"roar!!!"On the plains where Noxus and Demacia meet, four dragon birds roared in unison, flapping their wings but daring not to advance.Laurent Old General, perched on the dragon bird's back, widened his eyes and exclaimed in surprise:" Winged Protector?"Directly in front of them stood Kayle, with six golden wings spread across her back and clad in silver-white armor.However, Kayle no longer possessed his holy sword and was not carrying any weapon.Even so, Kayle's appearance plunged Laurent Old General's heart into despair.A month is neither a long nor a short time.Given Noxus's immense power, it seems not impossible that he could..."Disperse! Send the message back to The Capital!!!" Laurent shouted.Without hesitation, the four dragon riders began to move, scattering in the air and riding their dragons to escape at top speed.A cold, playful glint flashed across Kayle's lips, and the gold in his eyes slowly gave way to black.Immediately afterwards, her figure vanished from the spot.laugh!!!"Awooo!!!"A piercing scream from a creature echoed through the sky.The other knights didn't have time to look back, only Laurent Old General couldn't bear to look back even once.The dragon-bird knight heading north was cleaved in two by a golden light, his blood instantly evaporated by the golden holy flames before it could even drip.In no time at all, both the man and the dragon turned to ash."Run!"Laurent suppressed his fear and grief, and his dragon-like beast charged westward at top speed.After Kayle left, the west was empty; that was the fastest route to the interior of Demacia.Soon, the three knights disappeared from sight in the blink of an eye, and Kayle also vanished at the same time.Several tens of minutes after leaving, Laurent Old General, still on edge, made a decision in an instant:"This place is very close to Eternal Peak, which is the training base for the Dragon Riders. We must get the news of the Winged Protector's betrayal back to The Capital!""yes!"The dragon rider controlled the dragon bird to swoop down, about to rush towards the majestic mountain peak in the distance.But then, a golden figure suddenly appeared in front of them, causing their expressions to change drastically.Before they could make a move, Kayle had a bow and arrow in his hand.Draw the bow, and release the arrow!Whoosh!The seemingly ordinary arrow streaked through the air in a golden beam, and in the blink of an eye, it had pierced the dragon rider's neck.The knight's death instantly enraged the dragon bird, which roared and charged toward Kayle.No matter how much General Laurent shouted and pounded, it was to no avail; his face was filled with despair.This location is thousands of meters in the air, and Kayle's presence here suggests that the other two knights must have met with misfortune.But why?If Noxus was willing to sign a peace treaty, why did they still have the Winged Protector intercept them?Could it be that his guess was wrong?Is the real reason that He wants to incite war between the two sides?The dragon bird's body was pierced by Kayle's golden light, and it was already seriously injured and on the verge of death.Kayle glanced indifferently at the falling dragon bird and Laurent, then vanished into the air, transforming into countless golden specks of light."Am I going to die?"Laurent Old General gripped the reins tightly, feeling the wind whistling past his ears.When they fall to the ground, it will surely be the moment of their death."That truly embodies His Judgment!"He gave a bitter laugh and closed his eyes in regret.Unfortunately, the intelligence couldn't be relayed back to The Capital."Awooo!!!"At this moment, the nearly dead dragon bird suddenly let out a roar of unwilling anger, and its consciousness slightly returned.It kept flapping its wings, trying to maintain its balance.While this didn't stop them from falling, it significantly slowed their descent.The dragon bird's already blurred vision saw the lake not far below. It had no time to think and staggered as it swooped down towards it.boom!!!The dragon bird fell into the water, like a giant rock thrown into the sea, creating huge splashes of water.Immediately afterwards, several bubbles rose from the lake, creating slight ripples, and then an arm emerged from the water."call!"Laurent Old General, dragging his aching body, removed all his armor and slowly swam toward the lake.He shakily climbed ashore, moving his feet with difficulty, and walked step by step toward the nearest village.He can't die yet, at least not now!Demacia The Capital.In the very center of Council Hall, eight high-ranking officials sat around an octagonal table.Each of them represented an important aspect of Demacia's affairs, including the military, the nobility, the treasury, and the Mageseeker.Behind the octagonal table, a man well past fifty sat on the throne. He wore a crown and exuded an imposing aura." Garen Crownguard, report the situation!"Jarvan III, seated on the throne, spoke up to inquire.In front of the octagonal table, a burly warrior was kneeling on one knee; it was none other than Garen."yes!"Garen's expression turned serious:"One hundred kilometers east of Eternal Peak, we discovered the body of the Dragon Knight Luns, the very Dragon Knight who followed His Highness to Noxus.""That's our territory." A noble minister frowned slightly. His name was Britos, and he was in charge of the kingdom's finances."It's highly likely that Noxus was behind it," Minister of Administration Grantham said calmly.Grand Marshal Tiana Crownguard shook her head: " Noxus didn't need to do that. Judging by the timeline, they died on their way back. Garen, Sword Lieutenant, any news from the front?"In formal settings, she is Garen's direct superior and oversees all of Demacia's troop deployments.Garen's expression turned serious, and he replied solemnly:" Laurent Old General stayed at the front with four dragon riders and explained Noxus's intention to sign a peace treaty. Afterwards, Laurent Old General led the four dragon riders away, intending to return to The Capital first."This happened several days ago.To this day, they have found nothing but the body of a knight."What caused the knight's death?" Eldred, the Searcher Army commander, suddenly asked.Having spent many years searching for the sorcerer's whereabouts, he preferred to deduce the results from the smallest clues."He died from an arrow wound. It was determined that their battle took place at high altitude. Lens fell from at least over 100 meters, and his body was almost mangled beyond recognition." Garen said with a look of pity."We mourn the death of that knight," Eldred said, then continued, "How many warriors does Demacia have who can accurately strike a dragon rider from high in the air?"Tiana frowned and looked at her husband. Meeting his subtle gaze, she quickly understood what he meant.She showed anger on her face and frowned as she said:" Eldred, this couldn't have been done by us. The warriors who could do this are either in Dauntless Vanguard or Lightshield Bulwark. The rest are at the Dragon Rider Training Grounds on Eternal Peak."Garen lowered his head, his expression upright and unyielding, and added:"No dragon riders have taken off from the direction of Eternal Peak. Lightshield Bulwark and Dauntless Vanguard do not have aerial combat capabilities."Suddenly, one of Jarvan III's personal guards strode in through the side door and whispered something in the king's ear.After the guard took his leave, facing the gazes of the nine people below, King Jarvan III of Demacia slowly spoke:" Laurent Old General is not dead. He is not far from The Capital and will be back soon.""The old general is still alive."Upon hearing this news, Garen's expression relaxed slightly. The others, however, had varying expressions."This isn't necessarily a good thing," Chancellor of the Exchequer Bristol said gravely. "Do you remember the intelligence His Highness Jarvan provided?""You mean Noxus is a woman who can change her appearance?" Minister of Administration Grantham frowned slightly.Prince Jarvan once reported that the reason Noxus's intelligence was in trouble was because their informants were not only not known to the enemy, but the enemy could also turn into their informants, allowing them to transmit intelligence without suspicion.After receiving this information, they also secretly conducted a thorough investigation of Demacia's internal affairs.Although no noble families were involved, the results still terrified them.The Capital has nearly a hundred people who are impersonations of that woman; she can differentiate herself into countless forms and perfectly play all roles.Those who were finally caught vanished like a mirror image; all they got from the woman was a name.Black Rose!No one knows how many Black Roses are still inside Demacia, and even they themselves cannot guarantee whether there is an incarnation of her in this hall."If Noxus was behind this, Laurent Old General is highly suspicious," Eldred said calmly."He belongs to the Laurent family," Eleanor Lightshield, who was in charge of aristocratic affairs, expressed her concern.They had suspicions, and the current surveillance and investigations had not been carried out among the nobles; no one present wanted to set that precedent."It's not good to investigate directly, but whatever her purpose may be, it will eventually be exposed. I propose that from today onwards, the entire Laurent Family be placed under close surveillance." Tiana looked around at the people around her and put forward her idea.I second that!I second that!"."The other seven officials all agreed, and finally everyone turned their attention to King Jarvan III.Within Demacia's Administrative Department, Jarvan III has veto power if any of the eight senior officials disagree. Conversely, if all eight officials agree, Jarvan III also has the right to propose revisions or improvements.The king symbolized the will of the Demacia people; he was the representative elected by all the people."I agree." Jarvan III nodded slightly.Regardless of the reasons, he had no choice but to agree.Not a single mistake, not a single song, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single 6-9 book, not a single bar, take a look!Demacia now Riptide, and even the Lightshield Family, are not immune to its effects.But one thing bothered him: while Laurent Old General supported the Lightshield Family, the Crownguard and Laurent's next generation were getting too close.He wasn't sure if it was good or bad, but since the Crownguard had offered to monitor him, he was willing to go along with it so he could observe from the shadows." Garen, Sword Lieutenant, I'm entrusting this matter to you. Conduct it discreetly and do not disturb the Laurent Family's normal life." Tiana looked down at the burly figure kneeling on one knee.Garen stiffened slightly upon hearing the order.The order he least wanted finally came.This job would actually be more suitable for his uncle Eldred, but he still remembers the promise he made to his mother and aunt not long ago.He had to shoulder the mission of the entire family.Garen took a deep breath and said firmly:"yes!"" Garen, you can go now." Tiana smiled and nodded at him.Garen didn't want to linger, and left with a confused mind.As he watched the door slowly close, his thoughts became somewhat chaotic.Unexpectedly, he still betrayed his own sense of justice. He monitored his companions, who had not yet committed any wrongdoing, simply because they might be imposters.Ha, how ridiculous!He chuckled self-deprecatingly and walked out step by step with heavy steps.night.Luxanna, hiding in the corner of the corridor, listened quietly as the heavy footsteps beside her faded into the distance, her young face showing a complex mix of emotions.These are his brother's footsteps, just leaving the family council room.She knew everything her brother had to bear, which made her even more eager to do something about it.After the sound faded into the distance, she walked out of the corner and stepped into the doorway of the council chamber.Before she could even knock, she heard her aunt's voice from inside:" Luxanna, come in."Luxanna's expression stiffened slightly, but she still pushed open the heavy door in front of her, which was engraved with the Mianwei Family emblem.The door slowly opened to both sides, revealing the scene inside.Apart from her father, the other three Crownguard leaders were all present.Aunt Tiana, Uncle Eldred, and her mother, Mrs. Ogsha."Mother."Luxanna's expression flickered.Even at home at night, Mrs. Ogsha was still dressed in an aristocratic gown, with her makeup complete, radiating nobility from within." Miss Luxanna, since you're here, don't put on that face."Mrs. Ogsha sat upright in her chair, her azure eyes reflecting the tension on Luxanna's face.Luxanna felt a slight unease, realizing that her mother probably already knew about her decision.The tension and unease on her face gradually dissipated, and she slowly returned to normal, confidence and determination returning to her face."I heard that Noxus is willing to sign a peace treaty with us. Is that why you came, brother?""That's right." Tiana nodded without hesitation."I think this is a good time for Demacia to resolve its internal problems, and I'm ready on my end." Luxanna's eyes were filled with determination.She hasn't been idle lately; she's already taken the opportunity to gather a number of people implicated in the Winged Protector's defeat and the magic affair. Now, all she needs to do is plan a major event for The Capital.Things have changed; two things have happened.Tiana remained calm and recounted what had happened that day:" The four dragon knights who escorted Laurent Old General back were all killed in action, all within the kingdom's borders. Your information today comes from the announcement intended for the public, but the reality is far more complex than you've heard.""Four dragon riders are dead?" Luxanna exclaimed in surprise.If the Dauntless Vanguard and Lightshield Bulwark are Demacia's most elite infantry, then the Dragon Riders are the kingdom's most outstanding aerial cavalry.Each of them possesses the ability to take on a hundred men.There had never been a record of four people being killed simultaneously within the territory before.Luxanna forced herself to calm down and analyzed the situation with confusion:"Was it Noxus? But why? They have no motive.""According to Laurent Old General, he saw a person who surprised us: the Winged Protector."Tiana, with an unusual expression, continued:"This is the second thing I want to say: the Winged Protector has returned. And all four dragon riders died at His hands; only Laurent Old General survived."Luxanna frowned, lost in thought, " Winged Protector ".If Noxus could be said to have some connection to an enemy nation, then Winged Protector has even less reason to be associated with it.Tiana smiled and continued her story:"According to Laurent Old General, the Winged Protector wanted to kill them all. Perhaps it was to incite hatred between the Kingdom and the Empire, or perhaps the Winged Protector had been transformed and betrayed by Noxus."It has been more than a month since the last war of the gods, and according to the agreement between the other Justice Star Spirit and Noxus, it is indeed time to release the Winged Protector.But in that month, no one knew what Winged Protector had gone through in Noxus, or whether she was still Demacia's protector.Moreover, these are all Laurent Old General's side of the story."Wait a minute. Why was Laurent Old General able to come back?"Luxanna raised her own question.Since experiencing some dark things, her thoughts have become less innocent than before.If it were the old her, she would probably have just been happy that Laurent Old General had survived and praised his good fortune.With the help of the magic book, she was able to learn about the history of many of the continent's former kingdoms and empires.Her thinking underwent a transformation through history. Behind every seemingly coincidental event, there must be some cause-and-effect relationship.Upon hearing this, the three people sitting in the council chamber smiled, and a hint of satisfaction appeared in their eyes."He said that Kayle killed the dragon bird and saw it fall from a thousand meters in the sky. He thought Kayle was surely dead and left," Tiana explained with a smile.This is the biggest point of contention in this matter.The Winged Protector has been enforcing justice for centuries, and no one, except for another Protoss, has been able to escape His Judgment.Laurent Old General clearly didn't have that kind of power. Many people stronger and of higher status than him in the past had been Judgmented.Eldred spoke up calmly from the side:" The Searcher Army has just sent intelligence that a dragon-bird's carcass was found in the lake, the result of magic. But there's one suspicious point."His expression gradually turned serious: "When we used Petricite to draw the Judgment magic from the wound, a surge of dark magic suddenly emerged. We wouldn't have done it if we hadn't been suspicious from the start.""Dark magic?? How is that possible!" Luxanna was even more shocked upon hearing this.Winged Protector's power comes from magic, but definitely not dark magic.Either Laurent Old General is lying, or there really is a problem with the Winged Protector.Either way, things are becoming increasingly complicated.Half an hour later, Luxanna walked out of the council chamber with a heavy expression.According to her aunt and mother, she doesn't need to cause any trouble now; she can just let things develop normally.Mianwei Family needs to determine the status of Winged Protector before proceeding with the next steps.Back in her room, she couldn't help but sit down at her desk and recount in detail what had happened in the council chamber.Finally, after a moment of silence, she wrote:'I don't understand; something seems off about many things.'She couldn't yet see what had gone wrong with the recent events, but the intuition cultivated in her by the magic book told her that many things shouldn't be this way.This includes the Mianwei Family's attitude, including having their brother monitor them, and the fact that it was their aunt who first proposed targeting the Laurent Family at Council Hall.Every country has two sides, and I will try my best to depict the complexities of a kingdom's internal and external aspects, rather than presenting a stereotypical image of it.