"That woman just now, and the Black Rose, I don't know what any of that is?"
Talon shook his head, indicating he didn't quite understand. So Chen began to tell him about LeBlanc and the Black Rose's origins. Noxus appeared to be under the control of King Darkwill, even if it was actually controlled by LeBlanc and the Black Rose behind the scenes.
Talon and Katarina found it hard to believe; they had never heard of this. The Noxus they had served their entire lives had apparently always been under the control of this LeBlanc.
Actually, they had some doubts, but LeBlanc, who could shapeshift and transform into anyone, had just appeared before them. At least they could confirm that such a sorceress named LeBlanc existed.
Chen now had to find his first target, King Darkwill. He was still highly suspicious, and with Swain's coup, Chen now had an opportunity to enter the palace.
Chen put on a red headscarf and walked back directly:
"We're not going back. We're going straight to the palace to interrogate Darkwill!"
Talon and Katarina had no objections to this. Katarina had joined Swain's faction earlier precisely to change Noxus's current unreasonable system.
Talon had long been displeased with this emperor. He was only loyal to Du Couteau, and he, too, harbored resentment. Under the emperor's command, Noxus initiated a full-scale war, simultaneously attacking Freljord, Demacia, Shurima, and Ionia.
Moreover, without understanding the situation in Ionia, he had sent Du Couteau to lead troops to attack Ionia. Not only did they not win, but Du Couteau disappeared after that. He had also harbored some suspicions about the emperor.
So, they returned the way they came, entering the imperial city. The imperial city had fallen, but there was still stubborn resistance.
Chen and his companions did not participate in the fighting; they headed straight for the three towering triangular pillars in the very center of Noxus, rushing towards the palace.
Just as they expected, fierce resistance was still ongoing outside the palace.
But the three people here were no ordinary individuals. Flying in and out, Talon directly turned invisible and ran inside, while Katarina appeared behind the last soldier with a Shunpo.
Chen was even more direct and brutal, using Sweeping Blade to dash through the soldiers. But now, he could no longer feel joy.
He had only one goal in his heart:
"Become stronger, then rescue Powder!"
Chen kicked open the palace gates. Inside, several soldiers and ministers looked at him in terror. On the throne sat a white-haired old man, his face covered in wrinkles, his eyes bloodshot, wearing a crown, and looking dispiritedly at the three slowly approaching figures of Chen.
"He is King Darkwill."
Talon reminded Chen.
Chen nodded. Now, he had no trace of kindness left. He said indifferently:
"Kill everyone except Darkwill."
The old Chen would have still had some compassion and wouldn't have taken these people's lives.
But now it was different. Among these ministers, there might be LeBlanc, or her illusory clones. It was best to kill them all!
Darkwill watched them enter. He suddenly stood up and, somewhat frantically, shouted at them:
"What do you want?!"
"Whether it's money or power, I can give it to you!"
But Chen and the other two didn't care about any of that. Katarina flew into the crowd with a Shunpo, spinning. Her daggers bloomed like flowers, rapidly piercing everyone around her.
Eight blades flew from Talon's side. Talon disappeared again, but when he reappeared, he was already in the midst of the crowd, engaging in throat-slitting combat, Rake, his punch daggers and throwing knives fully harvesting their lives.
After such a battle, there was not a single warrior left in the entire palace who could resist Talon and Katarina.
The two of them flew into the crowd, slaughtering indiscriminately. Screams and pleas for mercy erupted all around.
But indeed, several people, when struck by Talon's blades or Katarina's daggers, turned into black mist and dissipated into the air.
"There's more than one. It really is LeBlanc."
Now Katarina and Talon could confirm this fact. Indeed, many of the ministers were people transformed by LeBlanc. These people held significant positions, so Chen was right; LeBlanc was indeed manipulating Noxus from behind the scenes.
Chen walked step by step towards Darkwill, resting his battle-axe on Darkwill's shoulder.
Darkwill suddenly knelt, covering his face and weeping. Then he grabbed Chen's clothes and pleaded with Chen:
"I don't want to die. I beg you, I can give you anything you want! Even this throne! I'll give you the throne of Noxus! Just spare my life!"
The aging Darkwill, like the First Emperor of Qin, felt his life coming to an end. They sought only one thing: immortality.
However, Darkwill lacked the ambition of the First Emperor to unify the realm. To survive, he was even willing to give up everything, to abandon the throne of Noxus!
Noxian soldiers faced death without fear and never retreated, but this emperor was indeed a spineless coward, completely devoid of any imperial demeanor.
But at this moment, Chen did not agree. Instead, he softly sang a line from The Internationale:
"There has never been any savior, nor do we rely on gods or emperors."
The axe lightly grazed Darkwill's skin, and a sharp pain shot through his mind.
Chen asked with a half-smile:
"The throne? I don't care about it. Become a puppet for the Black Rose in your place?"
Darkwill raised his head and shouted at Chen, extremely agitated:
"You know about the Black Rose, so you should also know that my reign as king has not been easy. I am merely a puppet; all matters of Noxus are arranged by them!"
"Please, let me go! I have countless hidden treasures, and even some precious runic magic tomes! As long as you let me go, everything will be yours!"
"Just spare my life."
Chen scoffed. He didn't care about any of that. He grabbed Darkwill by the hair and lifted him up:
"I'll give you a chance to live. Where is Du Couteau?"
"Are you a subordinate of the Grand General?"
Darkwill suddenly found a lifeline. He quickly replied:
"The Grand General is either dead or in Swain's hands. At that time, I summoned him back to the city, but he disappeared on the way. He was my most trusted Grand General! The Black Rose told me that Du Couteau's disappearance must be related to Swain!"
At this moment, the entire palace had been cleared. Katarina appeared beside Chen with a Shunpo:
"No, the timing doesn't match. In that battle, Swain almost died in Ionia. He stayed there for a long time before returning. If father disappeared on the way back after being summoned, Swain should still have been in Ionia."
Talon flicked the blood from the blade in his hand:
"If Swain wasn't present, no one in Noxus could stop Du Couteau except for Swain's demonic power. He wouldn't have failed to return!"
Both of them made a lot of sense. Chen looked at Darkwill, waiting for his explanation, but Darkwill shouted frantically and excitedly:
"I'm not lying to you! The Black Rose really told me that! If you don't believe me, I'll take you to the Black Rose to verify. They must have evidence!"
This concerned Darkwill's life; he dared not lie. From his micro-expressions and level of agitation, it seemed he wasn't lying.
Chen nodded:
"Then we can rule out the first answer. Du Couteau's disappearance has nothing to do with Darkwill."
Darkwill saw the last glimmer of hope:
"Yes! Grand General Du Couteau was the person I trusted and valued most. I am also very sorry about his disappearance! Please let me go!"
But Chen's axe decisively swung down:
"I said, there are no gods or emperors in this world!"
Darkwill's head rolled at Chen's feet.
Just then, the sound of applause echoed from the main entrance:
"What a fine sentiment, 'no gods or emperors.' Truly worthy of my attention."