Among the mages who escaped, most were innocent civilians persecuted by Mageseekers and the anti-magic laws. However, there were also a number of malevolent and vile mages guilty of heinous crimes.
Some were sentenced to life imprisonment, while others were awaiting execution at the gallows. When the majority decided to surrender, these individuals became restless.
Even if Demacia planned to abolish the anti-magic laws and pardon mages, it would not apply to them—the hardened criminals who had robbed and murdered without remorse.
Yet their schemes couldn't escape the scrutiny of the AI, now equipped with upgraded quantum computing capabilities. After scanning their behavior and expressions, the AI flagged a group of individuals with particularly sinister demeanors and reported them to Li Lin, who used his "Data Mind" ability to swiftly identify the most dangerous offenders.
A handful of them, realizing their precarious situation, attempted to use the innocent mages around them as hostages to negotiate their escape. Little did they know that their every move had already been monitored by the Storm's surveillance system.
As soon as they made their move, confident of their success, the Storm's electromagnetic guns roared to life. In an instant, the treacherous mages were struck down, their schemes cut short before they could do any harm.
Soon after, Jarvan III and the Dauntless Vanguard arrived, re-shackling the captured criminals with petricite restraints and temporarily relocating them to other prisons.
Meanwhile, Galio, who had rushed out of the city to assess the situation, returned only to find that his efforts had been in vain. Feeling frustrated at his lack of contribution, it was the king's words of comfort and praise—acknowledging Galio's protection of Demacia's soldiers—that helped lift his spirits.
Li Lin proceeded to inform the king about the actions of the mages and their true intentions. He emphasized that many of them had committed no crimes; they merely wished to live.
Moreover, the possession of magical talent wasn't a choice—it was an inherent trait. These individuals didn't deserve to be forcibly stripped of their magic, rendered powerless for life, and exiled, nor did they deserve to languish in dark prisons under inhumane conditions.
The incident deeply resonated with the king, reinforcing his commitment to the imminent legal reforms. However, he recognized that such significant changes couldn't be rushed. The matter had to be approached step by step; a single misstep could plunge society into further turmoil.
For now, Jarvan III's priority was to ensure that the chaos in the capital truly subsided and to uncover the forces orchestrating it. Interrogating the assassin Jemira and Sylas was essential.
To prevent any "accidental deaths" in custody—like the suspicious "suicide" of a viscount previously imprisoned in the royal dungeons—Li Lin proposed deploying cloaked aerial mechs to guard the prisoners.
While waiting for the interrogation results, Jarvan III planned to address the public at the Grand Plaza to calm their fears about the day's events.
Taking this opportunity, Li Lin visited the Buvelle estate to check on Sona, ensuring her safety before swiftly returning to Piltover. There, he produced two doses of a truth serum and handed them to the prince before returning to Dawnkeep to await further news.
Before long, the solemn and resonant chimes of the Grand Plaza's clock echoed through the city, summoning the still-frightened populace.
Standing below the podium, Li Lin stood alongside Jarvan IV and Barrett. Behind the king stood Xin Zhao and Tiyana, flanked by an eight-man shield formation from the Dauntless Vanguard. The assassination attempt earlier that day had heightened their vigilance, especially during such a gathering of mixed crowds.
Jarvan III's speech was succinct. He began by recounting the day's events, then informed the public of the reconciliation with the Winged Protectors. To better safeguard Demacia, they had chosen to return to Mount Targon to deepen their communion with the Aspects but would soon return.
He also revealed that the chaos in the capital was orchestrated by hostile infiltrators. When he mentioned the assassination attempt on his life, the crowd erupted in shock and outrage, with many speculating that only Noxus could be behind such an act.
The king reassured them that the perpetrators had been apprehended and promised a thorough investigation to root out the infiltrators within the city. To ease tensions, he announced a temporary curfew, appealing to the people's understanding.
To further bolster morale, he had the Colossus Galio make an appearance. His towering figure elicited cheers and applause from the citizens, dispelling some of the fear that had gripped them.
Due to the events of the day, the planned celebrations were canceled, but since the decree had not been widely disseminated, the king avoided further explanation.
Jarvan III concluded his speech with an impassioned declaration, restoring confidence and calming the hearts of the people. After announcing the dispersal, the gathered officials returned to Dawnkeep.
The interrogators worked quickly, aided by the remarkable effects of the gene-engineered truth serum. Jemira soon spilled everything he knew:
He was a Noxian, a member of the Black Rose. The task to infiltrate Demacia was an order passed down through their hierarchy, bypassing direct superiors. To aid him, he was granted the legendary weapon—the Duskblade of Draktharr.
After receiving his orders, Jemira adopted a false identity and infiltrated the capital. He communicated with a mysterious handler via encrypted letters that required specific methods to open; any unauthorized attempt would result in instant incineration—a clever application of magic.
The handler instructed him to remain undercover, sending detailed information about the king's inner circle. A year passed before Jemira received his final directive. On the fateful day of the attack, he noticed the sky's unusual changes before a crossbow bolt carrying urgent orders pierced through his window. His mission: to assassinate the king using the Duskblade by any means necessary.
However, Jemira's confession offered little actionable intelligence, only confirming Noxian involvement in the capital's infiltration.
Furious, Jarvan III delegated full authority to Tiyana and Barrett, instructing them to lead the Dauntless Vanguard in a thorough investigation of the noble families.
But what enraged him most was yet to come...
After Sylas regained consciousness, the interrogators questioned him thoroughly and then administered a "truth serum" to ask the same questions again.
Unlike Jamila, who resisted and lied during her interrogation, Sylas gave identical answers both times. His words consistently pointed to the Mageseekers as the true culprits.
A mysterious mage, claiming the title of Illuminator, infiltrated the most heavily guarded area of the secretive Mithril Vault—a solitary cell reserved for Sylas —and provided him with a handbook detailing the Durand family's research on the principles of petricite.
More shocking, this mysterious figure later supplied Sylas with ten vials of rare, concentrated mana potions, granting him the power necessary to shatter his restraints and escape.
The blame inevitably fell on the Mageseekers, for only with the explicit approval of High Priestess Isabelle, and following proper notification to the Mageseekers, could an Illuminator visit imprisoned mages. Even then, such visits were limited to the outer areas of the facility.
However, Isabelle had not assigned anyone to the Mithril Vault recently, and there were no corresponding records from the Mageseekers. How, then, did this mysterious individual gain entry to the vault, bypass its guards, and make contact with Sylas ?
According to Li Lin's understanding of the original timeline, even Luxanna was only allowed entry because of her status as the heir of the Crownguard family.
Even then, the guards were reluctant to let her near Sylas, let alone inside the dungeon. It was only thanks to her "coincidental" encounter with an officer transporting a prisoner—who vouched for her identity and ordered the guards to grant access—that she was allowed to proceed.
On the surface, Eldred, also of the Crownguard lineage, could have simply claimed familial rights, making it reasonable for Lux to tour her "own" domain. Naturally, the guards complied.
Yet unbeknownst to her, everything had been meticulously orchestrated in advance.
What's more, mana potions were initially unique to Ionia. It wasn't until Noxus invaded this fledgling land that they gained control of the potion's production methods.
This meant the mysterious intruder was almost certainly connected to Noxus.
The Mithril Vault has only one exit, and as a maximum-security facility for mages, it is rigorously guarded.
A Noxian "spy" moving freely in such a place strongly suggests there's a traitor within the Mageseekers' ranks.
Li Lin did not suspect LeBlanc was behind this.
First, her abilities would be severely hindered by Demacia's petricite-infused walls, making it unlikely that her illusion magic or decoys could function effectively.
From his study of Shuriman arcane illusions, Li Lin knew such magic cannot bypass barriers unless they were also conjured by magic.
This ruled out the Pale Lady as a suspect.
However, Jarvan III, despite his reputation as a beloved ruler who governed his kingdom well and earned the adoration of his people, seemed entirely unaware that the capital beneath his feet was riddled with enemy infiltrators.
Li Lin wasn't sure what to make of him.
But now that Li Lin had intervened, Demacia's great purge was only just beginning.
(End of Chapter)
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