Lester stayed in the office assigned to him by Cipher, handling official matters.
The Noxian military had completed all preparations for the campaign against Shurima, and the army had already set sail with the fleet. He tapped his finger on a document showing the loading schedules.
The frontline commander was none other than his mentor, Swain.
Piltover and Zaun had been designated as a crucial logistics and supply hub, and Lester was making early arrangements. His eyes scanned the inventory lists, calculating what would be needed for a sustained campaign in the desert lands.
Beep. Beep.
The wireless communication device hanging from his waist lit up with a red indicator, emitting a loud alert.
With a wave of his hand, the guards stationed in the office for his protection immediately understood, stepping out of the room and standing guard at the door, allowing no one to approach.
"You're looking for me?"
Lester took out the device, ensuring there were no eavesdroppers around before pressing the answer button and speaking with respect. His posture straightened automatically, which was a habit formed from years under Swain's tutelage.
"Lester, we have a problem."
Swain's deep, magnetic voice carried no discernible emotion.
"Is it about the campaign? Has there been resistance?" Lester asked, his mind already calculating possible scenarios.
"The campaign proceeds as expected. This is a different matter altogether."
But Lester understood his mentor's nature, if Swain was saying this, it was no small trouble.
"What happened? Are the old nobles joining forces to deliberately hinder you in the military?"
His first instinct was that the old aristocrats were trying to sabotage Swain as he prepared to open the southern front.
"They don't have that capability. At most, those parasites can only delay military supplies."
Swain's tone was full of disdain. The outdated nobles of Noxus, in his view, were nothing but foolish leeches, not worth mentioning.
"Then what could possibly warrant your direct attention during a military campaign?" Lester pressed, concern growing in his voice.
Swain's voice lowered. "A ghost from Noxus' past. One I thought long buried."
"The ones behind the recent attack on Cipher was Camille Ferros. The force backing her hides within Noxus' shadows."
Swain's calm words sent a jolt through Lester.
"Ferros? But she's merely a Piltover enforcer. Her technology is impressive, but hardly a threat to Noxus," Lester replied. He was quite confused why his mentor would regard someone from Piltover as a threat.
"It's not her technology that concerns me. It's who guides her actions."
"You believe someone is using her as a proxy."
What kind of power could be behind Camille that even his mentor regarded with such caution?
And more importantly, what qualified Camille to be a part of such a force?
"After the incident, I thoroughly investigated the Clan Ferros. The only thing I found was their business partnership with the House Medarda in Piltover. Their influence can only be considered average."
"Besides Camille, there are no other remarkable figures in the family."
"With such a background, they wouldn't even be noteworthy in Noxus. Why would they be favored by such a difficult force?"
"And you found nothing unusual in their rise to prominence?" Swain questioned.
"Their wealth accumulated gradually over generations. No sudden influxes of capital, no suspicious acquisitions."
Lester was puzzled. He acknowledged Camille's combat prowess, but when analyzed thoroughly, it was nothing exceptional.
"Even as a combatant, she is merely specialized. Her augmentations make her formidable in single combat, but her tactical versatility is limited."
"And that assumption is exactly why she has remained effective. Her value lies not in what she is, but in what she represents."
As a warrior, her abilities were difficult to coordinate with large-scale legion charges. As an assassin, Noxus had plenty of better assassins.
Her energy shield was useful, but the Noxian battle mages were far superior.
Stronger than some, weaker than many.
In his understanding, Swain's power should have been more than enough to crush such an insignificant threat.
"You still have a lot to learn, Lester. Your intelligence is flawed. What you uncovered is only what the Clan Ferros wanted you to see."
Lester leaned forward. "How deeply have I been misled?"
"It could be worse. In reality, the true rulers of Piltover are not the House Medarda as you assumed, but the Clan Ferros."
"I personally discussed this matter with Ambessa. Before Camille emerged, Ambessa had never even heard of her existence."
"How is that possible? A warrior of her caliber..." Lester couldn't hide his surprise.
"Was kept hidden. A weapon undrawn retains the element of surprise. But after she appeared, Ambessa's daughter lost control over Piltover."
"The actual ruler of a city-state, especially Piltover, the center of global trade, that status alone is enough to warrant membership in a secret organization."
Lester's pupils contracted. Swain's words made him realize he had made a fatal mistake, underestimating the Clan Ferros. And in Noxus, that kind of mistake could be deadly.
"What makes Cipher so valuable that Camille would expose herself after remaining hidden for so long?" Lester asked.
"It's not just the boy. It's what he represents, a Zaun that no longer needs Piltover."
"A Zaun that could become a power in its own right. And that threatens the Clan Ferros' control," Lester said, the pieces suddenly falling into place.
"It threatens far more than that. It threatens an equilibrium carefully maintained for generations." This was Swain's way of warning him.
"Based on your intelligence, I reviewed a large amount of military records and discovered multiple individuals similar to Camille, executing secret missions under orders from the military."
"They were expertly disguised, but upon closer inspection, I found that all the paperwork had been retroactively processed."
"When I decided to wage war on Piltover to send a message to Zaun, several nobles jointly pleaded for the Clan Ferros."
"On the surface, these nobles acted out of self-interest, but I can see that an invisible hand is pulling them into a unified interest group."
"All signs indicate that Camille is working for a secret organization within Noxus itself, one that has spread its influence into every corner of the empire. And this reminds me of an organization I once personally uprooted."
"The Black Rose."
Swain had once stumbled upon a secret society known as the Black Rose, which had been working in the shadows to overthrow Noxus.
Enraged, he followed the clues, unraveling the web step by step until he hunted down every member of the organization, including its leader, known as the Pale Lady, and had them all executed.
Among those he eliminated was his own adoptive mother.
"I thought I had torn out the roots. It seems I merely pruned the visible growth, allowing the underground network to flourish unseen."
"If they've survived all this time without detection..."
"Then they are far more dangerous than I initially believed. And far more patient in their ambitions."
"What should I do?" Lester drew in a sharp breath. This was a game played at a level far beyond his reach. He had no place meddling in something this dangerous.
"Nothing directly against the Black Rose. That would be suicide."
"I've already sent an official diplomatic letter from Noxus to both Piltover and Zaun. If the Clan Ferros has any sense, they won't give me another chance to act against them. But there are always fools who can't read the situation. Your task is to watch those fools, make sure they don't act stupidly again."
"Before I arrive, you only need to focus on one thing: protect Cipher."
Swain's voice remained calm, as if he had already accounted for everything.
"You're coming here yourself?" Lester's tone carried a hint of excitement. "The troops will be honored by your presence."
With Swain present, the burden on his shoulders would be much lighter. He wouldn't have to spend every day worrying about someone scheming against him.
"A clumsy player has invited me to a grand game. A game without surprises would be too dull. But she has piqued my interest."
"She chose Piltover. I chose Zaun."
"On the surface, she holds the stronger hand, but she has the mindset of a small-time schemer. She won't accomplish anything significant. That gives us a higher chance of winning."
"A bit disappointing, but a worthy opponent is rare."
Lester could picture Swain shaking his head as he spoke, a mixture of amusement and disdain in his expression.
Even though Swain called his opponent clumsy, Lester knew the truth, there were very few people in the world capable of playing against him. For someone to even be acknowledged as his opponent meant they were already formidable.
"I have high hopes for Zaun's potential. In that young man, Cipher, I see something new. Many of his policies are worth experimenting with."
"But the reality is, they are too weak. They need protection. I've requested reinforcements from General Darius."
Swain shifted the topic slightly, as if casually mentioning another matter.
He saw great talent in Cipher, but talent alone wasn't enough, without the strength to protect himself, another assassination attempt could easily end him. And so, Swain arranged for a bodyguard.
"Did General Darius send that one to help? Draven?" Lester asked curiously. He knew Swain wasn't blaming him for anything. After all, in Swain's eyes, Lester had never been expected to be a powerful warrior.
Failing to protect Cipher wasn't considered a failure on his part.
"Draven would only make things worse."
"Then who? Not Darius himself...?"
"Darius is needed at the front. No, this requires someone with both martial skill and political acumen."
"Who, then?"
"It's Darius' adjutant, Quiletta."