-113- You are her!

December 4th —

"Boom!"

Accompanied by thunderous sounds.

On the stone road leading to Drekan, a group of soldiers on horseback advances.

Drekan, a city within the Noxian Empire.

The Noxian Empire, constantly at war abroad yet lacking in governance, has a few main cities within its territory —

Foremost is, of course, the capital of the Noxian Empire, the Immortal Bastion.

Next is Drekan, situated near the Immortal Bastion.

Following that is the port city of Basilich.

Then, to the north of the Immortal Bastion, there's Khworez.

Aside from the cities above on the continent of Valoran, even as far away as the port black market of Bel'zhun in Shurima, it remains a significant city for Noxus.

Today, in an estate outside the city of Drekan, Viscount Boklan has received news.

With his personal guards, he appears outside the estate, dressed neatly, waiting obediently for their arrival.

From morning until afternoon, it's only after hearing the urgent sound of horse hooves that Viscount Boklan sees an Imperial army from the capital on the plains in the distance.

There are a total of fourteen people, hooves pounding the stone road, soldiers clad in heavy steel armor with small round shields and short axes hanging on both sides of their legs, charging toward him.

They quickly surround Viscount Boklan's estate.

"Viscount Boklan! The Marquess orders you to hurry to the Immortal Bastion. He has important matters to discuss with you!"

A tall, fully armed Noxian soldier dismounts and strides menacingly to the front of Viscount Boklan.

"Ah, it's you? Gaima!" Seeing the person, Viscount Boklan immediately breathes a sigh of relief. The newcomer is someone he knows.

The robust commander approaches Viscount Boklan, bends down, and speaks quietly in his ear, "Laven, you've stirred up trouble."

"But I haven't done anything!"

"Telling me won't change anything. You'll have to discuss it with the Marquess."

"Damn it, you have to tell me what happened."

Gaima paused and said, "You leaked information. There are rumors in the capital that you intend to lead a force to attack Piltover without authorization. But, you know, going against imperial orders and acting independently... that puts you in front of a military tribunal."

"We are currently facing great difficulties. The battles in the east are successive defeats, and we can't afford to start another war now."

"I'm not going to war! I'm just going to Piltover to see an old friend. I'm going to meet the head of the Ferros family!"

Viscount Boklan's chubby face showed a flicker of fear, and he quickly spoke up.

Against imperial orders?

He wouldn't dare!

He's just taking a group of people to support Stevan, and then get what he wants from Stevan.

Powerful scientific weapons!!!

Offering them to the empire, Laven might receive even better treatment!

He never thought of going against the empire's will, never!

He wouldn't dare!

However, looking at the frightened Laven, Gaima shook his head. He spoke, "I told you, these words of yours won't help. You need to talk to the Marquess about it, not me. And now, Laven, let's go."

"By tomorrow morning, we need to be in the capital. Rest well; you'll need to face the Marquess in good mental condition."

Seeing Gaima with a stern face, Laven Boklan took a deep breath. His body, not used to long journeys, struggled to mount the horse after a day of arduous travel. Swallowing hard, Laven wondered whether this trip was a blessing or a curse.

"Move!"

Gaima waved his hand, and the soldiers, who had just stopped, immediately returned. However, the other thirteen soldiers showed no complaints.

---

Early the next morning.

Laven Boklan, who hadn't slept the night before despite the exhaustion of a long journey on horseback, found it impossible to sleep.

How could he sleep?

He couldn't possibly!

"Laven, let's go."

Gaima came to call him around noon, and Laven nodded.

As he had said, this trip was not to attack Piltover but to meet his old friend from Piltover, invited by the noble Stevan Ferros.

Moreover, Laven's journey was for the empire, to ensure that the soldiers of the empire could have better weapons!

Constantly reminding himself of this, Laven followed Gaima into the deep, dark, and yet vast stone walls of the city. As they truly entered the heart of the capital, Laven's initially tense heart gradually calmed down.

He looked at everything before him, a style he found incredibly familiar.

The narrow and dimly lit streets, houses made of black bricks, and the solemn, dignified style. It made Laven recall his former self.

Although he hadn't shed blood for the empire in many years, he hadn't been on the battlefield for a long time before inheriting the position of viscount in his family.

However, before becoming a viscount, he was a valiant Noxian soldier. He, too, had personally severed enemy heads. The vast territories of the empire owed partly to his contribution.

Now back in the capital of the empire, Laven stepped on black bricks, surrounded by buildings made of dark bricks. The power and conviction emitted by these massive stones instantly brought back Laven's former self.

"Are you calm now?"

"Yeah, I haven't done anything wrong. I'm here for the empire. Piltover has something we need."

Walking through the city of the capital, Laven and Gaima headed into an alley for a more private conversation.

Climbing stone steps, Laven looked into the distance, spotting the empire's renowned towering black structures.

"Hextech Phone is indeed impressive, but I heard it's an invention of Zaun."

"No, Gaima, you don't understand. Due to the Medarda family, I got to know Stevan, and from him, I learned some things."

"What things?" Gaima asked in a hushed tone.

"Hextech!"

"But isn't that the same as the hextech phone we just talked about?"

After passing through narrow streets, gradually ascending, Gaima and Laven greeted passing soldiers, affirming their identities.

Gaima and Laven delved deeper.

The number of people decreased, but that wasn't surprising. The alleys of the capital were numerous, narrow, and this place they arrived at was not for commoners. Civilians here would face execution!

"You don't know. In Piltover, they use technology, seemingly having discovered the secret to immortality!"

"What?!" Gaima looked at Laven in astonishment. "Do you know what you're saying right now?"

"Stevan told me. His sister seems to have perpetual youth as long as the energy source is secured. But in a recent mission, something went wrong. So, Stevan hopes I can go to Zaun to help him retrieve his sister's body. The reward is all the knowledge about hextech."

"And for me, I just need to bring two soldiers, identify myself as a Noxian, and the Zaunites will kneel down and find Stevan's sister's body for me."

Laven said earnestly.

Noxus's reputation was known worldwide. Even though the empire was currently facing difficulties, with the war line extending, a small city-state wouldn't dare to resist the empire, especially not someone representing a Noxian viscount.

Laven continued, telling Gaima, "So, Gaima, if I can integrate and study those things, then present them to the emperor, I think I can stand firm!"

Gaima looked at Laven and said after a moment, "I understand. You ran to Drekan to avoid him, and you're going to Piltover to confront him?"

Gaima continued, "Laven, let me advise you. You shouldn't provoke him."

"Gaima, it's not that I want to provoke him. He's the one who doesn't want me to have an easy time!"

"I was born with noble blood; I should be a leader. But what about him? He wants to change everything. He even killed his own parents with his own hands!"

"That person is a lunatic. Do you forget what he said in the imperial square? He actually said that on the battlefield, a soldier and a noble have the same status."

"Damn, how could that be the same?" Gaima nodded and said, "But even so, with the emperor's favor, you still can't oppose him."

Laven quickly said, "I'm not insane, Gaima. I never intended to actually confront him. I don't want to oppose him; I know I'm not his match. I just want to please the emperor so that when he returns, he can't directly harm me."

"Makes sense."

Gaima nodded, smiling, and said, "But you're wrong; even so, he will still come after you."

Gaima continued, "I know his character. I understand that person."

"What are you talking about?" Laven looked at Gaima, asking in a peculiar tone, "You say you understand him? He can even kill his own biological parents. Do you say you understand him?"

"That guy is a lunatic. Do those who understand lunatics become lunatics too, Gaima?"

"Haha." Gaima chuckled quietly, then pulled Laven forward.

Walking through the narrow alley, the two went deeper.

"Laven, there's actually only one way to avoid him."

Laven Boklan looked at Gaima. "What is it?"

"Kill him. As long as he's dead, everything will be over."

Laven instinctively wanted to argue but, at that moment, his obese body suddenly felt weak.

His head became dizzy, and Laven tried to reach out instinctively, but he couldn't grab Gaima.

"Boklan, I never thought your fat body and layers of fat would give me a good idea—Hextech and immortality?"

Laven looked at Gaima. He was standing nearby, but Laven couldn't grab him no matter what.

"You.. heh!"

Laven opened his mouth, but he couldn't speak; he could only make hoarse sounds.

"Interesting. This should divert the troops that were supposed to support the Eastern Isles to Piltover."

Gaima muttered to himself, "No, I can even draw out his troops from it. Darkwill will agree; he's incompetent and mad for the pursuit of immortality."

"This is really good."

Another voice sounded from the side.

A suddenly appeared person walked up to Gaima, smiling and saying, "It's wonderful. It makes him derelict in leading the army, and then I can plan something from it. Maybe I can just kill him."

Gaima also looked at the person who suddenly appeared, and then Gaima laughed. It wasn't a man's laughter but a woman's, a sinister, chuckling laughter.

"Right, he ruined my plan."

The strange person said to Gaima, "Is this revenge?"

Gaima said, "Yes, it's my revenge."

"Oh, by the way, Laven Boklan, before I complete my plan, I must thank you. You made me suddenly realize something."

Gaima pointed at Laven's head with a finger. Then, Laven realized all the strange feelings disappeared.

In the first moment of waking up, Laven pointed his finger at Gaima, gasping for breath. In a high-pitched voice, Laven loudly said, "You, you are her, you're the Pale Lady!"

The strange figure next to Gaima spoke, with a calm tone, "Boklan, you don't need to be surprised. I am everywhere, and everyone is me."

"You say he's the pale lady? Then what about me?" A third voice came up. In the depths of the alley, a person wearing heavy clothing, concealing everything, even the eyes covered, walked out, saying, "Boklan, what you see is just what I want you to see."

"I am willing to serve you!" Boklan immediately knelt down, loudly saying, "Pale Lady, I swear on my noble blood, I will wholeheartedly and tirelessly serve you."

"We have a common enemy!"

Boklan shouted loudly.

From fear to shock, then to fervor!

This all happened in just a few minutes.

Laven Boklan, at this moment, didn't even know what had happened to him.

Gaima

No, it was the Pale Lady.

She nodded with a smile, reached out to lightly tap Laven's head, and then a peculiar magical insignia imprinted on Laven's body.

"Rise."

"Laven Boklan."

The Pale Lady looked at Laven. Around them, the people who appeared earlier slowly disappeared, the scene resembling a mirage.

Soon, it was as if they had never appeared.

But Laven knew they had appeared.

They were everywhere.

"The oath has been sworn, and together we shall triumph. Your name will also be remembered by Darkwill."

"The hypocrites will perish, and victory will be ours."

Laven looked up at her fanatically, and with force, he shouted:

"Yes, My Lady."