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Crack... hum!
The moment Ambessa crushed the teacup in her hand, Rek'Sai's halberd sliced through the air, aiming straight for Link.
The sweeping halberd was both powerful and swift. Sensing the rush of air near his neck, Link didn't even glance back. He simply raised his hand and flicked his fingers.
When Link's palm met the blade, his five fingers moved like a musician plucking a lute, tapping rhythmically on the halberd's edge.
Rek'Sai felt the halberd in his hand suddenly turn into a slippery eel. Before he could regain control, the violently shaking halberd split his palm open.
Blood splattered as Rek'Sai lost his grip, and the halberd clattered to the floor.
Seeing this, Ambessa narrowed her eyes, weighing her options.
Mel's eyelids twitched, and she began to doubt whether coming here with Link had been the right decision.
"Too hasty." Link didn't even look at Rek'Sai behind him. Instead, he turned his gaze to Ambessa, who sat in the main seat. Before Ambessa could speak, Mel stepped forward, standing between them, and coldly demanded, "What is your real goal?"
"What is the Black Rose?"
Link tilted his head, looking past Mel at Ambessa.
"I can certainly tell you everything, but before that, shouldn't you ask your mother what she thinks?"
Ambessa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She picked up the towel she had used earlier to wipe her head and tossed it to Rek'Sai.
"You may leave."
Rek'Sai caught the towel, pressed it to his wound, picked up his halberd, and left the room.
"The general has quite the presence."
Link glanced at Rek'Sai as he left, offering a compliment.
Ambessa picked up another teacup and poured herself some hot tea.
"You incited my daughter to come here, so I doubt your intentions are as simple as provoking me." Ambessa sipped her tea, the steam helping her stay alert as she demanded, "State your purpose!"
"My purpose here is simple," Link said with a smile. "A great being has commanded me to help you and your daughter, to protect you from the Black Rose."
"Who?" Ambessa's gaze sharpened. Link shook his head. "The time is not yet right, General Ambessa."
"Hmph, playing mysterious."
"The more you act like this, the less trustworthy you seem."
"Your attempts to provoke me are useless, General." Link crossed his arms, still smiling. "Besides, with all due respect, your current situation isn't exactly ideal."
Mel glanced between Link and her mother, biting her lip as she decided to listen to what the two had to say.
"How so?" Ambessa set down her teacup, adopting a listening posture.
"You traveled all the way from Noxus to Piltover to acquire Hextech weapons, to gain the capital needed to return to Noxus and seek revenge against the Black Rose."
"But now—" Link glanced at Mel. "Because of your daughter, you can't interfere with Piltover's Council or its decisions. And since your daughter is the primary sponsor of Hextech, you can't bypass her to access it."
"But the most critical issue is that the Black Rose has already come knocking."
Mel's eyelids twitched as she thought of Amara.
Was Amara a member of the Black Rose?
"As the saying goes, if you see one cockroach in your house, it means there are already countless others hiding."
"The power the Black Rose wields is something you can't contend with at this stage. You can only try to intimidate them with outward displays of strength and ferocity."
"But unfortunately, the more you threaten and intimidate, the more you reveal your own weakness."
"They won't be deterred. Instead, they'll bypass you and target your family directly. Isn't that why Kino died?"
Ambessa took a deep breath, her eyelids lowering as she said in a low voice, "How much do you know?"
"A great deal." Link smiled. "I know more than you can imagine."
"Similarly, the help I can offer exceeds your imagination."
"For example?" Ambessa's jaw tightened. Link spoke confidently, "The terror of the Black Rose comes from their lies, their schemes, their mystery."
"But once you strip away the Black Rose's veil of secrecy, they can no longer threaten you!"
"And I can help you tear away that veil, giving you the power to fight back!"
"Power?" Ambessa's interest was piqued. Her eyes lingered on Link's exoskeleton. "I am indeed interested in that armor of yours. If it could be equipped by my soldiers, my army would be unstoppable!"
"Hah..." Link shook his head with a laugh. "To you, power is tangible, something you can hold in your hands."
"But to me, power isn't just about weapons. It's also about wisdom, knowledge, and the truth!"
"The truth?" Ambessa's heart skipped a beat. "You mean—"
"I told you, I can help you uncover the Black Rose's secrets. Naturally, knowing their true nature means I also know their weaknesses."
"So, let's make a deal."
Link stepped closer to Ambessa and extended his hand.
"I'll tell you the truth about the Black Rose and their weaknesses. I'll help you return to Noxus and seek your revenge."
"I can also help you protect your daughter and your family."
"And what do I have to give in return?" Ambessa didn't even glance at Link's outstretched hand, instead pressing him with a sharp question. "Such generous terms—I don't believe they come for free."
"Your faith," Link said. "And your promise."
"To be honest, I want to resolve the conflict between Piltover and Zaun, to unite the Twin Cities into a tightly knit whole."
"But this plan has one prerequisite: no external forces can interfere."
"So—" Link's jaw tightened. "You understand what I mean."
"You want me to leave Piltover?" Ambessa's eyelids twitched. Link nodded. "Exactly."
"Hmph, are you sure you can offer enough in return?"
Ambessa's greedy eyes lingered on Link's exoskeleton. Link smiled. "What I can offer far exceeds your imagination!"
"Fine!" Ambessa grabbed Link's hand. "If you can deliver on your promises, I'll leave Piltover. But in return, you'll have to prove your sincerity first!"
"Of course, I'll show you my sincerity."
Link clasped his hands together and began to pray, calling upon Janna.
When dealing with someone like Ambessa, you had to lure them with great benefits, intimidate them with overwhelming power, and only then could you achieve your goal.
Since the deal was struck, it was time to display that power.
"O ancient wind of change, ever-spinning, ever-howling, hear my plea, heed my call. Clear the fog from the path of the lost lambs and guide them forward."
Link's prayer was solemn and sacred, causing Ambessa to look at him with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. Mel frowned, unsure of what Link was trying to do.
As Link's words faded, a fierce wind suddenly swept through the room.
The gust extinguished the fireplace, and the intense pressure brought an indescribable sense of suffocation. A faint, ethereal figure began to materialize within the whirlwind, and a divine voice echoed through the cabin.
"The Wind's Incarnation, at your service—"