LeBlanc merely chuckled.
"I haven't decided to be mortal enemies with you yet. Right now, besides Swain, you're the only person who knows my name. I'm quite curious about you, so I can't bear to see you die."
Chen watched Powder, who was tied up, and his rationality began to falter.
"Don't touch her! Whatever you want, I'll agree to it!"
Talon's wristblades were already poised beside them, ready for a throat-slitting attack at any moment, but Chen blocked his path.
"Don't act rashly."
Chen didn't dare to gamble with Powder's life, and LeBlanc wasn't that easy to deal with.
LeBlanc, however, watched Chen with a ghostly smile.
"I'm starting to understand why Swain wants you to join him. You seem to be hiding quite a few secrets, don't you? In my opinion, your appealing qualities are growing."
LeBlanc gripped Powder's neck and walked closer, step by step.
"If you want her to live, it's not impossible. There are a few things I need you to do, and it all depends on your attitude."
Chen didn't even hear what he had to do and immediately replied:
"I agree."
LeBlanc watched Chen's quick reply, a smile blooming on her face.
"What if I want you to die?"
Powder shook her head vigorously, but her mouth was also chained shut. Her eyes welled up with tears; this was the last thing she wanted to see, and tears streamed down her face.
If she had to choose again, she would never have asked Chen to take her around the world. She only wanted to live happily with Chen!
But Chen's reply was firm.
"I can exchange myself for her. If you let her go, I can die!"
LeBlanc's fingernail lightly grazed Powder's throat, leaving a faint red mark on Powder's neck. Chen's veins bulged, and he clenched his fists, his nails already digging into his flesh.
LeBlanc shook her head, blinked slowly, and said unhurriedly:
"No, no, no, your death wouldn't be very meaningful. Your abilities are quite worthy of our favor. Besides, you still have so many secrets. It's more useful for you to be alive."
Chen's reply remained unchanged.
"You let her go, and I'll go with you, at your disposal."
LeBlanc wiggled her finger.
"No, no, no, in that case, I would only get your body, not your heart."
Chen gritted his teeth and glared at LeBlanc.
"What exactly do you want?"
LeBlanc smiled cunningly and pinched Powder's small face.
"She is your heart. As long as I have her, you will be obedient."
The last two words were drawn out, and Chen felt as if a knife was twisting in his gut, but he still replied:
"As long as you don't harm her in any way!"
"Hmm, it's settled then. Just wait for my news. Bye-bye."
LeBlanc suddenly waved her staff, and she, her illusion, and the chained Powder vanished in a puff of black-purple smoke.
"No!"
Chen screamed hysterically, grabbing a lamppost and smashing it towards where LeBlanc had been, but LeBlanc was already gone.
Powder was also abducted by LeBlanc, leaving only Powder's Fishbones and Pow-Pow on the ground.
"LeBlanc!"
Chen looked at Powder's two weapons on the ground and punched the wall like a madman.
"Ah!"
Talon walked up to Chen and empathetically patted Chen's back.
"When the General disappeared, I was just like you. But at least you know where Powder is now, unlike me, who is still endlessly searching."
Chen's mind once again replayed his past with Powder. Whether it was the playful, crazy beauty Jinx, or the little shut-in Powder who researched with him, they were both his beloved.
"I must save her!"
Chen tried to calm his emotions; he had to regain his rationality.
After a moment, Chen gradually calmed down. He had already experienced much, from surviving in Zaun, to battling Silco, to the final Twin Cities showdown. He was no longer the naive young man he once was.
Now, the only person who could shake his resolve was Powder.
After calming down, Chen's brain began to work at high speed.
"LeBlanc's intention is quite simple. She kidnapped Powder to coerce me into working for her, for the Black Rose. At the same time, she wants to dig into my secrets, like why I know her name."
"For Powder's safety, I can only obey her for now."
Chen also realized something. Swain represented Noxus's long-term strategy; he wanted Chen to join his faction, for long-term considerations, and to make Chen utterly loyal, so he wanted Chen to kill Powder.
LeBlanc represented Noxus's cunning. Her devious mind employed the most traditional trick: blackmail. She used Powder to threaten Chen into doing her bidding.
LeBlanc's scheme was entirely based on Powder being Chen's everything. As long as Chen faithfully completed the tasks LeBlanc and the Black Rose assigned him, Powder would surely be safe.
"Just one month. I'll help them for now to ensure Powder's safety. To control me, they'll definitely give me a chance to see Powder. After a month, when I see Powder, I'll secretly teleport back to Zaun!"
That was the plan for now, but Chen wasn't going to sit idly by. He had to become stronger. He currently had no way to deal with mages. Only then would he have more power to face LeBlanc and rescue Powder.
And there was only one way for Chen to quickly become stronger:
"System!"
After thinking it through, Chen took a deep breath, slapped his face, and then said to Katarina and Talon beside him:
"Let's go, we need to find Du Couteau quickly."
Talon and Katarina didn't react immediately. Just moments ago, Chen was immersed in grief, and now he had pulled himself together. Moreover, the first thing he wanted to do now wasn't to find his Powder, but to proactively offer to help them find Du Couteau.
"Within seven days, I will definitely help you find Du Couteau, but on the condition that you help me rescue Powder."
Chen looked at the two and said to them seriously.
Katarina didn't refuse, and Talon nodded righteously.
"Alright, but on the premise that you find Du Couteau within seven days."
Chen walked out without looking back.
"Good, it's settled then. You two will follow my command these next few days."
"LeBlanc's appearance has given me a new theory. There are now three possibilities for Du Couteau's disappearance."
"First is the royal family, King Darkwill. Du Couteau was his doing, but King Darkwill is actually also controlled by LeBlanc!"
"Second is Swain. If Du Couteau's disappearance was indeed Swain's doing, then we must make him say it himself!"
"Third, is the true power-holder, LeBlanc, and her Black Rose."