"General, does this mean I have a chance at earning a title too?" Grote asked in surprise.
During the earlier conversation, he'd been carefully listening to Ryan talk about the new merit-based system.
"The Empire's new title system has ten ranks," Ryan explained.
"You have a shot at earning one in the lower five. It's harder to go higher, but the benefits for meritorious service don't differ too much. Most people will be satisfied."
He had discussed the future policies of the Empire with Swain in detail.
It was clear that distributing rewards solely through conquest wouldn't be sustainable forever.
There would be less land to seize in the future, and more Noxians to provide for.
The pace of expansion would slow; internal development would have to pick up.
To ease the Empire through that transition, it made sense to have the veterans go first.
Active soldiers would eventually retire, and seeing the benefits veterans received, they'd be more willing to join the new system.
"I'm very happy with the title," Grote said, then suddenly thought of something.
He asked eagerly, "Can it be passed on to Seth?"
"He'll surpass you one day," Ryan said flatly.
Grote looked briefly stunned, then burst out laughing.
"Hah! You're probably right. With my service—and his father's—that should be enough for him to enter the Commander's Talent Program."
"Does he have any ambitions of his own?" Ryan asked with a faint smile.
"That kid wants to enlist. But Xin Zhao and the others come by often, and from what they say, recruitment standards have gotten stricter." Grote shook his head.
It wasn't that he doubted Seth's potential—he didn't want to see the boy follow the same bloody path he and others had walked.
"Administration is a good path too. He's got a decent head for dealing with people, and the Administrative office can help place him," Ryan said.
He and Swain still bore guilt over the comrades they lost in Placidium.
It had taken them five long years to return to the center of power, overthrow Darkwill, execute him, and finally deliver justice for those fallen.
Now the Empire needed unity—and a new direction.
Only once that was secured could they turn their eyes back toward Ionia.
"Yeah... administration sounds good. I can't fail Hayden. Watching Seth grow up safely is more than enough," Grote said, his voice complicated.
His history with Hayden had been messy, starting in bitterness, ending in brotherhood.
Boom! Boom!
A knock interrupted them, and the door opened.
Seth stepped in, carrying a large tray. He looked a little nervous, his tone apologetic.
"Sorry for the wait, sir. We didn't have time to prepare anything special, so I just brought some simple dishes."
Seraphine had already informed them, but facing the most powerful man in the Empire still made Seth uneasy.
Especially since his parents had once served under Ryan, and came home telling story after story of his legendary deeds.
"As Hayden's son, he wouldn't want to see you acting timid," Ryan said with a faint smile.
Seth froze for just a second, still holding the tray, but quickly regained his composure.
His voice was firmer this time:
"General, my name is Seth Hayden."
"That's better. A little resolve suits you."
Ryan chuckled, as if recalling something from the past.
"I thought Piltover might be more fighters like your mother. But when I visited Piltover, I found the people there... disappointing."
"Can you tell me more?" Seth asked as he finished laying out the dishes, curiosity in his tone.
His mother was from Piltover.
He only had vague memories of his mother, and his father was a Noxian through and through.
Plenty of women from Piltover had visited the shop—elegant, polite, not like the image Ryan painted.
"Take this plate of 'Snow Carp Dream,' for example. Piltover prepares it entirely differently."
Ryan gestured slightly with his chin toward the pure-white snow carp on the table.
A whole snow carp rested on the large serving plate, propped up by a delicate frame so that it appeared to leap into the air.
It looked like a grand and majestic fish leaping over a dragon gate.
"We present the whole fish like this to showcase its grandeur and atmosphere," Ryan explained.
"But Piltover would do it differently. They'd slice the entire fish into small portions, each delicately plated with a variety of beautiful garnishes and flavors. It's elegant and makes people feel at ease," he added.
"I see..." Seth nodded thoughtfully.
He wouldn't have noticed the contrast unless Ryan pointed it out.
You could tell a lot about a region's people from how they dressed, spoke, and ate.
Noxians admired strength, grandeur, and presence.
Piltover prized refinement and elegance.
"Snow Carp Dream" was a famous Piltover dish, made using a rare, snowy-white fish found only in the Boundary River.
Eating it triggered light hallucinations—pleasant, harmless, and never addictive.
"Teacher, try it already!" Seraphine urged, eyes sparkling.
She was practically drooling, but with her two teachers sitting still, she didn't dare start on her own.
Ryan gave her a faintly amused look, then finally picked up a small spoon.
He scooped some fish from the belly and brought it to his mouth.
The moment it touched his tongue, an image flashed through his mind—he and Syndra, surrounded by books in the top-floor library of the Mage Tower.
They read side by side, sometimes quietly exchanging thoughts and ideas.
The vision passed in an instant, but a soft smile curled on Ryan's lips.
"It melts instantly, and the hallucinogenic effect hits right away. This is top-grade work."
He nodded slightly, signaling his approval to Seth.
Under Seraphine's intense gaze, Syndra finally made her move, too.
Her slender index finger lifted slightly.
A piece of fish peeled cleanly off the bone and floated toward her, carried by invisible magic.
Ryan noticed a subtle motion—his index finger lifted slightly, and the floating morsel was wrapped in a delicate layer of frost, like a shimmering ice butterfly gliding through the air.
Syndra's lips parted. Just before the "ice butterfly" reached her mouth, she looked breathtaking, serene, ethereal.
It was a moment of fire meeting ice.
The cold edge softened.
The fish slipped past her lips, cool and fragrant.
She heard the trickle of spring water echo in her mind.
She couldn't remember how long she'd slept, but she felt someone approaching.
Before sealing, she had sworn to destroy Ionia and build a sanctuary where her power could grow freely.
She felt the call of magic. It had roused her from slumber.
She'd expected to wake to another fool.
But instead, she found someone like her.
A mage seeking the limit of the Arcane itself.
She had accepted his invitation, curious to see if such a magical world could ever truly exist...
The memory faded, but its imprint lingered in her mind, clear and unforgettable.
Seeing that Syndra was satisfied, Seraphine could finally hold back no longer.
She scooped up a bite and placed it in her mouth.
Even then, she was careful, not too much at once. She just enjoyed the taste.
The fish melted before she could chew, and a wave of images appeared before her eyes:
She stood onstage, singing to a cheering crowd.
She reached out to someone in need, pulling them from despair.
"...That's amazing," Seraphine murmured, savoring the feeling.
"Hahaha, every time I eat this, I remember the old days—fighting alongside the General and the Commander," Grote said with a laugh.
There was a nostalgic look in his eyes, and the warm smile on his face showed just how much the Trifarian veteran still missed the battlefield.
"Maybe there'll be another chance," Ryan said vaguely.
"Then Seth and I won't interrupt your meal any longer. General, if there's ever anything you need from me, say the word," Grote said, bowing slightly.
"Go on," Ryan nodded.
He watched quietly as Grote closed the door behind him.
As they continued eating, Seraphine asked curiously, "Teacher, can you tell me what happened during the war?"
She had heard that Ryan was the most honored figure in the modern Empire.
It wasn't just because of his immense power, but because he had led countless victorious campaigns.
"War isn't something worth talking about: blood and chaos. Everyone fights for their own beliefs," Ryan replied, calm but distant.
Glory may be the outcome, but the process was nothing short of brutal.
"Then... what about magic?" Seraphine asked, eyes twinkling.
"Is there a shortcut to condensing runes?"