With the assistance of two Battering War Machines, Li Lin, along with Caitlyn, Kai'Sa, and Zoe, rode in one vehicle, while Swain, Darius, and an officer shared another. The remaining Trifarix soldiers followed the enforcers, riding two specialized floating trucks. After traveling a considerable distance, they arrived at the administrative building.
Upon disembarking, Kai'Sa and Zoe showed no interest in political matters. However, because Swain wielded demonic power, both of them chose to remain in Li Lin's office. Caitlyn, on the other hand, followed Li Lin, leading the way. The silence between them was oppressive, with the sound of their heels clicking against the marble floor echoing down the empty corridor.
The atmosphere between the four was tense. When they arrived at the hall where the council meetings once took place, now repurposed for political discussions, Li Lin invited them to take a seat. Only then did Caitlyn visibly relax. The once circular council table had long been replaced by a traditional long table with more seats.
As staff members brought tea and snacks and placed them in front of Swain and Darius, Li Lin exchanged a few pleasantries with them. After some time, Cassandra, Mel, and Heimerdinger finally entered from the corridor doors on the opposite side.
Darius cast a cold glance at them but quickly looked away. His duty today was to act as Swain's bodyguard, so he was uninterested in the discussions of the meeting. Although, given that the Hextech firearms might be ineffective and Swain's powers likely required no assistance, it at least showed his solidarity with the Grand General.
Heimerdinger took the first seat, sitting beside Li Lin, while Mel and Cassandra sat next to him and Caitlyn, respectively. Mel and Cassandra handled foreign diplomacy and economics, making them important officials in Piltover. Heimerdinger, as one of Piltover's founders, was naturally involved in the meeting, despite no longer holding an official council position. Caitlyn, with the council's restrictions lifted and Li Lin's support, was in charge of law enforcement in Piltover, holding a position akin to that of a general in other nations. She represented the face of Piltover.
The room was silent. Li Lin and Swain locked eyes, their gazes reflecting the other's presence. The tension between them was palpable, and the air grew heavy. Sweat began to form on the foreheads and spines of the others in the room, as no one dared to make a sound.
"Grand General," Li Lin leaned forward, his hands crossed on the table, breaking the silence first.
"Call me Swain," Swain replied with a polite smile, his voice sharp and clear like a blade being unsheathed, carrying the sharp edge of someone in power. "May I address you by your name, Li Lin?"
"Of course," Li Lin replied with a smile, his gaze briefly flicking to the tall windows on either side of the hall where dozens of ravens perched. These were not ordinary ravens but magical creatures, born from the demon Raaum's magic.
"I heard there was a recent rebellion in the Rokrund Plains," Li Lin continued. "Some soldiers actually thought they could overthrow your rule. Ridiculous."
Swain, ever composed, nodded. "In my view, since you assumed the position of Grand General and implemented the Trifarix separation of powers, Noxus has flourished. In just over a year, the nation has begun to recover, and this owes much to your wise decisions."
"Ah, no, when compared to your brilliance, I'm far lacking," Swain said with a laugh. "You've only taken two years to rise from a laborer to your current position, while I, relying on the strength of the Swain family, accumulated battle achievements and took thirty years to reach this point."
Swain chuckled politely in response. "If we're talking about ability, then I truly have to admit, you are the superior one."
Li Lin laughed heartily. "Don't be modest. If Lady Pale hadn't taken your forces, you'd have likely already killed Irelia and conquered Ionia by now."
"Besides, just the fact that you have subdued a demon is enough for me to feel unworthy of comparison," Li Lin continued, his voice carrying a sharp edge. As soon as Darius heard the name "Lady Pale," his pupils contracted, and even Swain's eyes flashed with a rare hint of seriousness.
To think that this young man who had long since fled Ionia still knew about the events at Trifarix... But after a brief moment of thought, Swain relaxed slightly. The Battle of Navori wasn't exactly a secret, and Irelia Xan had long since become a hero, celebrated by the Ionian people. It wasn't surprising that Li Lin knew about it. However, how did he know that LeBlanc had siphoned off my troops, leading to my defeat at Placidium? Swain's thoughts whirled, but only a few seconds had passed in reality.
He continued, his expression still unreadable, "You have the ability to create mechs that could rival gods, and you defeated Xerath, the ancient warlock who once brought the Ascended Empire to its ruin. I, a mere mortal, may have subdued demons, but how can I compare to someone who defeated the Ascended?" He paused, his gaze shifting to Caitlyn and Heimerdinger before adding with a slight smirk, "I also heard that recently, you announced your plans to ascend to the heavens, and it seems you've already made some progress?"
Swain's eyes, gleaming with a dull red light, swept over Caitlyn and Heimerdinger before curling into a faint smile. "To enter the heavens—that's a goal that many extraordinary mages and scholars have dreamed of for centuries. Even demons are no exception."
Caitlyn, Cassandra, and Mel were left dumbfounded. Li Lin's actions were entirely beyond their comprehension, and they hadn't expected him to be capable of defeating the legendary Ascended. Li Lin raised an eyebrow imperceptibly. News of the battle against the Ascended wasn't something that could be hidden easily. Though Shurima was vast and sparsely populated, numerous Noxian expedition teams and warmasons roamed its lands. Besides, Azir had spread the word about defeating their shared enemy, Xerath, so it was hardly surprising that Swain knew.
However, what Swain had said about demons aspiring to ascend to the heavens remained unclear to Li Lin. The implications of Swain's words didn't quite register, but Li Lin noted the sly way in which Swain avoided addressing the topics that interested him most.
Their first exchange of "old secrets" had yielded no clear advantage for either party. Swain, through the demon Raum, could uncover many hidden truths and even glimpse the future, but he couldn't unravel Li Lin's mysteries. On the other hand, Li Lin leveraged his foreknowledge from being a traveler of time and the technological advantages he had gained, but he could gain no upper hand in this subtle contest of wits against a seasoned tactician like Swain.
Still, if not for the goal of uniting humanity under a single banner, to gather the living forces of mankind, Li Lin wouldn't have bothered wasting so much time with Swain. In some respects, though, Li Lin still held a certain advantage.
They both tacitly moved past the earlier topic, diving into other matters of discussion, such as Swain's experience with governing a vast nation and its hereditary aristocracy, or Li Lin's approach to technological development. The conversation was more relaxed now, with occasional bursts of laughter filling the room.
Caitlyn, Cassandra, Mel, and Heimerdinger watched in resigned silence, remaining silent throughout the exchange, offering no interruptions. With Li Lin present, they were mere observers.
The conversation twisted and turned until they finally reached the crucial matter. As they were discussing various inter-country affairs, Swain suddenly changed the subject. "I heard from one of my generals, Du Couteau, that his daughter and a trusted subordinate went to visit Piltover, only to be arrested on charges of espionage. Is there any truth to this?"
Li Lin internally rolled his eyes, silently wondering if Swain had finally decided to get to the real business. His earlier impatience was momentarily suppressed. "Yes, that is true," Li Lin replied, shrugging. "Katarina and Talon were working together—one to distract me, the other to secretly infiltrate my home and steal my designs. This is a serious violation of Piltover's laws."
Swain nodded, his tone turning apologetic. "This was a misunderstanding. I offer my sincere apologies for the actions of my subordinates." He then reached into his coat and pulled out a piece of paper, handing it over to one of the attendants stationed at either side of the hall. The attendant quickly delivered it to Li Lin.
"This is a token of goodwill from my subordinates to redeem Katarina and Talon. I hope it pleases you."
(End of Chapter)
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