Arcane: Thicker Than Blood

The Chem-Barons said nothing, but from their expressions—wanting to laugh yet not daring to—it was clear what they thought.

If not for those four unlucky fools with wild imaginations, they would surely laugh out loud.

Laugh at Cipher for overestimating himself.

What was the status of a Piltover councilor? A nobleman, a master of the upper class!

And what was the status of a Chem-Baron? A shadowy sewer rat, unnoticed even if they die in the stinking gutters.

The difference in status was like heaven and earth. Light and darkness, clean air and toxic fumes, life and mere existence.

If a Piltover councilor were to slap a Chem-Baron, the baron would have to smile and carefully serve them, even asking if the councilor's hand hurt.

And yet, he dared to suggest that a Chem-Baron could become a councilor?

He himself was just a newly risen gang leader. What qualifications did he have to say such things?

Naturally, this invited ridicule.

Cipher, however, was not angry.

Holding his wine glass, he approached a female Chem-Baron from behind. This was Renni, the one in charge of the Sludgerunners.

Her nose had been modified with chem-tech and was connected to two tubes that transported green medicinal fluid.

"Renni," Cipher said softly, swirling the wine in his glass. "I remember you have a son, don't you?"

His casual words immediately made Renni's hair stand on end.

She instinctively thought he was threatening her with her son and glared at him furiously: "You…!"

"Relax. I'm just asking you to think it through. Being a Chem-Baron isn't dignified. Fighting and killing all day long—who knows when you might die in a filthy sewer?" He gestured at their surroundings, at the perpetual grime that coated everything in Zaun.

"You know better than I do how miserable it is for an orphan in the Undercity."

"Even if your son takes over your position someday, he'd still just be a sewer rat, unable to ever step into the light. What future could he possibly have in a life like that?"

"Don't you want him to be well-dressed, walking into high-end places, studying at elite schools, and someday becoming part of the… respectable upper class?"

Raising his glass, he extended an invitation to her.

Renni's face darkened and brightened repeatedly as she hesitated. Her eyes darted to the other Barons, then back to her glass.

If she agreed to Cipher, she would unilaterally break the alliance between the Chem-Barons.

Cipher gave a wicked smile, leaning close to her ear and whispering with a kind yet chilling tone, "Think carefully. Do it for your son. He's so… adorable."

"You wouldn't..."

"I wouldn't have to. The streets of Zaun are so... dangerous."

Renni's face stiffened with shock, and she quickly clinked her glass with Cipher's.

Downing the contents of her glass in one gulp, she gritted her teeth and asked Cipher desperately, "Do you have a way?"

"Renni!" Finn called out loudly.

If she partnered with Cipher, their fragile alliance as Chem-Barons would collapse completely.

Cipher shook his head. "I thought stupidity had limits, but there's always someone who breaks the record."

They had already made an example of others, yet someone still dared to stir up trouble. Idiots were truly everywhere.

Cipher immediately dismissed the idea of cultivating the Chem-Barons. They were hopelessly unqualified, like mud that couldn't hold its shape on the wall. Just an eyesore.

"What do you mean—"

Before Finn could finish speaking, a gunshot rang out.

A hole appeared in his forehead, and he joined the four unfortunate souls on the ground, their heads all metaphorically and literally opened.

"I could have killed all of you," Cipher said with a mild smile, holstering his smoking revolver, "but for the sake of stability, I chose a gentler approach and gave you all a chance to enter the central power structure. Yet you don't treasure it."

The remaining Chem-Barons stared in horror, cold sweat dripping down their faces. None dared move, as if movement itself might draw his attention.

Cipher was even more ruthless than they had imagined. He had just killed Finn—a figure barely second to the top three powers of the Undercity—without a second thought.

The man was a complete madman!

"Now that the obstacle is gone, I think we can get down to business."

Cipher returned to his seat, his cold eyes locking onto the remaining Chem-Barons.

None dared meet his gaze. They stared at the floor, the walls, anywhere but at him or Finn's cooling body.

"Now, I'll announce five things." He pulled out a document, laying it flat on the table with precise movements.

"First, the establishment of the Zaun government, with me as mayor. The two deputy mayors will be Silco and Sevika."

"Second, the establishment of a customs department, led by Deputy Mayor Silco. All imports and exports in Zaun must be declared and inspected by customs."

"Third, the establishment of a tax bureau, also led by Deputy Mayor Silco. From now on, Zaun's rules will no longer involve collecting protection fees. Instead, taxes will be collected. All commercial transactions must pay taxes based on their value."

"Fourth, the establishment of a Police and Military Bureau, led by Deputy Mayor Sevika, responsible for all security issues in Zaun. The bureau will be the only department in Zaun legally permitted to possess armed forces."

"All Chem-Barons must disband their armed forces and hand them over for unified control by the bureau."

"Fifth, the establishment of Zaun Academy, with me as the headmaster, to cultivate talent in various fields."

"Zaun Academy will accept all applicants who pass the entrance exam. Tuition, food, and lodging will be free, and the government will provide them with a salary."

"I've said my piece. If you have any objections, feel free to voice them now. I might not listen, though."

After two brutal demonstrations, the Chem-Barons' courage had long been shattered. Whatever Cipher said was the law.

No one dared to raise objections.

However, when it came to disarming themselves, the remaining four Chem-Barons, even at the risk of having their heads blown open, refused to agree.

Survival instinct overcame their fear.

"Everything else is fine, but my business is smuggling. I've got plenty of enemies. Disbanding my men is no different than sending me to my death."

"Dead now or dead later—either way, I'm dead. You might as well just shoot me now and get it over with."

The speaker was a Yordle wearing a tall top hat, covered in fluffy brown fur, with all four limbs replaced by mechanical prosthetics crafted with alchemical technology.

"My factory also needs workers to manage it. Without them, the factory can't operate. Those laborers won't work obediently on their own," said an old man named Chross, whose face was sickly pale and who wore mechanical spectacles.

He owned The Hush Company, exploiting laborers to squeeze out profits.

The stains on his hands weren't just from chemicals.

"I'm in the same situation. The businesses on my street can't run without people managing them," added Margot, a female Chem-Baron. She wore heavy smoky makeup and had numerous metal piercings on her face and body.

Her Vyx was a hub for dance halls and brothels.

"My business can't survive without my men either," Renni chimed in, speaking reluctantly. Even with the vulnerability of having a son, she had no choice but to refuse Cipher's proposal.

The Chem-Barons' businesses essentially relied on two sources of profit: Either smuggling contraband into Piltover to make money from its citizens, or exploiting the people of Zaun.

Both required violence and enforcers to maintain control. Without sufficient profits, the barons didn't even need rivals to take them down—their own hungry enforcers would tear them apart.

This was why the Chem-Barons were, in truth, pathetic figures. Their grand-sounding titles were nothing but a facade.

"Zaun's security issues will be fully handled by the newly established police and military bureau. Our city will have its own sheriffs, and private armed forces will no longer be allowed—or necessary. But considering your specific circumstances, I'll assign you two sheriff slots to ensure your safety."

"Only two? What about our businesses?" The Chem-Barons exchanged glances and objected in unison.

"I'll make you rich."

Cipher took a sip of his drink and said, "Do you honestly call the scraps you're managing businesses? Tear them down immediately. I refuse to let Zaun's reputation be tied to such filth!"

He pulled out blueprints he had prepared in advance and distributed one to each of the Chem-Barons.

"Take these back and start building factories immediately. Whatever is produced according to these blueprints, I'll take it all—no matter how much you make, I'll buy it. The more, the better."

"Worker salaries must follow my standards. I've already reserved a substantial profit margin for you. There will be plenty of money to be made."

"If you don't believe me, feel free to consult an accountant. Even after deducting taxes and all other costs, you'll earn far more than you do now."

The Chem-Barons looked at each other, uncertain. While they accepted the blueprints, their eyes betrayed distrust.

Clearly, they didn't believe him truly intended to make them rich.

To this, Cipher could only think that these Chem-Barons' business mindsets were hopelessly outdated. They had no concept of modern outsourcing or high-tech industries that could generate massive wealth globally.

He was thoroughly dissatisfied with them—none of them had the vision to see the bigger picture.

Even if the opportunity to become councilors was handed to them on a silver platter, they wouldn't know how to seize it.

They simply lacked the capability.

But how could they possibly understand? They didn't have the advantage of another life's knowledge, let alone a cheat.

So, the fastest way for them to understand him was through ruthlessness.

For Zaun.

For his family.

He would carry this burden.

"I'm giving you three days. Those who meet my requirements and report within three days will be my friends—and I guarantee you'll make more money than you can imagine."

"Those who fail… well, there will be no need for them to continue living, right?"

With that, the meeting was over. Cipher unceremoniously issued a dismissal.