As a best friend, Jayce could feel that Viktor's mental state wasn't good during this period. Especially after getting the Twin Cities model, the current Viktor almost didn't eat or drink, studying things related to the model whenever he had time. Even some previously agreed cooperation was temporarily put aside, which once made Jayce feel a headache.
Although in the eyes of Piltovians, Jayce's success was the representative of the most beautiful Piltover Dream. But in fact, Jayce knew very well that without Viktor's help, especially those so-called wisdom from "Zaun", he could absolutely not achieve today's success.
But the final result was that Viktor wasn't well-known to outsiders, as if all credit was his... Although Viktor didn't care, just saying things like this was for a better future, unrelated to personal honor and so on. But Jayce knew Viktor didn't completely not care. And now, from some phased conclusions Jayce had already obtained through the Twin Cities model, many not-so-wonderful guesses had arisen in Jayce's heart.
Just as Jayce was still thinking, the representative of House Kiramman, one of the three major auditors of the family, Caitlyn's biological mother Cassandra stood up and said:
"Let's calm down first. Without understanding the Wind of Change, any related ideas are just armchair strategies. Whether to completely destroy it or cultivate it into Piltover's new pawn, we must first determine the other party's thoughts, and whether effective communication can be carried out."
Looking at everyone in the venue, Mrs. Cassandra said calmly: "Regardless of their intention, their slogan is for Zaun workers. Then we can directly convey the news of meeting and communication with them to the bottom of Zaun through Chem-Baron channels. By then, even if they intend to refuse, they will be coerced by public opinion and have to communicate with us directly."
"And once communication starts, regardless of whether a consensus is reached, their true intentions will definitely be revealed from it."
Hearing this, everyone nodded. But just when Salo on the side was about to add some personal opinions, suddenly, the door on the side was blasted open forcibly with a boom.
The heavy brass door deformed severely under the attack of the Atlas Gauntlet. High-pressure air sprayed out from the pipelines on the outside of the gauntlet. Like being bombarded by cannonballs, the huge brass door tore directly and landed making a huge noise.
The sudden sound attracted everyone's attention. Looking towards the side following the sound, finding the comer was Vi, as the representative of Topsiders, Salo frowned somewhat disgustedly and said: "What's going on? This Zaunite just came in like this? Or finally unable to hide her nature, wanting to come kill us?"
Not caring about Salo's sarcasm, Vi ignored the guards on the side, throwing the gauntlet on the other hand directly in front of Jayce. Looking at the gauntlet rolling in front of him, just glancing a few times, Jayce raised his eyebrows somewhat surprisedly.
"This is... cooling system and conversion device overloaded? What happened? Isn't your compatibility with the Atlas Gauntlet very good?"
Somewhat puzzled, but Vi had absolutely no time to pay attention to Jayce, just looking at Mrs. Cassandra on the side and saying: "Caitlyn was arrested by Zaunites!"
Hearing this, Cassandra's eyes widened suddenly. After a brief silence, Cassandra took a deep breath, then stared at Vi deadly and said: "What happened, say everything, don't miss a single detail."
Hearing Cassandra's words, Vi nodded, then told everything she saw and heard when going to Zaun, as well as things happened and exchanges produced with Caitlyn, Faen, and others in detail.
Knowing Caitlyn was actually detained by Zaunites with 'judicial fairness' as the reason, a look of shock and anger appeared on Salo's face, then he sneered and said:
"Judicial fairness? This group of Zaunites also deserve to say this term! Ridiculous guys! I think they just want to take this opportunity to attack Zaun violently! We should send troops now, destroying them completely! Let them know why Piltover is the Upper City and Zaun is the Undercity!"
"Calm down, now is not the time to fuss about this. More importantly, Chem-Barons' rule was actually lifted so quickly! This is what we have to consider!" Although there was a slight solemnity in Cassandra's eyes, she still forcibly maintained her reason.
Hearing Cassandra's words, Mel on the side also agreed:
"As Mrs. Cassandra said, compared to Zaun's provocation, we should pay more attention to Zaun's current state. Once war breaks out completely, those pervasive Zaunites will definitely try every means to destroy our shipping and trade! And don't forget, our factories are still in Zaun."
Looking at the surrounding trade nobles, Mel said seriously:
"Trade is the foundation of Piltover. Hextech Crystal technology makes our trade efficiency far exceed other city-states, making Piltover the most dazzling jewel of wealth in Valoran continent! But whether land trade, maritime trade, or Hextech airship trade, all need Zaun's raw material support. Easily making enemies, Piltover will suffer severe economic impact for a long time!"
Hearing Mel's words, the Councilors who originally harbored disdain and anger towards Zaunites gradually calmed down—provocation was provocation, humiliation was humiliation. But once involved in trade-related matters, they had to be serious. After all, the entire Piltover rose as a trade province.
Thinking this, the representative of House Ferros, who was silent most of the time, also coughed lightly, then said calmly:
"The Hextech Crystal refinement factory is located in Zaun. Although the core refinement technology is in our hands, and engineers have also completed evacuation through hidden elevators in advance, I believe I don't need to elaborate on the importance of purified Hextech Crystals—this is the blood of Piltover's technology and trade; we must firmly grasp it in our hands."
Hearing this, many Councilors fell into silence, then nodded tacitly.
Although House Ferros rarely involved in trade-related matters in Zaun, as one of the oldest families in Piltover, House Ferros was just like Silco in Zaun.
Silco controlled the entire Zaun with Shimmer, while House Ferros controlled through Hextech Crystal raw materials and related refinement technologies—even without Jayce and Viktor, Hextech Crystals were still Piltover's most important resource.
It was just that before this, because the usage method was relatively primitive and rough, the function was similar to oil. But after Jayce and Viktor's usage method upgrade, in some cases it had reached, or even exceeded the level of controllable nuclear fusion.
For example, Ekko's time reversal.
"Can't we transfer the factory back to Piltover?" A Councilor proposed.
"Good proposal." Another Councilor nodded, then sneered: "Then how about you being responsible for explaining to Piltover citizens and making them accept related irreversible pollution?"
"Then forget it." That Councilor shook his head.
Piltover citizens didn't know how serious the pollution of crystal refinement factories was, but as Councilors, didn't they know? But no choice, today's Hextech Crystals were the lifeline of Piltover's entire industry, trade, and even people's livelihood.
Because of the convenient characteristics of Hextech, actually not just Hextech airships, some Piltover merchant ships and convoys also underwent large-scale Hextech upgrades to improve trade efficiency. Even the opening and closing of the Sun Gates were carried out through Hextech Crystals.
People always have path dependence—this feeling is like asking someone who is used to using ships, railways, and airplanes for trade transportation to take a team of camels to re-walk the Silk Road for trade. The difficulty is not on the same level at all.
Accustomed to a high salary of ten or twenty thousand a day, asking someone to do a job of twenty or thirty a day again, isn't this purely humiliating people?
"We must regain control of Zaun!" Mel clenched her fists and said: "This has nothing to do with any concept, just simply, we need a lawless land close at hand to bleed for Piltover."
Hearing Mel's words, the Councilors didn't answer, but all nodded silently—no one knew better than them what Zaun was bearing.
But no choice; if Zaun didn't bear it, then Piltover would have to bear it... So, better let Zaun continue to suffer.
Confirming the core purpose, the Councilors also began to discuss the next ideas. However, as an emergency, this discussion didn't last too long—because each family had to weigh gains and losses, damages, and the cost of subsequent recovery work internally. Then they could propose plans based on their own interests and discuss further.
Precisely because of this, soon, the representative of House Ferros said: "Things are a bit sudden. I propose pausing the meeting, while carrying out a certain degree of appeasement with Zaun to prevent conflict intensification. Wait until we have sorted out all relevant information, then discuss formally."
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
"Seconded."
...
Looking at everyone who had made a decision, Mrs. Cassandra was just silent. A moment later she also said: "Seconded."
Then, Cassandra looked at Vi beside her, signaling her to follow.
Just as Piltover started a new round of council storms, on the other side, Seraphine was walking alone, covered in mud, ragged, clutching her lower abdomen and limping on the empty streets of Zaun.