The Buvelle family's estate was situated on the western side of the capital, not far from the grand seaside port of Cliffhaven but at a considerable distance from Dawnkeep. By car, the journey would take at least an hour and a half, perhaps two.
The day was still young, and Li Lin decided to explore the capital a bit, soaking in the local culture. Though he had already used drones to map the city-state's layout before entering, there was an undeniable difference between viewing it from above and experiencing it firsthand.
Demacia's winters were harsh, and the western coastal city near the Conqueror's Sea was no exception. In the crisp morning air, the newly risen sun barely managed to cut through the night's bitter chill. Yet, street vendors were already setting up their stalls, blowing into gloved hands to keep warm while quietly murmuring prayers to the Winged Protector, hoping for good sales that day.
These were the fortunate ones—those who had the "privilege" of residing in Demacia during relatively peaceful times. It was sobering to imagine the struggles of civilians during the centuries of frequent wars with Noxus, let alone the future turmoil brought by the Mage Rebellion or the Curse of the Ruined King.
As Li Lin strolled down the streets in silence, his thoughts wandered to Piltover and Zaun two years ago.
In Piltover's upper city, the lower-middle-class office workers tirelessly toiled to make ends meet, their monthly earnings barely sufficient for the basics. Life in the undercity was even grimmer; finding a job that offered a meager living—even at the cost of one's health—was considered a stroke of luck.
Yet, today, the Twin Cities were thriving under his protection and that of Janna, the Wind Goddess. Apart from the looming Void threat, peace and prosperity seemed assured.
Demacia, too, had seen significant changes under the reign of King Jarvan III. If reforms to the anti-magic laws were successfully implemented, and with Morgana's return, Demacia might stand a better chance of preparing for the coming global crises.
Demacia would be Li Lin's first ally. The next target would be Shurima.
However, forging alliances was no simple task. Li Lin wasn't just representing the Kiramman family but all of Piltover—and by extension, Zaun.
His unique position complicated matters. Noxus might perceive this as Piltover abandoning its neutrality, which could lead to tensions with Piltover's council. Apart from figures like Cassandra, Heimerdinger, and Mel, the other four council members were narrow-minded and lacked an understanding of the Void's true threat, likely making it difficult to gain their support.
However, if he could secure Camille's backing, the Twin Cities' alignment would be much less of an issue.
As for Swain, with his ability to glimpse the future, Li Lin could only speculate about the Grand General's thoughts.
Noxus itself was still mired in rebellions across its various territories, struggling to stabilize. But if the empire ever regained complete stability, Li Lin would face an even greater challenge—reconciling the centuries-old blood feud between Demacia and Noxus to form an alliance.
And then there was the added risk of Swain dispatching war masons to infiltrate Piltover.
It seemed that only world-shaking events—such as the Curse of the Ruined King or the return of the Harrowing—could compel the entire continent of Valoran to unite.
"The unification of Valoran is a daunting task," Li Lin mused. "In Freljord, Warmother Ashe of the Avarosan tribe should be approachable, but Sejuani of the Winter's Claw is far less cooperative. And Lissandra of the Frostguard? She's not even worth considering."
Unless the situation became truly dire, Li Lin would prefer not to associate with someone like Lissandra, who nearly handed the entire Runeterra over to the Void Watchers in her quest for power.
The demigods were even less reliable. Ornn, the Fireborn, was reclusive and prideful, only intervening in matters concerning his followers. Volibear, the Stormbringer, was a violent force of nature who sought to drag humanity back to its primal roots through war. As for Anivia, the Cryophoenix, she had perished fighting an infected Freljordian beast tainted by the Void, and it was unclear whether she had been reborn from her egg yet.
"Winter's Claw has clashed with Noxus several times over the past two years, even capturing Darius for a while. They've also raided Demacian borderlands frequently in recent years… This won't be easy."
Li Lin sighed and shifted his focus.
If Freljord posed too many challenges, perhaps Ionia could be a better option.
As for the Blue Flame Isles and Bilgewater, he had already written them off for now.
The current ruler of Bilgewater, the notorious "Gangplank," was out of the question. However, figures like Sarah Fortune, the bounty hunter, and the native Buhru people who worshiped Nagakabouros might be more approachable.
Sarah was a mere mortal with formidable gun skills but likely no match for Caitlyn—she was essentially the weakest "hero" in Runeterra in terms of combat power.
As for the Buhru's Kraken Priestess, Illaoi, any chance of forming an alliance with her would likely have to wait until the Curse of the Ruined King came to fruition.
"Now, Ionia… its leadership has seen some changes. Irelia probably stepped down, leaving the region under the influence of Zed from the Order of Shadows and Kusho, the former Twilight of the Kinkou who faked his death and now operates in secret."
"Zed isn't a major problem, though he's a bit radical. Kusho, on the other hand, has likely been corrupted by the 'Tear of the Shadow,' the source of the Order's dark magic, making him untrustworthy.
"The new Twilight of the Kinkou, Shen, is inflexible but essential for maintaining the balance between Ionia's material and spiritual realms. Since the Void seeks to consume everything, he would have no choice but to act.
"Karma, the Soul of Ionia, is a reliable ally but too rigid. The current host of Karma is young and mentally fragile. If she can resist the Curse of the Ruined King's influence and avoid attacking Ionia herself, I'd consider that a victory. Her involvement in any future crises will likely be limited to the Void's direct invasion or the Harrowing.
"As for Master Yi of the Wuju style, solving the imbalance between his homeland's material and spiritual realms could earn his support. He would likely be willing to help in global crises, as long as it doesn't require his sword to be stained with blood again.
"And then there's Syndra, the Dark Sovereign—a powerhouse rivaling Karma in strength, but her deep hatred for the Ionians, stemming from her imprisonment, complicates things…"
Li Lin's thoughts grew heavier as he considered the challenges ahead.
Li Lin scratched his head, feeling deeply troubled.
Ionia had many admirable qualities—a high ceiling for elite combatants and the protection of benevolent spiritual entities in the realm of the mind.
Yet, at present, Ionia was like scattered stars when apart, but a chaotic mess when gathered together.
High-ranking officials and elders of various councils pursued their own agendas, incapable of resisting even the intrusion of a mere mortal nation. Or perhaps they simply refused to act, hiding behind their so-called "balance."
When the Ruination's curse or Mordekaiser and his army of the undead inevitably returned, laying siege to Ionia, they might be forced to intervene. But if the invaders did not reach them, these officials would likely take a "not my problem" approach.
As for solidarity or the principle of "when the lips perish, the teeth grow cold"?
Forget it. They probably wouldn't even understand the concept.
"This is a tough situation... No wonder the game's lore had to be revamped. If it played out in the real world, anyone with real power wouldn't care a whit about your 'League of Legends.'"
Just as Li Lin was racking his brains over how to build his so-called "League of Legends," a fleeting moment later, he found himself standing before the grand gates of the Buvelle family estate.
Two guards stepped forward and barred his way.
"Lord Barrett is heading to Dawnkeep. Do you have an appointment to see him?"
Li Lin thought for a moment, then responded with a polite smile, "Please inform Lord Barrett that Li Lin has come to visit."
[End of Chapter]