The Nine-Headed Serpent, one of the few upscale taverns in Bilgewater's upper district, was named after a legendary sea monster from Buhrun tales, subdued by the Nagakabouros navy. Lavishly decorated and exuding an air of grandeur, the establishment more than lived up to its evocative name.
On this particular night, the tavern had been exclusively rented out by Sarah Fortune under the moniker of "Miss Fortune." Everyone, including the owner, had been cleared out, leaving behind only a dark-skinned, unassuming man who happened to be Sarah's most trusted first mate.
Bilgewater was on the brink of upheaval.
Li Lin sat across from Sarah in the tavern's most extravagant private room on the second floor. Plank, bound tightly with a nanowire rope, lay discarded in the corner like a slain sea beast. Sarah's expression wavered between determination and hesitation. Her eyes would occasionally flit toward her nemesis, but more often, her gaze rested on the man before her.
"Li Lin of the Kiramman family… No, I should address you as Piltover's Councilor now, shouldn't I?" Sarah brushed aside a stray lock of hair, her voice steady, her expression grave. There was none of the coquettish charm she typically displayed in public—an act she used to disarm her enemies like Plank. But here, she was stripped of pretense, confronting a man who had effortlessly dismantled the elaborate plan she'd spent nearly a decade orchestrating.
"I received the letter you sent via your mechanical courier," Sarah said bluntly, getting straight to the point. "What do you want?"
Power?
Li Lin had already toppled Piltover's council and installed himself as its de facto ruler. Stories from Demacia spoke of how he had quelled a civil war there and earned the title of Duke, enjoying privileges akin to royalty. On top of that, he was rumored to have close ties with Shurima's resurrected Ascended Emperor, Azir. Whispers even suggested that the Shuriman princess was his mistress.
Wealth?
With Piltover and Zaun backing him, and financial support from both the Demacian King and the Shuriman Emperor, why would he care about the economic potential of Bilgewater? Though the trade in massive sea beasts from the Slaughter Docks was lucrative, it amounted to only a fraction of the wealth he already commanded. Bilgewater's gold coins and Hextech crystals held little value compared to the riches he could access.
That left only one possibility.
Sarah instinctively placed a hand over her chest, her posture growing more guarded as she straightened in her seat. The melancholy in her eyes deepened.
He knows who I am. He knows about my vendetta against Plank. He even handed Plank over to me to do with as I pleased, effectively paving the way for me to become Bilgewater's new queen. Isn't his intent obvious?
Sarah had used her looks to manipulate other captains in the past, but she had never allowed things to progress beyond surface-level flirtation. Anyone bold enough to lay a finger on her would find their offending limb severed. In a city like Bilgewater, rising through the ranks as a mere "pretty face" was impossible without serious strength to back it up.
Her body bore the scars of countless battles, even after being treated with special salves. Those faint marks stood as a testament to her resilience.
Li Lin studied Sarah's shifting expressions, noticing the odd, almost suspicious glint in her eyes. A thought crossed his mind.
She's not… misunderstanding something, is she?
"Please don't get the wrong idea, Miss Fortune," Li Lin said, his tone tinged with exasperation.
"Wrong idea?" Sarah raised an eyebrow.
"The name Sarah Fortune died ten years ago, consumed in a sea of flames. Now, there is only Miss Fortune, the Harbinger of Doom." Her voice was calm, but her gaze was sharp. "So, tell me, what exactly do you mean by 'wrong idea'?"
"Well…" Li Lin cleared his throat, feeling a need to explain. "If you think my interest in you is… personal, then yes, you've misunderstood. I came to you with a purpose, but not in the way you're imagining."
Sarah remained skeptical, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"I'll put it plainly," Li Lin continued. "I intend to establish the League of Legends, and for that, I need a stable Bilgewater—not a chaotic city ruled by pirates."
"Why me?" Sarah's tone was cautious, her wariness undiminished.
"Because no one is more suited for the role than you, Sarah Fortune." Li Lin smiled faintly. "There's no need to hide your name anymore. Fortune is a far better name than Doom."
Sarah didn't press further to correct her name, but the man before her still hadn't made himself clear.
"Granted, Gangplank's a lawless tyrant, not the type to play puppet," Sarah began, her expression grave as she cut to the heart of the matter. "But Bilgewater's crawling with people willing to be your puppet. Why choose me?" She fixed him with a piercing stare. "You know I'd never bow to you. And if I were to take control of Bilgewater, I wouldn't be your pawn."
"As I've said many times before, Sarah, this is all a misunderstanding," Li Lin replied, shaking his head. "I'm not interested in Bilgewater. What I seek is a unified force—one capable of protecting humanity's final stand in the face of the catastrophic disaster that looms over the future. A force we'll build together."
"You mean like the Harrowing?" Sarah let out a wry laugh, almost mocking herself. "I've seen Gangplank face the Harrowing—he's an expert at it. But me? I couldn't handle it like he does."
"The Harrowing… Sarah, you're underestimating the real threat." Li Lin's expression turned grim as he spoke a name that even the Buhru whispered only with dread. "It's something far worse. Im talking about the Curse of Ruination."
Sarah shivered involuntarily at the mention of the name. It seemed harmless enough, no different from the many sinister-sounding phrases she'd read in magic tomes. But why did it strike fear into her heart? Why did it feel as though she was somehow connected to it?
"The Curse of Ruination, worse than the Harrowing… Is that what gave rise to the Shadow Isles?" she asked, trying to steady her voice.
"Unfortunately, yes. You've guessed correctly." Li Lin's gaze was unwavering.
Sarah straightened in her seat. She couldn't believe her casual speculation had uncovered the origin of the Shadow Isles.
"The Buhru know these things," Li Lin continued. "Their libraries contain records, but they've always regarded outsiders as inferior and ignorant, never sharing the truth behind the Shadow Isles' origin."
"Have you heard the legend of the Spear of Vengeance?" Li Lin's tone shifted, deliberately drawing her into the conversation.
"A specter that wanders through the Black Mist, offering to avenge betrayal in exchange for a soul," Sarah replied, narrowing her gray-green eyes as if piecing it all together. "Kalista. Everyone in Bilgewater knows of her. Are you saying she's tied to the Shadow Isles' origin?"
"Kalista was the niece of Viego, the king of Camavor who unleashed the Curse of Ruination."
The name "Viego" was foreign to Sarah, yet it sent an inexplicable chill down her spine. Names carried power, a fact Sarah knew well from her secret studies in magic. The mere act of speaking a true name could shape reality. What kind of power did a man like Viego wield?
"A thousand years ago, Viego sought to revive his deceased wife, Isolde. He journeyed to the Blessed Isles—what the Shadow Isles were called back then—hoping the sacred Waters of Life would bring her back."
Li Lin paused, his voice dropping as he continued. "But under the influence of a vile schemer and his own hubris, Viego placed her body into the waters. The magic could not restore her soul to the dead."
Sarah listened, her body stiff as her mind raced to keep up.
"The soul, restless and trapped within her lifeless body, took up the ancient, enchanted Blade of the Ruined King and struck Viego down. Her actions triggered a catastrophic chain of events. The blade's magic and the Waters of Life worked in opposition, creating a relentless cycle of destruction and revival."
Li Lin's voice hardened. "This unleashed the Curse of Ruination, swallowing the Blessed Isles whole. What remained became the Shadow Isles."
For a moment, the weight of the revelation pressed on Sarah like the oppressive mist of the Shadow Isles. She struggled to process it all—the Waters of Life, ancient Camavor, and a curse powerful enough to reshape the world.
"I'm sure you've heard of Thresh and Hecarim," Li Lin continued, his tone sharp. "Thresh was the manipulative fiend who led Viego astray, while Hecarim was the traitor who betrayed Kalista. His treachery transformed her into the specter she is today.
"Now, after a millennium of dormancy, the Ruined King, Viego, is on the brink of returning. He'll wield the Black Mist as his army, scouring the world in search of his wife's soul. And where do you think he'll strike first, Sarah? The place closest to the Shadow Isles, Bilgewater."
Sarah's lips parted, but no words came. Her home. The city she'd sworn to lead into a brighter future. Could she really stand against such devastation?
"Do you have a plan to stop him?" she finally asked, her voice tight. The question had hung heavy in the air since the conversation began.
"That's precisely why I'm here," Li Lin replied. "I intend to go to the Shadow Isles and end the Curse of Ruination at its source."
There was a conviction in his voice that gave Sarah pause. Was he mad, or was there truth in his confidence? Strangely, she found herself wanting to believe him.
Before she could respond, Li Lin glanced at the unconscious Gangplank beside them and added, "As for you, Sarah, it's time to decide when you'll execute Gangplank. And it has to be you who does it."
(End of Chapter)