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"More? No, no, no. Piltover already has 8 members. I don't think there's a need for one more," Mel's expression stiffened as she repeatedly refused the proposal.
If another member of Council with a Noxian background were added, her carefully maintained status in the council would crumble.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see her standing in Noxus was far below Ryan's. Would her mother even lift a finger to help her if things went awry?
"Then it's up to you to cast your vote. I'm sure you can handle these issues. Right, Ms. Camille?"
"Cowardly, incompetent, noisy, ignorant, and foolish. It's been years since I've returned, and yet, seeing you all now, nothing has changed."
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The sound of steel tapping against marble tiles echoed through the chamber, followed by a sharp, sarcastic voice cutting through the air.
The doors to the parliament swung open once again. Yet, the enforcers stationed outside did not dare intervene. Instead, they dropped to their knees on either side of the entrance.
In strode a tall woman with short silver hair and mechanical legs forged into deadly blades. Her expression was colder than Katarina's most biting glare, and her eyes gleamed with an unrelenting blue light as she surveyed each seated council member.
"You've returned..."
Heimerdinger, seated at the head of the Council, sighed heavily.
"If I hadn't, Piltover would have fallen into ruin by now. Useless fools, all of you," Camille declared as she stepped further into the chamber, her gaze unyielding.
"Ms. Ferros, Piltover welcomes you back."
One of the female councilors stood respectfully, vacating her seat as Camille approached.
"Who is she?"
Vi leaned over, whispering into Caitlyn's ear.
"I don't know," Caitlyn replied, equally puzzled.
"I only know the Ferros family is led by Stevan Ferros, the wealthiest man in Piltover."
"It seems my name has been forgotten by this generation," Camille remarked, raising a silver brow.
Her piercing gaze scanned the room before settling on each member in turn.
"Medarda," she began, her voice razor-sharp, "your mother's blade is far too dull. One day, it'll fail her, and you'll find yourself collecting the body of your foolish brother."
Her attention shifted to Caitlyn.
"Ah, Kiramman's child, I presume? You bear a striking resemblance to your mother. When she was your age, she was just as idealistic—burning with the desire to uphold justice, yet too hesitant to act decisively."
"I'm not like my mother," Caitlyn retorted, doing her best to temper her anger.
"And perhaps you should introduce yourself first."
"How amusing," Camille replied with a smirk, her eyes gleaming.
"I suppose your mother left out a few bedtime stories. My name is Camille, child. Camille Ferros, the guardian of this city."
"Hextech!? You've implanted Hextech into your body?"
Jayce, who had been observing Camille silently, couldn't contain his surprise any longer. His keen eye immediately recognized the faint blue glow in her eyes.
Viktor, standing quietly behind Ryan, also noted the mechanical legs and the intricate integration of Hextech. He gazed at her with fascination, lost in thought.
Earlier that morning, Ryan had told him that a figure who once inspired him would appear in Council. Now, as he studied Camille, Viktor realized who she was.
What could be more intriguing than a Hextech core fused directly into the body, transforming flesh into a perfect machine?
Viktor's eyes, hidden behind his monocle, gleamed with newfound understanding as if an entirely new path had opened before him.
Camille ignored Jayce's astonished reaction and instead observed him with mild curiosity, muttering softly,
"Oh? What sharp eyes you have. You must be Jayce Talis, the founder of Hextech. Heimerdinger, can you imagine my surprise when I first heard about Hextech in Piltover while I was in Ionia? A science you had banned—it's quite amusing."
Heimerdinger's tone turned grave. "Camille, I still maintain that Hextech research is dangerous. It's no different from tampering with magic. Piltover risks destruction at its hands. Especially now that such power rests in Viktor's grasp—it's a threat to this city."
"Then why not argue with Talis for an entire day instead of hiding behind your objections?" Camille crossed her legs, addressing Jayce with a calm, almost leisurely tone.
"There is no inherent right or wrong in power. Piltover needs Hextech—it should be our blade."
She tilted her head and continued,
"Tell me, child, have you ever heard of the Brackern?"
"The Brackern?" Jayce blinked in confusion.
"No, I've never heard that name."
Camille smirked, casting a glance toward Heimerdinger.
"See? You object without educating them about the true dangers. How irresponsible."
Turning back to Jayce, she added, "Allow me to enlighten you, Councillor Talis."
Ryan, standing quietly nearby, smiled faintly. His gaze, however, shifted toward Viktor. Although his words were meant for Jayce, they carried an underlying message for his fellow scientist.
"The Brackern were an ancient and mysterious species. They originated from Shurima, and traces of them have been discovered beneath Zaun in recent years—remnants of their kind, crystallized."
"Crystals?" Jayce's eyes widened in realization.
Ryan nodded. "The Hex crystals you work with are derived from those primordial Brackern crystals."
Ignoring the shocked expressions of both Jayce and Viktor, Ryan elaborated,
"Long before humans dared to tread the scorching sands of Shurima, this desert was saturated with untamed magical energy. Deep within a hidden canyon of jagged cliffs, the Brackern unearthed the original crystals, which they fused with to enhance their power. Upon their deaths, their consciousness would remain within the crystals, preserving their essence for centuries. That is the origin of the Hex crystals you now use."
"So… there's a huge reserve of these Hex crystals in Zaun's underground mines?" Jayce asked, his voice tinged with excitement.
"That's correct," Camille interjected coolly.
"The Ferros family once safeguarded these mines, but thanks to my incompetent younger brother, they were lost to Medarda."
Her piercing gaze shifted toward Mel.
"I've heard the mines recently fell into Zaun's hands. Is that true?"
Mel's expression darkened. "We lacked the strength to defend them. Zaun has occupied the area."
"How pitiful." Camille shook her head.
"No matter. Let's get to the matter at hand. By Piltover's laws, a vote is required. I, Camille of the Ferros family, propose myself as the 9th member of the council. Any objections?"
Her icy stare swept the room, silencing all opposition. Even Mel and Heimerdinger voted in approval. A new seat was added to the council chamber, and Camille claimed it without hesitation.
Vi, leaning toward Caitlyn, whispered, "She's got a hell of a presence. I like her attitude. She's clearly got issues with Noxus, but she's swallowing them for now."
Caitlyn frowned. "What makes you think that?"
"Look at that Noxian guy," Vi gestured subtly.
"He's been wearing a fake smile this whole time. He hasn't even glanced our way but looks dead serious whenever he's watching the new councilor."
Caitlyn smirked. "I thought you were all fists and no brains. What about Councilor Ferros?"
Vi shrugged. "I grew up in the undercity—sorry, Zaun. If I didn't have good instincts, I'd have been dead ages ago. And trust me, she's dangerous. If you or I were in her way, she'd probably slice us in half without a second thought."
"I'm a Piltover Enforcer. She wouldn't dare," Caitlyn replied indignantly, though her voice faltered slightly.
"Besides, I recall some things about Councilor Ferro. I might even have to call her grandmother based on her age."
"That silver hair? Yeah, it's real," Vi teased.
"But I'm telling you, she's something else."
Camille, now seated at the Ferros family's council seat, scanned the room with a sharp gaze. Twisting her neck slightly, she spoke,
"We've wasted enough time. Let's move to the core issue. I propose the full development of Hextech and augmentation technologies. Furthermore, I will personally lead an initiative to destroy Zaun."