CHAPTER 523 - Finalizing the Plan
The foundation of the Black Rose was laid by the remnants of an ancient order long before Noxus was established. For centuries, they served the iron-blooded warlord Sahn-Uzal, who would later become Mordekaiser. Few know the true identity of the Black Rose's leader—not even those within its own ranks.
The most frequently mentioned figure is a Pale Sorceress, who, after the Rune Wars, guided the savage Noxii tribes to the Immortal Bastion, laying the groundwork for the formation of Noxus.
Li Lin had a decent understanding of LeBlanc, but her enigmatic nature, combined with her countless deceitful clones, made it difficult for anyone—even herself—to discern her true identity.
Since the fall of the former representative of "Deception" on the Trifarix Council—a faceless agent of the Pale Lady who was eliminated by Swain—the position had been taken over by Marcus Du Couteau. Since then, Swain and his loyalists had been plotting to dismantle the Black Rose.
Draven, preoccupied with his fame in Reckoner arenas, had come today solely because of his close ties to Swain and his brother, Darius. Though his strength was undeniable, his presence could be seen as more symbolic than practical.
Retho and Mira, two of Swain's most trusted subordinates, also held a deep-seated fear and animosity toward the Black Rose. During the rebellion on the Rockrund Plains over a year ago, they had nearly been assassinated by a fellow general secretly working for the Black Rose. Fortunately, Swain uncovered and thwarted the plot just in time.
The Black Rose's existence posed a significant threat to the stability of Noxus, and LeBlanc herself, labeled a "betrayer," had repeatedly brought Runeterra to the brink of war. The ongoing tensions between Noxus and Demacia were a direct result of the Pale Lady's machinations, especially through her dealings with Eldred of the Crownguard family.
Under Eldred's rule, mages deemed dangerous and stripped of magic were supposed to be exiled to impoverished outskirts. Instead, they were secretly transported to Noxus and handed over to the Black Rose's academy. The exact purpose of their mage-collection remained unclear.
According to what Li Lin had learned from Annie's mother, Amoline, some of the instructors at Ravenbloom Academy inscribed students with runic magic, enabling them to absorb the power of other magical apprentices to strengthen themselves. This was also the tragic experience of the Iron Maiden, Rell.
Unlike Noxus, Demacia sought coexistence and peace. They did not pursue expansion or revel in warfare—every battle they fought had been defensive. After interrogating Eldred himself, King Jarvan III made it clear that Swain must address the internal threats within his nation and eradicate the Black Rose once and for all.
Today, Li Lin met with Swain as scheduled, gathering his trusted subordinates to discuss precisely this issue. The Black Rose had infiltrated every corner of Noxus, even planting operatives within the Immortal Bastion. Swain had chosen to ignore some of them for now, but thanks to his unique ability to unearth secrets, LeBlanc had been unable to infiltrate his inner circle completely.
However, she had tried. During the Ionia campaign, Swain should have seized Placidium and crushed the Navori resistance, securing a decisive victory. Yet, due to LeBlanc's agents diverting his troops, the plan fell apart, and he lost—not to mention his left arm was severed by Irelia.
Li Lin offered Swain a solution to identify LeBlanc's clones. He proposed deploying mechanical soldiers and drones equipped with optical camouflage and advanced AI scanning capabilities. With these tools, detecting users of deceptive magic would become a straightforward task.
Although the Black Rose included followers of Vladimir's bloodline with a variety of unusual abilities, even a demigod would struggle to counter a relentless tide of mechanized forces. What chance did mere infiltrators have?
Marcus Du Couteau's expression remained hidden behind his mask, his thoughts only betrayed by subtle changes in his gaze. Retho and Mira exchanged incredulous glances but refrained from questioning the idea outright.
Swain's lack of objection silenced them.
"If this is the best way to eliminate the Pale Lady and the Black Rose, then we'll proceed," Swain stated, leaning back against the sofa, his tone unreadable.
"With the ability to identify all of the Pale Lady's clones, I am confident we can eliminate them simultaneously," Li Lin replied with a calm smile. "If the Grand General authorizes the deployment of my mechanical units."
Swain fell into brief contemplation. His crimson eyes swept across the room, observing the five individuals gathered.
"What do you think?" he asked.
Retho and Mira, recognizing the weight of the decision, exchanged uneasy looks but remained silent.
Draven leaned back casually, one arm cradling his head, his legs crossed, and a goblet of wine in his other hand. His nonchalant demeanor betrayed no concern.
"This is your call. Just tell me the plan when it's time for action," he said, his reputation as both unpredictable and dependable unshaken.
Unlike his brother, Darius's brow furrowed with concern. "We've only just stabilized after quelling internal unrest. If we move against the Black Rose now…"
"There's no need to worry," Marcus Du Couteau interrupted, his voice cold. "Our aim is to eliminate the internal threats within the Immortal Bastion and prevent the Black Rose from further infiltrating the leadership."
"General Du Couteau is correct," Swain affirmed. "The Black Rose's pervasive influence must be eradicated from within the leadership before we can tackle external threats."
He turned back to Li Lin. "How long will it take you to uncover the Pale Lady's identity and identify her agents within the Immortal Bastion?"
Li Lin considered carefully before answering, opting for a conservative estimate. "If all goes smoothly, my mechanical units can sweep through Noxus within a day. However, the exact number of agents they'll find in the first round is uncertain."
"Very well…" Swain's eyes narrowed in thought. After a moment of silence, he nodded decisively.
"If we can resolve the issue of the Pale Lady quickly…" He straightened, his eyes gleaming with determination. "This meeting is adjourned. I will contact you all with further details later."
Swain rose from his seat and gestured to Li Lin. "Follow me. There is another matter I need to discuss with you privately."
(End of Chapter)