The morning sun cast a golden glow over Piltover as the Patron Librarians assembled outside the Library, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension. The Enforcers, clad in their crisp uniforms, surrounded them, forming a protective barrier between the Librarians and the bustlingp people that lived in City of Progress. Hod took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. This was a significant day, and she couldn't afford to let her nerves get the best of her.

The bridge leading from the Library to Piltover was crowded with citizens eager to catch a glimpse of the mysterious visitors. Whispers and murmurs filled the air, creating a buzz of anticipation. Hod glanced at her fellow Librarians, noting the determined look on Angela's face, the calm composure of Yesod, and the guarded expressions of Hokma and Binah.

As they began their walk across the bridge, Hod found herself next to Yesod. She leaned in, keeping her voice low. "Have you expected Piltover to be anything like this up close?"

Yesod shook his head slightly. "No. I've had some vague impressions of it based off of how Powder previously described it, but seeing it in person is different. It's... oddly nostalgic, though still distinctive in its own right."

Hod nodded in agreement. "It really does feel like we're in a different world, doesn't it? The architecture, the people... everything is so vibrant in a way the City wasn't." She put her hands together, biting her lip as she rethought that sentence. "But the hustle and the bustle, the technological marvels…it all really feels like we've somehow fallen onto a tech-heavy Nest, doesn't it?" Which was something she didn't know how she felt about; she didn't particularly hold a lot of affection for the City, but it was her home, first and foremost. It was a conflicting sentiment, to tell the truth…

Angela, walking ahead with Chesed, turned her head slightly to catch their conversation. "Stay focused," she murmured, snapping the both of them out of their moment of introspection. "We have a lot to accomplish today, not to mention we have to be on our best behavior. We can save the reminiscence for another time." Her tone was stern, although she couldn't necessarily blame either of the Librarians; she was quite prone to go on long inner monologues, though her slowed-down time perception allowed her to go most unnoticed during said monologues.

The group continued in silence for a few minutes, each lost in their thoughts. The Enforcers kept a close watch, their eyes scanning the crowd for any signs of trouble. Hod couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease. This city, with all its grandeur, still felt as if it had some of the City's atmosphere, at least to some degree. A tenth of a tenth of a tenth, maybe even less, but it was still enough to remind her of her not-so-dear homeland.

As they neared the entrance to the Piltover Council building, Hod found herself next to Binah. "What do you think of all this?" she asked quietly, trying to make any form of small talk so as to not be suffocated by the silence.

Binah's eyes flickered with a hint of amusement; she was not used to making 'small talk', as her every word was calculated, and she didn't speak more than she had to, though she supposed she could entertain fellow members of her party. "Piltover clearly is a city of true innovation and grand ambition, though in a way, that's not all too different from what the City believes it is, is it not? Though I have no direct evidence, it could be that there's more to this city than meets the eye."

Hod nodded, appreciating Binah's insight. She felt a bit more grounded, knowing that her fellow Librarians shared her sense of vigilance...Or at least, that was the impression she got from Binah. It was difficult to have a good grasp over the former Arbiter's mind and how its gears ticked even after all these years.

The Council building loomed ahead, its imposing structure a visual testament to Piltover's power and influence. As they approached, the Enforcers led them through the grand entrance, the doors opening to reveal a lavishly decorated hallway. The marble floors gleamed under the light of chandeliers, and intricate tapestries adorned the walls.

The Enforcers guided them to a large meeting room, where the Council members were already seated. The room was filled with the faint hum of conversation, which ceased abruptly as Angela and her invited entourage entered.

Angela stepped forward, her presence commanding the room's attention. "Esteemed Council members, as Director of the Library, I, Angela, extend my greetings once more. Thank you for taking the time to convene with all of us today."

The group of distinguished men and women nodded in acknowledgment, appearing much the same as the last time she had seen them. The only difference was their demeanor—less panicked and more at ease with their new tenants. The bluenette didn't mind this at all; fewer variables meant less to worry about. Angela then gestured to Hod and Yesod, who stepped forward.

"These are two of my most trusted Librarians," Angela said. "Hod, the Patron Librarian of the Floor of Literature, and Yesod, the Patron Librarian of the Floor of Technological Sciences."

Hod curtseyed politely. "It is an honor to meet you all."

Yesod gave a respectful nod. "We appreciate the opportunity to work with you."

Angela continued, "As it has already been discussed two day prior, Hod will be accompanying Binah when the Enforcers show her around Piltover to…prevent any potential misunderstandings, while Yesod will be with Hokma during the meeting with Jayce and Viktor in their lab." And truthfully, Angela had full confidence in her team's abilities…but she also didn't trust Binah to not intimidate, threaten, antagonize, or at the very best confuse the Enforcers if left to her own devices.

Chesed stepped forward, holding a stack of documents and papers. "These are some preliminary reports and proposals for you all to look over, if you don't mind a bit of reviewing~." he said, handing them to the Council members.

Taking the stacks of paper from the blue-haired Librarian and giving a quick lookover, Heimerdinger took the documents and began to distribute them among his colleagues. "Thank you, Mr. Chesed. We will review these thoroughly. I trust that this is a part of the proposals you are presenting for trade agreements you have in mind?"

"Indeed, Professor Heimerdinger." The Library Director confirmed, "Please take a moment or two to look over the documents and feel free to bring up any questions you have."

As the Council members began to peruse the documents, Angela turned to the group, her expression serious. "Remember, we are here to build alliances, gather information, and show that we are worth their trust and goodwill. Stay vigilant and be respectful. Understand?"

"You can count on me, director!" Chirped Hod.

"No ongoing experiment will combust with me around," Assured Yesod.

"No ongoing experiment shall demulsify with me around," Promised Hokma.

"What my well-intentioned colleagues said," Supported Binah.

Silence.

"...You know what? Good enough from you lot." Angela finally sighed before turning towards Marcus. "My employees are in your safe and capable hands, Head Enforcer."

"As you say, Director Angela." With that, Marcus turned towards the door. "Shall we get going then?"

"Lead the way, Head Enforcer, for there is no room for doubt or worry within my mind when I am in such welcoming and safe company such as you and your most lovely team expert protectors." With that little barb, Binah took up the spot of leading the rest of the Librarians just as Angela turned back to fully address the council once more, hoping that the clearly sarcastic faux-sweetness from the tea enthusiast hadn't put them off. .

The Enforcers led the rest of the Librarians out of the room, leaving Angela and Chesed with the Council. Hod felt a mix of excitement and apprehension as she followed Binah and their escort through the hallways of the Council building. The polished floors and ornate decor spoke of Piltover's wealth and power, yet there was an undercurrent of tension that Hod couldn't shake.

Their walk was brisk, the Enforcers guiding them through the labyrinthine corridors of the Council building until they reached a set of double doors. Marcus stepped forward and pushed them open, revealing the Hextech lab beyond. The room was a symphony of glowing crystals and intricate machinery, the air humming with the energy of innovation.

There Jayce and the one assumed to be Viktor were bent over a workbench, deep in discussion. Various contraptions and devices lay scattered around them, some sparking with energy, others whirring softly. As the Librarians entered, one of the lab assistants, a young woman with brown hair and glasses, hurried over and whispered something in Jayce's ear. He straightened up abruptly, a look of surprise and mild embarrassment crossing his face.

"Ah, our guests have arrived. Thank you Sky." Jayce announced, brushing off his hands and stepping forward. "My apologies for not being there in the council chamber to greet you properly. I wanted to make sure everything was up and running for your arrival."

Hokma stepped forward, extending his hand. "No need to apologize, Mr. Talis. Science is a field where even the smallest miscalculation can ruin years of research. I understand completely as one scientist to another."

Jayce shook Hokma's hand enthusiastically. "You have no idea how much I appreciate that Mr. Hokma. Please, let me introduce my colleague and partner in the creation of Hextech. Viktor, this is Hokma and Yesod from the Library."

Viktor, who had been observing quietly thus far, grabbed his nearby crutch before stepping forward and shook hands with Hokma and Yesod. "It's a pleasure to meet you both," he greeted respectfully, albeit monotonously, as if this was a song and dance too many times for his liking at this point.

"Yesod, our Patron Librarian of Technological Sciences," Hokma introduced. "I'm sure you and Viktor will have much to discuss."

"Yesod of Technological Sciences," Viktor repeated, shaking his hand, sounding more genuine than before. "So it seems to me that you people do know your science. Glad to know this most likely won't end with our lab blowing up into smoldering pieces."

Yesod gave a slight smirk at that. "We do our best to avoid explosions, though I can't promise there won't be a few sparks."

The group of four chuckled, the ice broken. Jayce and Viktor led Hokma and Yesod to the workbench, where several intricate devices were displayed. "We've been working on improving the efficiency of Hextech crystals," Jayce explained, "but we've hit a bit of a roadblock."

"Yes," Viktor added, "we've encountered a resonance issue that's causing instability in the energy output."

Hokma and Yesod both leaned in, examining the setup. "If I may," Yesod began, "it seems the issue might be related to the harmonic frequency of the crystals. Have you considered using a dampening field to stabilize the resonance?"

Viktor's eyes lit up with interest. "We've considered dampening fields, but we didn't think they'd be effective at this scale. Do you have a specific configuration in mind?"

"Yes," Yesod replied, pulling out a small notebook. He sketched a quick diagram. "If you adjust the field to match the natural frequency of the crystals, it should neutralize the instability."

Jayce and Viktor studied the diagram intently. "That's brilliant," Jayce said. "We hadn't thought to adjust the frequency in that way."

Hokma nodded in agreement. "Additionally, you might want to look into the crystal lattice structure. A slight reconfiguration could enhance the overall stability and energy output."

The discussion grew more animated as the four scientists delved deeper into the technical aspects of Hextech. Ideas flowed freely, each suggestion building on the last

Hod and Binah observed from a distance, occasionally exchanging glances. Binah's expression remained inscrutable, but Hod couldn't hide her fascination.

As the discussion continued, a dark blue haired Enforcer approached Marcus, who was previously standing by the doorway. "Sir, it's time to move on and begin the tour for Miss Binah and Miss Hod."

Marcus nodded and stepped forward, clearing his throat. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we need to continue with the schedule. Miss Hod, Miss Binah, if you'll come with me, we'll begin your tour around Piltover."

"No issue at all." Binah commented with Hod nodding in agreement, "I hope your collaboration with these two gentlemen bare bountiful fruit, Hokma, Yesod."

With that, the two Patron Librarians left their associates to their scientific innovations as Binah and Hod followed their escorts out of the room and through the hallways of the building; the polished floors and ornate decor echoing their footsteps.

Once they were a good distance away from the laboratory, Marcus couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Let's hope those mad scientists don't end up inventing something that'll cause Piltover to explode into smithereens."

Hod overheard him and stifled a giggle, while Binah's lips twitched in what might have been the ghost of a smile...or perhaps Hod imagined it as such; it was difficult to read the expressions on a woman who controlled her nerves and emotions down to a T.

As they made it outside the room, Marcus began discussing the planned locations they had in mind for Binah and Hod, holding a map in his gloved hands, he gestured to various spots on it.

"We've scheduled visits to several key sites in Piltover," he said. "First, we'll take you to the Piltover Academy. After that—"

Binah interrupted him politely, her voice smooth but firm in a way that often left those around her slightly unnerved if one were not already used to it. "I appreciate the thorough planning, Head Enforcer, but I believe it would be more efficient for me to have just one of your people guide me through Piltover. This aligns with the task assigned to me by the Library Director and allows me to perform my duties more effectively."

Marcus hesitated, clearly taken aback. "Miss Binah, I understand your perspective, but Piltover can be unpredictable. It's safer for you to have a full escort."

Binah smiled, a gesture that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Safety is important, yes, but too many Enforcers would draw unnecessary attention and hinder my work. I need to move discreetly and observe without interference. One competent guide will suffice."

"But, Miss Binah," Marcus protested, his brow furrowing, "the city is large and complex. One Enforcer might not be enough to ensure your safety and provide the information you need."

"I have full confidence that a single Enforcer, properly briefed and capable, will be able to handle the task. It will also prevent any potential misunderstandings or disruptions caused by a larger group. Efficiency is paramount."

Marcus looked at her, clearly struggling to refute her points. He sighed, realizing he had no valid counterargument. "Very well, Miss Binah. Who do you have in mind to guide you through Piltover?"

Binah pointed to the dark blue-haired woman standing nearby, whose piercing blue eyes widen with surprise. She was trying to maintain a stoic expression, but the slight tremor going through her betrayed her nerves. "Her."

The dark blue haired woman, who had been listening quietly, visibly straightened. She tried to maintain her composure despite the sudden attention. "Y-Yes, ma'am?"

Marcus tried one last time to interject, "Perhaps we could assign someone with more experience in guiding visitors—"

But Binah's expression made it clear she wasn't having any of it, giving Marcus a look that could wilt flowers. "This one is perfectly suitable. She clearly has the skills and knowledge required. There's no need for anyone else." And she was also very reminiscent of her assistant Librarians back in the Library; she certainly trembled as much as they did when she turned to face them.

Binah walked over to her chosen guide, stopping in front of her as if to peer inside her very soul. The youthful Enforcer felt a cold sweat on the back of her neck. "And to whom do I have the honor of guiding me through the City of Progress on this fine day?"

"C-Caitlyn. Caitlyn Kiramman, ma'am."

"Caitlyn Kiramman…" Binah echoed with care and dark amusement, her low chuckle sending shivers down the spines of anyone around who wasn't Hod. She offered Caitlyn her arm with a dramatic flourish.

Caitlyn looked at Marcus, seeking his guidance. He gave a helpless nod, indicating she should comply.

Slowly, as if she was handling a poisonous viper, Caitlyn hooked her arm around Binah's. Binah patted Caitlyn's hand in a gesture that was likely meant to be reassuring but felt more like a reminder of who was in charge. The two began walking towards the deeper parts of Piltover's city.

"Where shall we go first, Miss Kiramman?" Binah asked, her tone almost playful.

Caitlyn, regaining some poise, responded with, "I think the local food market would be a good start, given the job Director Angela has given you..."

Binah's eyes lit up with mischievous delight. "The market? How delightful! Lead the way, Miss Kiramman. Let's see what wonders Piltover has to offer."

As they walked away, Hod moved sheepishly next to Marcus, who currently muttering to himself, clearly stressed. She asked gently, "Are you alright, Marcus?"

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just hope a certain council member doesn't send me packing for this."

Hod smiled reassuringly, her eyes sparkling with warmth. "I'm sure they'll understand. And if it helps, would you mind showing me around the building?"

"...Of course, Miss Hod. Right this way."


In the maze of dark alleyways, crumbling buildings, and toxic fumes that made up much of Zaun, a different kind of mission was unfolding. Powder, Roland, Gebura, and Tiphereth had managed to sneak just outside a Shimmer Factory, the heart of Zaun's illicit operations, with no one the wiser.

Their mission was clear: observe, plan, and when the time was right, strike to bring down the factory and disrupt the Shimmer supply chain that allowed Silco and the Chem Barons to have an iron-clad grip on the Undercity.

There were probably a few steps missing from that plan, though. Still, it was a good enough framework.

The group crouched in the shadows, just beyond the reach of the factory's lights. The building was a hulking structure of rusted metal and cracked concrete, with thick pipes snaking out from its sides like the tentacles of a mechanical beast. The air was thick with the acrid stench of chemicals, and the hum of machinery filled the night.

Powder, with her electric blue hair and wide, mischievous eyes of a true agent of chaos, peered through a pair of binoculars as her fingers tapped rhythmically against the metal casing, "Alright, just in you lot need a good reminder, here's the plan. We observe the place first, find the weak points, and figure out the best way in and out. Then we strike, but only when we know we've got the upper hand."

Roland, his years of experience as Fixer taking over, glanced at her. "Right. For now, we just find the weak points, the security lapses. We need to know the layout, the patrol patterns, and the best way in and out. No rushing in blind."

Gebura, with a gaze that could cut steel, nodded in agreement. "Same with the others we're gonna go to, right? Though I feel the need to point out that one wrong move, and it's all over. We can't afford to get caught now or else these Chem Barons will have all of their factories on lockdown."

Tiphereth, added on with, "And once we have all the information we need, we hit them hard. But not before. We need to be smart about this."

Powder pouted slightly but nodded. "Fine, fine. Stick to the plan. Got it."

Roland smirked, patting her on the shoulder. "That's the spirit. Now, let's get to work."

The four of them settled into their positions, each keeping a careful watch on different parts of the factory. Roland observed the guards' patrol routes, noting the timing and patterns. Gebura focused on the building's structural weaknesses, identifying potential entry points. Tiphereth monitored the surrounding area, ensuring they weren't being watched. Powder, despite her impatience, meticulously mapped out the layout and noted the locations of security cameras and alarms.

Their work was punctuated by the occasional banter, a way to keep potential nerves in check. Powder, ever the joker, couldn't resist teasing her companions. "So, Gebura, how many guards do you think you could take down before breakfast?"

Gebura grinned, her eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. "All of them, and still have room for seconds."

Tiphereth hummed softly. "Let's not test that theory just yet. We need to get out of this without raising any alarms."

Roland, keeping his focus on the task at hand, allowed himself a small smile at the exchange. "Alright, everyone. Focus. We've got a job to do."

As they continued their surveillance, the night grew darker and the factory seemed to pulse with a sinister life of its own. The plan was simple: gather intel, find the weaknesses, and plan a coordinated strike to bring the factory down. It was a plan that required patience and precision, qualities that each member of the team possessed in spades.

Suddenly, the stillness of the night was shattered by a deafening explosion. The roof of the factory blew apart in a shower of sparks and debris, sending a shockwave through the air. The four of them ducked instinctively, shielding themselves from the falling rubble.

When the dust settled, they looked up to see a group of masked individuals descending on what looked to be flying skateboards. They moved with practiced agility, their movements synchronized and precise. The factory's alarms blared to life, and chaos erupted below.

As all hell broke loose, Roland could only sigh deeply, rubbing his temples with what can only be described as office brand frustration. "Well, there goes that plan."


And that's a cliffhanger!

Hope the meetings are well liked enough and the pairings chosen will peak ya'll interests. And as for that ending, pretty sure you guys know whose busted inside that Shimmer Factory.

So! Its going to be a good bit before the next chapter comes out as I am going back to college soon and will not be able to write as much as before.

So, until next time!