Arcane: Twin Cities Mechanic

A week passed in the blink of an eye. 

During this time, the decisiveness and political tenacity of King Jarvan III left Li Lin genuinely impressed. 

With Eldred, the primary culprit, apprehended—alongside a Noxian war mason—the subsequent purge was a foregone conclusion. 

The Dauntless Vanguard swiftly arrested the direct and extended family members of seven key noble houses, spearheaded by the Zachry, Cartel, and Oma clans. Servants of these families were ordered to remain confined to their residences, awaiting investigation. 

Those proven ignorant of the treachery could be reassigned to other households by royal decree, sparing them from destitution. However, any who were complicit faced severe penalties. Depending on their level of involvement, punishments ranged from lashing—to execution by hanging. 

In truth, the interrogation of Eldred began the very day of his capture. A trusted interrogator from Tiyana administered a truth serum, extracting every ounce of information he and the captured war mason, Fabrice, knew. 

While labeling Eldred a member of Noxus's Black Rose Society might have been an exaggeration, it wasn't far off. His fallen family had fled to Noxus after losing power in Demacia, severing ties with him. They likely aligned themselves with the Black Rose, which in turn used Eldred. In exchange for the Rose's protection, Eldred would embed himself in Demacia as a spy, biding his time to one day instigate chaos. 

The Black Rose's influence loomed behind his meteoric rise. A disgraced family aligning itself with a Crownguard and forging ties through marriage? It was a scheme far beyond mere personal capability. 

According to Eldred's confession, the Black Rose had orchestrated events such as Crown Prince Jarvan IV's border skirmishes, his subsequent march to the Gates of Mourning, and Barrett's daring rescue. The society's shadow extended deep. 

When Jarvan III, Jarvan IV, and Barrett learned the full truth, it sent chills down their spines. 

The prince had never been the primary target. Noxus was more interested in observing how far King Jarvan III would go to save his son. 

Had Li Lin not intervened, the prince might have survived the ordeal—but Barrett's fate would have been far grimmer. And in the aftermath, if the king discovered his loyal friend slain by mages, it was frightening to imagine how his stance on magic would have hardened. 

This revelation elevated Li Lin's standing even further in the eyes of Demacia's rulers. 

With Eldred's interrogation concluded, attention turned to Fabrice. 

Combining testimony from Eldred, Newman, Camilla, and Clemense, the investigators unearthed more details of the uprising in the capital. 

Originally, the conspirators had planned to bide their time. Their goal was to free Sylas during the battle between the Winged Sisters, Kayle and Morgana. They had hoped to exploit Luxanna, the Crownguard heiress. 

When Tiyana, present during this revelation, heard their intent to use her niece, she nearly lost control, ready to draw her blade and execute the culprits on the spot. 

Despite her typically cold and stern demeanor, Tiyana deeply cared for her family, particularly her brother Pieter's children, Garen and Luxanna. She merely masked her concern behind rigorous expectations, believing their duty as Crownguards required such discipline. 

Li Lin's arrival in Demacia had abruptly altered the rebels' tactics, driving them to act far more aggressively. 

As for Fabrice, he was little more than a peripheral figure within the Black Rose. Though his knowledge was limited, he had recently received orders from a high-ranking member of the Rose—a directive from the Pale Lady herself. 

When Barrett and Tiyana reported this to King Jarvan III, they concluded that Li Lin's previous involvement on the border had drawn the Pale Lady's attention. She had sacrificed Eldred, a valuable pawn, to test Li Lin's true capabilities. 

Though some of Li Lin's secrets had been exposed to Noxus, King Jarvan III felt a pang of guilt toward him. 

Li Lin, however, remained unconcerned. 

Not only had he fortified his Kiramman residence with surveillance and automated defenses, but the Kirammans themselves had already undergone genetic enhancement, with further upgrades imminent. 

Caitlyn, for her part, wore a cutting-edge Pulsefire Nano Suit and had completed her second phase of enhancements, making her virtually unmatched in combat. 

Even if LeBlanc dared to send one of her "Mirror Image" illusions into the Kiramman estate, it would immediately trigger Li Lin's AI detection systems. Black magic, no matter how subtle, left traces. With quantum-caliber analytical systems at his disposal, identifying such anomalies was trivial. 

Should LeBlanc ever overstep and harm those close to him, Li Lin wouldn't hesitate to eliminate the Black Rose entirely—even if it meant venturing into Noxus itself. No doubt, Grand General Jericho Swain might even thank him for it. 

On the eighth morning, King Jarvan III convened what remained of the High Council. 

This time, the council session was unprecedented in its scope. In addition to representatives from the capital's first and second-tier noble families, all nobles with ties to government service were summoned. 

As a special guest, Li Lin was invited to attend. 

Much to his surprise, four new faces occupied seats within the council chamber. 

Barrett temporarily sat in Eldred's former position, while Pieter assumed the seat of Newman, the former Minister of Law. These two were familiar figures to Li Lin, chosen by the king for their reliability amidst the ongoing shake-up. 

Meanwhile, a stranger occupied Clement's former position as Minister of Land and Resources, signaling the rise of a new family after Oma's fall. 

The final new face, however, drew Li Lin's attention—a young woman seated in Camilla's old position as Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

She wore a pristine white noble-tailored coat adorned with a blue sapphire at the chest, copper-toned pauldrons and arm guards, and navy blue fitted trousers paired with laced leather boots. 

But what caught Li Lin's eye was her unmistakable features—pink-streaked hair framing a sharp, elegant face, and piercing blue eyes brimming with resolve. 

It was none other than Fiona Laurent, the Unrivaled Blade. 

(End of Chapter)

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