"Did you allocate funds specifically for the refugees who fled to Zaun when you took charge of it?"
When there was no one else around, Swain resumed his uniquely magnetic voice with a straight and proud posture. Even the tattered clothes and refugee disguise couldn't hide the composed confidence of someone long accustomed to holding power.
He broke off a piece of the bread given by the enforcers and slowly tasted it. Although it was just cheap bread, the quality was decent, no sawdust or other strange fillers mixed in. In many places, bread for the poor was more wood shavings than grain.
So, for refugees and those scraping by at the bottom, it was a rare treat.
"I didn't allocate funds on purpose. My attention has been focused on the whole city. These gestures were likely made by individuals acting on their own initiative," Cipher replied while eating the bread. He also took a sip of the water given by the enforcers. It was bottled, had no strange taste, and came from Zaun's state-run water plant.
The others began eating their bread as well, after all, if even Swain was eating this bread, whether they liked it or not, they had to follow suit.
Now that was leadership!
"Individual actions, huh?" Swain chewed the bread and fell into thought. He knew well what kind of people the Zaun enforcers used to be, worse than most Noxians, who might be aggressive and bloodthirsty, but they still valued honor and respected talent. There was a code, even in conquest.
Zaun's former enforcers, once the henchmen of the Chem-Barons, were pure, heartless butchers. No one would mourn them, no matter how many died. But judging from the current enforcers' attitudes and behavior, they were clearly no longer affiliated with those old gangs.
In fact, they reminded him a bit of Demacians, the sworn enemies of Noxus, but without their insufferable hypocrisy.
Interesting.
Very interesting indeed.
As he pondered, the group formally entered Zaun, crossing the threshold from Piltover's shadow into the Undercity proper. It felt as if they had stepped into an entirely different world.
The skies above Zaun were much improved compared to before, though still gray and occasionally streaked with dark green toxic haze. But the improvement was visible, you could actually see the sky now.
The industrial fumes were no longer chokingly thick, and even had a faint fragrance, though the combination still wasn't pleasant, it was far better than before. The river water still looked murky, but at least now it resembled actual water, unlike in the past when the surface was coated in dark green, toxic industrial waste. Fish might actually survive in it now, given time.
"You've done well. I can feel this city bursting with vitality,"
Swain stopped by the riverbank, placing his hands on the guardrail, admiring the river that looked nothing like the one in his previous intelligence reports.
How long had he been working with Cipher? Just over a month, not even two.
To see such progress in such a short time, saying Cipher had done well was an understatement. Most administrators took years to show half these results.
"It's not my achievement. I merely provided direction and secured some funding. The real credit goes to Professor Heimerdinger's research into purifiers and cleansing agents, as well as the efforts of the people of Zaun. They're the true heroes." Cipher smiled mildly and made no attempt to claim credit, accompanying Swain as they walked along the river in the breeze.
Zaun, as an underground city, never had wind, but after the wind returned to the surface, it reached Zaun as well. Even the air circulation had improved dramatically. The evening breeze was refreshing, and the ever-present industrial stench seemed to dissipate with it. For the first time in decades, Zaun felt almost livable.
A faint floral fragrance filled the air, carried from somewhere above. When was the last time flowers bloomed anywhere near here?
"You're quick to wash your hands of it." Although Swain's stern face didn't reveal much emotion, he seemed to be in a good mood and continued speaking. "There's no need for false modesty. For someone your age, you've done exceptionally well. Whether it's a city or an entire nation, the key to a successful rise always lies with the one in charge. A flock of sheep can't lead a pack of wolves."
As a high-ranking military officer, he had fought countless battles and conquered numerous cities and regions for his empire. Bringing order and prosperity to a city was no easier than winning a war. In some ways, it was harder, wars ended, but governance was eternal.
"General Quiletta, say you and General Darius had to govern a city you just conquered. How long would it take before the people of that city truly recognized and accepted Noxian rule?" He suddenly turned to Quiletta with this question, his tactical mind always working, always testing theories against experience.
"Well… it depends on the situation." Quiletta had never thought much about such matters before, her expertise lay in conquest, not administration. She considered it carefully before replying, drawing from memory. "If it's a region with weak resistance, all you need to do is give the orphans and poor people a chance to prove themselves. Let them see that even an orphan can rise to prominence in Noxus, after a few wars, they'll naturally align with us."
This insight came from her own experience. The city she was born in, Basilich, was just like that. After she, Darius, and Draven each gained fame within the Noxian Empire, Basilich immediately became one of Noxus's staunchest supporters.
Countless young people, tormented by poverty and hardship, took them as role models and enthusiastically enlisted in the military.
"But if the region resisted fiercely and was only conquered after heavy casualties, then it can take at least two generations for the hatred to fade and for integration to succeed."
That too was from her personal experience. In some places that had resisted violently and suffered massive bloodshed, even after several years the locals still stared at Noxians with eyes full of hatred. But among the newly born children, those hateful eyes were becoming fewer and fewer.
"What about you? If Zaun were to occupy Piltover, how long would it take before the Piltovans recognized and accepted your rule?" Swain suddenly turned the question to Cipher. In his view, it would be quite difficult for Zaun to successfully rule Piltover. Once lofty Piltovans being ruled by "sewer rats" from Zaun? It would be a miracle if they didn't rebel within the first week.
"Well… I do have a plan. If everything goes smoothly, it won't be difficult. They might actually welcome us." Cipher had long been prepared for this question.
Zaun currently had Swain's protection. If Piltover wanted to attack Zaun, they'd have to take down Swain first. But by the time he actually fell, it would be years later, during the Noxian invasion of Ionia, when he would lead The Great Stand Of The Placidium. In the original timeline of that war, Emperor Darkwill, completely under the control of the Black Rose, would withdraw Swain's forces and deliberately set a trap to get him killed. That would lead to Swain's defeat, the loss of his left arm, and being removed from office.
However, this downfall was a blessing in disguise, it led him to encounter the hidden demon Raaum, from whom he gained demonic powers and was reborn stronger than ever.
But by then, after years of development, Piltover wouldn't stand a chance against Zaun.
Both Camille and Cipher understood this timeline well.
So what would Camille do when she realized the inevitable? Of course, she would contact the Black Rose and invite a powerful Noxian warlord into Piltover, offering the city as a voluntary colony to Noxus in exchange for their help in attacking Zaun.
The true showdown between Piltover and Zaun would happen at that moment. And that would be Zaun's best chance to reclaim Piltover as liberators rather than conquerors.
After being brutalized by typical Noxian overlords, the Piltovans would likely be calling for Zaun to come and liberate them. By then, people like Jayce, Mel, and even Caitlyn might serve as representatives of the Piltovans, sent to Zaun in search of help.
"The wind's been pleasant long enough. Let's go and see what other surprises your city has to offer." With that, Swain led the group onward. He didn't ask Cipher what the specific plan was. He had already lent him his support, stood by him this far, now all he needed was to see the results.
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Merry Christmas!