Arcane: TTB: Ch. 156

"So, what's your choice?"

With House Medarda withdrawn and Ambessa's soldiers standing down, the remaining councilors posed no real threat. Camille's restraint, such as it had been, evaporated entirely.

"This is the City of Progress," one councilor protested with a shaking voice. "What you're doing violates Piltover's constitution. You're turning back the clock on everything we've built!"

"We are the council," another added, trying desperately to project authority. "Our power derives from Piltover's laws and its citizens. You can't just..."

"We represent the will of this city," a third said lamely.

They were trying to use words as weapons, appealing to principles and procedures. As if Camille gave a damn about any of that.

"Pathetic," she said flatly.

Several councilors flinched.

"This world is dark and cruel. Strength is the only measure of legitimacy. Piltover is no exception to that rule, no matter how much you pretend otherwise."

She spoke with conviction, and why wouldn't she? The Clan Ferros had been at the height of power in Piltover for generations. Just recently, they'd been forced underground, avoiding direct confrontation with Jayce and his Hextech Dragon backed by the House Medarda.

Not because of principles or laws. Because they would have lost that fight.

But now? Jayce was crawling through mountains with a shattered leg. House Medarda stood alone without enough force projection to challenge Clan Ferros directly. This vast, wealthy city was ripe for the taking. And when Emystan's battle fleet arrived tomorrow, Clan Ferros would hand control over to their Noxian ally, completing the arrangement. Camille's mission would be accomplished.

"You've held council authority for decades," she said, beginning to pace slowly across the chamber floor. "And yet you still don't understand what power is. Usually, we humor your democratic theater. Your votes and procedures and constitutional principles. And you took it seriously." Her laugh was cold. "Adorable."

"Piltover has always belonged to Clan Ferros. The authority you wield was only ever on loan. We let you play at governance because it was convenient. And the fact that you never realized this? That's why Zaun surpassed you. That's why you're standing here now, powerless, while I take back what was always ours."

"What do you want?" Cassandra stepped forward. "Get to the point."

Unlike the others cowering in their seats, she met Camille's gaze directly.

"Finally," Camille said, something almost like approval flickering across her face. "Someone with spine. I was beginning to think the council was entirely composed of cowards who measure life only in profit margins."

She inclined her head slightly toward Cassandra while simultaneously delivering another verbal lashing to the others. The message was clear: see what happens when you show courage instead of sniveling?

"Good question, Councilor Kiramman. Let me be direct."

Camille clasped her hands behind her back. "Piltover stands on the edge of annihilation. And yet you waste time with meaningless council sessions. I never wanted to step into the light like this. But if I hadn't acted, Piltover would already be history. Annexed by Zaun or conquered by Noxus. Those were the only two futures awaiting you."

Her eyes swept across the assembled councilors. Aside from Cassandra, not one of them could hold her gaze for more than a second.

Predictable. Merchant princes raised in comfort, trained to negotiate trade deals and maximize quarterly profits. They had no stomach for real conflict.

If Cassandra weren't one of Cipher's people, planted here specifically for this moment, she wouldn't have the courage to speak up either. Standing tall while surrounded by agents with Hextech weapons wasn't bravery, it was suicide.

"Being conquered by Noxus wouldn't be so terrible. Given how quickly you'd surrender, they might even leave your families intact. A chance to rebuild from subordinate positions. But if Zaun annexes Piltover? Your wealth, status, and accumulated power would be gone. Your families would be subjected to what they call 'labor reform.' Perhaps sent into the mines alongside the very workers you've exploited. Is that what you want? Is that the future you're choosing by sitting here doing nothing?"

"That won't happen," one councilor managed with a weak voice. "Zaun has no intention of annexing us. Their recent military actions were purely defensive."

Was he serious? Did he really think they were all that stupid?

"Not long ago," he continued, gaining confidence from having spoken without being immediately struck down, "Zaun deployed drones to defend the Hexgate from Noxian infiltrators. They've shown restraint. They're not aggressors."

"Plus," he added, casting a meaningful glance at Camille, "with Zaun's military capability, they could have taken Piltover years ago if conquest was their goal. Why wait?"

Several other councilors nodded, latching onto this argument like drowning men grabbing driftwood.

"Defensive actions?" Camille's voice was ice. "Your naivety would be charming if it weren't so dangerous."

"For two centuries, Zaun and Piltover have been locked in a cycle of exploitation and violence."

She pointed at the councilor who'd spoken. "Don't forget the Day of Ashes. Dozens died in that uprising. You're placing your hopes on mercy from people whose families you helped murder? Praying that Zaun will overlook centuries of oppression because of recent 'restraint'?"

Her laugh was incredulous. "I'm curious how your brain constructed that particular fantasy."

Before surrendering to Cipher, she had seen the situation: once Zaun rose to power, destroying Piltover would be their first priority. The only question was timing and method.

The reason they hadn't struck yet had nothing to do with mercy. Cipher was simply greedy, in the best possible way. He didn't just want Piltover's industrial infrastructure intact. He wanted the population's cooperation, their willing integration.

That's why he'd spared Emystan instead of executing her. Why he'd orchestrated this elaborate performance involving so many moving pieces.

"Commander Talis had good relations with Zaun," the councilor persisted. "With him leading us, they wouldn't risk war."

It was an indirect accusation, and everyone in the room understood it. Jayce's disappearance was Camille's doing. Therefore, any war that followed was her fault.

"You're right," Camille said calmly. "He was an excellent diplomatic bridge. His presence alone prevented escalation. But he's gone now. And if Piltover wants to survive, it can only rely on itself. On the decisions you make in this room, today."

The councilor's face went pale. Jayce wasn't coming back to save them. Whatever protection his relationship with Zaun had provided was gone.

That was the whole point of sending him into the wilderness. By the time he returned, Piltover would have suffered under Noxian occupation long enough that Zaun's arrival would look like liberation. Whether Jayce understood or accepted that didn't matter. He'd be powerless to stop the unification.

"I've wasted enough time on explanations. So let me be clear about your choices."

"Option one: Support Clan Ferros. Cooperate with the transition. Remain on the council in your current positions, maintaining your status and wealth."

"Option two: Resist. Become the criminals who betrayed Piltover in its hour of need. Your families will be stripped of everything. You'll be executed publicly, your bodies displayed on the city walls as an object lesson."

She gave them exactly three seconds to process that.

"Choose now."

---

In a matter of hours, Piltover returned to Clan Ferros control.

Using the threat of overwhelming force, Camille integrated the enforcers and the private armies of Piltover's noble houses into a unified military structure.

With Clan Ferros agents at its core, she'd created an armed force that answered only to her. The council still existed on paper, but real power had consolidated in her hands.

Piltover was hers.

At the Medarda estate, Ambessa drained her wine glass in one gulp. "I have to admit, I underestimated you."

She sat across from Camille. "I thought you were a background player. But the way you seized control of Piltover..." She set down her glass. "It's impressive."

She had run the calculations. House Medarda's power base was weaker than Clan Ferros's. Not by a small margin, either. On the surface, Jayce was the only person in Piltover who truly understood Hextech. Every innovation had to flow through him. But Clan Ferros had secretly developed their own Hextech capabilities, producing functional weapons without his direct involvement.

Their understanding was inferior to his, certainly. But if you didn't count him as part of House Medarda's assets, then Clan Ferros was clearly ahead.

The Trifarix Council operated on pure meritocratic brutality. Strength determined position. And Clan Ferros was absolutely a future rival to Mel's ambitions in Piltover and Zaun.

Fortunately, House Medarda had made the right call regarding Zaun years ago. They'd allied early, established trust, earned influence within the Trifarix structure.

Clan Ferros had fucked up, and now they were playing catch-up. Begging for scraps from Zaun's table instead of sitting at it as equals.

One mistake early often meant falling behind. Ambessa's current attention toward Clan Ferros was mostly habit.

"The Clan Ferros seeks Piltover's stability and prosperity," Camille said, preparing tea. "Unless necessary, we won't interfere with the city's development."

She ignored Ambessa's wariness, keeping her tone neutral. She understood the hierarchy perfectly well. Compared to House Medarda's partnership with Zaun, Clan Ferros was merely a vassal. Their status wasn't equal, and pretending otherwise would be pointless.

"I've heard about your history with Zaun," Ambessa said, refilling her wine glass with Noxian red. "Cipher gave me some of that."

"Clan Ferros ruled the both cities from the shadows for generations. That bred a certain arrogance."

She took a sip, watching Camille's reaction. "Five years ago, when Zaun started developing rapidly, showing potential, your first instinct wasn't investment or partnership. It was elimination. You saw a threat and moved to crush it before it could grow, even though that meant antagonizing the Grand General. Your current situation is entirely self-inflicted. Comfort and complacency made you lose your edge. It made you think you had everything under control."

She smiled thinly. "I'm right, aren't I?"

It wasn't deliberate provocation, just the reflex of a leader asserting dominance over potential rivals through psychological pressure.

"No. The Clan Ferros controlled Piltover through superior investment strategy. We've always respected talent, regardless of origin."

Camille set down her teacup. "The reason I moved against Zaun wasn't arrogance. It was clarity. I saw exactly what their ideology would mean for us."

After the Jayce incident, Cipher had noticed Camille's lingering dissatisfaction and her unspoken objections. So he'd sought her out privately, given her space to speak freely within internal discussions.

Now she wanted to hear outside perspectives. "General Ambessa, what do you think of the Wind of Change philosophy? Can it succeed?"

In her mind, a Noxian warlord like Ambessa would certainly scoff at revolutionary ideology.

"Does it matter?" Ambessa laughed coldly, her throat working as she swallowed crimson liquid.

"I don't care about the Wind of Change's principles. I care what it can deliver for the House Medarda. Whether it's revolutionary reform or traditional Noxian conquest, as long as it keeps my family strong and thriving, I'll support it completely."

She wiped wine from her lips. "Camille, you still don't understand the essence of investment. The highest form isn't capital or infrastructure. It's people. On that front, you could learn from Councilor Kiramman."

Camille froze mid-pour, tea forgotten. Ambessa's answer was nothing like she'd expected. She hadn't thought someone as rough and martial as the Wolf Mother would possess that kind of insight. Compared to her, had she been shortsighted in dealing with Zaun?

But she quickly dismissed the thought. If Janna hadn't intervened five years ago, Zaun would be gone. That kind of divine power wasn't something mortals could account for in planning.

"You don't seem convinced," Ambessa observed. "Do you really think I don't understand what the Wind of Change represents? You've lived long enough. You should know how this world really works. True visionaries don't follow history. They shape it. Use the world as their canvas and paint whatever future they choose. People like that can't be understood through conventional analysis. You think you failed because Janna stopped you? But have you considered that Janna awakened because of Cipher? That from the moment he committed to the Wind of Change, her protection was inevitable?"

She grinned. "People like us, we're untouchable to common folk. But when facing someone who can redirect history's flow, all we can do is ride the current they create. Use the storm to soar instead of being crushed by it. In my assessment, Cipher is one of those people. So is the Grand General."

She paused thoughtfully. "Jayce qualifies too, in a way. His Hextech will reshape the world. But his instincts are terrible. He can't lead."

Setting down her glass, she stretched lazily, sinking into the sofa's cushions. "That's the difference."

Cassandra, who'd been observing the entire exchange silently, finally spoke up. "Let's discuss business."

She'd noticed Camille's mental state wavering and chose to redirect. They hadn't gathered for philosophical debates.

"Emystan's battle fleet arrives tomorrow," Camille said, resuming her tea preparation. "She'll formally assume control of Piltover, and we can begin the final act."

Maybe Ambessa was right about everything. But the choice was made, the die cast. What the Clan Ferros could do now was demonstrate value within the new order and preserve as much of the clan as possible.

Survival first. Everything else was negotiable.