Twin Cities: I am the man of many myths

Chapter 274 Let's fight the Void together!
"Look, Mom!"

At the edge of the dark alley, a child wearing a two-tone jacket and athletic shorts exclaimed in surprise, then pointed to the golden sand outside and shouted.

The woman next to him had large tattoos and wore clothes that were gray, black, and blue, with a strong sense of ancestor worship.

She was looking at the beach with a surprised expression, holding her child's hand in the other hand, and then the Zaun mother looked up at the sky.

There was a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Janna has moved the entire Zaun here. Right above is the mid-level plaza, then the Dance Walkway, and then... Piltover is gone.

Besides that, another difference is that Zaun finally has its own sunshine.

It's no longer the sunlight that was given up by Piltover, but the sunlight that belongs exclusively to Zaun.

The sunlight hitting my face was very warm. It was winter, and the sea breeze was blowing, so it was actually a bit cold. But the warm sunlight on my face was both comforting and gave me a strange feeling of heart palpitations.

"Thank you, Goddess Janna! Thank you, Lord Rick!"

"Are we going to live here from now on? Oh my god, I can go fishing whenever I want!"

"We need to take precautions. I'll talk to Councilor Marnaa about it later; I happen to know how to fix things!"

"Quickly, everyone come out and see!"

At a shout, most of the Zaun people came out. They emerged from the dark alley and stood on the sand. Some grabbed a handful of sand and rubbed it, while others looked around with their hands outstretched. Many more Zaun people were coming down from the middle square and the dance corridor.

"Let's go. This is just the first step, everyone. You came to Twin Cities not just to witness the birth of the new Zuan, but also to do something more important, isn't it?"

On the other side of the crowd, Li Ke smiled and spoke to Jarvan III and Swain.

Needless to say, Irelia was completely clueless when she came here. She has never even considered herself the leader of Ionia. Irelia was summoned by Li Ke, and Karma, who accompanied her, acted as Irelia's guardian.

Therefore, since neither Jarvan III nor Swain had any objections, the leaders of the smaller states naturally had no objections either.

But their eyes were darting around, clearly indicating that they were thinking about something.

It's no joke that after seeing the gods of the Twin Cities move away from Zaun, all sorts of thoughts would naturally arise in their minds, especially for some countries that now have some money but whose land area is still very small.
Some of them, like Twin Cities, are located near the sea, while others are situated atop mountains or in basins and valleys. What they have in common is that they all hope to receive help from Twin Cities and use Twin Cities' technology and magic to change the current state of their countries.

If they've already done things like reclaiming land from the sea, wouldn't it be much more troublesome to carve mountains and build roads?
This shouldn't be a problem for either of the two cities, right?
"Please go this way."

Li Ke was unaware of these people's ulterior motives; all he wanted to do right now was finish dealing with the immediate issues.

In the conference building of Zuan, a meeting room was filled with nearly thirty people.

Li Ke sat in the first seat, with Mel sitting next to him, while Hilco and Jess sat with the leaders of various countries.

It was time for Mel to speak. She was dressed in a gold gown, her hair was neatly styled, and her makeup was exquisite. The golden scales under her eyes complemented her dark skin perfectly. With a smile on her face, she spoke in a clear voice:

"Regarding the selection of seats, Twin Cities plans to divide the Federation's seats into five, namely one, two, three, four, and five, with the order of the national city-states serving as Twin Cities, Demacia, Noxus, Ionia, and Freljord."

In addition, numerous secondary seats will be established as proof of entry into the Federation for everyone present. The rights of the secondary seats are certainly not as great as those of the primary seats, but they can still legally enjoy the benefits of the Federation. For example, they have the right to legally purchase a certain amount of Hextech Gems every year, and each secondary seat country has the opportunity to send its national talents to Twin Cities for further study.

Here, I assure you that there will be no restrictions on the dissemination of knowledge from Shuangcheng to the outside world, and Shuangcheng will absolutely not prevent students who have completed their studies from returning to the country.

After Mel finished speaking, she paused, waiting for the people below to have absorbed the information before she continued to talk about the rights that the chief would have.

Compared to the powers held by the chief, the powers held by the second-in-command seem quite ordinary, especially after Mel mentioned the veto power, which caused many people in the audience to become restless.

Swain was one of them. His eyes flickered as he looked at Rick, only to see Rick tilting his head and talking to Lissandra while looking at each other. Seeing this, Swain's feelings were complicated for a moment.

Swain then looked at Jarvan III, who nodded with a smile, his gaze fixed on Rick, filled with admiration for him.

"."

To be honest, Jarvan III was right. Instead of thinking about how to restrict Twin Cities and hinder their development, he should think about how to help Twin Cities and how to get on the fast train that Twin Cities is constantly accelerating.

This garden's ecosystem can accommodate many flowers. Don't always aspire to be the only blooming flower; instead, become a protector of the ecosystem.

The old emperor's words and wisdom made Swain realize that his thinking was indeed somewhat out of touch with the world. Swain still held onto the mindset of a militaristic imperial soldier, but the world had changed drastically.

Because of the two cities, transportation has changed, the distance between people is no longer far, and resources have also changed. Hextech magic gems are used on the soil, and the magical aura improves the soil quality, resulting in crops that are large and sweet, and food is not scarce at all.

Not to mention, in the world of Runeterra, although it is said that human footprints have covered the entire Runeterra, in reality, there are far too many places that humans can set foot in. Leaving aside the land, just take the resource-rich ocean, where human development covers less than one percent of the area.

Apart from the Bilgewater people, other nations like Noxus and Demacia have very little knowledge of the ocean.

Therefore, times have changed, and Swain's way of thinking is no longer effective.

"Now, the officers will distribute pens and paper to everyone. Please fill out the forms and hand them in," Mel continued, picking up the microphone and bringing it to her lips.

"The first batch of Federation members will not have any conditions or restrictions. Everyone present can become a member of the Federation as long as they fill out the form. Members of the Federation are not allowed to harm each other. I can't control commercial wars, but if anyone dares to launch a war of aggression, then Twin Cities will not let them off easily."

After Mel finished speaking, the law enforcement officers came up and began distributing forms and pens to everyone present.

Interestingly, their eyes immediately turned to Swain, with many looking at him with curiosity and amusement, eager to know what Swain would choose.

Speaking of wars of aggression...
Among the countries present, there were only a handful that had never launched a war of aggression, and Demacia was the only military power that upheld justice and peace.

Ionia doesn't count. Ionia doesn't wage wars of aggression because it has always pursued a policy of closed development. To put it bluntly, the Ionians didn't even know that there were so many landmasses and countries in the world before.

"What are you all looking at me for?"

Swain frowned slightly, his gaze turning cold as he looked at the group of people whose eyes were filled with mockery. He simply swept his gaze around calmly, and the group of people obediently lowered their heads and began to look at the forms in their hands.

“Now that we’re seated here, Noxus will naturally abide by the rules of the Twin Cities,” Swain said calmly, then picked up a pen and began filling out the form.

The list includes the country's name, size, land conditions, military situation, the leader's signature, assurances, recommendations for the future of the federation, and information on trade routes.

Swain finished filling out the forms one by one, and at the same time, Jarvan III finished writing his as well. The two of them handed the papers to the enforcer standing behind them.

The officer respectfully collected the papers with both hands, then went to Mel and handed them to her.

Mel folded the paper and placed it in the red wooden box that had been prepared in advance in front of him.

Soon, everyone had finished filling out the forms. Of the thirty-two countries present, not one refused to join the federation. Seeing this, Mel smiled and then bowed to everyone.

After standing up, she said, "Then, the Federation is officially established. In the future, we will not only be family, but also partners. I hope everyone will abide by the agreement."

Mel said loudly, raising one hand, and earnestly stated:

"This world is far larger than you can imagine. We could never explore Runeterra in our entire lives, but our future generations might be able to."

"But let's not even talk about how we'll become a handful of dust in history by then. Even if in the future, when overpopulation leads to resource scarcity, I believe that Twin Cities will definitely find a solution."

"The Twin Cities' goal has never been limited to Runeterra; our goal is..."

Mel's gaze was firm, and she glanced at Jess below, only to see Jess clenching his fists and looking at her in return.

With a slight smile, Mel's voice rang out.

"The vast universe!"

Below, the leaders of various nations were deeply moved by Mel's words, with Jarvan III clenching his fists in his knees. The stars and the sea—no one thought Mel was exaggerating, because the Twin Cities, established only a few years prior, had already truly transformed Runeterra, a place that had remained unchanged for millennia. So who could say that the Twin Cities wouldn't one day reach for the heavens?

"Alright, the meeting is adjourned. You can stay in Twin Cities for the next few days to hand over the work with me. Also, please think about which representatives your country will send to the Federation in the next few days. I will register the corresponding names in advance and make preparations for their arrival."

"Then, the meeting is adjourned."

Everyone present stood up, but a voice suddenly rang out.

"Your Majesty Jarvan III, Grand Commander Swain, Empress Irelia, please wait a moment, I have something to discuss with you."

Li Ke suddenly stood up and spoke.

Only then did everyone notice that the mysterious woman named Lissandra, who represented Freljord, was sitting quietly with her eyes closed in her seat.

Seeing this, they were not surprised.

If the top leaders need to talk, then those of them in the second rank should tactfully give up their positions.

Soon, only Rick, Lissandra, Jarvan III, Swain, Irelia, and their entourage remained in the conference room.

Karma raised her neck and looked at Swain, her eyes calm.

Swain didn't look at Karma, but instead looked at Rick and then at Lissandra. Instantly, he knew what Rick and Lissandra were going to do.

"Li Ke, is there something you need to tell us by keeping us here?"

The old emperor spoke first, asking a question from his seat.

Li Ke looked at Jarvan III, nodded, and said, "Yes, it's a very important matter."

“Please speak,” Jarvan III began, chuckling as he continued, “We are one now, aren’t we?”

Li Ke laughed, while Irelia was somewhat confused, still not quite understanding why Li Ke had called her Empress earlier.

After Karma patted Irelia on the shoulder and whispered to her to stop worrying, Irelia finally snapped out of her daze and looked at Rick.

“Everyone, I’ve kept you here because I have a favor to ask of you.” Li Ke took a deep breath, stood up, pointed to Lissandra beside him, and said, “Among those present, only His Majesty Jarvan III is unaware of Lissandra’s identity, so let me briefly introduce her to you.”

The old emperor sat up straight.

"Lissandra, in a sense, is our ancestor. Ten thousand years ago, Lissandra and her two sisters led humanity in a struggle against the heavens and earth, for the sake of humankind."

Li Ke was interrupted before he could finish speaking.

"What did you say?"

"Ten thousand years ago? Li Ke, are you sure you didn't misspoke?" The old emperor stood up, and behind him, Garen, Tiana, and Xin Zhao also looked at Lissandra with disbelief.

What a joke!
Ten thousand years ago?
Ten thousand years ago, how long had Demacia been established? Only a few hundred years!

Even Noxus has only been established for less than a thousand years!
But this mysterious woman lived on, for ten thousand years?!

Lissandra opened her eyes, revealing a pair of pale pupils, and calmly gazed at Jarvan III. She remained silent, showing no disbelief in the old emperor.

“Yes, you heard me right, and I didn’t misspoke. She did live for nearly ten thousand years. But what I’m talking about isn’t how long she lived, but something that happened in ancient times.” Li Ke pressed down his hands, signaling Jarvan III not to interrupt him.

Then he recounted the events that had occurred in Freljord ten thousand years ago, and the expressions on the faces of everyone present were increasingly exaggerated.

Katarina's mouth dropped open in disbelief at what Rick had said.

Then, Li Ke talked about the void.

“Lissandra did do something wrong, but she doesn’t need to apologize to anyone. And now, the True Ice is melting, and the Frost Watchers are showing signs of resurgence.”

"Therefore, instead of waiting for the Frost Watchers to regain their strength and break the seal on their own, we might as well break the seal first and catch them off guard while they are weakened!"

"What a joke!" Jarvan III stood up and looked at Rick seriously, saying, "If what you said is true, then with our strength, we are no match for those monsters!"

“Well, Your Majesty, how should I put it, you really know too little.” Li Ke reached out and rubbed his cheek, then continued, “Let me put it this way, there are three people in this room who are no less than or even stronger than Janna.”

Jarvan III was taken aback and subconsciously said, "Three people? Isn't it just you and her?"

This "she" refers to Lissandra, of course.

Li Ke smiled and shook his head, "My situation is rather special. Under normal circumstances, I am far inferior to Janna."

"The three I'm referring to are Lissandra, Swain, and Karma."

Jarvan III looked at Swain beside him and saw Swain lift his hand from under his uniform, revealing an arm made of blood-red threads.

He looked at Karma again and saw her waving her fan, with a green dragon swaying behind her.

Upon seeing this, Jarvan III's expression turned somewhat grim.

What do you mean?
Noxus and Ionia both possess godlike power, right? What about Demacia?

It's not that Demacia has no gods, but with the changing times, the gods of Demacia today, the winged guardians, have all disappeared.

Jarvan III's grandfather left behind a record detailing the process by which the Lightshield family ascended to the throne. During the record, the Winged Guardians were mentioned. Therefore, Jarvan III believed that the two divine sisters were real, but at present, he really didn't know where they had gone.

“Of course, Demacia also possesses great power,” Rick said, having discerned Jarvan III’s thoughts.

"Who?"

"Gallio."

"..." Jarvan III said with a strange expression, "That's just a magic-suppressing statue."

“No, it’s a stone statue with self-awareness, a statue that has developed intelligence,” Li Ke said, shaking his head.

“I’ll talk to Lux about that later,” Rick continued.

"Wait, what do you mean by talking to Lux?" Garen immediately asked.

As someone who dotes on his sister, he certainly wouldn't stand by and watch his sister get into danger.

"Because your sister and Galio are good friends, oh, and she never told you about that, right?"

Garen's expression worsened, while Jarvan III's expression improved considerably.

Because he believed Li Ke's words, it meant that Demacia still possessed divine power. But Jarvan III never imagined that the anti-magic statue could actually possess intelligence.
That's just a war statue made of anti-magic stones!
"Now then."

Li Ke placed his hands on the table, and Lissandra beside him felt her heart racing.

The Frost Watchers are powerful, because even when Anivia was shattered to pieces, she only lost a few Frost Watchers. However, Lissandra does not believe that she is weaker than Anivia, not to mention that she has so many demigods helping her. In addition, there are many powerful gods standing behind Lik!
That beautiful woman with pink hair, the white-haired Asura, and the short little devil—each of them is an outstanding figure among demigods!
We will never lose this war!

Li Ke then continued earnestly:

"Let's fight the Void together!"

(End of this chapter)