///During that morning///
North of Piltover lay the Frosttip Mountain, smaller in size before the Great Barrier mountain range just beyond. Vastly uncharted and untamed, this natural barrier separated Piltover from the great powers of Noxus, which claimed dominance over the Great Barrier.
Every year, honorary students from minor colleges and the Piltover Academy attend a retreat at the Frosttip Mountain. Jayce and Caitlyn had just returned from the hiking expedition, having split off before first light to arrive home early.
Jayce babbled on about an important breakthrough he was about to make, and Caitlyn was eager to freshen up for training with Orion and Greyson. She had a skip in her step after escaping from Jayce's ramblings about his "soon-to-be-recognized achievements."
Caitlyn shifted her bag as she turned the corner, her steps slowing to a halt. Worry enveloped her expression and she started sprinting. The Kiramman manor had multiple Enforcers standing outside with Greyson at the center, all looking grim.
One of the Enforcers clearly said something as Greyson's tilted her head before turning to face Caitlyn.
"Caitlyn..." Sheriff Greyson started comfortingly.
"What is going on," Caitlyn cut in, her tone sharp with urgency.
Greyson paused, her mouth hanging slightly with hesitance. "Tell me!" Caitlyn demanded, taking a step closer.
"Your home was robbed last night," Greyson stated slowly with remorse.
Caitlyn froze, her eyes widening in disbelief, "Robbed?" she repeated, her voice trembling, but Greyson pressed on.
"Your mother and father are missing too. The servants were found tied up in the storage room,"
Caitlyn staggered back, her chest heaving and tears beginning to form.
Greyson grimaced but continued. "The criminals hid their faces, but traces of Chemtech were found. We can reasonably assume they originated from the Undercity."
Just beyond the gates, Caitlyn could see the servants comforting each other. Some were bruised and injured; others were crying. Her fists clenched, and she asked with an undertone of anger and accusation, "So why aren't you there then?"
Greyson met her gaze and replied sympathetically but firmly. "Procedures must be followed. Enforcers are locking down the Undercity as we speak. After we finalize testimonies here, we'll organize search and rescue parties."
"That'll take too long!" Caitlyn shouted in outraged, her voice cracking with emotion. "Search parties should already be out!"
"The Undercity is dangerous, Caitlyn" Greyson sighed, replying sympathetically. "Sending unprepared and ill-informed Enforcers into the Undercity's depths is only asking for trouble."
Their conversation was interrupted as an Enforcer sprinted up, breathless. "Sheriff!" He saluted sharply while breathing heavily. "We've received a tip-off from the bridge. Two topsiders were spotted being smuggled into the Cultivar, located in the Entresol district!"
Caitlyn's eyes widened with hope, but Greyson frowned. "From whom?"
"An Undercity resident. He's being questioned but... well, he's difficult to understand," the Enforcer reported, his tone brisk as he continued to catch his breath. "He claims to have drank all night and saw two individuals in fancy clothing, sacks over their heads, being carried by heavyset individuals into the Cultivar."
"Awfully convenient," Greyson continued to frown, skepticism written all over her face. "But it is the only lead we have."
"Let me come. I can help!" Caitlyn stepped forward, her voice trembling with emotion.
Greyson shook her head immediately, but Caitlyn pressed on. "They're my parents! You've seen me train- I'm a good shot!"
"I can't risk that," Greyson replied, eyes soft but her tone remaining resolute. "You may be the last survivor of the Kirammans. As the Sheriff, I won't risk your safety- no matter how good a shot you are."
"What was the point of all that training then?" Caitlyn cried, her voice broken as tears streamed down her face. "Why go through all the effort if I can't save my family? If my parents died like this, do you honestly think I would care for the Council?!"
Upon the Caitlyn's last words, Greyson stiffened. Her face contorted into a deep frown and Caitlyn caught the shift. Caitlyn paused, tears still on her cheeks as she felt a realization.
"That's what you care about, isn't it?" Caitlyn choked out, her voice trembling with accusation.
Greyson responded quickly by taking a step forward, her tone tinged with agitation upon the accusation. "It's very much the opposite. Cassandra is one of the few in Piltover who truly supported the Undercity- who kept hostilities from spiraling out of control."
"You've put me in a difficult spot, Caitlyn," Greyson confessed, her voice weary and gaze softening again. "Without a Kiramman, the fragile peace we've fought for will crumble."
After a moment of hesitation, she finishes firmly, meeting Caitlyn's gaze. "I will go down there personally. You may accompany me, but you will not participate."
---------------------------
///Meanwhile///
Orion was unaware of the events transpiring, having just woken and headed toward the Cultivar after receiving a message from C. The streets were a little less busy with the early morning hustle, he noticed, but didn't give it much further thought. Every city has it's down days, after all, and it wasn't that surprising for the Undercity.
The Cultivar was just like Count Mei's Menagerie and the Factorywood location he had visited, but it was solely a botanical garden. Many Undercity residents would visit it to breath fresh air- the rarest and most desirable kind.
Eerily, however, just like the rest of the Undercity today, there were no crowds or wandering people.
Walking closer, he saw the same two large men from Factorywood guarding the entrance. They nodded to him, opening the door for his entry. Orion felt uneasy; they seemed tense; something about their demeanor seemed tense, almost as if they were anticipating something. Adjusting his jacket after passing them, he shifted his gun and last Chemflash.
'That's the first time I've seen them like that. Something's happening.' Orion thought, his nerves beginning to flare.
Just like Factorywood, the clean air and nature' pleasant aroma deceptively masked the dangerous aura of the Undercity- as well as the scene before him.
Scattered across the botanical garden, including two more by the entrance, were over a dozen gangsters and thugs. These weren't like the kind found in alleys; they were more professional with augmentations powered by Chemtech, Chemtech weapons, and an undeniable battle-hardened grit.
Orion paused as their gazes landed upon him, the room in a tense silence. His jaw tightened as he wondered if he could make it out alive if anything broke out.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"Welcome, Orion."
Orion fully expected Silco to make an appearance after such a theatrical introduction, but his breath hitched in surprise upon recognizing C's serpent-like voice instead. His gaze shifted further back, beyond the thugs, to see C standing behind two individuals tied to chairs with sacks over their heads.
Their clothes were dirtied and smudged, but Orion could make out the distinct separations of royal blue and gold. Orion's stomach sank as realization set in.
C wore a sly smirk, her eyes dancing with dangerous cunning as her fingers played with the cloth of one of the sacks.
"It's time for our little seed to make its decision." she said smoothly, her words dripping with venom.