An hour and a half later, the Council convened for a second session on Zaun. Jayce and Mel had only just sat down side by side when the other councilors began filing into the chamber—until one figure made Mel's eyes narrow.
Mel's brows drew tight as she watched Ambessa step in. She took a slow breath.
"Mother. What are you doing here again?"
"I'm here to see what you're actually planning to do about the Two Cities problem." Ambessa let out a soft, mocking laugh as she spoke. "What—am I unwelcome because I'm a Medarda, or because I'm a Noxian who came a long way to be here?"
Her white hair was tied back neatly as she strode straight to the observers' gallery, chose a seat, and sat down. Two Noxians stood behind her.
When Councilor Salo entered and saw Ambessa, he gave her a small nod.
Councilor Bolbok did the same—nodding once before going to his seat.
Only Councilor Kiramman walked straight to her place without acknowledging Ambessa. She sat down and closed her eyes, waiting for the meeting to begin.
Not long after, accompanied by an enforcer's announcement, Sheriff Marcus arrived as well. Unlike earlier, when he'd been immaculate during the first session, he was now dusty and travel-worn—he hadn't even put on his enforcer's cap.
"Alright," Jayce said. "The meeting begins."
"Marcus—did you complete the task I gave you?"
Marcus stepped forward and distributed the files in his hands to every councilor.
Jayce picked his up. The moment he saw the photo clipped to the front—of a warm-looking young man with a bright smile—his brow furrowed hard.
The boy looked a lot like Viktor: smooth black hair, clean features, a gentle presence.
Someone like that was leading Zaun's rebellion? A gang boss?
Jayce couldn't help feeling doubtful.
"So this is the Logan Sheriff Marcus mentioned? Pretty good-looking."
"He doesn't look that old. Sheriff Marcus, are you sure your intel is correct? He doesn't look like a gang boss."
"He looks like one of the students at the Piltover Academy."
Ambessa lowered her gaze to the photo as well. With her influence—and her status as Mel's mother—she could practically do whatever she wanted in Piltover, so of course the file had been placed in her hands too.
She studied the picture, then lifted an eyebrow.
The two Noxian soldiers behind her stared straight ahead, not even glancing down.
Marcus listened to the murmurs. Only when the room quieted did he speak:
"There won't be any mistake. This information was purchased from an informant on the Promenade. Councilors, please flip to the back and look at the other photos."
Jayce did as instructed and turned the pages. Several more images appeared.
One was a black-haired young man seen from behind, walking toward a tavern, with a group of gang members facing him—smiling at him.
Another showed him on the Entresol, mouth open as if issuing orders. And beside that photo was another picture: a large crowd of Zaunites wearing strange, graffiti-covered clothing decorated with bright patches and scattered petal-like pieces.
"The wastewater pipe project in Zaun was driven entirely by him," Marcus said. "And the enforcers previously assigned to enforce the law in Zaun were killed by people wearing those graffiti-patterned clothes. Those people are the Spirit Blossom Gang."
"Logan is their leader. Based on our investigation, his relationship with Silco is likely a son-in-law and father-in-law situation. Silco's adopted daughter, Jinx, is currently in the Spirit Blossom Gang—living with him. Members of the gang, including Chem-Barons and other criminals, all believe the two of them are a couple."
"And Zaun's underworld has confirmed something else. There's a saying in the Lanes now—used to mock Logan."
"What is it?" Councilor Hoskel asked.
Marcus answered, "A lunatic who dares to touch a madwoman." He clarified on his own initiative, "To the people in the Lanes, Jinx is a dangerous psychopath—extreme, erratic, impossible to read. No one knows what she's thinking. So the fact that Logan dares to be with her—can accept her—makes them call him a lunatic too."
The councilors looked up at Marcus. Their trust in his intelligence report noticeably increased.
"So Zaun is under his control now?"
"Yes," Marcus said. "Silco has appeared at the Spirit Blossom Gang's headquarters multiple times over the past two days. All of Zaun believes Logan and Silco are on the same side."
"Wouldn't the people of Zaun object?" Salo couldn't help asking. "Wouldn't they resist?"
Mel shot Salo a look and suddenly felt he was genuinely foolish.
Marcus explained, "Pipe reform, community building, new rules. The Spirit Blossom Gang isn't like typical gangs. Logan doesn't squeeze Zaunites until they can't breathe—he's been cracking down on Zaun's criminal industries. Shimmer production stopped because of his order."
"He banned Shimmer from circulating on the black market and helped residents start businesses. So even if he and Silco are wearing the same pants now, what Logan has done makes a lot of Zaunites willing to trust him."
"Councilors," Marcus said sternly, "don't underestimate him because of his face or his age. Right now, he is Zaun's ruler in every sense of the word."
"Everyone—Zaun is united again," Hoskel said. "If we mishandle this, what happened ten years ago will happen again."
Everyone understood what Hoskel meant.
That day, blood stained the bridge red. Both cities lost plenty of people.
"So what do we do?" a councilor frowned. "Make peace?"
"I don't think peace is impossible," another said. "Let's be honest—Zaun is making all this noise because they want autonomy, right? They don't want to recognize our government. In the past we needed their resources and labor, but now we have Hextech. I don't think we need to collide head-on with Zaun right now."
"Councilor Bolbok is right. We can wait until Hextech advances and we've developed Hextech weapons—then tear up the agreement, can't we?"
"Sign it and tear it up?" Councilor Kiramman's eyes hardened as she looked toward Salo, voice low with displeasure. "Do you think that's reasonable, Councilor Salo? If we do what you suggest, what do you think Piltovans will think of us?"
"Then what?" Salo snapped back. "Councilor Kiramman, you really want to watch Zaun slip out of our control?"
The room erupted into arguments.
Some believed that with Hextech, future production wouldn't need Zaun anymore—and letting Zaun "go independent and play on their own" wouldn't be the end of the world. After all, Hextech would only widen the gap between the cities.
But others felt that letting Zaun do this would destroy Piltover's pride. And what would Piltovans think?
For centuries, nothing like this had happened. If it happened on their watch, would they be remembered as the worst Council in Piltover's history?
"Clap!"
A slow, heavy applause broke through the noise.
Ambessa was clapping.
"Clap!"
"Thank you," she said as she rose, eyes sweeping the council with a cold smile, "for putting on such an entertaining show."
She looked at them all and spoke with open disdain. "Seems everything I told you some time ago was wasted breath."
"You have money, people, power—and you're letting your enemy grow. What exactly are you thinking?"
"Lady Ambessa," Councilor Kiramman said, unable to hold back, "watch your words. Zaun is not our enemy."
"Oh?" Ambessa's gaze settled on Kiramman, calm as ice. "If they aren't your enemy, then why do you take Zaun's mines, suck their blood to feed this city, and then turn around and call them filthy? Why do you clutch your wealth so tightly you won't share even a crumb with them?"
"Don't you feel how hypocritical that sounds?"
"You—!"
Ambessa didn't bother with Kiramman again. She faced forward, her hand clenching into a fist as she raised her arm and declared in a deep, forceful voice:
"If Piltover wants to grow—if it wants to become the jewel of the world—then Zaun's problem must be resolved completely!"
"A Zaun you can't control is not a good Zaun. Once it slips the leash, what will it become? Not one of you can say!"
"You want reconciliation, but have you asked what the Zaunites want?"
"If they had any desire to reconcile, they wouldn't be forming gangs, killing enforcers, and rebuilding your precious pipes without even speaking to you first, would they? They're provoking you!"
"And if you lack manpower—if you're afraid you can't defeat Zaun—then don't worry. As a member of House Medarda, I won't stand by and watch this city rot on its own."
"I'm willing to place my people at your disposal. Noxus will be your ally. In the name of the current head of House Medarda—Ambessa Medarda—I am willing to swear a pact with you all—"
Ambessa's eyes turned to Jayce, who had remained silent. The corner of her mouth curved upward.
"Choose a general to suppress Zaun. I will support him—help him crush Zaun—and bring Piltover an even brighter future."
"Mother!" Mel's voice sharpened with alarm.
Ambessa lifted a hand and pointed directly at Jayce, her voice ringing through the chamber.
"I think Jayce Talis is an excellent choice!"
"Young, talented, steady. I believe Councilor Talis can serve as Grand General!"
At the table, Salo hesitated—then, after a moment, he nodded and raised his voice.
"I agree with Lady Ambessa. We can't let Zaun slip out of our control."
"I agree as well."
"I think it could work," Hoskel said, looking at Ambessa with a meaning-laden stare. "If the Noxians are willing to help, this war will be easy. But that agreement—we should draft it very carefully."
The female councilor with the ringed collar glanced at Hoskel. When she saw him nod, her eyes lowered briefly—then she raised her hand.
"We'll draft the agreement," she said. "I guarantee we won't let our new allies suffer any losses."
Ambessa's brow creased.
Kiramman bit her lip and looked around at the council. "You're starting a war! Zaunites share the same blood as us. Centuries ago, Zaun and Piltover were one. I absolutely will not support this!"
"House Kiramman will not approve of this." She stood, then looked to Mel.
Mel rose as well. "I don't approve either."
"Jayce." Mel looked at him, urgency in her eyes.
Jayce drew a deep breath and raised his hand. The instant he did, panic flashed in Mel's eyes.
He can't agree to this.
Even if they "solve" Zaun, what about Noxus?
This is letting the wolf into the house.
But then Jayce spoke.
"I don't approve."
He lifted his head, gaze calm.
He hadn't said a word until now—just sat and listened as the councilors fought.
He knew what was happening between the Two Cities. He knew what they were really arguing about.
And now, Jayce continued:
"I hate Zaun. I always have. And yes—I've even supported using war to pressure Zaun, to control Zaun."
"Then you—" Salo started, but he couldn't finish.
Jayce ignored him and looked straight at Ambessa, voice deep and uncompromising.
"But it won't be Noxus that drags us into war."
"I respect you because you are Mel's mother. But setting that aside, I do not welcome you in Piltover."
"And what you're doing now crosses the line. This is between Piltovans and Zaunites. It's our business. It has nothing to do with you Noxians!"
His words were sharp as steel—no hesitation, no wavering.
Ambessa blinked, surprise flickering in her eyes.
She'd thought she understood this young councilor well enough. But now she saw it clearly—someone who could seize power at such a young age, someone Mel could fall for, truly did have something exceptional in him.
"Jayce, you may not understand what you're doing right n—" Ambessa smiled as she began.
"Councilor Talis," Jayce snapped, raising his voice—rudely cutting her off. "Address me properly."
Then he turned to Marcus, face cold.
"Sheriff Marcus—so anyone can just walk into our Council chamber now? What exactly are the enforcers doing?"
"My apologies, Councilor Talis!" Marcus hurriedly raised his head and pressed the alarm.
A moment later, a squad of enforcers poured into the room with rifles in hand, surrounding the chamber.
Behind Ambessa, the bearded Noxian stepped forward with a dark expression, rolling his shoulders as if ready to act—but Ambessa lifted a hand to stop him.
She looked at Jayce and smiled.
"You're right, Councilor Talis. I did overstep."
Then she glanced at Mel.
"Mel, your taste in men is excellent."
After that, Ambessa spoke calmly. "We're leaving."
And with that, Ambessa led her people out of the Council.
In the corridor outside the council chamber—
"We're just leaving like this?" the bearded man moved closer to Ambessa and murmured.
Ambessa replied, "Send a team to buy the kind of clothes Zaunites wear. Then choose a few places, cause some damage, and kill a few people."
"Now?" the bearded man froze, frowning. "They aren't idiots. They'll know we did it."
"It doesn't matter if they know it was me," Ambessa said, hands clasped behind her back as she walked forward, expression steady. "We don't need them to believe Zaun did it."
"We only need the people of this city to believe Zaun did it."
The bearded man's eyes lit up. He lowered his head. "Understood. I'll arrange it immediately."
"Peace?" Ambessa let out a cold laugh.
"Fuck your peace."
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