Hearing Renni's words, Silco raised an eyebrow, then leaned back in his chair and said, "Then tell me, what do you want to do?"
"Open the Gray pipelines," Renni said concisely.
Hearing Renni's words, everyone on the side couldn't help but whisper.
Subsequently, the first person to oppose Renni wasn't even Silco, but Baron Spindlaw, who urgently needed assistance.
"Open the Gray pipelines? In your dreams! That's absolutely impossible! The Undercity is my territory! Do you want to destroy Zaun? Once the Gray pipelines open, can business in the Undercity still continue? Don't forget, you guys have shares in there too!"
No wonder Spindlaw reacted so fiercely. The reason was simple: Gray pipelines were not only past pain for Zaun but also represented regional irreversible damage.
One of the most commonly used thank-you phrases by Zaunites was "May the Gray not enter your home"—the essence of the Gray was highly polluting Hextech Crystal refinement waste, which would cause serious irreversible pollution to the environment and human body. Especially after entering the body with breathing, the strong magical erosion within would directly cause organs to decay from inside the body, finally leading to organ failure all over the body and a miserable death with bleeding skin.
In the 'Bridge' riot led by Vander before, the Piltovians' response was to dump a large amount of Gray into Zaun from a commanding height through sewage pipes.
It was also from that time that Zaun's environment began to deteriorate at an alarming rate. Because the pollution produced by the Gray could hardly be completely purified, even after the riot ended, the damage brought by the Gray was still constantly changing Zaun as a whole.
Later, after many things happened, Piltover transferred heavy industries with serious pollution to Zaun. To prevent unnecessary trouble, much Gray was sealed in closed pipelines.
And now, Gray accumulated for decades released all at once. Without exaggeration, the entire Undercity would turn into hell on earth. Under that massive amount of Gray, ordinary mortals had no possibility of survival at all. Even if alive, organ lesions all over the body would cause them to live in pain for life.
Especially for Spindlaw—the slaves in the Undercity were all his assets. If the slaves in the Undercity all died, would he have to go into the factory to screw bolts himself?!
"What are you afraid of? At worst, transport another batch of population into the bottom to clean up. Anyway, Zaun has nothing else, but these cheap skins are inexhaustible. If people are not enough, buy from outside. Noxian war slaves can be used just the same after modification!" Renni scanned everyone around. Those cold eyes entering everyone's vision made them feel chills down their spines.
"As for infamy or whatever... do we really need to care?"
While speaking, Renni looked at Silco.
Noticing Renni's movement, the surrounding Chem-Barons also realized—this was forcing Silco to make a choice.
As the leader of Zaun, although Silco had unshirkable responsibility for Zaun becoming like this today. But actually, others didn't know, but Chem-Barons knew very well that Silco was actually an out-and-out Zaun nationalist. Before, from the perspective of interests, Silco would stand with them. But thinking carefully, who could guarantee that this so-called Wind of Change organization wasn't pushed out by Silco himself?
You know, the core management of the Wind of Change were all Silco's subordinates back then. Especially Soona, before this, she was Silco's diehard loyalist, Silco's right-hand man just like Sevika. Suddenly disappeared before saying she was disheartened, but now suddenly appeared again and operated such a huge organization... Saying there was no Silco's assistance behind this? They really doubted it.
And now, if Silco also nodded allowing the Gray pipelines to open, then no matter what, even if the Wind of Change was also Silco's subordinate, regardless of the inside story, in the end, people would only regard Silco as Zaun's biggest sinner...
Of course, they wouldn't abandon Silco, but support Silco more. After all, this big brother still controlled Zaun's industrial blood, Shimmer.
Thinking this, even though it concerned his vital interests, Spindlaw couldn't help falling into brief silence.
Rolling his eyes around, he then said: "If the price of these populations is suitable... for Zaun, I can't say I disagree."
"How about we split the cost of new chemical slaves? After all, this is a matter concerning the entire Zaun," Baron Petrok proposed.
"I have no objection."
"I have no objection."
With Chem-Barons expressing agreement one by one, finally everyone looked at Silco sitting at the head.
Being put on the spot, Silco's face didn't show much expression. He just scanned everyone coldly, then sneered: "Then I have no objection either."
Seeing Silco agree so easily, everyone on the side was also slightly surprised, seemingly not expecting that Silco, who always put Zaun first, would agree so easily to such a cruel plan that would lead to a major exchange of blood in the Zaun Undercity.
Feeling everyone's gaze, Silco just said calmly: "I know what you are thinking; put down your inexplicable thoughts. I hope Zaun can rise, but Piltover's power is absolutely not something Zaun can resist. No matter what infamy I bear, I want Zaun to continue."
Hearing Silco's words, Renni also nodded, then smiled: "Of course we also hold the same idea~ Silco. Since you have agreed, then issue this order in your name."
Hearing this, Silco sneered. Obviously, Renni just wanted to take this opportunity to leave Silco completely with no way out.
"Then as you wish." Silco nodded.
Through the Mark of the Storm, hearing what the Zaun Council prepared to do, even though they already knew the Chem-Barons' inhumanity, Soona and others still couldn't help clenching their fists.
"These animals!" Soona gritted her teeth and said: "Piltover used this method to destroy the former Zaun back then! Unknown how many people Zaun sacrificed to control these Gray pollutions, now they want to use the same method to release! Are they still Zaunites!"
Not just Soona, other mid-level cadres of the Wind of Change also showed expressions of sharing a bitter hatred of the enemy.
These people were all Soona's old brothers. Back then, because they couldn't stand seeing Zaun getting worse, they returned to the Undercity disheartened to do some small business peacefully.
Because of the relationship with Silco and others before, those Chem-Barons didn't make things difficult for them blindly. Occasional conflicts were also settled quickly. Just didn't expect that this group of shitty Chem-Barons now actually wanted to bury the entire Zaun Undercity to deal with them. And using Gray, something that caused boundless suffering for Zaun.
If it were other means, fine, but Gray was a pain to the bone for Zaunites, especially the older generation. Because dumping Gray was considered by many Zaunites as the beginning of Piltover's treachery, and also the beginning of Zaun's decades of humiliation.
The new generation of Zaunites might just be dissatisfied and angry, but for those older people, this was tantamount to Poland being blitzed again, Pearl Harbor being bombed again, and opium opening the gate of Seris again.
Leaving aside its destructive power, its symbolic significance was very serious.
To this, standing aside, Seraphine said somewhat curiously: "But... isn't this within our plan?"
"We actively inducing them to use it, and them actively using it, are two different things." Soona shook her head and said angrily: "And we would only decide whether to use it after confirming the state of the Gray, instead of like now, using it directly regardless of what changes happened to those Grays in the past time."
"And the reason why we prepared to induce them to use the Gray is also because we have mastered countermeasures. And these damn guys... the situation hasn't reached the point where they must use this method yet they decided to use it; this can only prove they are ready to abandon all bottom-feeders in Zaun!"
Saying this, Soona looked at Faen on the side. Just scrutinizing the topographic map of Zaun, he nodded, then said: "Leave the rest to me."
Accompanied by the order from the Zaun Council, hearing the content of the order, even the face of the Gray pipeline supervisor couldn't help showing horror, looking at the messenger conveying the news in disbelief and saying:
"Is what you said true? Is this really the order issued by Silco? This is impossible! Back then it was Silco who asked Chem-Barons to seal this place completely, prohibiting even a trace of leakage!!"
"This is Lord Silco's order; execute it." Glancing at the supervisor in front of her, feeling the disbelief in the other party's eyes, Sevika's eyes were also filled with suppression.
Just as Soona said, although in the plan, they prepared to accelerate the promotion plan of the Wind of Change through Gray, this was all based on the premise that they had perfect means to ensure the Gray wouldn't have accidents before starting to prepare.
But these Chem-Barons, before even waiting for them to push the situation to that point, actively requested to release Gray directly...
These guys are not trustworthy!
Clearly realizing this, Sevika just said coldly: "Obey the order, release it for me now!"