-304- Who cares

In mid-September, Piltover—

Inside a skyscraper reaching into the clouds, the elites from both cities had lost count of how many meetings they had this month.

"After the supplies arrive, we need to make a trip to Demacia. Jarvan III has agreed to provide us with a batch of petricite for our tournament," Linwin spoke up in the meeting room.

"That's no problem. Just let them know it's on the way," Mel nodded and took over the conversation.

"Our people have also started spreading the word in Shurima. But Linwin, are you sure the rewards need to be so generous?" Vander questioned.

"If they're not generous, how will we attract people? Remember, the true purpose of hosting the tournament is to make the world aware of the Void and prepare for its defense."

After some more discussion, things were finally settled.

Linwin slammed the table and declared loudly, "So it's settled then."

"In the days to come, the Twin Cities Tournament will depend on all of you to put in extra effort."

Linwin grinned broadly.

Seeing his expression, Silco closed his eyes directly, out of sight, out of mind.

But Linwin didn't leave everything to others either; he had his own tasks to attend to.

"I'll depart for Noxus with Sion's body tomorrow."

"We understand," Vander grunted. "Stay safe."

"If you feel like it's going to escalate, remember to tell us in advance, give us more time to prepare, don't let it be like last time," Jayce sat up straight, smiling.

Upon hearing Jayce's words, Mel showed a displeased expression.

Privately, she also pinched Jayce's waist.

She might be fully committed to the Twin Cities now, but Mel certainly didn't want a full-blown war between the Twin Cities and Noxus.

"Shut your mouth, you're gonna jinx it."

"I'm sorry!"

———

The meeting ended, and Linwin quickly returned to Zaun.

Because time was a bit tight, first thing tomorrow, Linwin would "haul" Sion's body to Noxus, so he needed to delegate some tasks first.

Back at Zoran's shop, Linwin first went inside. Sure enough, old Zoran had left the shop to go somewhere fancy again, leaving Kai'Sa to act as the shopkeeper.

He briefed Kai'Sa on the upcoming trips, but all he got from her was an "Ok."

"Aren't you worried about me?" Linwin asked.

"Then do you need me to go with you?" Kai'Sa blinked.

"Never mind then. Taking you to Noxus? My father-in-law would kill me if he found out."

Kai'Sa rolled her eyes at the response and lowered her head to continue eating the snack in her hand.

It was a chocolate bar.

"I'll also go and inform Powder later. Oh, and Vi too," Linwin leaned on the counter with his arms, smiling at Kai'Sa who was munching on the chocolate bar.

"Was Vi suddenly brought up because you remembered?" Kai'Sa asked while chewing on the chocolate bar.

"Otherwise? Between my little sister and my wife, clearly the latter is more important."

Kai'Sa paused her chewing motion, then resumed.

Seeing this, Linwin's smile widened even more. If it could split his face to his ears, it would have flown to his ears by now.

Piltover and Zaun didn't officially practice polygamy, but they also didn't prohibit it like Demacia. Just like Freljord, polyandry was common, but in the unspoken rules, one-wife-one-husband was also acceptable.

Wasn't Tryndamere and Ashe an example? The Queen Consort only chose the barbarian as her only bloodbond.

Now, it was just a brief moment of happiness for Linwin.

With Kassadin around, he couldn't tease Kai'Sa; with Powder around, he couldn't tease Kai'Sa either.

Even if Taliyah was there, Linwin couldn't tease Kai'Sa.

Should we say that the longer Kai'Sa stayed in contact with the human world, the more she understood?

Now she even knows how to avoid suspicion and be shy.

Who was the one who ran to the bathroom to help him wash, and climbed into his bed in the middle of the night?

Damn it!

"I'll probably be gone for about half a month," Linwin said after thinking for a moment.

In Noxus, if there's a chance, Linwin intends to meet with Swain.

If Swain has truly obtained the power of the demon, then Linwin would be very curious. Would Swain know about his situation now?

Thinking about it, he should know, right? Because that all-knowing demon can truly know everything that happens on Runeterra at every moment, and many things can be seen through the eyes of that demon.

So the question is, did Swain know about the Void from the beginning?

So why was he so eager to unify Noxus and proclaim that something darker than himself was coming to Noxus?

Was he referring to Mordekaiser, or was it the Void?

Compared to the Void, Mordekaiser certainly couldn't be considered the ultimate enemy.

At least Linwin thinks so.

So how many people in Noxus know about the Void, and will they actually act against the Void?

These are the things Linwin urgently wants to know.

"Go go go, do whatever you want, just don't bother me while I'm running the shop."

"Running the shop? I think you're stealing from the shop, aren't you?"

Linwin also picked up the snack Kai'Sa had placed on the counter, opened it, and took a bite. It was a stuffed sweet biscuit.

"Watch out for Zoran one day when he checks the revenue and finds out it's all been eaten by you."

The action of eating paused for a moment, but soon, Kai'Sa raised her head and replied, "Zoran has already agreed to let me eat them, he knows."

"Then I'm the one who gave the shop to Zoran, so I'm the real owner."

"Whatever, who cares."

"..."

————————

"War Mother,"

In the hall, Ashe looked at FrostStone who had just entered.

He was holding several strange metal boxes in his hands.

"What are these?" Ashe took one of the metal boxes. She couldn't understand the words on it, but the engraved patterns were very nice and looked like... food?

"Newly arrived food," FrostStone replied immediately.

He didn't know what else to say.

When that towering beast appeared over the skies of Avarosa, appearing above this valley, all the people of Avarosa fell into panic.

Until human voices and the voice of a woman claiming to be the Winter's Claw were heard from above, the people of Avarosa finally calmed down.

Our War Mother must have made a pact with a deity, otherwise, what's the deal with this huge sky beast?

And FrostStone even wondered if this big guy had anything to do with the legendary Anivia, with its wings spanning hundreds of meters?

FrostStone thought of many things in that moment, but in the end, as crates of goods were being unloaded and opened, he immediately abandoned those thoughts.

So much food!

Back to the present, Ashe heard the sound and reached for the true ice dagger hanging from her waist. She easily sliced open the surface of the metal box.

Then, a strong aroma filled the hall.

Ashe looked in amazement at the palm-sized box, the surface covered in grease, already frozen into chunks, and underneath, there was meat with skin?

FrostStone also smelled the fragrance.

It was the first time he had smelled something like this.

"Is it edible?" Ashe asked FrostStone.

"It seems like it needs to be heated," FrostStone recalled what those people in strange clothes with strange accents had said, and immediately replied.

"."

"Go heat it up for me."

"Yes, War Mother."