why the experiment knew his name, Singed simply said that the test subject was one of the people who Silco and the chembarons wanted out of the way for good. The experiment was designed to completely wipe their memory and most higher thought processes, but as it got out early, it must retain some of them.
“Please, gentlemen, ladies,” Silco said as he walked around the table, making them all go quiet, “We are not sump rats squabbling over a meal.” He took his seat at the head. “Now, what seems to be the problem?”
“The problem,” Smeech, the yordle who built himself a large augmented body, said, “Is that despite telling us that you have everything in control and that you’re working on opening trade across the river again, there hasn’t been any change in weeks!”
“Exactly!” Margot agreed, her golden bracelets clinking against one another as she folded her arms, “We can’t afford to remain in this situation. And that’s not even taking into account the Firelight’s actions. I lost three brothels to them, with all the prostitutes working their.”
“And don’t act like this isn’t affecting you,” Chross demanded, cleaning off his glasses as his wrinkled face contorted into a sneer, “My runners have kept me well informed about how much you’ve lost, which includes a second shimmer factory. We’ve given you plenty of time to work this out, but if you don’t bring results soon all of us will lose to those filthy bugs. I also know that you went to meet someone from topside at the ramparts that surround the city.”
“I did,” Silco admitted, “A councilor even. We’ve begun discussing terms to finally create the Nation of Zaun.”
“Well,” Smeech grumbled, “That’s all well and good, but why weren’t we informed of this?”
“These things take time,” Silco stated, “He needs to get the rest of the council on board, and I needed to go over what we could afford to lose in order to get our independence.”
“Don’t lie,” Renni said, making them all turn to her, “The council has already agreed to the initial deal and sent it to you. You just don’t want to take it.”
“Is this true Silco?” Chross asked.
“What makes you say that?” Silco asked Renni.
“ Because I told her, ” A muffled voice said, and they all turned to the open door, where a middle aged woman in a white suit stood, a mask over her face.
“Renata,” Silco hummed, “Didn’t expect to see you here. I thought you said it was too dangerous for someone in your position to risk being seen consorting with the likes of us.”
“ Times change Silco ,” Renata replied, “ People too. Right now the undercity needs a united front, one that won’t hesitate to take what we’ve been longing for. I know there’s an opening in the seats after Finn’s untimely demise. I’ll be taking it, unless anyone has any objections? ” The other chembarons all shook their heads, and Silco gestured to the remaining seat at the far end of the table.
“Please,” Silco said, “I’d be happy to give you a seat at the table. This place needs more people with true ambition.”
Renata nodded, before pulling out the chair and taking a seat. “ Now then ,” She said, “ On to business. My spies topside have discovered the deal that the council offered you. I also know you have been sent the deal, but haven’t responded. ”
“And I’ve been going over what we can and can’t afford to lose before accepting or rejecting the deal,” Silco replied.
“ That isn’t why you’re delaying, ” Renata said darkly, “ You’re delaying because you’ve lost two of the things the council has demanded; The gemstone, and Jinx. ”
“Jinx is recovering from her injuries that she received on the bridge,” Silco replied, “The gemstone is with her. She already has the weapon mostly constructed, just a few more touches and it will be ready to give a demonstration if needed.”
“Jinx is missing,” Renata countered, “She hasn’t been seen since she blew up the enforcers on the bridge.”
“Exactly,” Silco said, “She’s recovering from her injuries where she knows no one will find her and take advantage of her weakened state. She’ll be back, and she’ll bring the gemstone with her.”
“Even then you still won’t take the deal,” Renni said, “You love her more than your ‘Nation of Zaun.’ You’d sacrifice it all for her. But we won’t. Why shouldn’t we just make a new deal with the council and hand both of you over to them with the gemstone while we keep our shimmer? Renata would make a fine leader in your place, and Piltover would trust her a lot more than you, which we’d have the undercity to ourselves without you and your loose cannon of a daughter.”
“Yes, you would,” Silco agreed, “But how long would it last?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Margot scoffed.
“It means you’re only thinking in the short term,” He replied, “You’re not looking at the bigger picture, the future of Zaun if you made that deal or the one the council offered to me.”
“ Explain ,” Renata said, eyes narrow as the fingers on her augmented arm began drumming on the table.
“Let’s say we do take the deal they offered,” Silco began, knowing he’d have to play his cards right if he didn’t want to lose their support, “We give Jinx, the gemstone, and shimmer up to have our nation. Now the latter two we can do without. We don’t need them for our businesses.”
“ Speak for yourself Silco ,” Renata countered, “ Shimmer is the main ingredient in all of my products. ”
“But you don’t need to make products with shimmer,” He responded easily, “And we can always get another gemstone if we need to. But if we were to give up Jinx, we’d lose something that we could never get back.”
“And that is?” Chross asked.
“Fear,” Silco answered, “Jinx has made topside fear us, and it is that fear that brought them to the table to negotiate. If we give her up, then we lose the fear we’ve installed in them.”
“And that is important because?” Smeech asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Because that fear is what we need to make sure topside doesn’t go back on its word,” Silco stated, “Without that fear, it will only be a matter of time before they go back on the deal, and we’ll be in an even worse position than before. Topsiders are always looking for a way to screw us zaunites over. The only way to stop that is if they are too afraid to cross us.”
“And Jinx is the only one who can install that fear,” Margot concluded.
“Yes,” Silco replied, “She’s the monster that visits them in their nightmares, that they see in every shadow, and hear in every ominous whisper. She’s our insurance that they will never go back on their deal while we’re still vulnerable, and once we’ve groan strong enough Piltover will become a dusty name in the history book as Zaun takes the stage as the true center of trade.”
“You’re lying,” Renni said, fury in her eyes, “You’re only saying that so you don’t have to give up your daughter !”
Silco sighed, before looking the chembaroness in the eyes. “If it would be more beneficial to the Nation of Zaun to give her up, I would do so in a heartbeat,” He lied, his voice steady. Renni scowled, placing her arms on the armrest and preparing to push herself up, only to stop at a wave from Renata’s hand.
“ Very well ,” She said, “ How about we make a deal. You have two more weeks to find a new deal that will grant us independence while letting us keep both Jinx and Shimmer. If you don’t have one, then we’ll be taking you to the council and offering them your head along with your precious daughter’s. ”
“Very well,” Silco agreed, “Two weeks. By that time I’ll have a deal with topside and we’ll be on our way to freedom.”
“We’ll be watching you Silco,” Chross said, “We’ll no if you try to cut and run.”
“I would expect you to,” He said evenly, and the chembarons all left the room.
“Can you even make a new deal with that pretty boy?” Sevika asked, “You said that he would not budge on you giving them Jinx.”
“All he needs is something he values more,” Silco replied, “And fortunately, Something just happened that we can use to our advantage.”
“What?” Sevika asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Renata isn’t the only one with spies topside,” He said, “One of mine just told me that a large amount of hextech was stolen last night, far more than what Jinx took.”
“By who?” She asked.
“Why, the greatest enemy of the Chembarons,” He said with a smirk, “The Firelights.”
Sevika’s eyes widened, before a savage grin appeared on her face. “You think topside would be willing to let Jinx go if we help them get back the rest of their hextech,” She said.
“If not,” He replied, “They’d certainly become more willing to negotiate. We’d have to work alongside those enforcers, but for the freedom of Zaun, I’d make a deal with a Darkin even.”
Viktor sat in the lab, using a wrench to tighten a bolt on his latest project while a part of his conversation with the masked firelight played in his head.
So you can make weapons? That isn’t why we created hextech! It is meant to help people.
Yeah, then maybe you should’ve helped sooner.
He sighed, setting down the wrench and looking over at the hexclaw. Eight years, he and Jayce had had eight years to create hextech devices, and what did they make? A way for the rich to become richer while catering to the wealthy and extravagant. Why did he even think of using hextech to build something for an artist when there are people dying of toxic fumes down in the undercity, like he is now? Had he become so detached from his roots, his home, that he’d started to think of them as everyone else did up here?
Don’t worry though, it will still help people.
He frowned, glancing over at an old blueprint for a hazardous material suit that he’d originally designed to help people of the undercity clean up toxic spills or deal with the acidic fissure gasses that were in the mines. Now he knew that the council would never let the people down their get their hands on hextech, that they’d horde it all for themselves, which meant if he was going to help the people of the undercity, he had to do it in a way that they wouldn’t be able to accuse them of stealing. He turned back to the project he was working on, a steam engine that relied on a hexgem to produce said steam. It would be a clean and incredibly long lasting power source. He couldn’t trust the council with it, or people from the undercity. They would just see the magic and want to use it for themselves, for their own benefit. Fortunately, he had a solution. He turned around to look at the large mechanical frame that he’d retrieved from storage. It was an old golem model, from when he was just a little kid and things between tospide and bottom were just a little bit better, designed to help clean toxic spills and hazardous waste.
Just not in the way you imagined, I’m guessing.
“Soon,” He whispered, turning back to the hextech steam engine, before letting out a violent cough, “Soon you’ll be doing what you were created to do, Blitzcrank. Helping the people of the Undercity.”