Logan sat upright, and casually patted Jinx's lower leg.
Jinx huffed, and finally sat properly too—only to yawn, then stare blankly ahead.
She hated formal settings like this. They were boring. Compared to sitting here obediently listening to Pilties talk, she'd rather take Isha out to go bug-fighting—at least Isha would look at her with those worshipful eyes.
But the moment Jinx decided the whole thing was unbearably dull, her mind changed.
Because Logan was speaking.
Everyone in the room was looking at Logan—Silco was, Vander was, even Vi, who usually couldn't stand him, and Sevika too.
Jinx found herself watching him as well. The instant he opened his mouth, he pulled everyone's eyes to him.
Logan didn't notice it, but as he laid out conditions to Piltover, Ahri's blessing began to take effect.
A strange kind of charm bloomed around him—making him look even better in other people's eyes.
And in this situation, with Piltover's high-and-mighty councilors standing there behaving themselves in front of him…
Jinx stared, and slowly went slack-jawed.
She already liked Logan like crazy.
And now he suddenly—suddenly looked even cooler?!
Yeah. That was not her fault.
Her eyes glued to his face, completely unable to move.
"First condition: Piltover must acknowledge Zaun's autonomy and independence. Tear up the old joint charter Zaun and Piltover signed—though, fine, if you don't want to tear it up, then add a few lines. Put in writing that Piltover formally recognizes Zaun's independence. Zaun will no longer be under Piltover's authority. Piltover will have no right to interfere in Zaun's internal affairs or economy. And without legitimate cause, Piltover may not refuse entry to Zaunites into Piltover."
Logan looked at Mel, lowered one finger, and spoke evenly.
He ignored the cluster of councilors behind her and only watched Mel.
Mel took a deep breath and nodded. "Fine. I agree."
"I don't think any councilor would refuse that condition at a time like this," Mel said, making the call.
"Second condition: control of the Shrieker and the Bridge of Progress transfers to Zaun. And from the Promenade north to Harbor Park—this entire territory will belong to Zaun."
Mel froze, lips parting. She felt that condition was… not right.
The first part—handing over control—she could accept. But giving territory to Zaun? That was different.
Seeing Mel about to speak, Logan shook his head and cut in before she could.
"I'll say it again, Mel. Right now you only have two choices: agree, or don't. If you agree, we keep talking. If you don't… we keep fighting."
"That land never should've belonged to Piltover in the first place. I'm not even taking your harbor—that's already generous. And you Pilties don't even linger over there anyway, do you?"
Mel exhaled hard. "...Fine."
"Third condition: Zaun will operate a port in Piltover. Pay attention—I'm not taking your port. We'll cooperate and use it together."
Logan lowered a third finger, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Hoskel—the one who controlled sea trade—stepped forward behind Mel. "Could you explain the cooperation in detail? Piltover's shipping is controlled by my family."
Logan looked at Hoskel. Seeing the seriousness in his expression, Logan considered for a moment, then nodded and turned to Ekko.
"Ekko—make room."
Ekko immediately stood and gave Hoskel his seat.
Behind them, several councilors' faces turned even uglier.
What was this?
Was Logan telling them that anyone willing to lower their head, to work with Zaun, to show goodwill—would be allowed to sit at the table?
How did a kid who didn't even look twenty have political methods that didn't match his age?
Pull one group in, beat another group down.
Silco had just gotten up earlier and chewed the councilors out, even threatening Hoskel with a finger in his face—but now that Hoskel sat down, Silco acted like he didn't even see it. He simply sat beside Logan, watching Mel quietly.
Was this… giving the councilors a "step down" in a way that still let them save face?
The step was there.
The door was open.
Cassandra Kiramman stepped forward and spoke softly. "Zaun's ventilation system was built by House Kiramman. For years, House Kiramman has helped Zaun improve ventilation, clear wastewater, and reduce toxic fumes. Now, I return this key to Zaun."
Logan smiled widely and looked at Vi. "Your turn."
Vi rolled her eyes, glaring at Logan as she muttered, "I already fucking told you—I'm not in that kind of relationship with her!"
She cursed, but she still stepped aside and gave up space.
Councilor Kiramman took the seat smoothly—while Vi ended up standing behind her.
Jinx didn't get it at first. Then she heard what Vi said, slapped the table, and pointed right at Vi, shouting—
"Oh, I get it now! Kiramman, Kiramman! That stick-leg lady cop—what did she call herself again? Caitlyn Kiramman! Holy shit, Vi—this is your mother-in-law?!"
Cassandra Kiramman stared at Jinx, totally confused.
Vi lunged and clapped a hand over Jinx's mouth. "Shut up! I've said it ten thousand times—it's not like that!"
"Covering my mouth won't change anything! You—mmph—you!"
"All right," Logan said, looking at everyone. "Don't mind family matters. Let's continue."
"Councilor Hoskel—about the cooperation I mentioned, someone will deliver the terms to you. Don't worry. You won't take too big of a loss."
Hoskel's mouth twitched.
Won't take too big of a loss meant he was definitely taking a loss.
So what?
What else could he do?
Wasn't Salo still curled in the corner like a dead dog?
Salo—one of Piltover's richest—had already reached the peak of status, power, and reputation, but no matter how good a sheep's wool looked, no matter how fat and tender its meat was…
In front of wolves, it was still just food on a plate.
Hoskel chose—very sensibly—to take the step Zaun offered and move toward them.
Just like Silco had said earlier: Piltover's Enforcers had all been captured. Piltover had lost its armed strength. Now it was simply a rich, weak city.
Fine. Better than ending up like Salo.
And besides—if even the Noxians led by Ambessa couldn't beat Zaun, then Piltover losing didn't feel that shocking.
Hoskel and the others weren't stupid. They'd known about Ambessa's scheme. They'd boarded Ambessa's ship to erase Zaun as a threat.
But now the threat they wanted to erase had smashed Ambessa into the dirt.
So what?
They'd just switch ships.
Cooperating with Zaun… honestly sounded better than cooperating with Noxus.
After all, centuries ago, the two cities were one family.
If Logan had known Hoskel's thoughts, he would've laughed from sheer anger.
That kind of shamelessness—Logan couldn't do it.
He didn't think he was some saint, but he didn't accept being called evil either. He was, at his core, decent.
And he still had a sense of shame.
So if you had to sum up Piltover's councilors in one line—
Good people don't understand politics. The ones who do… aren't good.
"I understand," Hoskel said quietly, lowering his gaze and sinking into the chair, trying to vanish.
Logan continued.
"Fourth condition: Piltover must return every resource it swallowed that rightfully belongs to Zaun."
The councilors in their seats all stared, stunned.
"Th—"
"We did do those things. We admit it," Mel said, frowning at Logan. "But Mr. Logan… isn't that too difficult? Even before us, these things happened repeatedly. The accounts are impossible to fully settle."
For Piltover, the condition itself wasn't hard—Piltover had one thing in endless supply: money.
So out of the first four conditions, this might be what Zaun needed most… and also what Piltover could agree to most easily.
But as Mel said, Piltover's exploitation of Zaun went back a hundred years. By her term, the debt was too tangled to audit completely.
Logan smiled and looked at Ekko.
Ekko immediately reached behind him, pulled out a notebook, flipped it open, and began reading.
"We only recorded what Piltover took in the last hundred years—resources that belonged to Zaun, including but not limited to…"
"Minerals, seafood, all kinds of materials…"
Ekko rattled off a long list.
At first, a few councilors looked nervous, afraid Zaun would ask for a fortune.
But soon, they looked… confused.
Wait.
That's it?
That's all you want?
To be blunt, before the Hexgates, that sum might've been worth looking at for Piltover—but after the Hexgates, Piltover's economy had leapt forward like a century overnight.
This amount… didn't even count as a drop in the ocean.
Mel could reach into her own home and cover it without blinking.
So the councilors began to look at Ekko like he was an idiot.
"As stated," Ekko said, closing the notebook. His eyes were clean and clear. He stood straight, meeting the councilors' gaze. "This is everything Piltover owes us in resources. We won't take even a fraction more. We only want what's ours."
Councilor Kiramman suddenly lowered her head, shame spreading across her face.
Mel did too.
Hoskel stayed silent, his expression strange, as if thinking through something he didn't want to say.
"Do you agree?" Logan asked.
"O-of course." Cassandra Kiramman nodded. "This payment… will be covered by House Kiramman."
Logan didn't comment. Money was money—whoever paid it, it was still money.
And after he stated the fifth condition, he moved on to what came next—
The last two conditions were the ones Logan had decided on in the moment. Even Silco hadn't known them ahead of time.
Because the combined Piltover–Noxus strike had been sudden. If Logan and Vander hadn't been two monsters on the battlefield, Piltover might actually have succeeded.
There'd been no time to discuss it in advance.
"Sixth condition: I want Piltover University to increase its admissions quota for Zaunite students."
Silco's brows lifted, but he said nothing. Piltover's knowledge was absolutely something Zaun needed.
The councilors exchanged looks, and Mel answered. "Fine. We'll do it."
"Beyond normal exams and advancement, each year Piltover University will allocate fifty seats to Zaun. The facilities will also be upgraded to new buildings. You can trust that," Mel said.
Fifty seats was a lot. Piltover University only accepted a few hundred students a year.
Now Logan's right hand had only one finger left extended.
He smiled. "And the last condition: I want both cities to provide a key representative in each other's city—someone to serve as a bridge for our relationship."
"I'll emphasize this again: Zaun is fully capable of annexing Piltover. The reason we're choosing not to devour you is complicated. The crimes Piltover committed—these seven terms alone can't erase Zaunites' hatred. But for the bigger picture, I chose to let you keep existing."
"This isn't plunder. It's cooperation."
Logan's voice dropped, firm and heavy. "I want Jayce Talis to come to Zaun as Zaun's council representative. And we will send Sevika to Piltover as Piltover's council representative."
When Mel heard Logan wanted Jayce to go to Zaun, she instinctively started to rise in protest—but Logan's follow-up made her force herself back down.
"For the sake of deeper cooperation and a good future between our two cities, this is my seventh demand."
"Now." Logan spread his hands on the table, leaned back in his chair, and looked calmly at the councilors. "I've said my piece. Who agrees? Who objects?"
Cassandra Kiramman nodded first.
Then Bolbok.
Then Hoskel.
Then Mel…
Jinx watched Logan in silence, her face slightly red.
Cool.
Too cool.
Maybe this setting wasn't boring after all?
Logan like this… was ridiculously attractive.
Staring at his face, Jinx couldn't help squeezing her legs together, squirming just a little.
"Good." Logan stood. "In three days, we'll return with a written agreement, and city-to-city cooperation will begin that day."
"And don't even think about going back on your word once we leave. If I can come here once, I can come here a second time."
Everyone at the table rose to leave with Logan.
But Mel called after him. "Um… Mr. Logan."
"Something else?" Logan asked.
Mel nodded. "I think… you should add one more condition."
Logan understood what Mel meant. He smiled at her warmly—but the moment he looked her way, Jinx shoved over and bumped her head hard into Logan's back.
"What's wrong?" Logan turned, immediately attentive, looking down at Jinx burying her face against him.
"Don't know!" Jinx mumbled.
Logan ignored Mel and turned fully to Jinx, amused, tapping her cheek. "Sleepy?"
"Not tired."
"Hungry?"
"Ate a lot tonight."
"Then what is it…" Logan was still smiling, without a hint of impatience.
Jinx huffed twice, then simply lifted a foot and nudged Logan's shin with her shoe.
Not far behind her, Silco and Vander watched in silence.
"Is my daughter not being obvious enough," Silco muttered, frowning, "or is Logan just stupid?"
Vander nodded once—then bared his teeth at Silco and dropped his head, voice rough.
"That's my daughter."
"Mr. Logan?" Mel tried again.
"Mm. I understand." Logan waved her off. "Mel, about your mother—we'll talk later. As long as the benefits are right, I can release her."
Keeping Ambessa wasn't just for questioning. It was also because she was Mel's mother.
For both cities, Mel was clearly a good leader: responsible, kind, capable. Even in the show, plenty of details made her character clear.
She wasn't someone who could treat people like tools to be used at any cost.
She was the opposite of Noxus.
Hearing Logan say that, Mel stopped pressing. She nodded and stepped aside. She looked at Ambessa, unconscious with a broken arm, a flash of pain crossing her face—
But in the end, she turned her head away and didn't look again.
Logan wrapped an arm around Jinx and guided her forward. With his other hand, he lifted it toward the people behind them and waved.
"Back to Zaun."
"Yes!"
Footsteps echoed through the Council Building. Row after row of Zaunites filed out into Piltover's streets.
Jinx stayed tucked in Logan's arm, pressing herself closer into his chest.
The thing she liked most about Logan was simple:
He spoiled her—unconditionally.
She didn't care how much money he had, what kind of status he held, how strong or terrifying he was.
What she wanted was only the Logan who indulged her, cared for her, and never snapped at her when she acted bratty or stubborn.
She buried her head against his chest and rubbed her cheek against him, inhaling the scent on him.
Then she looked up. "I'm hungry."
"Okay," Logan said. "When we get home, we'll ask Isha what she wants too. I'll cook for you."
"I want roast chicken!"
Good mood meant good appetite.
Tonight really wasn't boring at all.
First she'd unloaded a machine gun into Pilties—rat-a-tat-tat—letting it all out. Then she'd watched Logan be unbelievably cool at the negotiating table. Then she got jealous of him smiling at someone else, and he coaxed her back—
Hmph. Of course.
As long as she was with Logan, anything was fun.
Isha babbled excitedly too, tiny hands gesturing at something.
"No sweets at night," Logan said sternly as he looked down at Isha.
Isha immediately lowered her head, her big hat swallowing her whole face. You didn't even need to see her expression to feel how crushed she was.
"Mm," Jinx started to hum—
—and Logan immediately flicked and tugged her little nose. "No."
"Just a little. I want something sweet too," Jinx pleaded.
"…"
Logan sighed. "I must've owed you in a past life."
"Yes!" Jinx instantly sprang up and wrapped her arms around his neck, cheering. Then she lowered her head toward Isha and held out her hand.
Isha happily slapped her palm against Jinx's.
That was how they walked through Piltover's streets, heading for the Bridge of Progress.
The night wind was cold, but Marna and Kerr felt like their blood was burning hot—
Because Zaun was truly independent.
The moment they got back, they planned to spread the news, to make sure every Zaunite knew this good news.
Marsen had been treated and was healed, but shimmer healing drained energy, so Willa supported him as they walked. Marsen's face was split by an enormous grin.
At the very back of the crowd, Silco and Vander walked in silence, watching the Zaunites ahead of them celebrating as they went.
"We did it," Silco murmured.
He truly saw it—Zaun's independence.
After tonight, Zaun would no longer cling to Piltover. The thing he'd devoted his whole life to…
Had actually been accomplished.
Accomplished by Logan.
"You look like you're about to cry," Vander teased him.
"Before you accuse me of crying," Silco snorted, hands behind his back as he walked past Vander, "wipe the gunk out of your own eyes."
His voice drifted back on the wind—
"Aren't you crying too?"
Zaun returned home—
victorious.
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