"Silco is underestimated by this council.", Vi looked at one council member after another until her pale blue eyes remained glued to you. "The Undercity has always been divided, but under him they have a common goal."

"And what would that be?", Bolbok turned in all directions with a click.

Although it was not a real being of flesh and blood, you could feel the unease. Uncertainty and fear were a poison that could corrupt many. But in your opinion, a creature as old as them should have a little more backbone.

Heimerdinger was cautious because he had time to observe the situation. Bolbok and Salo shared the same cowardice. Shoola wanted to be against it for the sake of being against it.

"They pursue independence.", Vi's words cut into the body of the council like a knife through flesh. "They call it the nation of Zaun."

Now you had to take notice yourself. Business in the lanes had always been characterised by crime. The deeper one went, the worse it got.

The edge of the city, where the bridges connected the two banks, was still inhabited by normal people, labourers who came in the daytime to build houses and do business. But if one went deeper down, the air got bad and society got worse.

"We could equip the belt with weapons.", Salo looked around desperately. "As protection."

You frowned.

"Sacrifice civilians to protect you?", Vi showed her teeth.

Salo gritted his teeth. Fear tightened his throat. You almost had to laugh. A really bad choice and yet you had hoped to benefit from it. Now it came back to bite you.

"We can't risk innocent people getting involved.", Medarda agreed.

"The problem lies in the lanes.", Vi took a deep breath, restraining her anger. "The bosses of the Undercity are uniting. They want sole control. Uncontrolled trade."

"Trade is already going on under our noses.", Jayce pulled a document from his pockets. "Thousands of errors in the registers. The Hexgates are being used to smuggle illegal goods and we don't know where."

"Their criminality has been organised for a long time.", Caitlyn Kiramman looked at Heimerdinger. "Very few of them are really evil. But there are a lot of hangers-on."

"And an even greater number of repressed ones.", Vi pulled a bottle of purple liquid from her pocket. "Many in the Undercity are addicted. Or have someone who is. The suffering is fuelled by the patrols of the enforcers. They do not trust that they will be helped."

Discussions spread. Glances were exchanged. More and more unrest grew. Opinions changed. Doubts and opposition collided with each other.

The council had not yet changed its mind. But the spectators seemed to understand.

"We need to harden the patrols.", Bolbok suggested.

"What?!", Vi almost exploded.

With a slight gesture, you raised your hand to calm her down.

"It seems to me that listening is a difficult task.", you growled derisively. "The presence of the enforcers could help if they didn't behave as if they were something better."

"They are the representatives of law and order, Councillor Hoskel.", Mel Medarda narrowed his eyes. "Are you saying we have no faith in our own system?"

A smirk twitched at your lips. You wanted to laugh, but that would be far more harmful than simply keeping your mouth shut. Nevertheless, you couldn't help but make a comment.

"We don't have to doubt, but it would be ignorant to claim that everything is as it could be. Or should be.", you glanced at Cassandra Kiramman out of the corner of your eye. "There are certainly ambitious and understanding members among the enforcers. But we have to recognise that the reputation has changed since Sheriff Greyson's passing. Not fundamentally for the better."

Voices rose again. Satisfaction spread through your chest. Apparently you weren't the only one who wasn't fond of Sheriff Marcus.

"Your enforcers are compromised.", Vi agreed.

Someone gasped.

"We've learnt that Sheriff Marcus is among those taking payment from Silco.", Caitlyn rubbed her aching forehead. "We have proof."

You frowned in surprise while the other members of the council looked around wildly.

Even you had to admit that this information was new. You guessed it, no one had had as good a grip on the reins as Greyson. And yet it was disappointing that the successor and former apprentice was such a failure.

"That means the controls were faulty.", Jayce deduced. "Not all of them, that would be too conspicuous."

"But many.", Medarda sorted her paper.

"The mood in the Undercity is bad.", Vi turned to Heimerdinger. "But people still want freedom. A safe life. Health."

"The situation in the lanes has always been bad.", agreed Shoola.

"We can't afford to strain relationships any further.", you admonished. "It's time to reach out to the people instead of pointing at them."

"We would have to choose wisely if we decide to support them.", Heimerdinger looked around the council and for the first time ever it felt like he understood the gravity of the situation.

"And yet that is where our power lies.", you rose from your chair, light fell on your (S/C) face making it glow as if the arcane itself approved. "We will be able to choose. Look who has come to us, a daughter of the Undercity. Because she wants to do the right thing. If Vi wants it that way, there will be others who want it. Let those who want good come to us. And then we will stand with them. For a better relationship and a peaceful city. Not for Piltover and Zaun, but for us. United."

Doubts.

Restraint.

Hope.

All these things were poison and yet healing at the same time. All these things could destroy, but they could also save if they were used correctly.

The world was neither black nor white, nor light and shadow. It was a play of colours, sometimes darker, sometimes lighter. Over the centuries Piltover had become unbalanced, the picture it had painted was bleak and so devoid of joy.

Now it was time to pick up the paintbrush and touch it up so that every eye could enjoy it. Two pictures would be combined to form a panorama. All that was needed was an artist to sew the canvases and remix the colours.

Silence had fallen.

The beat of your own heart was louder than a thousand boots marching at the same time. Then suddenly a sigh sounded, heavy and yet insightful.

"It seems to me that we have endeavoured to divide for too long.", Heimerdinger raised his head, the blue of his eyes sparkling with magic. "If that's what the council wants, then we will save our city and our people. I vote in favour."