With one hand behind his back, his usual grim expression and the other hand holding his blue helmet, Marcus stood in front of the council. As the sheriff of Piltover he was used to those kinds of reports but this time it had a rather critical reason.

Right next to him were two chairs. One was occupied by a pale looking, scrawny man who seemed to need all his strength to keep breathing.

His name was Viktor, a crippled scientist and one of the co-founders of the Hex Gates. It was an open secret that his physical health was declining by the day, but Marcus had never seen him in such rough shape.

On the other chair sat Jayce Talis, a man who was just as confident about himself as Marcus was about disliking him.

Both of them sat with their heads lowered as if they were little boys waiting to be scolded.

The oldest council member, Heimerdinger, was standing in front of the window, looking down to the battlefield.

Yesterday had been progress day, a holiday to celebrate Piltover wealth and superiority. Unfortunately, someone had attacked said fair and had made it the latest issue of the cities safety.

"The gemstone is gone, along with some of our research papers.", Viktor began to explain in his exhausted voice.
Marcus jumped in.

"The situation is still developing.", he said. "No one in the Undercity has claimed responsibility yet."

Heimeridnger shook his head.

"How did it come to this?", he asked.

But the other council members seemed to have answers right away.

"Hmm. For too long has the underground been left unchecked.", a man with a beard and lazy proportions complained while playing with something that looked like a futuristic rubix cube.

But council member Shoola disapproval.

"We've lost touch.", she explained in a soft voice. "They may not be your preferred constituents, but they're still our people."

The old Kiraman disagreed.

"The Undercity cannot be controlled.", she said. "Not by us."

"So where does that leave us?", the blond asked.

Marcus disliked him almost more than the rest of the bunch. He was shiny and weak, always picking the easiest route and never wanting to pull the short end of the stick. In a way all the council members could be described this way.

Councillor Bolbok, the only none physical species at the table, grumbled.

"Mister Talis.", he addressed the man directly. "Could the trenchers build a weapon with the stolen crystal?"

Hoskel gasped.

"Shimmer, body replacements.", he played on his toy. "We've seen their ingenuity over the years, of course, they can."

Jayce jumped from his chair.

Surprised, Marcus raised an eyebrow and let his gaze wander through the room. It was nice to be the first to hear how terrible things were going.

"If the right person got a hold of it, it's possible they could utilise its energy."

"We need to address this immediately.", Kiraman suggested.

Now, Viktor wanted to get up too.

But Jayce signalised him to stay seated.

"I agree.", he assured. "It was my responsibility to safeguard this technology and I failed. My mistake cost people their lives. I have come before you to recommend that we suspend all Hextech operations until the situation is resolved. Including our labradorites, the refinery and the Hexgates."

With a hint of admiration, Marcus had to nod.

"Have you lost your mind?!", Hoskel slammed his fist in the table.

"The Hexgates need to remain open.", Shoola said. "Piltover's status as a global shipping lane depends on it. Thousands would loose their income."

"But shouldn't the safety of Piltover be our first priority?", Jayce asked, shocked.

"You would sacrifice your life's work?", Heimerdinger asked.

"Without the Hexgates, my goods cannot reach foreign markets till winter.", Hoskel complained. "Am I to tell the Noxians their next shipment of wine will be vinegar?"

Suddenly, Mel Medara raised her voice.

"Councillors, it appears we are at an impasse.", she announced. "If we shut down the Hexgates, the city will suffer. But if we do nothing, we leave ourselves vulnerable to malefactors. More lives may be lost. Perhaps the time has come to explore a more radical solution."

The old Kiraman shrugged.

"What are you suggesting?", she asked.

"Mister Talis has demonstrated his commitment to our safety. He's willing to sacrifice his own enterprise. And it seems to me only Mister Talis has the knowledge necessary to secure the Hexgates. I propose that a new chair is brought forth, and that house Talis be elevated to this august body."

As her words reached Marcus' ears, he almost choked on his own breath. Sunrised, his eyes jumped back and forth between the members of the council.

And Jayce shared the surprise. Confused, he frowned.

"What?", he asked.

But Mel wasn't finished yet.

"As a councillor he will have the recourses necessary to protect all our investments.", she explained.

Shoola said what all of them were thinning.

"Councillor Medarda.", she said, tapping on the desk. "This is highly irregular. The council has held seven seats for generations."

"Does the boy have any experience?", Bolbok asked.

"Only that of a scientist.", Mel eyed Jayce. "Like Heimerdinger."

Heimerdinger frowned and sighed.

"I believe councillor Medarda is right.", he said after a moment. "Hextech security should be administered by a scientist. I second the motion."

"Shall we vote then?", Mel smiled.

As soon as the meeting was over, Marcus rushed out the door. He could hardly believe what he had just wittinesses.

The Hextech wonderboy was on the council. A councillor, one of the mightiest fuckers in all of Piltover.

Silco would hate to hear this news.

"Shit...", he cursed and put on his helmet to leave.

But somebody held him back. Surprised, he glanced over his shoulder, only to be more surprised by the sight of Viktor.

"Sir.", he politely bowed his head, his arms crossed behind his back.

The man greeted him, breathing exhausted.

"I assume you will need help?", Viktor asked. "It might sound strange, but I happen to know someone who could be of help to you. If what they told me is true, that is."

But Marcus cut him off with a raised hand.

"I'll handle the issue personally.", he assured with a put on smile. "I'll do my duty. Don't worry about it."