"Teacher..." Lester's tongue was tied.
He couldn't believe what he saw, but his eyes couldn't deceive him. The whirlwind in Swain's palm confirmed his identity.
He is the leader and the rebel of the empire!
The great commander of Noxus actually took the lead in rebelling against Noxus!
"Wait..." Lester thought of a terrible thing: "What about General Darius?"
Swain said, "Darius is the vice president of the Noxian branch of the Wind Leader Association."
Lester: “…”
His head was buzzing.
How is this possible! How is this possible!
Swain and Darius were already the de facto "emperors and vice-emperors" of the empire, so why would they rebel against themselves? Lester couldn't understand or imagine it at all.
Wait, could it be...
"Is this part of the plan?" A glimmer of hope flashed in Lester's eyes.
"Grand Commander Swain, have you found a way to crack the Wind Leader's faith test?"
Swain must have found a way to disintegrate the Wind Leader Association from within, so he took the initiative to join the Wind Leader and save Nuo in a roundabout way!
This claim is baseless. But Lester prefers to believe it.
“Lester…” Swain looked at him disappointedly. “Can’t you understand a true leader?”
"I have been asking you to read books for the past few months. Don't you have any progress in your thinking?"
Lester was speechless.
It's over, Swain has really surrendered.
He actually gave up the power of "Emperor", the wealth of the country, and the admiration and worship of hundreds of millions of subjects!
He thought he understood his teacher, but Swain, as an idealist, was even more "crazy" than he imagined.
"Wait, you said before..." Lester then remembered with a sense of fear that Swain had been recommending the Leader's theoretical books to his subordinates, confidants, students and former employees under the banner of "cultivating mental immunity" for a few months ago.
He felt something was wrong at the time:
This kind of book can help cultivate mental immunity for those high-ranking generals of the empire who have opposing positions and conflicting interests with the Leader.
But if we promote it to those middle and lower-level officers who are already dissatisfied with the current state of the empire and feel frustrated, or even to the lower-level soldiers who are tortured and eager for change, wouldn't that be helping them get closer to the leaders?
Now it seems...
“I’m just giving you a chance to improve.” Swain said meaningfully, “In the past few months, many officers have caught up with me.”
"But unfortunately, you are not among them."
"I..." A thin layer of cold sweat broke out on Lester's forehead.
He could hear the hidden meaning in these words. Swain had become the leader, but he stood firmly against the leader.
The Wind Leader attached great importance to the purity of the team. Even if a person without faith like him joined the Wind Leader's team, even if he followed a big man like Swain, he would never be able to get into the Wind Leader's team.
So, what should he do in the future?
"Teacher." Lester tried to calm down and asked tentatively, "What plans do you have for me in the future?"
“ Do your part first ,” Swain said. “The territory of the Noxian Empire is too vast and the situation is too complicated. Until the Wind Leader has the administrative power to transform the entire Noxus, the old order of the Empire still needs to continue to exist.”
"So, you should work hard for the next two years. Then..."
"In consideration of your contribution to the peaceful liberation of Noxus," Swain said bluntly, "I will ask the organization to pardon your past crimes, retain a certain amount of property, and let you live comfortably as a wealthy man in the Immortal Bastion."
Retiring as a wealthy man, enjoying his old age, and spending the rest of his life in peace and security seems to be a good ending.
But Lester still felt unwilling instinctively.
Pardon his crime? What crime did he commit!
Killing people, massacring cities, and using young soldiers? As a general of the Noxian Empire, he was just doing his job!
Retain a certain level of property?
All these properties were earned with his life! This is all his money, his money!
The leader took away 70% without any explanation. Should he thank the leader?
Finally, be a rich man?
What's the point of just being a rich man, let alone being a rich man under the rule of a leader!
The happiness of the rich never comes directly from money, but from the indescribable pleasure of being above the masses brought by money and power.
What he enjoyed was that funny performance where the lower class people would show humility and flattery on their faces when they saw him, calling him "master" and "servant" all the time, and wag their tails to fawn on him like dogs, just to get a bone as a reward.
Although this was what Lester hated most when he was a teenager.
But he had been an officer for so many years that he had become addicted to the poison of power and was completely unable to extricate himself.
But in the territory of the leader, this kind of thing does not exist.
Goddess Gana brought equality of personality to everyone. The workers there dared to stand up straight in front of the business owners and talk and laugh with the senior executives of the leaders.
This is something that the Noxians, who believe in the law of the jungle and hierarchy, cannot tolerate!
“Lester?” Swain frowned slightly. “You seem… not very satisfied?”
"I..." Lester suddenly came back to his senses. He knew he couldn't hide it, so he could only clench his fists and grit his teeth and said, "Yes. The student is a little unwilling."
"This is normal." Swain also considerately considered the students' psychological problems.
Suddenly falling from the front two rows of the parliament to the common people, they must have felt a huge psychological gap.
And Swain's solution is: "Bear with it."
His voice was cold.
Students are close to him, but those who cannot fight with him to the end are not his students.
"In short, don't do stupid things. Otherwise, you won't even be rich anymore."
"..." Lester was silent for a while: "Yes!"
"Very good." Swain said calmly, "Go back, Lester. We have another play to finish tomorrow."
"Yes, teacher." Lester took heavy steps and slowly turned and left.
Swain stared at his back with deep eyes, watching him walk out of the palace.
"Do you need me to monitor him?" The red-eyed crow spoke in human language.
"Yeah." Swain nodded.
"Are you worried that he will betray me?" Crow tilted his head.
“No, just to be on the safe side.” Swain shook his head: “Lester is a smart man. He understands the current situation. But the future… is hard to say.”
"We will have no enemies in the future," Crow said. "LeBlanc will be defeated by us. And after her, no one in Noxus will be able to stop us."
“Perhaps,” Swain sighed.
"You know what? I gave them a few months to learn the theories of the Wind Leader. But among the many officers who chose to change, except Darius, no one was a senior general of the Empire."
“It’s really hard to get people to revolutionize themselves.”
There are many people like Lester in the Noxus Empire.
It is impossible to clear out these people in a short time. The Leader does not have the ability to take over Noxus, and they still need these old bureaucrats to maintain the stability and order of this huge country.
Runeland is so vast and mysterious. After Leblanc, the Wind Leader may not encounter stronger and more terrifying enemies.
By then, what choice will the “Leicesters” make?
Swain felt lost for a moment. He looked at the sign on his desk, which was a photo of him as a mentor at the Imperial Military Academy, with students in the advanced officer training class.
The dozens of people in the photo have now become independent senior generals of the empire.
And now...
Swain looked around at the empty room.
The only one who could accompany him was the devil.
"Our battle is not over yet." Swain looked out the window at the back of Lester walking out of the palace: "I hope they can always be on the right side."
…
The next day, at the Immortal Bastion, the Trifaree Council meeting place.
The regular meeting was held as usual. Swain sat at the head of the table, with Darius sitting beside him. Lester, Amistan and other generals who attended the meeting sat on both sides, quietly waiting for the meeting to begin.
Everything was normal, but the atmosphere was extremely subtle.
Because everyone knows that today is the day Swain will announce his mysterious plan to deal with the threat of the Wind Leader.
So, when the meeting started, the generals' eyes were fixed on Swain. Everyone was waiting for him to speak and say the words everyone wanted to hear: "Declare war on the Wind Leader."
However……
“Let’s get started.” Swain spoke, but what he said was: “Let’s continue with yesterday’s topic and discuss the phased demobilization and resettlement of the Ionian front after withdrawing to the mainland.”
"This..." There was an uproar at the meeting.
No! Swain still refuses to reveal his plan!
It has been delayed for two months. How long does he want to delay it?
The generals were all excited, but they were all intimidated by Swain's majesty and did not dare to stand up and question him.
Then, everyone looked at Darius.
"That..." Amystan clenched her fists secretly, and mustered up the courage to say, "General Darius, don't you have something to say to everyone at the meeting?"
She didn't want to be the first to do something, but she knew very well that there was no turning back once she embarked on this path.
They have been colluding secretly behind Swain's back. If they don't take advantage of the situation now, they will be exposed to Swain sooner or later and be liquidated one by one by this iron-fisted commander-in-chief.
So Amistan stood up and petitioned Darius on behalf of everyone.
"Yes, I do have something to say." Everyone was relieved that General Darius did stand up in time as agreed.
"Commander Swain!" Darius' face was stern.
Although he looks like a reckless man, a big fool whose IQ drops to zero when he is filled with blood and rage.
But he was able to rise from a small soldier to a general of the empire, and even to the lofty position of Marshal of the Northern Theater. In addition to his absolute personal strength, he also had the acting skills that were essential to the political arena.
Just like now.
Darius's face was livid, as if he was suppressing his endless dissatisfaction. "Captain Swain, didn't you promise a month ago that you would announce your plan to deal with the threat of the Wind Leader today?"
"Everyone is eagerly waiting for your answer, why are you avoiding talking about it?"
"Yes!" Amystan also took the risk.
She echoed, "The rapid development of the Leaders has caused collective panic in the imperial army. If we don't give them some reassurance, then..."
"So what?" Swain looked over coldly.
"I..." Amystan was so frightened by this look that she couldn't open her mouth.
Fortunately, Darius stood in front: "Soldiers are simple people, born to serve their country. General Amistan's words may be a little troublesome, but she said it for the future of Noxus."
"Captain Swain, please tell us when we can launch a decisive battle against the Wind Leader!"
With this Noxian hand leading everyone to victory, the war-seeking generals who were already eager to make a move finally spoke up in unison.
Swain just watched their performance quietly.
When the atmosphere gradually cooled down from the oppression, he slowly stood up from his chair and looked down at the whole audience: "Answer my question just now - if I don't declare war on the leader today, what will happen?"
The atmosphere suddenly became extremely tense.
Amystan and the others did not dare to answer, so they looked at Darius for help.
"General Swain, please follow the will of the people..." Darius seemed to want to persuade him again.
But Swain was adamant and refused to give in.
"Brothers can't wait any longer. Today, you must give us an explanation!" Darius quietly raised his voice.
The generals present instinctively tensed their bodies, nervously observing the situation which was getting increasingly out of control.
“I refuse.” Swain only gave this brief and indifferent answer.
"Your Excellency the Commander-in-Chief!" Everyone stood up.
“What do you want to do?” Swain narrowed his eyes. “Fight here?”
"Why, is the Immortal Fortress a gangster's lair?"
The generals were nervous and once again collectively looked at their backbone, General Darius.
Finally, Darius stood up, picked up the giant axe beside him, and cast his gaze towards the shadows deep in the palace:
"Captain Swain, all we want is an answer."
"You forced us to do this."
As soon as the words fell, a graceful figure slowly walked out of the shadows.
Leblanc emerged from the darkness holding a staff, with two sealed crystal bottles, one black and one red, floating beside her.
The lid of the crystal bottle has been opened, and the flames and shadows sealed inside are all surging out of the bottle mouth in the terrifying fluctuations of magic power, and each of them faintly condenses into the outline of an ancient demon in the air.
One is a ball of fire with countless arms.
The other was a dark shadow shrouded in black mist.
Fire Demon and Shadow Demon - Leblanc showed her trump card right from the start.
"What about you, Lord Commander Swain?" LeBlanc walked to Darius and looked at Swain with a smile. "Where is your trump card that even the Wind Leader can ignore?"
"Please take it out— "
"Otherwise, we can only use this rude way to ask you to fulfill your promise."
Swain was silent for a while. At first glance, he seemed shocked by the situation.
But faced with this desperate situation of being abandoned by his friends and surrounded by enemies, he was not nervous at all.
He neither responded to Leblanc nor fled in panic. He just stayed where he was with a calm expression and looked at everyone present: "It seems that you have made your choice."
"Grand Commander/Teacher..." Wherever Swain looked, he saw the generals' conflicted, guilty but unrepentant eyes.
The generals all sided with LeBlanc and Darius and challenged him.
“So…” Swain finally asked, “You chose the Black Rose, and you don’t plan to come back, right?”
Amystan and the others did not dare to answer, but their firm steps in standing still had already made their position clear. They had made their choice and there was no turning back.
"Well then." Swain snorted coldly, "If that's the case, don't blame me for being ruthless."
"The Black Rose's forces must be completely eliminated today." He looked at Leblanc, then at the generals present: "Including you."
"This..." These words aroused panic in everyone's hearts.
Now Admiral Darius has made it clear that all of them are on the same side, plus LeBlanc and the two ancient demons... Swain is here all alone, so theoretically he should have no chance of a comeback.
But he remained so calm.
Why?
Could it be that... he really has some hidden trump card that he hasn't revealed yet?
The speculation that had been gradually shattered by anxiety and suspicion in the past two months, as well as their fear of Swain, was rekindled at this moment and burned fiercely in the hearts of the generals.
“Swain, don’t be so mysterious.” Leblanc said grimly, “If you have any tricks, just use them!”
"Heh." Swain said coldly, "Don't worry, you won't be disappointed today."
"I let you go last time. This time, you should pay the price for what you did before - what you did to my family, my friend Darkwell, to those imperial soldiers who died in vain in Presidium, and to this empire!"
"..." Leblanc frowned.
Oops, the worst has happened.
Swain really had some incredible hidden card. But he was not in a hurry to deal with the Wind Leader, but instead prioritized to settle accounts with her.
After all, there was both national hatred and family feud between her and Swain. It was normal for this man not to let her go.
Sure enough, Swain said, "The one standing in front of me now should be your real body, right?"
"Except for your original body, I'm afraid no other clone has the ability to control both the Fire Demon and the Shadow Demon at the same time."
Leblanc's heart sank.
Yes, this is her true self. In order to fight Swain, she had to take this risk.
But from Swain's tone, she couldn't hear any fear of the Fire Demon and the Shadow Demon.
Damn... What trump card does he have that makes him so arrogant?
Apart from the three demons, there shouldn't be any other powerful treasures in the Immortal Fortress!
Could it be that Swain secretly contacted Mordekaiser in the underworld, or found a Darkin, a Protoss, or some other powerful backer?
Or was he just bluffing? But at this point, what was the point of playing the empty city trick?
LeBlanc couldn't figure it out.
But from Swain's cold and confident face, LeBlanc had already seen the worst outcome: she would fail.
Those who are disloyal and collude with her will be eliminated one by one by Swain in this "loyalty test".
And she would fall into endless pain and torture because of the blood feud between her and Swain.
"Okay..." But LeBlanc didn't back down.
She took a deep breath, a hint of determination in her eyes: "Swain, show us what you have!"
Yes, although Leblanc was wary, she was not afraid.
She had already considered the worst-case scenario, the possibility that Swain might have a trump card hidden away, but was using it specifically against her. But...
Leblanc gritted her teeth and said, "You have a trump card, so you think I have no backup plan?"
…
Almost at the same time, Zaun.
After receiving a gentle farewell kiss from Seraphine, Levi walked out of the house, "ridden" on Tam and prepared to go to work.
But before he could jump into Tam's big mouth... a familiar figure suddenly appeared in front of him.
"LeBlanc?!" Levi was shocked.
He really didn't expect to see this Deceiver at this time.
"Clone?" Levi looked at her thoughtfully.
"Yes." LeBlanc smiled and came closer. "Zaan is the center of the world's affairs today. I always have several clones here so that I can contact you in time."
"What are you doing here?" Levi asked unceremoniously.
"I come to you, my master," said Leblanc.
Levi: “…”
He began to doubt his ears.
LeBlanc said, "I have evidence that Swain, in addition to holding the hidden demon, has another extremely terrifying trump card."
"Hmm..." Levi looked strange: "What trump card?"
"I'm not sure yet." Leblanc said frankly, "But this trump card must be powerful enough. Otherwise, he wouldn't have the mind to settle accounts with me when facing the huge threat that the Wind Leader brought to the empire."
Levi: “…”
Now he finally understood.
"So..." Levi's expression became unusually wonderful: "Are you here to seek refuge from me?"
Wow. So he is LeBlanc's backup?
Did this woman make a plan from the beginning? If Swain didn't cooperate with her, and she didn't have the ability to fight Swain, or was even liquidated by Swain, then she would turn to the Wind Leader for support?
"Yes." Leblanc nodded. "At least the Wind Leader has no personal grudge against me. If I must accept a defeat, I would rather fall into your hands than the ruthless Swain."
"The Leader treats prisoners well, doesn't he? What's more, I took the initiative to surrender."
"Not to mention, Swain is also your enemy. Facing this powerful enemy with a huge empire and a mysterious trump card, I think you should also need my strength. After all, I still control the remaining forces of the Black Rose and a shadow demon whose strength is not inferior to that of a demigod."
"So, the 1,000 years of forced labor..."
LeBlanc frankly revealed her value of united front work and started bargaining with Levi.
Her expression was so natural that it was completely hard to imagine that this was the third time she came to discuss the terms of surrender.
"Your face is even thicker than Mr. Tam's thick skin."
"Thank you for the compliment." Leblanc was not annoyed at all.
"So how's the situation over there?" Levi tried to hold back his laughter and asked seriously, "Do you need me to go over there to provide support right now?"
"Not yet." Leblanc shook her head.
"Jana, God..." Levi couldn't hold it in any longer: "It's already this late, and you're still making preparations?"
She is simply a genius in the world of speculation.
"You still want to try to touch Swain, don't you?"
"Does Swain have to pull out all his cards and subdue you and your two ancient demons before you will truly bow to me and beg me to teleport to the Immortal Bastion to save your life?"
"That's right..." Leblanc was about to nod.
But she suddenly realized something was wrong.
"How do you know that Swain and I are in the Immortal Bastion now?" Leblanc looked at Levi with great concern.
"Hahahaha." Levi finally couldn't help laughing out loud.
He pointed at Mr. Tam, who was waiting impatiently with his mouth wide open. "If I want to go to the office , I can fly there myself. So, Ms. Leblanc..."
"Where do you think I should go to work now?"
LeBlanc: “???”
She suddenly had a very bad feeling.
"Mr. Levi." Leblanc wanted to test her carefully again, but Levi was no longer interested in talking to her.
"Goodbye." Levi jumped into Tam's big mouth.
Before disappearing into the abyss, he left behind a few words:
"Congratulations, it's the year 2000."