-118- The empire arrives

On December 29th, with only three days left until the year 985, in the late night at the Ferros Manor, all the family spies gathered in front of Stevan.

A total of 122 people, while the original number of Ferros family spies was 123. But now, Camille, the chief spy of the Ferros family, is missing.

In the early morning hours, Stevan, holding a scepter, stood in place and spoke to the assembled people: "Your task is simple."

"The gatekeepers will let you in, and what you need to do is control the Hex gate and accept the Imperial troops from Noxus. I've already contacted the leader."

Stevan recalled Boklan's words, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Go, I hope you won't disappoint me."

Stevan raised the scepter with both hands and lightly tapped the blue bricks.

No one answered Stevan's words. They proved their loyalty to the Ferros family through their actions.

In just a while, only the old butler remained in front of Stevan.

The other 122 people—all gone!

---

"Why aren't you sleeping yet?"

Mel sat up and looked at Jayce, who was sitting on the edge of the bed. Mel's face showed a puzzled expression.

"Jayce, it's already very late."

"Sorry, Mel, did I wake you up?" Seeing that he startled Mel, Jayce immediately apologized.

Then, Jayce covered his face and said in a low voice, "I can't sleep, Mel. I always feel that something bad is about to happen. I have this premonition."

"Jayce, don't think too much. You're just under a lot of pressure recently."

Mel also sat up, wearing a silk nightgown. Her exquisite figure faintly revealed itself in the moonlight, shining on Mel's black and skin, showing a different kind of beauty.

She reached out and touched Jayce's broad back, softly saying, "You must rest well, Jayce. If you continue like this, you'll exhaust yourself."

"I know. But, Mel, I can't. I have to be responsible for Piltover."

Seeing Jayce still wanting to argue, Mel stared at him with a displeased look. Under Mel's gaze, Jayce quickly smiled, then turned around and hugged Mel forcefully. Jayce nodded and said, "I understand. I'll sleep now."

"Come here." Mel beckoned to Jayce and lightly patted her voluptuous thigh with the other hand.

Jayce coughed and looked up at Mel's eyes, whispering, "Let's not..."

"Come here!"

Mel repeated, emphasizing her tone.

Jayce immediately obediently approached and then laid his head on Mel's thighs.

Mel extended her hands, gently massaging Jayce's temples, while looking down into his eyes.

"Friends betray you, the council resists you, Jayce, do you really think everything you're doing is right?"

Mel asked Jayce.

Jayce opened up to her, and now, she opened up to Jayce.

Clearly, as a member of the Medarda family, she shouldn't be doing this. It's not something a Medarda family member should do. Mel should be a Noxian who is ruthless, cold-blooded, and willing to give up everything for the sake of interests.

But that's wrong.

Mel had this idea when she was very young.

Now, looking at Jayce in front of her, Mel was even more convinced.

It was wrong!

She and Jayce might have started for political reasons, using her body to entice Jayce, a political marriage.

But now, she had to admit, she had fallen for Jayce.

So, she didn't want Jayce to be under so much pressure, and she didn't want Jayce to be sad.

"I don't know either, but Mel, am I useless? I want to help my friends, so I offend the council, I want to change the lives of Piltover people, so I offend the nobles."

Jayce looked into Mel's eyes, "You told me to befriend them, and I want everything, but I haven't been able to grasp anything."

Mel silently looked at him, "."

"You haven't done anything wrong, Jayce."

"Really?"

"Of course, your intentions are good." Mel softly said.

She gently pressed around Jayce's eye corners, and Jayce closed his eyes, enjoying it.

The atmosphere gradually became warm. Just when Jayce felt a bit drowsy, the silk curtain blocking the outside suddenly emitted a bright blue light.

"Jayce!"

Mel squinted at the blue light outside the window and immediately woke Jayce up.

Jayce also saw it. He got out of bed, pulled open the window, and looked out.

Then Jayce saw airships, numerous giant airships. The exact number couldn't be discerned in the dark night, but Jayce vaguely felt there were about eight or nine.

"Who? Who activated the Hex gate controller? I've already ordered to close the Hex gates!"

"Quick, Mel, we need to go."

In a panic, Jayce turned around, only to see Mel already dressed, looking at him.

Jayce took the clothes and quickly got dressed, while Mel also put on her regular attire.

She gave up wearing jewelry, put on her shoes, and before leaving, Jayce grabbed a hammer from the corner of the room.

The two rushed towards the Piltover's tech district.

At this time, many people in Piltover saw the blue light.

Taking advantage of the blue light, they saw the appearance of numerous massive airships in the sky above Piltover.

In an ordinary household in Piltover, a pretty girl with pink long hair was just preparing to sleep when she was awakened by the noisy sound around her.

Frightened, she sat up, clutching the corners of the blanket. Dressed in pink pajamas, she looked up at the ceiling—or rather, not the ceiling but the sky beyond it.

The sound was coming from there!

"Is it you? Have your people come?"

At the moment when the Hextech device hanging by her ear lit up, Seraphine heard many voices.

Anger, darkness.... Blood.

Invasion, conquest, and slaughter sounds entered her mind. The brutal and ruthless negative emotions made Seraphine break out in a cold sweat.

She immediately muttered to herself, "Not your people?"

"Then who is it?"

---

In the Undercity of Zaun, Kaisa, who was eating something on the balcony, raised her head. She saw a blue light over the topside, but she didn't pay it much attention.

She had gotten used to seeing the occasional blue light from above.

Kaisa also knew what those blue lights represented.

It was the Hex gate.

But what puzzled Kaisa was that this seemed to be the only time the blue light had lit up at night recently?

---

At one in the morning, Stevan put on a windproof coat and, accompanied by household staff, arrived at the airship center.

With a smile on his face, Stevan looked at the airships in the sky.

Then Stevan's smile immediately froze.

In front of him, a total of thirteen airships had appeared.

However, the focus was not on the number; the crucial point was that each airship had armored soldiers standing on them, holding long or short weapons.

These soldiers exuded a powerful aura. The first person to descend, over two meters tall, carrying a short hammer, looked at Stevan.

He sneered and squeezed out a voice from his throat, "Ferros?"

"Yes, it's me."

Stevan looked at the soldiers and his face turned ashen.

Upon seeing these soldiers, Stevan already knew what was happening.

He didn't see Viscount Boklan. 

Moreover, Stevan was well aware that Viscount Boklan had no authority to command such an army. Viscount Boklan could have at most fewer than a hundred private soldiers. 

However, what Stevan now faced was a powerful legion. Now, as Stevan looked at them, was he thinking of taking out tigers and devouring wolves? 

No, he was dragged into the whirlpool he created.