Luring the Enemy into the Trap! (update)

"How did a Chem-Baron get into Piltover? And why are they at the memorial service?!"

"Enforcers, what are you all doing?!"

"What's in that bag? Is it a bomb?!"

"That masked guy just exposed the Chem-Baron—is he here to help us?"

...

The venue was in chaos. The enforcers were overwhelmed. Allowing a Chem-Baron to infiltrate the memorial service was an absolute failure on their part.

Just look at the grim expressions on the faces of the dignitaries.

This year's budget—no, next year's, and even the budgets for years to come—were doomed.

The nobles and elites were furious.

How could a Chem-Baron have slipped into such a solemn event?

And from the looks of it, they were planning an attack!

What were the enforcers even doing?

Funding cuts were inevitable. These useless enforcers deserved to have their budgets slashed!

Mel's face was pale with anger, her eyes fixed on Ren. But despite her shock and fury, most of her attention was on the mysterious figure shrouded in black.

It seemed this person had known about the Chem-Baron's plan all along, which was why they had caused such a scene earlier.

Who were they?

A warrior employed by a noble house? Or a soldier sent by her mother to protect her?

With that physique and those precise movements, they didn't seem like a local.

While everyone else was lost in their thoughts, Link was busy searching the thug he had subdued.

He pulled out a flare gun and casually tossed the thug aside before walking over to Caitlyn.

"This is a flare gun, used to call for reinforcements," Link said, his voice disguised. He handed the flare gun to Caitlyn, who frowned and asked, "Who are you?"

"Just a concerned citizen of Piltover, your friendly neighborhood—uh, never mind." Link coughed. "Let's just say I'm a good Samaritan. Don't ask too many questions."

"Also, Ren didn't get into the venue on her own. Someone's pulling the strings behind the scenes. She's using the undercity's grievances to launch an attack on Piltover for her own gain."

"Ren might be blinded by hatred, but she's not stupid."

"This isn't over yet!" As Link spoke, he glanced up at the ceiling of the venue.

Caitlyn followed his gaze and her eyes widened in realization.

"Evacuate everyone immediately!" Caitlyn shouted. "Get out of the venue now!"

On the podium, Mel heard Caitlyn's cry and, combined with the body language she had observed between Caitlyn and the mysterious figure, she too looked up at the ceiling.

The Chem-Baron's infiltration was indeed audacious, but upon closer thought, it seemed like a diversion. The real threat was—

—above them!

Mel felt a chill run down her spine.

The enemy had airships. They could launch an attack from above.

Realizing this, Mel felt as if she had been plunged into an icy abyss.

The tension between Piltover and Zaun had reached a boiling point. If this attack succeeded, it would inevitably lead to war.

The people would be consumed by panic and hatred, the economy would collapse, transportation would be severed, and society would be thrown into chaos.

Thinking of these consequences, Mel grabbed the microphone and shouted, "All attendees, evacuate the venue immediately! Move quickly!"

"Enforcers, call for reinforcements! We need more manpower. Everyone else, stay alert and watch the skies for an attack from above!"

As soon as Mel spoke, the venue fell silent for a moment before everyone began to rush out.

Under the enforcers' guidance, the attendees flooded out of the venue like a burst dam.

In just a few dozen seconds, the once-crowded venue was now eerily empty.

Meanwhile, the enforcers issued an emergency call, summoning all available personnel.

During this time, Link felt something was off.

According to the original timeline, Ren was supposed to obtain the Chem-Punk Chainsaw at the memorial service. The thug disguised as an enforcer would then storm the stage, shoot Mel with the flare gun, and intimidate the crowd.

Then, the flare would be fired, and Shimmer-enhanced soldiers would descend from the skies, wreaking havoc.

That was how the story was supposed to unfold.

But Link had disrupted the plot. He had subdued Ren before she could act and evacuated the venue.

Yet, the Shimmer soldiers hadn't arrived—

That was easy to explain. No flare had been fired.

But would the enemy really cancel such a large-scale operation just because they didn't receive a signal?

Of course not!

So, without the flare, what would the Shimmer soldiers on the airships do?

Link's eyes widened beneath his veil. They would descend from the skies, not targeting the venue, but instead attacking random locations across Piltover, indiscriminately harming civilians.

Therefore—

"Give me the flare gun!" Link shouted at Caitlyn, who handed it over after a quick inspection. "What's wrong?"

Link grabbed the flare gun and quickly explained, "Ren has mobilized a group of Shimmer soldiers. They're on airships, waiting for her signal."

Caitlyn nodded, and Link raised the flare gun. "If the Shimmer soldiers don't receive the signal, what will they do?"

"Would they really abandon such a meticulously planned operation just because they didn't get a signal?"

Caitlyn's eyes widened as she understood Link's reasoning.

"You're saying—"

"We have to fire the flare!" Link pulled the trigger, and the flare shot through the glass ceiling, exploding into a bright light above the venue.

"This will draw the Shimmer soldiers here. Otherwise, they'll descend from the airships and attack Piltover indiscriminately."

"If that happens, our forces won't be able to respond quickly enough to the scattered attacks."

"Everything we've done will be for nothing!"

"So, firing the flare is the best solution right now!"

As Link finished speaking, Caitlyn shouted, "All enforcers, prepare for combat!"

Mel approached Link and Caitlyn, accompanied by Jayce.

"Why did you fire the flare?"

Mel's expression was stern. Caitlyn quickly explained the situation, her words rapid and urgent.

As she spoke, Mel's face grew pale. She realized the gravity of the situation.

Firing the flare was indeed the best course of action. Otherwise, if the Shimmer soldiers were let loose on Piltover's streets, this day would go down in history as the Bloody Memorial Day!

"Go get your hammer!"

Link barked at Jayce, who immediately ran toward the academy building.

Link looked up at the ceiling. Nearly a minute had passed since the flare was fired.

Squinting, he saw several black dots in the sky above the venue, growing larger by the second.

"They're coming!"

At Link's warning, Caitlyn began shouting orders to the enforcers.

Ren, restrained by the enforcers, looked up at the shattered ceiling and laughed softly. "Hehe, none of you will escape..."

"Shimmer-enhanced soldiers are far superior to you."

"You're just flesh and blood. Your weapons can't protect you!"

"The Shimmer soldiers will avenge me, and they'll avenge Zaun!"

Ren's mental state had completely unraveled after being exposed by Link.

Link ignored her, focusing instead on the descending Shimmer soldiers.

Thirty meters... sixteen meters... nine meters...

The ceiling shattered as the Shimmer soldiers crashed through, glass shards raining down around them.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Dust spread across the floor, covering the broken glass. The Shimmer soldiers, clad in diving suits, slowly rose to their feet, their growls echoing from their tanks.

Link tore off his veil and cloak. They would only hinder him in the fight.

Beneath the cloak, the cold, intricate, and beautifully crafted exoskeleton was revealed.

Link adjusted his hat, took a deep breath, and leaned forward slightly.

"Come on, let's see what Chemtech can do!"

In the next moment, he shot forward like an arrow.