After Faen determined the overall direction, soon, members of the Wind of Change organization began to tackle many stubborn diseases inside Zaun.
And waiting for news from Zaun all this time, the result was that more than two weeks had passed, and the other party still had no intention of talking at all. The Councilors of Piltover also lost their patience in the long wait.
After a new round of meetings, Piltover also issued an ultimatum.
The content of the ultimatum was public. Almost the moment Piltover promulgated the related content, large and small newspapers all over the Twin Cities quickly reported the related matter.
And the content within undoubtedly made everyone sympathizing with Zaun feel angry—
[Piltover Council's Ultimatum to Zaun]
As Zaun's brother city, the riot initiated by the 'Wind of Change' organization inside Zaun has seriously shaken the stability, order, peace, and prosperity of the Twin Cities. Piltover once tried to stop the riot from happening, but the 'Wind of Change' organization acted willfully. Out of necessity, the Piltover Council issues an ultimatum: For the sake of the people and future of the two cities, Piltover demands Zaun restore peace.
The details of the ultimatum are as follows:
[Immediately Terminate Riot]
①. Hand over control of all Shimmer factories and resume production immediately, ensuring the production halt during the riot will not affect future resource supply.
②. Disband armed groups (including former subordinate organizations of Chem-Baron Silco); violators will be wiped out by Hextech armed forces.
[Full Takeover of Resources and Passages]
①. Before the riot is completely terminated, passage rights of the Bridge of Progress will be forcibly controlled indefinitely by Piltover Enforcers. Zaun laborers must hold a 'Special Permit' to enter.
②. Before the riot is completely terminated, export prices of Zaun minerals and chemical raw materials will be priced by the Piltover Council. At the same time, related alleyway fees of the Sun Gates will rise, and the tax rate will rise to 54%.
III. [Unconditional Transfer of Law Enforcement Rights]
①. Before the riot is completely terminated, Enforcers of the Piltover Wardens Bureau can cross borders to arrest "those endangering Twin Cities' stability." Zaun must not shelter or trial; related personnel involved will be handed over to the Piltover Tribunal together and transported to Stillwater Hold after conviction.
②. Before the riot is completely terminated, Zaun security teams and patrol teams must wear Piltover Wardens' related monitoring devices. Actions must be reported 24 hours in advance, and signals must be emitted every five minutes during patrols to ensure personnel safety and whereabouts.
[Zaun Stability Maintenance]
①. The Wind of Change must immediately stop related crimes, infringements, and actions damaging the interests of Twin Cities' people. And immediately establish the "Zaun Maintenance Committee"; members of the Maintenance Committee must be reviewed and appointed by the Piltover Council to ensure Maintenance Committee members have enough compassion.
②. Considering Zaun's local situation, the Maintenance Committee has no right to formulate laws, but can execute the "Twin Cities Co-management Treaty" signed by the Piltover Council.
[Consequences of Refusal]
①. If refusing to sign the agreement and failing to reply within 24 hours, Piltover will immediately cut off Zaun's medical supplies, clean water sources, and Hextech energy supply.
②. If refusing to sign the agreement, Zaun's debt interest rate will be raised by 300%. Those overdue without repayment will have land and industrial facilities confiscated.
Supplementary Provisions:
Any act of resistance will be deemed as declaring war on Piltover and its allies.
————Signed by: Piltover Supreme Council Collective.————
"I want to leave, I want to leave right now!!"
In Jayce's weapons workshop, Viktor pressed his hands on the table, forcibly standing up ignoring his body's stubborn illness. His face was full of anger as he said:
"Like this again! In my life, this is already the third time Piltover has issued such an ultimatum to Zaun!"
Viktor gritted his teeth and said: "The first time was Vander, the second time was Silco, now it's the Wind of Change, that guy named Faen... I finally see clearly, Piltover never regarded Zaun as a brother city, but as a blood bag!!"
Hearing this, Jayce, who even grew thick beard shadow on his face due to all-night study during this period, opened his mouth, but finally didn't say his inner thoughts—Jayce really wanted to ask: You only know now?
But thinking carefully, Jayce also felt Viktor being like this was normal.
As a best friend, Jayce knew very well Viktor was literally a tech otaku. Although the two developed many technologies advancing Piltover's scientific technology, especially Hextech Crystal-related ones, by decades together, Viktor was really too pure, even saying somewhat naive.
He tried to develop technologies in Piltover, then use them to benefit Zaun, finally changing Zaun's status quo... Viktor always did this. Even saying Jayce himself once thought Viktor doing this was correct, the method civilized people should choose.
But along with entering the Piltover Council, the current Jayce already clearly realized that was simply bullshit.
Technology is useful, but how to execute it still depends on how people above use it. And as a Councilor of the Piltover Council, and also built into the representative of the Piltover Dream, the current Jayce knew very well the Piltover Dream was also bullshit.
Even saying, even Jayce felt dissatisfied with Zaun's current changes... Of course, Jayce wouldn't say it directly. Essentially, he was still a kind person, just growing up in Piltover, more or less having some ostentation and pride bred by Piltover's social environment.
Thinking this, Jayce on the side also coughed lightly, then chose his words carefully and said to Viktor:
"Actually... Viktor, don't you feel Zaun doing this now is somewhat unreasonable? Today's Zaun is simply running wildly on the road to death. Refusing communication constantly like this, and also banning Piltover's factories and trade; honestly, I feel in terms of responsibility, it's all because of those guys from Zaun's sump."
Hearing this, Viktor cast a look of disbelief at Jayce beside him. His emaciated face was full of disbelief. Mouth wide open, seemingly having many words to say, but finally not knowing how to say them out.
Until a long time later, Viktor said with a difficult voice: "Why... why would you feel this way..."
"Because the Hextech factories stopped production!" Hearing Viktor's words, feeling Viktor's gaze, clearly feeling he himself was the sober one, the correct one. But for some reason, Jayce inexplicably felt a burst of vexation, then simply gritted his teeth and said:
"Think about it, Viktor, think carefully. Why could we change our lives? Why could we become representatives of the Piltover Dream? Isn't it precisely because we successfully improved Hextech Crystal energy technology, allowing the establishment of Hexgates and airships, allowing Piltover's merchant fleets to reach further places safer and in a shorter time?"
"But let's think carefully, what do we have besides this?!" Jayce frowned, looking at Viktor seriously:
"All our current fame, glory, wealth, resources... are built on our workshop, built on our patents regarding Hextech Crystal energy. And now, Zaun riots, Hextech Crystal refinement factories closed, Hextech Crystal-related technical industries stopped production and advancement—we have reached the brink of destruction!!!"
"Zaun is not rioting! But changing itself!!" When Jayce shouted, Viktor couldn't bear it anymore either, staring deadly at Jayce and saying: "Hasn't Piltover always said Zaun is a lawless land, a city of crime? Then now Zaun wants to change, why does Piltover still have to issue an ultimatum to question?"
"No, not question!" Viktor paused, then gritted his teeth and said: "It's coercion!! Piltover is coercing Zaun to make a choice! Coercing Zaun to choose between going to die and continuing to act as a blood bag!!"
"That's enough!"
Suddenly, Jayce also erupted: "Does Zaun have a better choice? That guy named Faen is formidable, but can he out-kill Piltover's cannons and armors?! Zaun didn't have a better choice from the beginning! As for you! As for you! Viktor! Why don't you think about where you exactly are now! Is returning to that stinky sewer of Zaun more comfortable than staying in such a Hextech workshop now?!"
"Jayce!!" Hearing this, Viktor widened his eyes in disbelief: "Why do you also think this way? And why do you think of me this way?!"
Feeling the thick disbelief in Viktor's gaze, Jayce opened his mouth, then recalled his current status, reputation, identity, honor, wealth, achievements... thinking of the 'Piltover Dream' he achieved through efforts.
Pursing his lips, Jayce said in a deep voice: "Call me Councilor."
Hearing this, Viktor opened his mouth, then suddenly as if drained of all strength, his whole body slumped down. Then without saying a word, he walked past Jayce, saying coldly: "I want to leave this place."
Feeling Viktor's coldness, Jayce pursed his lips, but finally didn't say a single word.
But just not long after Viktor left, just as Jayce was still thinking whether to regret, Viktor walked up again, with a face full of anger, looking at Jayce with an expression of being betrayed and backstabbed by his best friend, saying: "You called those people below?!"
"Ah?" Hearing this, Jayce froze, then just discovered an unknown when a group of Enforcers had appeared outside the door.
"No, not me, I don't know!"
Looking at the panic on Jayce's face, Viktor also frowned, then looked at the Enforcers behind. The Enforcers remained expressionless, just taking out the document signed by the Piltover Council—the content of the document wasn't long, the main content being to monitor and review suspicious personnel sympathizing with Zaun, and protect special personnel who might be attacked by Zaun.
And Viktor...
"Is it protection? Isn't it monitoring?!"
Viktor laughed in extreme anger, hands pressing on the table coughing continuously.
"Isn't it monitoring?"
Hearing this, Jayce's face was also full of embarrassment. Obviously, he didn't think this was protecting Viktor either...
And right at this time, a dark-skinned female researcher with curly hair also ran over, looking at Viktor and others saying: "Zaun's response is out!"