"There was a massive explosion in the industrial district. Marcus, you need to return immediately and take charge. Do everything possible to minimize the impact."
Sheriff Grayson gave the order.
"Yes, Sheriff."
Marcus let out a long sigh of relief. With Sheriff Grayson personally handling the idealistic duo of Caitlyn and Jayce, the burden of responsibility eased, if only slightly.
He had to hurry back and take care of the most important arrangements, make the necessary preparations in advance, especially for his daughter. She had to be protected from what was coming.
I need to seed my daughter to Zaun immediately. I've saved up enough over the years for her to live a decent life there.
Marcus thought grimly to himself as he walked away.
As the Deputy Sheriff of Piltover, he had witnessed Zaun's remarkable development firsthand over the past few years.
From his position of power, he understood Zaun's true nature better than most of its own residents, and certainly better than naive idealists like Caitlyn.
Even as a high-ranking officer in Piltover's hierarchy, he often found himself genuinely envious of the lives that ordinary citizens lived in Zaun.
In Zaun, anyone could live openly and honestly.
But in Piltover? If you didn't take bribes from powerful interests or do the dirty work that kept the machine running, you couldn't survive. Worse, refusing to participate could endanger your entire family.
If this current mess got properly covered up, fine. But if it didn't get contained... Piltover showed no mercy to those who failed them. If he didn't handle the cleanup perfectly, there would be severe consequences.
There was no place left for him in the Upper City. He had to get his daughter to safety first, before the purges began.
And he couldn't leave with her, that would be seen as fleeing justice. He had to stay in Piltover to await punishment, take the fall for more powerful people. He was probably going to die for their mistakes.
Without anyone to rely on, his daughter wouldn't survive anywhere else in Runeterra. Zaun was her only realistic hope for a future.
---
"He cannot be allowed to leave!" Caitlyn shouted, breathing heavily, raising her weapon once more toward Marcus's retreating figure.
"I told you he's innocent. Put the gun down!"
Grayson's voice hardened. She deliberately grabbed Caitlyn's rifle barrel and pointed it directly at her own chest.
"Do you want to arrest me as well? Don't you understand yet? Enforcers exist to serve Piltover's interests. Only Piltover's interests and citizens. If you want to be a real enforcer rather than a naive idealist, you need to understand your role and where your loyalties must lie."
"What happens in other regions, no matter how many people die or suffer, simply isn't our concern or responsibility. We can only choose to protect our own."
"Caitlyn, you've been sheltered under Councilor Kiramman's protection your entire life. The real world is exactly this cruel and heartless."
Looking at Caitlyn, lost, devastated, as if all strength and hope had been drained from her body, Grayson sighed.
"Go home, Caitlyn. I'll handle your resignation paperwork and process your discharge. Being an enforcer just isn't for you."
Grayson had practically watched Caitlyn grow up. Seeing her like this broke her heart, but this was the harsh reality that adults eventually had to face.
"Councilor Talis, I'll arrange for those two individuals to be transported to Zaun. Let's end things here, shall we?"
Grayson's eyes were filled with exhaustion as she turned to Jayce, who had remained ominously silent throughout the entire confrontation.
Unlike Caitlyn, who had yet to inherit her family's power, Jayce represented the real potential problem.
If he insisted on pursuing this matter, things could spiral completely out of control. Important people would die, and the entire system could be threatened.
"No, Jayce, you absolutely must not agree to this!"
"A bill that ignores human lives and causes tens of thousands of deaths is wrong. It must be corrected. It must be changed."
"Piltover is sick. We must cure this disease. We cannot allow it to remain infected."
Caitlyn's entire body trembled. She clenched her fists so tightly, biting her lip until it bled, tears threatening to spill from the corners of her eyes.
Just thinking about the tens of thousands of innocent lives lost, it felt like her heart was bleeding.
Was this really the Piltover she had grown up believing in?
Jayce's eyes turned red in an instant.
"I followed their orders to complete the Hexgate project and developed Hextech weapons, bringing prosperity and global influence to Piltover."
"How much wealth has Hextech technology created for this city? Was that contribution not enough? And what did they do with it?"
"Piltover is not some amusement park for the wealthy elite. I absolutely refuse to accept this kind of Piltover!"
"Investigate everything. Investigate thoroughly and completely. Not a single parasitic should!"
His tone was resolute and unshakable.
Blue arcs of energy crackled from his massive warhammer, forming a brilliant ring of power around his figure, making him appear like a mighty warrior.
But seeing Jayce's firm stance and hearing his idealistic proclamations, Sheriff Grayson simply shook her head, turned away, and began walking back to her transport.
She acted as if she hadn't seen the siblings at all. She deactivated the citywide alarm system with her authority codes and ordered her tactical team to withdraw immediately.
Her attitude said everything: Do whatever you want. I'm finished caring about the consequences.
Jayce swung his crackling hammer fiercely through the air in frustration, blue energy trailing behind the massive weapon. But he didn't lose heart, he was certain that Mel would support his cause.
"Caitlyn, we'll split up."
"You prepare the arrest and search warrants, then go speak directly with your mother. I'll go find Mel and secure her support."
"If you can successfully persuade your mother and gain her backing, we'll have one vote. I believe Mel can deliver at least one additional vote."
"Then we'll call an emergency Council session to strike down this flawed indentured labor system entirely. With those warrants in hand, you'll finally get to the bottom of this."
He was quick-witted when motivated, he understood instinctively that ultimate power lay with the Council. If the Council approved their investigation, everything else would fall into place naturally.
With Mel's help navigating the political side, he felt confident. Darkness was only temporary. Light and justice would define Piltover's future.
"Alright. I'll get started right away," Caitlyn agreed.
She took out the keys and unlocked the heavy shackles restraining the Levi's and Aria's wrists.
Since the true culprits couldn't be punished, continuing to punish the victims for their retaliation had become completely meaningless.
"Go with Jayce for your own protection. Piltover isn't safe for you right now, but he should be able to protect you."
At this point, Caitlyn had also realized the siblings probably possessed no magical abilities whatsoever, they had no means to protect themselves. That incredible wind wall had almost certainly been Cipher's doing.
"Alright, we'll go with you."
Levi and Aria exchanged a meaningful glance and agreed without hesitation. They had absolutely nowhere else to go in this city.
Their communication device had been confiscated during the arrest, and it didn't appear they were heading to Stillwater Hold after all. They had no idea what their next move should be.
So, following Jayce seemed like their best, and only, realistic option for survival.
"Don't worry. I'll take you directly to Mel's estate. That's the House Medarda's heavily fortified stronghold, absolutely safe. No one in Piltover would risk making trouble there."
Jayce gave his word with characteristic directness. Since he was making this commitment publicly, he would see it through to whatever end awaited them.
With their plans settled, the two groups wasted no time and departed quickly in different directions.
He took protective custody of Levi and Aria to seek Mel's support, while Caitlyn returned to Piltover Wardens to begin the complex process of obtaining arrest and search warrants.
In the large, once-familiar administrative offices, it was as if Caitlyn had become completely invisible, every single person deliberately ignored her presence entirely.
Even colleagues who had been friendly with her for years now avoided her path, not even trying to speak or making direct eye contact.
Sheriff Grayson had clearly issued a strict order: No Enforcer was to engage with Caitlyn in any.
It was also a warning to the rest of the enforcers: If you don't want to die for unclear reasons, stay far away from Caitlyn Kiramman. The farther, the safer.
And so, the once-righteous and idealistic enforcers who had filled Caitlyn with such pride and hope for justice... had in the span of a single night become cold strangers who viewed her as a dangerous liability to be avoided at all costs.
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