Arcane: The Gods Want Me to Pick a Route-Chapter 142: Let the Noxians See What a Real Stomp Looks Like

Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Let the Noxians See What a Real Stomp Looks Like

Over the next few days, Logan kept wandering around Zaun’s markets with Jinx. Jinxie didn’t go hang out with Karina and the others anymore—instead, she dragged Logan all over the Entresol market, roaming around like a kid let loose in a candy store.

She’d look at this, then look at that—picking up a lighter one second, then grabbing a Hextech heating stove the next, insisting it would be perfect for Logan’s cooking.

Logan laughed on the spot.

So even when they got to Ionia, he’d still have to cook for Jinx properly, huh?

All in all, the two of them were picking out gear that felt good in the hand. They even planned to buy an extra-large bag, plus a tent, sleeping bags—everything. They looked exactly like two people getting ready to go traveling.

And Logan messing around picking supplies with Jinx didn’t delay anything important in the Twin Cities, because the truth was—Logan was actually pretty free in Zaun.

He was "the ruler of Zaun," sure, but in reality, none of Zaun’s day-to-day required him to worry.

The Twin Cities’ research and weapons development didn’t need him there either, because he didn’t understand the principles behind Hextech or chemtech at all. In terms of brains and knowledge, if Logan went to the site, he’d just be a good-luck charm—standing off to the side with Vander, staring at each other like idiots while a bunch of councilors watched experiments for an entire afternoon.

A bomb went off—he and Vander clapped.

Jayce made a statement—he and Vander clapped again.

The councilors brainstormed—he and Vander still clapped.

They were basically there to hype up the room.

And those other councilors—especially Piltover’s—had to be given credit. Those people genuinely knew a lot. Even Salo, who Logan didn’t think much of, was actually extremely sharp when it came to trade, and he understood plenty of technology too.

Would you believe Salo even had an official Piltover research certificate?

Before he became a councilor, Salo had invented a kind of storage case that earned huge praise—people in Piltover called it the best storage technology they’d seen in the modern era.

After Logan used it, he thought it really was convenient—but what exactly made it so brilliant, he couldn’t explain.

Jinx loved it, though, because the case she’d bought yesterday was made by Salo’s family.

And if something could make Jinx think it was useful, that meant Salo actually had some real skill.

Which just went to show—Piltover’s councilors might have inherited their seats thanks to old family wealth and legacy, but even if they weren’t councilors, they’d still be impressive people.

After all, to become one of the people in power in a city like Piltover, you had to be outstanding in your own way.

Hoskel excelled at politics. Salo excelled at commerce. Mel was an all-around talent. Jayce was a research genius. And Old Cake had a strong public image and was a phenomenal speaker.

In short, Piltover’s councilors really were far more well-rounded than Zaun’s. That was simply a fact—no point denying it.

Because in Zaun’s council... you had to set Heimerdinger aside, right?

And after that, only Silco and Scar could really talk tech with Piltover.

That afternoon, Logan and Jinx were shopping for snacks. Jinx was inside a candy shop, carefully picking flavors off the shelves while Logan waited outside, keeping an eye out.

"Councilor Logan! We finally found you!"

Two Undercity enforcers came running up, panting hard, then shouted, "Councilor Silco is looking for you—something big happened!"

Jinx—who had been tearing open wrappers and eating candy right in front of the shop owner’s dead-eyed stare—heard the commotion and immediately ran out.

The shop owner covered his face with one hand.

She hadn’t paid!

Of course, he wasn’t about to demand it from her. He’d just go to the Zaun council later and tell the staff—he’d get his money.

Shops at the Entresol were used to this. Jinx didn’t need to pay on the spot; it all went on an account, and Silco handled it afterward.

"What happened?" Logan asked.

"The Noxians are coming!" the enforcer yelled.

That one line made nearby Zaunites and Piltovans turn to look. Logan froze for a beat.

Jinx, on the other hand, lit up with excitement. "They’re finally coming?"

"Come on, come on, come on—Logan, I’m going too!" she shouted, grabbing his hand.

Logan looked at the two enforcers. "Got it. Go handle your other duties."

"Yes, sir."

Piltover’s council building.

Everyone important from the Twin Cities was there.

Even people who weren’t councilors—Vi, Zeri, Caitlyn, Ekko, Marcus—were all inside the meeting room. By the time Logan and Jinx arrived, everyone was already clustered around a map on the table, talking rapidly.

When Logan stepped in, Silco said, "Clan Ferros sent word. The Noxians have already passed the Bloodcliffs. They’re expected to reach the Variu Mountains by evening. Camille says they’ll stop in the mountains to rest and regroup, then arrive in Piltover tomorrow afternoon."

"How are they that fast?" Logan asked, startled.

The Variu Mountains cut across Valoran and act as a natural barrier for Piltover and Zaun, separating the Twin Cities from Noxus—but just the distance from the Bloodcliffs to the Variu range was already ridiculous.

"Noxus sent cavalry. A full-speed push the entire way. Of course they’re fast," Silco said.

"Did Camille say how many?" Logan asked.

"Five hundred cavalry as the vanguard. Another one thousand infantry behind them—handling supplies and logistics," Silco replied.

Ferros intelligence really was terrifying. They could even dig up numbers like that. It also made Silco think, involuntarily—if Ferros was this capable, why had he only realized it now?

And if Logan heard what Silco was thinking, he’d say: sure, Riot retconned a few things... but Clan Ferros still had that aura.

Camille being younger was one thing, but the idea that Clan Ferros effectively controlled Piltover hadn’t changed. Even when Mel first appeared, it was emphasized that she became Piltover’s richest councilor with the backing of Clan Ferros.

Which meant that even if no one from Ferros held a council seat, Piltover was full of their influence.

And now, with Noxus invading, Ferros intelligence proving itself like this only confirmed it—Ferros really did have power.

"Alright. Logan’s here, so let’s discuss how we respond to Noxus," Salo spoke up. Strangely enough, despite being someone who usually looked timid, he wasn’t panicking at all.

Hoskel let out a cold laugh and said, "I don’t think we need tactics at all."

"Send out the Hextech airships. Fly to the Variu Mountains."

Hoskel’s words were immediately backed up by another councilor. "Councilor Hoskel is right. We don’t need tactics. Councilor Silco, Councilor Vander—what do you two think?"

Silco smiled. "I agree with you."

"Artillery raining down from the sky—what can Noxus cavalry do about that?"

Logan heard that and grinned.

He slapped the table once and said, "Then it’s decided."

"They stop in the Variu Mountains at dusk, right? Have Ferros confirm their exact position. We strike first."

"They think we’re meat on the chopping block? Then they’ve got the wrong damn idea. If a full army was coming, we’d need to evacuate civilians and plan around collateral damage. But they only brought five hundred cavalry?"

Ha.

Not to brag, but were five hundred even enough for Logan to kill by himself?

"I’ll have the enforcers head to the warehouse and get the Hextech airships running—everything we prepared in advance," Marcus volunteered from the side.

Vi and Caitlyn naturally went with Marcus.

Logan’s voice dropped, hard and steady, as he continued:

"Let the Noxians see the Twin Cities’ strength. Let them understand one thing—when you fight from above, you crush idiots."

High ground already came with a built-in advantage—especially in the Variu Mountains, where cavalry couldn’t build momentum.

This was going to be one hell of a surprise for Noxus.

Airships launching. Bombardment from above.

Logan was looking forward to what the Twin Cities would look like in their first real war against outsiders. He didn’t think they’d disappoint him.

Because technology really could change everything.

Noxus couldn’t take Ionia back then either—until they relied on the chem-poison gas and chem-bombs Singed created.

So come on.

After today, the Twin Cities would make everyone in Valoran understand this: the Twin Cities weren’t just a rich, fat sheep.

They could be a wolf—armed to the teeth.

So tell me—who’s the prey now?

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