The bloodstains on the Bridge of Progress—still not fully scrubbed away—caught Jayce's eye. The Enforcer driving noticed where he was looking and spoke up on his own.
"This war… we lost completely, Councilor Talis."
Jayce frowned. "How many people did we lose?"
The Enforcer's expression stiffened, and he lowered his voice. "We didn't lose that many—honestly, not even as many as the last time the Undercity conflict blew up. But the Noxians… they're basically all dead."
"So what you're saying is… Zaunites intentionally let us off?" Jayce asked.
"I think so," the Enforcer said. "If they'd wanted to kill us, it would've been easier than slaughtering the Noxians. But instead, they captured all of us, tied us up together on the bridge, and only let us go after they came out of Piltover and were heading back to Zaun."
When he said it, fear was plain in his eyes.
If that wolf-like monster—and Zaun's boss—had charged into the Enforcers' formation that day… would he still be here, driving Councilor Talis around, able to talk?
Obviously not.
The Enforcer's words made Jayce nod slowly.
Maybe Mel was right. Zaun's "sincerity" really was substantial.
They had a kind of power Piltover couldn't even understand—yet they hadn't chosen to occupy Piltover. They'd chosen cooperation between the two cities instead.
Even though it was called "cooperation," it looked like Piltover was taking the loss. Setting aside the land, control rights, and resources given to Zaun—just the ports and jointly managed trade routes alone… Zaun and Piltover "co-managing" them? Any way you looked at it, it felt like Piltover was propping Zaun up with one-sided support.
But once Jayce put himself in their shoes, he couldn't help thinking Zaun was being… almost merciful.
He'd been in politics for years. If it had been him—if it had been Piltover's councilors who won this war—Zaun would've been squeezed even harder. Forget autonomy and independence; they would've had their spine snapped and been crushed into permanent collapse.
That was why Jayce was so curious about what Zaun was really thinking.
"We're here," the Enforcer told him. "I can't go any farther. The cooperation agreement hasn't been signed yet, and until it is, Zaun still forbids Piltovans from entering."
Jayce found it absurd—and somehow funny at the same time.
Before, Zaunites needed Piltover's permission to enter Piltover.
Now it was reversed. Without Zaun's permission, even though there was no one guarding the Promenade side of the Bridge of Progress, the Enforcers still didn't dare cross that line.
Jayce nodded. Face calm, he grabbed his bag and walked alone toward the Promenade.
There truly was no one guarding it. Following the route the Enforcer had told him, Jayce found the Shrieker that descended into the Sump.
A group of Zaunites were already waiting there. When they saw Jayce, a strange look flickered in their eyes.
Jayce was tall, dressed in a councilor's white outfit, with the unmistakable air of wealth—he couldn't have been more conspicuous if he tried.
But just as Jayce thought they might do something, those Zaunites simply looked away and went back to talking amongst themselves.
"Boss is going up to the topside to be a councilor. They're recruiting people right now—are you going?"
"Honestly, I really want to go help Boss in Piltover… but, uh… I still want to stay in Zaun more."
"Yeah, no kidding. If we had a choice, who wouldn't want to stay in Zaun? But if everyone thinks like you, how's Zaun supposed to develop? I say we should go. Wylan's not coming because his wife's about to have a baby—what about you?"
"M-me? My mom's about to have a baby?"
"Have a baby, my ass. What mom do you even have? Your mom died on the bridge years ago."
"Can you talk like a normal person? I was joking. Fine, fine—I'll go, alright?"
Jayce listened to their conversation, his expression turning odd.
Zaunites could go to Piltover legally now, and they were acting reluctant?
What… what was going on?
Back then, Zaunites would've done anything to squeeze their way into Piltover.
Jayce was still trying to make sense of it when he heard a clack—the Shrieker arriving at the top.
Taking a deep breath, Councilor Talis stepped inside.
The Zaunites didn't follow him in. They stayed outside, like they were waiting for someone.
Inside the enormous Shrieker, Jayce was the only passenger, which let him finally settle his thoughts.
When the Shrieker stopped, Jayce stepped out.
It had reached Zaun's Entresol—Jayce's first time ever setting foot here.
He frowned.
Everything was gray and dim. Buildings in oppressive, sickly hues sprawled in twisted, winding shapes—like alchemical monsters crawling over each other. The structures were packed tightly together, and for someone with even mild perfectionist tendencies, it was irritating to look at.
And this was only the Entresol. He'd heard the Sump was even messier, dirtier, worse.
Bitterness rose in Jayce's throat.
He'd told Mel he didn't care, that he was willing to be the sacrifice and trade himself for Piltover's future—but how could he truly not care?
Every breath made his nose and throat burn, his lungs sting. He couldn't even adapt to the air here, let alone go deeper into Zaun and deal with the people below.
He was standing there, swallowing that bitterness, when a group suddenly walked up to him.
At the front was a long-haired woman. Tall—only a little shorter than Jayce—but built even stronger than him.
"Heh." She looked him over and gave a quiet chuckle, brow lifting. A cigar hung from her lips. She took a long drag, exhaled smoke right into Jayce's face, then tossed the cigar to the ground and crushed it under her boot.
"Boss, the boss said we're not allowed to litter," a Zaunite beside her said seriously, stepping forward.
Sevika froze for a beat, rolled her eyes hard, then bent down, picked up the crushed cigar, and stuffed it into her trench coat pocket. She muttered under her breath, "So many damn rules now. What harm is one cigar gonna do?"
"Boss, it adds up," the Zaunite said earnestly. "The boss said our top priority is fixing sanitation. The wastewater pipes are repaired, but the toxic junk piled in the dumps—and Zaun's habit of throwing everything on the ground, dumping things into the water—if we don't break those habits, Zaun's air is never getting better."
"Don't lecture me," Sevika snapped, glaring at him. Then she turned back to Jayce, eyes raking over Councilor Talis, and squeezed out, "You're Councilor Talis, right?"
"I saw your photo on the airship. You do look good—same as the picture."
"Who are you?" Jayce asked, frowning.
"Sevika," she said, straightening and speaking loud and clear. "Or rather—I'm Piltover's new councilor."
Jayce nodded. "Understood. I'll remember your name."
Sevika's expression immediately soured. "Why does that sound like you're threatening me?"
One of her long-time underlings sighed, leaned in, and whispered, "Boss—you're jumpy. It's not like before. He really does just mean he'll remember your name."
"…" Sevika blinked, realizing he was right.
She wasn't the old Sevika anymore—not the Sevika who had to flinch when an Enforcer pointed at her face and said I'll remember you, and then spend the next week dodging patrols.
Now she was Piltover's new councilor.
With that thought, Sevika looked at Jayce and said, "Then—welcome to Zaun, Zaun's eighth councilor."
"Councilor Jayce Talis."
Jayce nodded, but his face clearly wasn't thrilled with that title.
Sevika didn't care. She continued, "Want me to have someone take you to meet our boss?"
"No need. I'll look around myself. Thank you," Jayce replied.
"Fine."
Sevika lifted her hand and called to her people. "Let's go—taking office in Piltover!"
The group filed past Jayce and got into the Shrieker.
Jayce turned and walked forward into Zaun.
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