Arcane

But remember:

You're a Kiramman.

I will lead a strike team into Zaun with three objectives:

Locate Jinx, dismantle Shimmer,

and neutralize any agents still loyal to Silco.

The rise of industry in the fissures

has led to the air becoming increasingly toxic.

They call it the Grey.

I've instructed our architects to devise a ventilation system.

The people of the underground deserve to breathe.

They call it the Grey.

Thanks. I thought I was a goner.

You're Smeech's man.

Was.

Not anymore. Name's Heenot.

I...

Oh, I decided it was time for me to retire.

Looks more like someone decided to retire you.

Yeah, well, timing was never my strong...

Sorry.

- Sorry, it's... It's the Grey. - It gives me the...

Tell us how you wound up here.

Hey, wait, wait.

Jinx is off the rails, even for her.

She's got a real fire lit under her ass.

She's planning something big,

right here in the pipeworks.

It's a pretty big place down here.

She was headed towards the old tunnels. Something about rerouting the vents.

- This is it, then. Cuff him. - Hey, I told you everything I know.

You're a confessed criminal. You'll spend your retirement in a cell.

Check your gear.

This is what we've trained for.

Can I get a minute?

Your first request for an audience was uninteresting.

The second, inappropriate for someone of your station.

The third...

plain annoying.

People have lost their heads for less.

So tell me, Amara,

what does a member of Piltover's merchant guild want from me?

I'm not here representing the guild.

I've come here to settle a debt.

My bookkeeper is down the hall.

What you've stolen...

...is more precious than any gold.

Did you truly believe Piltover was beyond our reach?

My son is dead.

Is that not enough to sate your bloodlust?

I haven't insulted your intelligence, Ambessa.

Do not insult mine.

We know what you're chasing in Piltover.

We will not allow it.

Allow?

Thank you.

Your visit only confirms my suspicions.

Try to stop me, insolent witch.

My death means nothing.

You should have given up the feud.

You have no inkling what family is to me.

Triple the guard.

This will have consequences.

We need control now.

Salo isn't ready.

Perhaps it's time we involved Mel.

No. We must distance ourselves.

She's safer as our enemy.

I'll handle Salo.

Mm.

Her disappearance won't go unnoticed for long.

It's worse than that.

We should cut the others loose.

Listen, if that Heenot idiot is telling the truth,

Jinx is gonna have surprises in store for us.

All the more reason to bring backup.

She'll smell their nerves a mile away and find a way to use them against us.

Tell me I'm wrong.

I can't let her get away again. Are you sure you're ready to...?

My sister is gone.

There's only Jinx now.

It has to end.

I'm so sorry about your mother.

I'm sorry I can't bring her back, but please just...

Everyone in my life has changed. Promise me you won't change.

I won't.

Out.

Do you realize how easy it was for me to track you down here?

Hmm. Well, I do own the place.

It's enough work propping you up

without you dulling what few wits are left rattling around in there.

If you propped as well as you prod,

maybe I'd have better uses for my time

than sitting around waiting for an update

on Princess Kiramman's underground escapades.

She's gotten no closer to Jinx.

But that doesn't seem to steal the stars from anyone's eyes.

Perhaps if you hadn't let a child overpower you in your own chamber.

It's not the girl.

It's the name.

It bewitches people.

You should know.

Do you really think Mel could have succeeded--?

Never speak ill of my family.

Why are you here?

To sober you up.

Mission accomplished.

It's time.

Rally every house and family with even a modicum of influence.

Can you manage that?

Wait. For certain?

Yes, of course.

Whatever you need.

There is another matter, concerning your guild merchant Amara.

And, yes.

Lift.

Fantastic stuff.

Good to see you again, Lest.

I'm out.

Keeping an eye on a councilor with peculiar tastes doesn't rattle me.

But that woman...

You met my mother? What did she want?

I don't know. They kicked me out before I could hear any of it.

We both know you heard every word.

I'm sorry, but I really can't.

Lest, this is vitally important.

I need to know.

This was never about Salo.

You're using me to get to her.

And then what?

You take what you need, hang me out to dry? Hmm?

I'm expendable?

No, no one is expendable.

That's what this is all about.

Everything with my mother is a calculated risk.

I'd love to promise your safety,

but I can't make any assurances other than this:

If my mother gets what she wants, the whole city will suffer.

And right now you're the only one who can stand in her way.

They're setting up some big announcement.

All the who's who.

Aiming to take over and put Salo in the hot seat, but...

we know who's really pulling the strings.

I caught a name. Amara.

I don't know what you make of that.

Here, brand-new cocktail. All the rage.

It's made with Shimmer.

Leaves traces on the body.

That should be all you need to shut Salo down.

Thank you.

For what it's worth...

dangerous as she is, your mother was spooked.

I could smell it.

Like a cat backed into a corner.

Viktor hypothesized that there may be something he called "wild runes."

Patterns that occur naturally

where the border between our world and the Arcane is thin.

Runes like the ones you use in Hextech.

What's the difference between those and wild runes?

Pass me a tome.

I used words you understood in order to elicit your action.

This is what Hextech runes are.

Pass me a tome.

Pass me a tome.

There, you sighed. Still a kind of language.

A sound, but not words.

Something raw. Natural.

That's wild runes.

Most places, the Arcane is dormant, but here and there, it's more active.