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Arcane: TTB: Ch. 55
🕑 Added 2025-02-25 22:23:32 +0000 UTCMel sat back down, and with Lester's efforts to warm up the atmosphere, the tension in the meeting room eased. The earlier hostility gradually dissolved into something more productive as everyone settled back into their seats.
From there, the negotiations went smoothly, and both sides reached a consensus on peace.
"Preventing war requires concrete assurances, not just words," Mel stated, her professional composure fully restored as she straightened the papers before her.
"Let's be clear then," Cipher leaned forward. "No economic sanctions against Zaun, and in return—"
"No more Days of Ashes. No more direct attacks on Piltovans," Mel said firmly.
Cipher nodded slowly. "And the trade embargoes? The resource restrictions?"
"I'll work with Professor Heimerdinger to ease them gradually. We'll start with essential medicines and raw materials," Mel replied, making a note in her ledger.
She would work alongside Heimerdinger to prevent the council from inciting war while ensuring that economic sanctions would not be imposed on Zaun. In return, Cipher guaranteed that Zaun would not initiate another Day of Ashes.
"This is progress! True progress!" Heimerdinger exclaimed, his enthusiasm bringing a momentary lightness to the proceedings.
The two leaders stood and shook hands, Cipher's grip firm as he met Mel's eyes.
Mel matched his intensity.
The handshake solidified the path toward peaceful development between Piltover and Zaun. With business concluded, the formal atmosphere began to shift.
"Now that business is concluded, perhaps something more... personal?" Mel suggested, her tone lighter.
Cipher raised an eyebrow. "Personal?"
"Aren't you going to invite me to take a stroll in the Undercity? A tour. After all, I am still one of your investors," Mel said, her request casual but clearly strategic in its timing.
With the meal finished, the meeting concluded, and everything, whether it could be talked about or not, had been discussed. It was time to wrap things up. But for some reason, Mel suddenly had the urge to observe the Undercity firsthand.
She wants to see where the money's going... or she's looking for weaknesses? Either way, better to control what she sees than let her wander alone.
"Well then, what places do you want to visit?" Cipher yawned openly, showing no regard for appearances. He had worked through the night, and exhaustion was catching up to him. However, it wasn't easy to refuse an investor wanting to inspect her investments, especially one who might increase her funding.
At her core, Mel was a good person. The reason she seemed ambiguous was that her stance was always shifting. Born in Noxus, considering herself a Piltover councilor, yet sympathizing with the Undercity...
"Anywhere, just a casual stroll. And in private settings, just call me Mel," she said, her tone much softer than during the negotiations. "The motorbikes the enforcers used to bring us here this morning seemed quite impressive. Can we arrange for one?"
"No problem. The police force keeps spares. I'll have someone send one over," Cipher agreed without hesitation.
"Do you know how to ride one?" Mel suddenly turned to Jayce.
"I can. The controls aren't complicated, I got the hang of it just by looking." Jayce was caught off guard, clearly not expecting the question.
Viktor, who had been quiet during most of the exchange, leaned toward Cipher. "When did he mention that?" he whispered.
"He didn't," Cipher whispered back. "She's good."
Mel nodded, and for the first time, a genuine smile appeared on her lips, satisfaction evident on her face. "Cipher, arrange one for us."
"Got it."
Cipher gave a brief reply, slung Powder from his shoulder, and stepped out. Before long, he returned with an enforcer, each of them riding a motorbike.
"These are the best we have. Just serviced yesterday," the enforcer said with a salute as he dismounted.
"Any special quirks I should know about?" Cipher asked, giving the bikes a quick once-over.
The enforcer grinned. "The left one pulls slightly. Good for sharp turns if you know how to handle it."
The enforcers' bikes had a wild, metallic beast aesthetic, aggressive and imposing. When the throttle was fully engaged, the roaring engine sound made it resemble a steel behemoth.
"The power-to-weight ratio must be impressive," Jayce commented, running his hand along the frame.
"It's not too bad, I guess," Cipher replied with a slight smile.
The enforcer beside him gave him a quick nod before leaving the bike and heading back to work.
"Mel, the wireless communication equipment factory is still under construction. Should we check on the progress first?" Cipher remained seated on his bike.
"I'd prefer something less... rehearsed," Mel said. "Show me Zaun as it is. Let's just wander around first."
She glanced back at Jayce with a playful smile. "It wouldn't be very gentlemanly to let a lady get on by herself, would it, Jayce?"
"You're right," Jayce shrugged, feigning reluctance but clearly amused. "Mel, allow me."
He stepped up to the bike, bowed slightly, and gestured invitingly with a smile.
"Such manners. Piltover's finest, indeed," Mel said with a subtle smile.
Despite his plain clothes, his tall, muscular build, combined with an air of intellect, gave him a refined presence, indeed, quite the gentleman.
It wasn't surprising that Mel had inherited her mother's taste for Piltover delicacies. Jayce certainly had his charms, undeniably attractive.
Accepting the invitation, she let him help her onto the bike.
Cipher watched the two with a strange expression. If they get any sweeter, I might need a dentist.
The sheer amount of romantic tension between them was nauseating, so much so that he could practically smell the sickly sweetness from afar. He had a sneaking suspicion that Mel was just looking for an excuse to get Jayce to take her for a ride.
The motorbike's design matched Noxian aesthetics well, wild and powerful. It made sense that Mel would be interested in trying it out.
"So, shall we head out?" Seeing that both Mel and Jayce were seated, Cipher asked.
"Mm, let's go."
Mel nodded. Her real focus wasn't on the wireless communication factory. What she truly wanted to see was how Cipher managed to keep Zaun's economy running.
Ensuring an entire city could live well was no easy task. Piltover had taken centuries of relentless effort, countless laborers buried beneath its foundations, and an absolute advantage in technology and industry, plus the endless wealth generated by the Sun Gates, to reach its current prosperity.
Zaun, on the other hand, currently had only wireless communication technology and military manufacturing. Relying solely on these two industries to uplift an entire city didn't seem sufficient from her perspective.
Just as Cipher started the motorbike, a familiar voice called out from behind.
"Stop! Scientific observation is essential!" Heimerdinger called out, "Wait for me and Powder!" Small legs moving quickly, he hurried over from The Last Drop, with Powder trailing behind him.
"Ahem, I'll be conducting some on-site inspections today as well. Let's go together." Heimerdinger came to a stop in front of Cipher, hands clasped behind his back, doing his best to maintain a serious, authoritative demeanor.
Powder, clutching her rabbit plushie, hid behind him, who was actually shorter than her, avoiding Cipher's gaze with a somewhat guilty expression.
"Can I come too? Please?" she peeked out from behind the professor, her eyes hopeful.
"Powder, weren't you supposed to be at school today?" Cipher narrowed his eyes. "Shouldn't you be learning your arithmetic?"
"Professor says I'm too advanced for school!" Powder blurted out.
Her guilty look immediately made him suspect that she had skipped school and convinced Heimerdinger to take her out instead. Normally, it would've been Vander accompanying Heimerdinger on these inspections, he was more familiar with Zaun and had the right temperament to interact with the professor.
"Cipher, in my opinion, Powder's talent may surpass even Jayce's," Heimerdinger said. "The child has remarkable aptitude."
"She will be learning directly from me now, so there's no need for her to attend school. Most teachers wouldn't be able to keep up with her anyway."
"I'll be assigning her work during our visit today." Heimerdinger spoke with utmost seriousness.
"Since when did this arrangement—" Cipher began.
"Last night. While you were busy with your, ahem, works," Heimerdinger replied, adjusting his spectacles.
Only then did Cipher realize he had misunderstood. Last night, after convincing Heimerdinger to stay, he had been too busy with work to notice that Powder had become the professor's student.
Given that Heimerdinger had trained Viktor and even Dr. Singed, there was no doubt about his teaching abilities. And compared to the sometimes eerie Singed, Powder clearly preferred Heimerdinger.
There was no reason to refuse such an arrangement.
"Professor, are you saying this kid is more talented than me?" Sitting on his motorbike, Jayce pointed at himself in disbelief.
"Yes. Based on Powder's displayed potential, you were far behind at her age," Heimerdinger said matter-of-factly. "At her age, you were still struggling with basic principles."
"I was self-taught!" Jayce protested.
"Precisely my point," Heimerdinger nodded sagely. "Perhaps Viktor may surpass Powder, but at this stage of his life, he hadn't yet entered Piltover Academy, so I can't say for certain."
Jayce was visibly shaken.
His habit of self-admiration had largely developed because he never had a peer who could match him growing up. Now, hearing his own mentor claim that his new student was even more talented than he was, it was an odd feeling.
"Alright, hop on." Cipher had no interest in Jayce's internal struggles. Without hesitation, he scooped up both Heimerdinger and Powder in one fluid motion, swiftly placing them on the motorbike before revving the engine.
"Hold tight, Professor," Cipher warned. "These bikes don't ride like your Academy chairs."
He revved the engine, the mechanical beast roaring to life beneath them. Looking back at Jayce, he nodded toward the streets of Zaun.
"Jayce, let's go. Take Councilor Medarda for a ride through the Undercity, show her a different kind of scenery."
