Led by Logan, the group headed toward Hope Community. Starting on the second day after returning from Piltover, the Spirit Blossom Gang had already built a raised platform in Hope Community—a lavish stage that didn't fit Zaun's scenery at all.
Tomorrow would be the day Silco took people up to Piltover to negotiate, the day Sevika became a Piltover councilor, and the day Jayce came down to Zaun to serve as Zaun's councilor.
The signing of the Twin Cities Treaty would happen tomorrow. But today—today was the big day Zaun became independent and self-governing.
By eight in the morning, Hope Community was already packed to bursting. Zaunites crammed into the neighborhood shoulder-to-shoulder, all craning their necks and staring upward, waiting to see something.
After Marna and Kerr told the Hope Community residents everything Logan had said in the council chamber that night, the residents went out and spread the news themselves—telling other communities that Zaun was now independent and self-governing, and that Piltover had lost.
Word passed from person to person, and before long the entire Sump knew: Zaun had won. Piltover had lost.
And with Zeri—who ran her mouth faster than anyone—racing around telling everyone that Logan was taking office, the number of people who came today just to witness it was enormous.
Nearly eighty percent of the Sump's population squeezed into Hope Community. Even a huge crowd came down from the Promenade and the Entresol.
Guard the bridge?
There was no need anymore. The bloodstains on that bridge still hadn't been wiped clean. Even if you gave those topsiders ten times the courage, they still wouldn't dare charge down across the bridge again.
So people gathered here, thrilled, faces tilted up, desperate to see what Zaun's new ruler looked like.
After Vander was gone, they'd hated that word—ruler. During Silco's rise, Zaunites had been crushed under too much pressure. But now, somehow… they were looking forward to it again.
What Zaunites wanted was actually simple. They never dreamed of becoming as wealthy as Piltover. If they could just have a job that wouldn't blow up in their face, and eat their fill every day, they'd already be satisfied.
They didn't even need entertainment. As long as they could live—live properly—that was enough. And now, the Spirit Blossom Gang had brought them exactly that.
At exactly nine in the morning, the Spirit Blossom Gang arrived in Hope Community. A large group moved forward, using words to persuade the residents packed on both sides to make space, opening up a corridor through the crowd.
Then they lined up along both sides of the road, standing ramrod straight, solemn expressions on their faces.
Looking at them now, you truly couldn't imagine that half a year ago, these were just little Zaun punks who survived by stealing, robbing, and brawling.
"Quiet!"
Marsen stood at the front, a long rifle slung over his shoulder. He raised it and fired a shot into the sky.
The gunshot snapped the roaring crowd into silence.
Then, surrounded by people, someone walked onto the corridor. He wore a black trench coat, sharp black fitted pants, and a dark red vest that leaned close to black. He was tall, but a little on the thin side, and on his head sat a bizarre hat.
That hat clashed hard with the atmosphere they'd built. In this stirring, solemn environment, the three smiling faces on the blue cat-ear hat shattered the seriousness instantly.
"Look—Logan!"
"Councilor Logan is here!"
Someone in Hope Community shouted.
Then the Zaunites who'd come down from the Promenade and the Entresol immediately stood on tiptoe, pushing and pulling at the people in front of them to get a better view.
And they saw a young man—
Gentle-looking, with a warm, kind smile. His eyes were bright and lively—so pleasant that one glance made you feel close to him, like him.
He strode forward step by step toward the stage that had been built. The black trench coat added authority to his presence, and the crowd of people behind him made his aura feel overwhelming—
But whatever distance that might've existed between him and ordinary Zaunites vanished the moment they noticed that ridiculous hat.
Seeing the cat-ear hat, the crowd froze for an instant… then laughed softly, knowingly.
The blue-haired lunatic's work.
"He's that young?"
"Zaun's new boss is a kid?"
"Hell—shut your mouth. So what if he's young?"
"You're from up top, aren't you? Councilor Logan might be young, but he took Zaun back in just half a year, and he's done a ton for us!"
"Damn it, if you want to die, don't drag the rest of us with you. Look at the Sump Enforcer staring at you, you idiot!"
Someone reflexively questioned Logan's age. He didn't mean any harm—Logan just looked too young. There was an old saying: if your mouth's got no hair, you can't be trusted to handle things.
Logan looked like he'd only just come of age. It was hard to imagine someone that young leading Zaun to defeat Piltover, forcing Piltover to bow—doing what Zaun hadn't managed in centuries.
With the noise churning around him, Logan walked up onto the raised platform. In front of him was a red table, with a microphone set on top.
He reached out and tapped the microphone, then looked over the sea of people flooding Hope Community.
The whole neighborhood was nothing but bodies. The Spirit Blossom Gang—arrived early—kept order on-site, forming human barriers so the crowd didn't collapse into a stampede.
As Logan tapped the mic, the commotion gradually died down.
He leaned toward the microphone and said, "Good morning, everyone of Zaun."
"I'm Logan. Leader of the Spirit Blossom Gang."
Meeting their eyes one by one, he continued, "In your words… I'm a gang boss."
Down below, the crowd didn't react much to that.
In Zaun, there was no shortage of gangs. Ever since that massive explosion, Zaun had lost order. Gangs had grown wildly, replacing the old government system and forming a distinct gang culture.
Zaunites had long since gotten used to being controlled by gangs, used to following their instructions.
But what Logan said next stunned everyone present.
"However, starting today, Zaun will no longer have the Spirit Blossom Gang. And Zaun will no longer allow any gangs to exist." Logan's tone was calm.
Even the Spirit Blossom Gang members below stood facing forward, listening steadily.
Long ago, Marsen and Manzu had already talked about this. The two of them had guessed the Spirit Blossom Gang would be dissolved—no, "dissolved" wasn't quite right, because the members would be folded into a new organization.
They would truly become public officials of Zaun.
"Sump Enforcer" would no longer be a nickname—it would be a real position.
"Zaun will formally become independent and self-governing, establishing a city-state government. Starting today, Zaun will no longer be under Piltover's control. You will no longer need to obey the orders of topsiders. Piltover's Enforcers will no longer be able to point fingers at you. And the way you live will no longer be changed by a few words from some councilors up above."
"I, Logan, will become Zaun's first City Lord—establishing an independent council that belongs to Zaun, modeled after Piltover's council. Aside from the first generation of council members, future council seats will not be hereditary—they will be chosen by election, selected by the people!"
"And now, I will introduce the members of the first Zaun Council."
"The first councilor is me—Logan."
"The second councilor: Silco."
Silco stepped out from the crowd calmly, climbed onto the platform, and stood behind Logan.
"The third councilor: Vander."
The instant that name was spoken, the Zaunites present went slack with shock.
Vander?
The statue built in Sump Square?
The hero in the hearts of most Zaunites?
But wasn't he dead?!
Then a massive figure walked onto the platform. Seeing that monstrous shape, people recoiled in fear.
"I'm Vander. I'm glad to be back in Zaun." When Vander spoke, the sound of that rich, steady voice pressed the murmuring crowd back into silence.
"The fourth councilor: Heimerdinger."
"!!!"
Another bombshell!
By the time Logan reached the fourth name, people were already dizzy. Were the first four Zaun councilors all supposed to be this terrifying?
First: Zaun's current real power-holder—young, yet becoming the City Lord of a city-state.
Second: the previous era's ruthless kingpin—on the surface an industrialist, in reality the underworld master who controlled every gang in Zaun: Silco!
Third: the dead boss of the Lanes—the first to lead Zaun in resisting Piltover's oppression, the one who united Zaun: Vander!
And now… Heimerdinger?
Then Heimerdinger, hands clasped behind his back, strutted up with his head held high, waving his little hand to greet the crowd—and everyone believed it.
The "Father of Piltover" had truly joined Zaun?!
"The fifth councilor: Scar, former leader of the Firelights."
In the Spirit Blossom Gang crowd, Scar jolted. He wasn't wearing a mask today, revealing a non-human face. Hearing his name, he turned to look at Ekko in disbelief.
Ekko smiled at him and said softly, "Go on. Councilor."
"But you… this should be your seat." Scar's lips moved, voice low.
"Compared to being a councilor and standing on a stage, I'd rather work behind the scenes and build things that let Zaunites live happy lives. That seat doesn't fit me." Ekko reached out and patted Scar's back, speaking seriously.
Scar was his man—his right hand. But sometimes, Scar was also like his brother. Their bond wasn't just leader and subordinate.
Scar drew a deep breath. The Firelights started cheering, and Zeri was among them, cheering loud.
Then Scar walked onto the platform and took his place beside the short Heimerdinger.
"The sixth councilor: Lady Marna of Hope Community."
"!!?"
"What?! Marna?! Oh my god—Marna—Councilor Logan is calling you!"
Down in the crowd, Marna—who'd been here just to join the spectacle—froze. She'd made a huge batch of cookies today, planning to hand them out for free to everyone who came to Hope Community. She'd also prepared lots of water.
Even though it cost a lot… and Marna's family wasn't wealthy, so it hurt her heart—she didn't regret it. Today was a joyful day.
But now, hearing Councilor Logan speak her name and say she was… the sixth councilor?
"I know many of you will be surprised," Logan said, "but Lady Marna becoming a councilor is something the Spirit Blossom—no, the former Spirit Blossom Gang—members all agreed on."
"And having Lady Marna become a councilor is also meant to make one thing clear: Zaun is not the councilors' Zaun. It's not my Zaun. It's everyone's Zaun."
"Councilor Marna will serve as the bridge between the council and the people of Zaun. Our voices will reach you through her, and your voices will reach us through her."
"Everyone—we are one."
After he finished, Logan stood and began clapping, giving Marna the courage to come up.
This truly wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. It was something the Spirit Blossom Gang members—and Silco—had agreed on.
Because as long as Logan was alive, as long as Logan stayed in Zaun, Zaun would never become Piltover.
And it wasn't only Logan. In the council, Heimerdinger, Silco, and Vander weren't the kind of people whose eyes could be blinded by profit either.
Zaun right now… perhaps it resembled Piltover a hundred years ago, just after Piltover was founded.
Back then, Piltover's councilors were absolutely better than the ones now. It was because of them—and Heimerdinger—that Piltover became the richest city-state in Valoran.
Now Zaun was the same.
The future could wait. The Zaun of today was bursting with drive.
Marna covered her mouth. Her husband was terrified.
His wife… a councilor?
Th-that couldn't be real.
They were just an ordinary family. Sure, Marna understood a lot, and her warmth made her popular in the community. She got along well with Spirit Blossom Gang members too.
Even Vi—who always looked like she was permanently scowling—would call her "Auntie" with a sweet voice when she saw her, asking if she had cookies for sale today. But—but—a councilor?
How could that work?!
To Zaunites, the word "councilor" meant absolute power. Marna was a housewife, an ordinary person, and now… Councilor Logan was making her a councilor?
Marna shook her head again and again, terrified, refusing.
But then voices rose, one after another.
"You can do it, Marna—go up there!"
"Marna, when you led us to help the wounded on the bridge a few days ago, I already thought you had real leadership. Don't be afraid—everyone's behind you!"
"Hey, Auntie Marna—go on up. Everyone's waiting!"
On the Spirit Blossom side, members who often patrolled Hope Community also spoke up.
Marna's warmth was powerful. She was an ordinary woman, yes—but inside the Spirit Blossom Gang, many members saw her like a mother.
She cared about them, warned them, cooked for them, made them snacks.
Of course they supported her.
When the boss said he wanted to choose a councilor from among the people, Spirit Blossom members naturally pushed Marna forward.
Marna was moved—but still too scared.
Until Vi shoved through the crowd to her, reached out, grabbed her, and without another word hauled her straight up onto the stage.
"Don't be nervous, Councilor Marna. None of us have been councilors. This is everyone's first time." Logan looked at her and spoke gently.
Seeing Logan's smile, Marna blanked for a moment. Her panic eased noticeably. She nodded timidly and stood beside Scar.
And Marna stepping onto the platform triggered a roar of cheers from the Zaunites below.
Different from the other councilors—maybe people knew those names, knew how dangerous they were—but Marna was one of them. Someone you could greet on the way out in the morning, someone you could chat with if you ran into her at night.
Someone like that… became a councilor?
The shock hit harder than anything else.
Then Logan returned to the microphone and faced the crowd again.
"And now, I will introduce Zaun's seventh councilor."
As his voice fell, a group of Spirit Blossom—no, they should be called Zaun's public officials now. And speaking of it, Zaun's armed forces… Logan and Silco still hadn't decided what to name them.
They were copying Piltover's system of governance—but when it came to defense, Logan and Silco didn't agree with Piltover's thinking at all.
Such a wealthy city, drowning in money, and the whole city-state relied on just a few hundred Enforcers for protection. If Noxus weren't busy fighting wars all over the world, Piltover would've already been turned into Noxus's personal coin purse.
So Zaun's military wouldn't mimic the Enforcers. Enforcers were Enforcers, and the military would be the military.
Vi couldn't be a soldier, so Logan had decided her role long ago: Chief of the Sump Enforcer Bureau.
And the military… that would be Vander's responsibility.
A huge object—covered with a red cloth and shaped like an oversized frame—was carried onto the stage. It was about three meters tall and roughly two meters wide.
That immediately drew the crowd's curiosity. People stared at it, wondering who could possibly hold such status and authority.
Did Zaun even have someone like that?
Someone who needed an enormous portrait to prove their position?
Then Logan's voice rang out.
"Zaun's seventh councilor—"
"Janna!"
With that, Logan stepped back and tore away the red cloth, revealing that it really was a frame.
A solid wooden border. Inside, a portrait painted by Ekko with help from the Firelights.
Ekko was incredibly skilled—his drawings were insane. Most of the Firelights' murals and portraits were his work, and this piece was breathtakingly beautiful.
In the painting was a white-haired woman. Her holy face was filled with compassion. Her hands were clasped together and lifted beneath her refined chin. Her eyes were half-closed, half-open. Every strand of her white hair seemed to drift in an unseen wind. She wore a sacred white gown and faced the crowd directly.
Logan looked down, and the reaction wasn't the cheering he'd imagined.
Zaunites were staring at the woman in the portrait, completely stunned.
But then—one voice, then two—soft rustling like a fuse being lit…
And after that, cheers and applause exploded.
"Janna above!"
"Lady Janna!"
Recognizing her as Janna, hands shot into the air.
Logan saw that and thought, Yes. That's it.
In Zaun, a "god" wasn't some vague, distant belief. It was something real—an elder who loved everyone.
A blessing that only Zaunites had ever known.
Thinking that, Logan lifted his hand.
"Zaunites—Janna has never left us. Making Janna a councilor is not a stunt for applause."
"As Zaun's City Lord and First Councilor, I, Logan, make this vow:
The Seventh Council Seat will never change. It will belong to Janna forever.
And the Seventh Councilor will hold the same authority as the First Councilor. On matters of major importance, the Seventh Councilor will have veto power!"
Logan drew a deep breath and spoke each word with force.
As long as Logan remained in Zaun, he was confident Zaun wouldn't go rotten.
But if one day Logan was truly gone…
Then Janna would become the one with the greatest power in Zaun.
She would no longer be a god drifting outside the human world. She would be real—present—and hold the power to decide Zaun's fate.
That was the greatest gift Logan could give Zaun. The greatest insurance.
Silco agreed wholeheartedly.
Because people change.
Right now, they held Zaun, and Zaun wouldn't change. But what about the future?
No one could say.
Pain had forged their will; they wouldn't be blinded by wealth and power. But future Zaunites wouldn't be like them. They would grow up in good lives, and their way of seeing things would differ from this generation of councilors. No one could guarantee what kind of people they would become.
But a god would not change.
Janna hadn't changed across millennia. So in the future—if Zaun's councilors became as false and useless as Piltover's—then the power Logan granted Janna here would matter.
Zaunites stared at Logan. Some of the sharper ones caught the meaning hidden inside his words, eyes filling with shock and disbelief.
What Logan had said didn't sound like worship.
It sounded like he was truly giving Janna an office.
But Janna was fake… wasn't she?
If she was fake, why would Logan do this?
That question rose in the mind of every clever Zaunite.
Then Logan answered with action.
"Seventh Councilor—please come to the stage," Logan shouted.
As his words fell, a breeze swept through Hope Community.
A beautiful green-blue bird appeared—about the length of a human arm, slender, elegant. That was the first impression it gave.
It almost looked like it flew a bit slowly—
But no one cared about the speed!
Because everyone stared up at the sudden bird, dumbstruck.
A beautiful voice suddenly rang inside every Zaunite's mind.
"Janna is willing to take up the position of Seventh Councilor," the voice said gently.
"!!!"
Everyone gaped at the bird as it flew to Councilor Logan's side and landed on the table.
It dipped its head toward the crowd with graceful poise, then spread its wings.
A powerful wind swept out. Dust scattered.
Cold air rolled through Hope Community—and Zaun erupted in earthshaking cheers.
Their god…
Was real!
———
Zaun Calendar—
Year 1, November 3rd, 9:40 a.m.
Zaun formally became a city-state.
The first council took office in Zaun, led Zaun through countless hardships, revived Zaun, and made it the greatest city-state of all.
The councilors were: Silco, Vander, Heimerdinger, Scar, Marna, Janna.
And the one who always said, "Zaun is Zaunites' Zaun," yet was the true Lord of Zaun in every Zaunite's heart—
Councilor Logan.
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