218 -214- For what?

Within the palace, Xin Zhao quickly found the prince of Demacia as per Jarvan III's request.

"Teacher."

A man with rugged features and towering stature, upon seeing Xin Zhao, immediately rose from his bed, holding his head and spoke to Xin Zhao.

Seeing Jarvan IV, Xin Zhao's stern face softened with a smile.

From Ionia to Noxus, and then from Noxus to Demacia, Xin Zhao no longer looked back on the past. He was now a true people of Demacia.

He would uphold the virtues that gave him a new life, he would serve Jarvan III with his life, and thus, Jarvan IV, as the heir to Jarvan III, was someone Xin Zhao would pledge his allegiance to in the future - as long as he lived.

"Why are you here? Where's my father?"

Jarvan IV, holding his head due to a hangover, felt uncomfortable with the headache.

"I've come to inform you on His Majesty's orders," Xin Zhao stood by Jarvan IV's bed, sat down, and spoke, "The people from Twin City have arrived in Demacia, and they will also establish Hex gates and stations here in the future."

"But you can only observe, not participate."

Jarvan IV looked at Xin Zhao, seeing his serious expression, nodded, "I understand."

Seeing Jarvan IV's weary appearance, Xin Zhao walked to the water jug, poured a glass of water, and handed it to Jarvan IV.

"Thank you, teacher." As Jarvan IV reached for the glass, his brow suddenly furrowed, and he took a deep breath.

Xin Zhao, seeing the situation, said in a deep voice, "Tell me, where are you injured this time?"

"Indeed, this can't escape your eyes," Jarvan IV immediately smiled and said, "It's nothing serious, just the shoulder."

Xin Zhao quickly reached out to touch Jarvan IV.

"Wait, wait!"

Xin Zhao pressed down on the prince, pulling open his clothes.

Jarvan IV took a deep breath, looking at Xin Zhao who had calmed down again with a wry smile.

"It's just swollen, nothing serious," Xin Zhao nodded.

Xin Zhao nodded.

"I apologize, Your Highness, I was rude."

Jarvan IV shook his head, smiling, "I know you're concerned about me, as for being rude..."

"I've seen you be rude when I was very young."

Jarvan IV winked at Xin Zhao, then laughed, "Remember when you, in front of Marshal Tianna, held Father hostage to prove your abilities? That was even ruder."

Xin Zhao thought for a moment, and could only say, "His Majesty is kind."

Jarvan IV, hearing Xin Zhao's words, chuckled.

The atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

Sometimes, Jarvan IV felt that Xin Zhao was much like Garen.

Both were so serious, both rarely smiled.

Although he and Father were both easy-going people, Xin Zhao towards Father, Garen towards himself, they were like this.

Seeing this, Jarvan IV could only say, "Father is indeed kind. I still have a lot to learn from him."

Xin Zhao nodded.

Watching Jarvan IV lift the cup and start drinking water, but during the process, grimacing due to the pain in his shoulder, Xin Zhao couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, why do you always lead from the front?"

"His Majesty must have warned you, you should pay more attention to your safety."

"You are the only heir to this nation."

Xin Zhao asked solemnly.

He did not overstep, after all, he was Jarvan IV's teacher.

"Um..."

"This..."

Jarvan IV chuckled.

He had been criticized for this many times, by Father, by Marshal Tianna, even by his good brother Garen.

Now, his teacher Xin Zhao was saying it too.

But he never changed.

Yes, as the only heir to this nation, he should pay more attention to his safety.

If something happened to him, Demacia would surely be in chaos, wouldn't it?

But... Orlen and his followers, the words his mother said before she died, Father's teachings.

Leading from the front, fighting for the people, this is the virtue of Demacia.

Jarvan IV looked down at the cup, at the clear water in the cup.

"Your Highness, I don't want there to be a next time, what is the reason for your actions...?"

---------------

"Linwin, there's news from Bilgewater again. Gangplank has gathered a large group of people to attack Graves."

"Give me the report." Linwin, with his head down, looked up at Jayce as he walked in.

It was 4:30 in the afternoon, and Linwin was dealing with a stack of documents.

Strange things were happening in Shurima again, which made Linwin curious but also gave him a headache.

"The result is, Gangplank left half of their men on Graves' turf, and what we paid was eleven lives and three broken Hextech long rifles."

Linwin frowned upon hearing this, "Are there any Enforcers among the casualties?"

With energy shield protection, this shouldn't have happened.

"No, of course not. The Enforcers didn't die; it was those recruited by Graves who did."

Jayce continued, "But Jack's letter requested more supplies. Their shields won't hold out for much longer."

Linwin: "."

"Don't make that face. They're either fighting or on their way to fight every day. After all, three Hextech rifles are already broken, and even though the shields are powerful, their power source is ultimately limited."

"I understand. Send twenty extra Enforcers with energy shield over there."

Jayce nodded.

That Bilgewater matter was considered resolved.

"Oh, by the way, I might need to go out for a while," Linwin said as he looked down but then immediately raised his head to Jayce.

"Go where?"

"I might go to Noxus."

"Are you crazy?" Jayce exclaimed.

Although there's a peace treaty with Noxus, with no invasion pact, that agreement was hardly effective.

"We haven't figured out the power of rune weapons yet. Wait until we research and find a way to break them, then you can talk about going to Noxus."

Linwin looked at Jayce speechlessly, "I just said 'might,' don't get nervous."

"I might also go to Freljord, maybe to Shurima."

Jayce: "."

Linwin's list of "maybes" seemed endless.

"Why do you have to do everything yourself?" Jayce sighed, "Why do you have such a problem with yourself?"

"Why..."

Linwin was stunned.

Since coming to this world, at first it was to protect Powder and Vi, then it was to protect Vander and Jayce.

Now, he had to protect two city-states.

Protecting hundreds of thousands of citizens.

For Kai'Sa, for Zaun and Piltover, the problems in Shurima also needed to be solved.

The Void was an inevitable challenge.

Yes, unconsciously, Linwin had become the type of person he hated the most in novels -

"Why?"

---

Jarvan IV looked at the clear water in the cup and said solemnly, "I only wish the people of Demacia could drink a cup of clean water in peace."

---

Linwin looked up, shook his head, smiled softly, and said, "There's nothing to 'why.' It's just because I want to."

---

"Teacher, my life, and this spear in my hand, dance only for the people of Demacia."

---

"Jayce, I just don't want to regret."