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The move should have been finished a long time ago, but the problem is that a family member broke their leg—a bone fragment dislocated in their ankle. I was left to do all the housework alone, so I had no choice but to work overtime and stay up late every day. I'll definitely catch up on the missed updates once I'm done.
102. Ixtal
"Tell me about it." Fain wasn't surprised at all by LeBlanc's fawning attitude behind him.
If it were the original LeBlanc, it's uncertain whether she would choose to fight Fain to the last moment or choose to use every means to survive, as she is now. But for the current LeBlanc, everything about her is merely part of the original's design. All her memories, whether deeply ingrained or proud, are just messages randomly inserted into her mind—she doesn't even know if they are true or false.
So it wouldn't be surprising what LeBlanc's clone would choose.
Normally, this situation wouldn't occur. Because of LeBlanc's design, whether she's informed by someone else or her clone becomes aware of it on its own, the safety mechanism will be triggered the next moment, turning into free-floating magic and filthy blood. Unfortunately, for beings in the spiritual realm, breaking such spells isn't difficult, especially when the clone itself is intentionally cooperating.
To ensure the clone could exercise sufficient initiative and truly see itself as the original, LeBlanc instilled many real memories into it. The purpose was simply to ensure the clone possessed a complete set of logic to naturally act according to the original's plans.
As a pawn planted in Twin Cities by the real LeBlanc, Fain's LeBlanc is also aware of the real LeBlanc's plans and arrangements regarding Twin Cities.
"For that woman, Piltover is neither a good thing nor a bad thing to discard. Its only purpose is to mobilize more resources to transport to various parts of the Noxian Empire more quickly, and to accelerate the understanding of other hidden areas of Runeterra."
Upon hearing Farn's words, LeBlanc made no attempt to conceal her true intentions or wait for a higher offer. She knew perfectly well that her illusory self, upon learning everything, should have vanished like a bubble, consumed by hatred. Instead, she remained able to maintain a relatively stable physical body within her physical realm.
And the source of all this… feeling the mark of pleasure imprinted on her abdomen, though seemingly superficial, actually penetrated deep into her body's organs, forcibly maintaining her human form, LeBlanc knew that Fain could loosen the mark with a single thought, and then she would be eliminated by the safety measure left by her true form. Similarly, LeBlanc could also sense that while the mark maintained her existence, it was also subtly altering her perception, making her actively fawn over, flatter, and submit to the man before her.
But so what? Compared to the fact that all of life and pride is a false construct shaped by others, if simply flattering and serving can bring about an opportunity for revenge, LeBlanc is happy to try becoming a personal plaything.
Thinking this, LeBlanc also sensed that Fane had perceived her thoughts—the concept of hierarchy in the spiritual realm was clearer than in the material realm. This wasn't just true for LeBlanc, but also for Zerek, Seraphine, and Janna. As subordinates on the pleasure path, Fane's thoughts and ideas could not be hidden in any way, provided he so desired.
Originally, the relationship between Fan and Ossilash was only this—Ossilash was above, and Fan was below. Unfortunately, Ossilash, who had just escaped his confinement, was already weak. Coupled with the restrictions of his contract with Nera, and later, Fan, who discovered Ossilash's trap, set a trap and directly severed his essence, leaving Ossilash only able to rage helplessly within Nera's mind.
It is precisely because of this that Fan was able to casually throw all the unclean spiritual energy directly at Osiris.
Now, realizing that Fain had sensed her thoughts, LeBlanc showed no shyness or shame. Instead, she gave Fain a more ambiguous look, then, under Zeli's disdainful gaze, her two soft breasts pressed against Fain's strong arm, moving down to her knees beside him, her face full of submissive obedience:
"The Black Rose's goal is not Piltover or Zaun, but Shurima, the continent across the sea from Valoran."
Upon hearing this, Fain stroked his chin thoughtfully, then said, "So, that means... the ancient Shurima Empire? No, perhaps Ixtal as well?"
“Yes, Your Majesty.” When she heard the name of the ancient Shurima Empire, LeBlanc’s eyes didn’t show much emotion. But when she heard the word “Ixtal”, even LeBlanc couldn’t help but show a slight surprise in her eyes, and then said in an admiring tone, “You really know her purpose… Yes, the true target of my evil self is Ixtal on the continent of Shurima, that ancient empire isolated from the world.”
“...Ixtal?”
Upon hearing this, Camille, standing to the side, also frowned with some hesitation: "Isn't that just a legend? Does it really exist?"
As the eldest surviving daughter in the family, Camille's talent attracted the attention of the entire family from a young age.
Having received the finest education from a young age, she was instilled with aristocratic manners and a profound sense of responsibility. Because Piltover attracted a large number of elite talents from all over Valoran, Camille was never short of teachers.
That's why, almost immediately upon meeting Faen, she was able to ascertain Faen's origins—Camille herself could speak fluently the dialect of the southern Ionia region of Ziyun and the Noxian Mandarin.
Before the Pheros family rose to prominence through Hextech crystals, they were a renowned family of archaeologists—or rather, a family of tomb raiders.
Influenced by her elders, Camille has a deep interest in the history of various regions of Runeterra. She even has a thorough grasp of much of the ancient Shurima language, which the Shurima themselves have forgotten.
In Camille's memory—Ixtal, mentioned in many ancient Shurima texts—is said to be an ancient kingdom located in the primeval forests of eastern Shurima. However, despite over sixty years of persistent exploration by the Explorers' Guild, no information about it has been found.
No matter how much manpower and resources were invested, the final result was nothing... Not only Piltover, but even the Noxus government sent out many expedition fleets, but in the end, there were very few survivors who managed to return.
And now, what Faen and the others mean... does Ixtal really exist?
103 The Arrival of the Legion
Ixtal is not well-known in Runeterra; in fact, most people don't even know that such a place exists.
In reality, Ixtal has a very ancient history and is one of the few ancient lands that can be compared to Ionia.
In the lore of Runeterra, there exists an eastern continent on the other side of the planet, where the first humans were born. However, due to an unknown catastrophe, people were forced to abandon the eastern continent and migrate westward to survive.
The eastern continent isn't something to worry too much about, as it's just part of the lore. In fact, the map on the official League of Legends universe website isn't entirely accurate. For example, the most remote area in the southeast corner of the official map is the Shadow Isles, giving the impression of being on the edge of the world. But actually, further south of the Shadow Isles, not far outside the official universe map's dimensions, lies Kamalia, the homeland of Folyego.
Regarding the Eastern Continent, according to Faen's speculation, this should be a major storyline in a future chapter of a massively multiplayer online role-playing game similar to World of Warcraft, like League of Legends. However, given the project's stalled development, who knows when it will actually be released?
Ixtal is a nation that emerged during the Great Migration of the West. However, compared to Ionia, which is known as the First Land, Ixtal has been relatively unknown over the past few millennia.
In reality, the influence of Ixtal was evident in the establishment of all civilizations in the southern hemisphere of Runeterra, including the founding of the ancient Shurima Empire thousands of years ago, which drew the kings of Valoran from afar to admire its glory, and the birth of its first Ascended. Ixtal was also one of the few allies that stood on equal footing with the ancient Shurima Empire—and apart from Ixtal, all other nations on the Shurima continent were annexed by the ancient Shurima Empire. Jax's homeland, Icathia, was invaded for refusing to submit, and even the Mage King was hanged on the city walls.
In this context, the fact that the ancient Shurima Empire, at its peak with hundreds of Ascended, treated Ixtal with such respect demonstrates just how mysterious and powerful this ancient kingdom, which had been hidden from the world for thousands of years, truly was.
Is LeBlanc setting her sights on them?
Thinking about it, Farn also curled his lip, seemingly realizing that this silly beauty had once again provoked him to a formidable opponent...
As he thought about it, Farn shook his head and said, "Ixtal's protection is not as simple as you... or rather, as your true self imagines."
Hearing Fane's words, LeBlanc's eyes lit up with curiosity. Through Fane's words, she realized that her master seemed to know more than she had imagined. After all, Ixtal might know very little even about himself… or even about his own true form.
Although many of her memories were implanted later, LeBlanc knew that the origin of her true self couldn't be faked. Because the more authentic the materials used to create a permanent illusion, the more authentic the illusion itself would be. In this case, especially regarding memories, any subtle alteration could trigger a chain reaction, causing the illusion's logic to become unbalanced and increasing the risk of awakening self-awareness.
According to his memories, his true form was born at the end of the ancient Shurima Empire. At that time, Ixtal had already been separated from ancient Shurima for a long time, and ancient Shurima itself was suffering from severe internal strife due to long-term war and the risk of Void corruption. His true form didn't even have time to learn more about Ixtal before being drawn into an even greater conflict—the Twilight of the Gods.
His master was clearly aware of this.
Thinking this, a sweet smile appeared on LeBlanc's face. Unfortunately, because of her temperament, even the smile on LeBlanc's face seemed like poison... not fatal, but enough to make people infatuated.
As long as it allows her to take revenge, LeBlanc doesn't mind wagging her tail even more enthusiastically.
After briefly assessing Ixtal's condition, Fane said to Camille, "You don't need to worry about Noxus. Just do as Stevan asks and report any information you deem necessary, especially regarding the Noxian fleet. Make sure you know who they are and which legion they belong to."
Noxus has a unique political system. While the future likely involves a separation of powers, for now, Darkwill still holds absolute power. Under these circumstances, Noxus operates under a provincial system, with each province's governor acting as Darkwill's representative, handling taxation and administration in conjunction with various regional nobles. The nobles in different regions also possess considerable autonomy and the right to establish their own armies.
This results in Noxus's army being the largest known military organization in the world. Of course, this isn't absolute. A closer look reveals that Noxus's legions lack a unified organizational structure and leadership.
Among the legions that originated from different regions and nobles, there were elite troops, such as the Trevory Legion which belonged exclusively to Emperor Darkwell, as well as hundreds of small battle groups that operated independently in their respective regions.
Within this system, each battle group is led by its own chief, marshal, or captain, possessing its own unique culture, hierarchy, and combat preferences. In the event of a large-scale war, these scattered battle groups can be combined at the emperor's request to form larger battle groups, each responsible for specific on-site roles, such as frontline assault teams, heavy infantry, scouts, assassins, or cavalry—whatever suits their skills.
If LeBlanc's true objective is indeed Ixtal, then according to Fain's speculation, the approaching legion might not be the Mildal Legion that appeared in Battle of the Twin Cities 2. In the storyline of Battle of the Twin Cities 2, Swain had already seized power, and under the guise of making Noxus great again, he allied with Darius, the Hand of Noxus, to implement a separation of powers within the empire. The Mildal family, as a former noble family, became Swain's target.
To enhance her family's strength, the wolf mother Ambrose traveled to Piltover to seek greater power and trump cards—which, as it turned out, was nothing more than a plan by LeBlanc.
Yes, it failed, and it brought Mel's attention to Black Rose, her brother's killer.
The storyline of the Battle of the Twin Cities 2 hasn't even reached yet, and even Swain is still under Darkwell's command. So, the legion that is about to arrive in Piltover is definitely worth paying close attention to.
104. LeBlanc's Confession
After Camille left, Fane also fell into a brief period of thought.
Noxus reveres power, and all forms of power. This includes both broad praise and criticism of violence, wisdom, intrigue, and cunning, as well as more obscure methods like theft, infiltration, and plunder.
In Noxus, all of these are considered forms of power. And that's why Noxus's countless legions represent countless styles of combat. All sorts of eccentric geniuses can be found among them, and those who are not understood or accepted by the world often thrive in the Noxian environment.
It could even be said that Noxus itself has 'special talents' from all over the world who are eager to make their mark and shine in Noxus.
As for Noxus's provincial system, the military power of nobles, and the provincial governor system, etc., Farn didn't think there was much to comment on.
In an ordinary world, the collapse of such a system would only be a matter of time. Even if all internal conflicts and discontent could be suppressed in the short term through continuous war victories, once development is hindered, even a trivial war could become the fuse that ignites the collapse of the entire empire.
The power of the royal family could not influence the regional nobles, and the loyalty of provincial governors could not be effectively guaranteed. Countless examples of similar collapses of empires, regimes, and city-states abound. Even in the later technological age, companies still suffer from the problems associated with large corporations; how much more so for classical empires?
However, this is a magical world... Every region has a few oddballs, either openly or secretly active. Under these circumstances, even Noxus, an extremely twisted and ultra-classical militaristic nation, has managed to survive to this day, and thrive in a vibrant and fulfilling way.
From another perspective, Noxus's style actually aligns well with Zaun's. After all, before Fain came, Zaun also emphasized pragmatism.
Meanwhile, seeing that Fane had finished his conversation with Camille and confirming that Fane wasn't dealing with anything else, Zeli cautiously asked, "Um... are you busy right now?"
"Me? No, what's wrong?" Farn looked at Zeli with some curiosity.
Once she realized that Fain wasn't busy with anything, Zeli pouted and looked at Fain with a grumbling expression. Then she pointed to LeBlanc, who was kneeling beside Fain like a personal attendant or bed warmer, and said, "What's wrong with this woman? Weren't we enemies before? Did you end up fighting her and then ending up in bed with her?"
"Hey, that has little to do with me."
Upon hearing this, Fain quickly waved his hand to show that he was innocent, pure, and spotless.
"In fact, this girl's current attitude is entirely her own idea. You know me, having completed the blessing, I can listen to the heart, but I cannot change the mind, and brute force is useless against a person with a strong will."
Pointing to LeBlanc, who was still all smiles, Fain said, "The way she is now is entirely her own decision—this is the first time I've had a proper conversation with her since the first battle when she was marked."
As he said this, a playful glint appeared in Fain's eyes as he looked at LeBlanc.
"So, LeBlanc... or rather, the illusion of LeBlanc? And why did you make this decision?"
Despite hearing Farn's words, LeBlanc's face remained full of smiles.
“Revenge, I want revenge.” LeBlanc glanced at Fain, knowing full well that her master knew her intentions. His demand for an explanation wasn't to clarify the reasons to Fain, but rather to gain the trust of Fain and those around him…
Thinking this, LeBlanc felt no resistance whatsoever. Because it meant her master still cared about the feelings of those around him… Was it sentimentality? Or simply a strong possessiveness? But whatever the reason, it was a distant concept. Even knowing she was an imposter, LeBlanc couldn't help but feel a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex emotion encompassing both admiration and regret).
In the past, such emotions were often considered a weakness or flaw in thinking. But now... there is no doubt that if I can gain their trust and confidence, it means I will be more valued by my master.
Thinking this, LeBlanc also put her talent as an illusionist to use, and forcefully performed a scene of utter grief.
Of course, mere acting can hardly convey genuine resentment. And LeBlanc's true purpose didn't need to be concealed by lies, so she frankly expressed her pain, anger, and resentment—
“The reason I can continue to exist, everything I am, comes from the mark my master inscribed on me.” She lifted half of her skirt at the waist, revealing the mark on her lower abdomen. Upon seeing the mark's shape, a flicker of resistance instinctively appeared in Caitlin's eyes. But LeBlanc didn't care—of all the women in Farn, LeBlanc cared most about Zelly, followed by Seraphine.
Because LeBlanc could sense, to some extent, that her master had genuine feelings for them—even if it included a degree of possessiveness. Even though she was more useful than them, they were still closer to their master. Although they had their share of victories and defeats, as long as one of them had an advantage over the other, LeBlanc wouldn't offend them; instead, she would try her best to cultivate friendship with them.
And Caitlin...
He was not as affectionate as Zeli and other girls, nor as strong as himself, not to mention his abilities; he was just a minor nobleman in a small place like Piltover.
Even so, LeBlanc showed no disdain, but calmly said, "This mark started from my lower abdomen, first to my uterus, then my internal organs, and finally anchored to my brain and spirit, which is why I can continue to exist. So even if it's just to live, I will not have any improper thoughts towards my master. Similarly, I crave revenge."
LeBlanc's calm words were filled with a chilling meaning.
"I want my true self to feel my pain, my despair. I want her to experience what it means to be utterly dead, both physically and mentally, with all thoughts extinguished. As for the rest..."
Meeting the gazes of Zeli and the others, LeBlanc's lips curled into a self-deprecating sneer.
"I don't know what I have left to please my master now that I've taken away this physical body and all that I've called wisdom and chastity."
105·Riven
Looking at LeBlanc's face, which was filled with self-abandonment, Zeli initially felt some resistance. However, sensing the despair and anger within LeBlanc, as well as her pure will to revenge, a hint of embarrassment appeared on Zeli's face. After scratching her head, she said:
"Uh... I don't really dislike you, it's just that I was a little surprised that you suddenly appeared next to Fane."
Zeli explained, "After all, the last time I saw you, you were still fighting with Fan."
Upon hearing this, LeBlanc's self-deprecating expression faded somewhat, and she calmly said, "Back then, I was deceived by false memories, but now I know the truth. I may still have ambitions, but under the contract, I cannot do anything that would harm my master's interests. And, I hope to receive my master's help to complete my revenge."
Hearing LeBlanc's words, Zeli blinked but didn't say much. She just scratched her head and said, "If that's the case... I don't really have much to say. Well, if I had to say something, it's that Fane is actually a good person, and you don't need to pretend to be so obsequious. I don't know much about other things either, so let's see what Fane decides."
Upon hearing this, LeBlanc, Zelly, and the others also turned their gazes to Fain. Having suddenly been friend-zoned, Fain didn't show much emotion on his face, simply shrugging and saying:
“Of course, there’s nothing wrong with what I said. Well, as the most active war empire on the Valoran continent, Noxus’s knowledge of LeBlanc might be very useful to Zaun and the future Piltover. Especially between city-states, some things, some subtle intelligence, can affect the course of the entire war.”
As he said this, Fain turned his gaze to LeBlanc. Sensing Fain's gaze, LeBlanc, who had already gained the trust of Zeli and the others, gave Fain a gentle and friendly smile. Although her clothing was still revealing, her smile lacked the previous fawning and ingratiating tone, giving the impression that she had heeded Zeli's advice and didn't want to be as obsequious as before.
But in reality, it was just that LeBlanc knew she had passed Fain's test and no longer needed to be as eager to express her attitude as before.
Thinking this, LeBlanc did not give up any opportunity to strengthen her connection with Fain. Sure enough, the next moment, when Zeli and the others' attention was diverted to Fain, LeBlanc playfully winked at Fain and lightly bit her lip, as if to say that what she could offer was far more than just the knowledge in her mind.
To this, Fain simply gave an expectant smile.
While Zaun was still developing steadily, on the other side—
"So, our next destination is Piltover?"
On the black ironclad ship, carrying a giant sword, Riven walked impatiently toward the captain's cabin.
As one of the oldest and most mechanically demanding champions in League of Legends, Riven's childhood was far from pleasant. This wasn't just Riven's problem; Noxus, built on a foundation of perpetual conflict, has never lacked war orphans.
Her father died in an unknown battle, and her mother died in childbirth. In an ordinary world, Riven's life would have been predictably bleak from birth. Fortunately, while Noxus may be unkind in many ways, it is quite lenient towards the offspring of veterans, as they are the source of their future rights.
The royal family, in particular, established numerous state farms and orphanages throughout Noxus to care for and train orphans. Riven was one of them, spending her childhood on an imperial farm at the foot of the Trewell Rocks.
Upon reaching adulthood, Riven immediately chose to enlist in the military—the best choice for young people in Noxus. Noxus, despite its many flaws, still attracts talented individuals from around the world because of its clear path to advancement. While old noble families could pass on their nobility through bloodlines, in the end, even military families, merit in battle ultimately prevails.
Without a doubt, Riven was a born warrior. Despite her young age, years of hard labor allowed her to quickly adapt to military life and the weight of weapons after joining the army. Beneath her seemingly frail frame lay hidden strength, even capable of wielding a greatsword taller than herself. Countless times she led from the front, proving her loyalty and bravery time and again. Her loyalty and courage earned her the appreciation of Emperor Darkwill, who personally bestowed upon her a runic black stone blade to commemorate her achievements.
From a penniless orphan to a model soldier of the empire, if Jayce symbolizes the Piltover dream, then Riven symbolizes the Noxian dream. However, Noxus is far more formidable than Piltover, and there are many rivals who embody the Noxian dream, such as Darius, who rose from a lowly port thug to the pinnacle of power, earning Noxus's highest honor in military prowess: the Hand of Noxus.
Now, inside the captain's cabin, Riven, carrying her rune greatsword, looked utterly bewildered. Looking at Legion Commander Amyst, the girl bluntly asked, her face full of displeasure, "Why are we going to Piltover? Didn't we agree to go to Ionia to make our mark? Swain's Far Sight Legion has already started sending war stonemasons to gather intelligence and build fortifications. If we don't get there quickly, all the credit for this area will go to that gloomy guy."
Hearing Riven's words, the woman known as Amystine, clad in tight leather armor, with a high ponytail and a somewhat sinister appearance, showed no displeasure. After all, Riven's bravery and warlike nature were precisely what their legion lacked most, making her the perfect partner to complement her strengths.
Thinking this, Amystine explained, "Be patient, Riven. You know that besides your bravery, the most important thing about our legion is the development of technological weapons. Remember the alchemical bombs we used in the Battle of Nordara?"
Upon hearing the Legion Commander's question, Riven frowned slightly.