"Truly, the best tool for travel, home defense, and if need be, robbery and murder!"
Duke's voice, amplified by the loudspeaker, echoed endlessly through the arena. Meanwhile, Rex, the warrior from Lokfar, lay sprawled on the ground, eyes rolled white, unconscious.
For a long moment, the entire audience fell into the greatest silence since the arena's opening.
Gradually, the spectators began to recover their senses. Someone muttered under their breath, "This is supposed to be a preliminary duel for the Glory Tournament, right?"
"Why does it feel more like a salesman's pitch?"
"Exactly, isn't this the first time in history someone's used the arena to sell something?"
"What the hell did he just do?"
"How is that supposed to be a fair and honorable duel?"
"Where's the referee?"
"Referee! Where are you?!"
"This isn't honorable combat, it's the disgraceful brawl of a lowlife!"
"That's right, it's a mockery of our honor!"
"Why was someone like him even allowed on stage?"
"Yeah! Exactly!"
...
In an instant, noise exploded across the arena like a tidal wave, everyone shouting for Duke to get lost.
Duke just rolled his eyes. The rules clearly stated: aside from magical weapons, there was no restriction on what equipment could appear on stage, as long as it wasn't lethally dangerous.
There had even been contestants wielding crossbows before, though those bolts always had their arrowheads removed.
But shields and hammers like the ones Duke was using? That was definitely a first in the arena's history.
"Alright, everyone!"
Duke raised his hammer and shield high. The spectators fell silent again, curious to hear what nonsense he would say next.
"If you'd like to make a purchase, head to Piltover's new shop in the capital! Genuine products only, the first hundred customers get a discount, and right now, every order comes with a complimentary maintenance kit!"
His voice boomed through the arena. Lux buried her face in her hands, unable to bear watching any longer.
No wonder Duke had looked so calm, he'd planned this all along.
He was turning the Glory Tournament into his own personal trade fair.
So that's what he meant by advertising back then...
"Looks like your teacher just made history," Vayne sneered, her voice dripping with mockery as she teased the girl beside her.
"He's not usually like this," Lux protested weakly. "He's a good man!"
"Really? Because right now, he doesn't look anything like the man you've been describing."
Vayne pointed at Duke down in the arena. Lux sighed helplessly, unable to argue further.
"He must have planned this from the start..."
By now, the referee had stepped in, calling for attendants to carry off the injured warrior. Duke was soon escorted out of the arena as well. Lux rose quickly to her feet, telling Vayne, "Sorry, I'll take my leave."
Vayne shook her head at Lux's hurried departure. She brushed her fingers over the web-launcher strapped to her wrist, thinking back to the trouble Duke's exoskeleton invention had caused in Demacia when it was first introduced.
Suddenly, she understood. Duke wasn't just making a scene. He was using this very public stage to strike back, boldly and deliberately, at those who had resisted him.
In other words, he was slapping their faces in front of everyone.
"Tch. Childish man."
Vayne shook her head and left her seat. There was no more reason to stay.
Inside the mediation chamber.
Lux arrived to find the arena's overseer seated before Duke, face twisted in fury.
"Do you understand the damage your actions could bring to our arena?"
"Do you realize the stain you've left on our reputation?"
"That wasn't even a duel!"
"Your behavior is no different from a coward's!"
Sir Zemo slammed the table, eyes blazing with anger.
Lux entered just in time to witness the scene. She froze in surprise, but the moment Zemo saw her, he too froze, then quickly rose from his seat and bowed deeply.
"Lady Luxanna! An honor to see you!"
Anyone who met Lux once would never forget her, especially since she was the direct daughter of the Crownguard family, her presence brighter than any noble's.
Zemo had seen her once at a banquet. Of course he remembered.
"Good evening, Sir Zemo."
Lux curtsied gracefully. Zemo, still bowing, asked instinctively, "Might I ask what brings you here today?"
"I came for my teacher."
Lux gestured toward Duke. Duke extended a hand with a smile.
"Hello. I'm Duke Sanchez, from Piltover."
"You may not recognize the name," Duke went on, grin widening, "but let me put it another way, I'm the inventor of the exoskeleton. Yes, that craftsman your Demacia has been so proudly rejecting and scorning."
The words rejecting and scorning carried a sharp bite. Duke's expression was calm, even cheerful, but the meaning behind his smile was razor-edged.
Zemo instantly understood why Duke dared to act with such arrogance.
Lux's teacher alone was status enough to be welcomed into Demacia's upper circle. But more than that, he was the father of the exoskeleton.
Today wasn't about a duel at all. This was retaliation. A public reckoning aimed squarely at those who had spurned and ridiculed him.
Duke leaned forward, voice steady:
"You can report this up the chain if you like. If your people forbid me from selling here, then I'll fight my way to the finals with my fists, and when I get there, we'll see just how much your so-called warriors' 'honor' is worth."
Zemo's face stiffened.
Of course he knew why the nobles had resisted the exoskeleton.
Because it was too good. Once it hit the market, it left no space for traditional armor.
And now the inventor himself was demanding an answer.
If they allowed him to continue, the crowd might hate it, but if they stopped him, and he really did smash his way to the finals, then he'd be humiliating all of Demacia's nobility before the entire realm.
Zemo didn't dare imagine it further.
Better to let him make a fool of himself now than risk him tearing the mask off later.
"Am I free to leave now?"
Duke smiled at Zemo. The man nodded almost involuntarily. What choice did he have? If High Marshal Tianna Crownguard herself came demanding an explanation later, he'd be the one in trouble.
"Of course. Safe travels!"
The once-proud Zemo was now all humble politeness as he escorted Duke out. He even turned to Lux with a bow. "Goodbye, Lady Lux."
"My apologies for the trouble my teacher caused you, Sir Zemo."
"It's quite alright," Zemo said aloud, though inside he was bleeding. This disaster was now dumped on his lap, and if he mishandled it, his career might be over.
No, he had to push it upward. This was well above his pay grade.
As soon as Duke and Lux left the chamber, Zemo hurried away to find his superiors.
Outside, Duke and Lux rode back to the Crownguard estate in a carriage, with Ang pulling the reins.
"Teacher, how could you act so recklessly?" Lux huffed.
Duke chuckled. "Lux, just because I don't cause trouble doesn't mean I'm afraid of it. They've mocked me long enough. Do you expect me to keep enduring it?"
"And besides, if I knew and still refused to strike back, then anyone would think they could step all over me."
He had long decided that once he learned of Demacia's disdain for his craft, he would repay it in kind. Today's stunt was just the beginning.
If they barred him from selling in the arena, then he'd fight his way to the finals.
After all, ever since drinking Uroa's potion, his physique was already nearing that of the Ascended. With his current strength, he could practically shatter the arena with a single punch.
No matter how they chose to handle him, Duke would slap their faces one way or another.
Mock me if you want, but drag my work through the mud, and I will never forgive you.
Just then, as Ang steered them forward, a deafening explosion shook the street ahead.
Flames erupted, rolling across the cobblestones, thick smoke billowing toward the sky.
"What happened?!"
Lux's face went pale. Duke's gaze hardened, his ever-present cicada automaton springing into action.
With one blink of his left eye, he saw: not far ahead, a man clutching a blazing fireball, shielding a mother and daughter as he shouted furiously at two Mageseekers.
The enforcers exchanged glances, then moved to flank him. One lunged from the left, the other darted toward the mother and child.
The man roared, detonating the fireball in his hands. The blast swept outward, engulfing the two Mageseekers. He shouted over his shoulder, "Run! I'll hold them off!"
"Go! Now!"
The mother clutched her daughter and fled through the smoke, straight toward Duke's carriage. The man, meanwhile, turned back to face his pursuers.
But before he could gather another fireball, a Mageseeker's staff smashed down on his skull.
With a sickening crack, his head burst like a melon, blood mist spraying the air.
The Mageseeker turned, eyes locking on the fleeing mother and child, and gave chase.
"Duke, what's happening?!" Lux's voice trembled.
"They're hunting a mage."
At that, Lux went white. She was a mage herself, seeing Mageseekers in action filled her with dread.
"Don't worry," Duke said firmly. "They won't lay a hand on you."
Just then, the mother and daughter stumbled into their path, the Mageseeker right behind. His staff swung down toward the woman's head.
Duke's brow furrowed. In a flash, he vanished from the carriage and reappeared behind them, his hand clamping down on the staff like an iron vise.
"I'd say killing one man is enough. Do you really have to slaughter them all, down to the last? What about the child? Are you planning to leave her scarred for life?"
His voice carried a sharp edge of warning as his grip crushed the Mageseeker's weapon.
End of chapter....
IRONBOUND PATRON
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