Chapter 238: Human Fake Divine Power
Riven looked at the whirlwind surrounding her, her eyes somewhat confused.
Why did I get such power?
Did the goddess hear her prayers and temporarily lend this sinner to her in order to ask her to help save Fia and the others?
As Riven thought about this, her thoughts became more complicated.
Feiya and others didn't think as much as she thought.
They all looked at the thread of faith drawn from their bodies with excitement, and were so excited that they couldn't help but talk to themselves: "It turns out that we also have faith, and we are all official leaders!"
As they spoke, Fia and the others followed Riven's example and closed their eyes to pray.
Then, Fia, who had not known the magic of wind before, and even those mortal sailors who had no knowledge of magic at all, suddenly "realized" the power of wind just like Riven just now.
Although their wind was very weak, it was clearly an extraordinary force. It could allow mortals to master magic without any warning, which only gods could do.
"This..." The Noxian's attitude suddenly changed.
"Miss Oriana." General Lester looked at her solemnly and said, "My subordinates don't know the rules. If they offend you, please don't take it to heart."
The words sounded soft, but the tone was still strong.
Without waiting for Riven to answer, he immediately asked: "But this is Ionia, an overseas territory of the Noxian Empire."
"Why is the Wind Leader here instead of staying in Zaun?"
Riven quickly hid the excitement and confusion in her eyes and answered seriously, "I am here to contact Ionian merchants on behalf of the Wind Leader Association to discuss the grain export business."
After all, she was a fake leader. It was fine for her to pretend to be a leader to save people, but she didn't dare to "help" the leader to make random speeches outside.
If she causes some diplomatic incident and brings trouble to the leader, her sin will be even greater.
So Riven only gave herself the title of a food purchasing envoy and did not make up any diplomatic mission for herself.
It just so happened that Fia's family was engaged in the export business of grain and agricultural products, so it was reasonable for her and Fia to appear here together.
"I see." General Lester reluctantly believed it.
Zaun wants to ensure the security of its food supply and promote the diversification of import channels. It also makes strategic sense for it to secretly bypass the Empire and buy food from Ionia.
"But unfortunately..." The Noxian smiled triumphantly, tapped the ground and said, "From now on, this land belongs to the Empire."
"If you leaders want to discuss the grain business, you have to wait until the war is over. No, you don't even have to wait until the war is over... just come and talk to me now."
"I can guarantee that the grain exports from the Baru Province will not be affected by the war. Once we get rid of those hamster-like Ionians, the grain exports here will only increase, not decrease."
"..." Riven remained silent without comment.
Lester didn't find it strange either.
After all, Zaun is not short of food now, it’s just that imports are completely dependent on Noxus and there is a lack of food supplied by non-empires.
It is understandable that Riven, the "food purchasing ambassador", does not want to discuss food business with him.
And... no matter whether she came here to buy food or had some other ulterior motive, Lester had no intention of letting these leaders run around on the front lines of the empire.
"Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, we won't bother you anymore."
"The Empire will launch a full-scale offensive in the Balue Province soon. The battlefield is full of dangers and swords are merciless. Please rest well in your residence and don't go out for the next few days."
As he spoke, Lester turned to his subordinates in front of Riven and ordered: "Send a team of rune swordsmen to 'protect' this house - don't let anyone come in and out at will, understand?"
"Wait." Riven interrupted him.
"What?" General Lester's eyes became dangerous: "Miss Orianna, do you have any questions?"
"I have something to discuss with you, General." Riven said seriously.
"You say." Lester listened attentively.
"I want to save people."
"Save people?" Lester smiled. "Didn't I promise to protect this mansion and keep everyone safe?"
"As long as you stay here for the next few days, don't go out, and don't ask about things you shouldn't know, you'll be fine."
He looked harmless at this moment, and even had some politeness, which was rare for a Noxian.
But Riven said bluntly, "General Lester, I want to save more than just the people in this mansion."
"I also want to save this entire city and the hundreds of thousands of people in Yipuhe Port."
Lester was silent for a while.
He narrowed his eyes and pretended not to know: "Miss Orianna, what do you mean?"
"Don't hide it." Riven looked over with burning eyes: "I know what you are going to do to this city."
As she spoke, perhaps because practice makes perfect, she lied without changing her expression: "I am a direct subordinate of Director Mel. Before I set out, I heard her talk about many of the Midalda family's battlefield 'experiences'."
"I am too familiar with the Noxian Empire's style of doing things."
"Blocking the entire city and letting the soldiers plunder - you are preparing for a massacre, aren't you?"
Riven brought up the Midalda family, who are also warlords, to explain her understanding of Noxus.
Lester stopped laughing at this point.
He simply tore off his mask and shouted coldly: "This is a problem between Noxus and Ionia. It has nothing to do with you, the Leader!"
"Goddess Janna said it was related, so it was related!" Riven responded sharply: "These are hundreds of thousands of lives! We, the leaders, will never stand idly by!"
"You?!" Lester was annoyed, but he still held back.
Intimidated by the reputation of Goddess Janna, he didn't dare say anything harsh to Riven.
But this does not mean that his attitude will soften.
"I'm sorry, but I can't agree to your request." General Lester said firmly, "This massacre was not my will, but came from the Imperial Presidential Headquarters, from the direct order of His Majesty the Emperor."
"Miss Oriana, if you really understand the situation in the empire, then you should know that your conversation with me now is a waste of time."
"This..." Riven's expression changed slightly.
She finally understood why Noxus suddenly launched a full-scale attack on the sparsely populated, resource-poor, and almost geostrategic province of Baruo.
It turns out that this was an order from the mad emperor Darkwill.
He sent his army here not to plunder food, property or people, but simply to kill people.
As the Ionian war dragged on for a long time, the Noxian soldiers became more and more exhausted physically and mentally, while the enemy resistance became more and more motivated.
Therefore, Noxus urgently needs a hearty massacre to boost morale and to intimidate the enemies.
If this kind of show-style slaughter were to be carried out, the weakest province of Barue would obviously be the best target.
"This battle is based on the overall strategic goal of the Ionian Front and the direct order of His Majesty the Emperor..."
This means that this operational plan must be implemented resolutely and must not be abandoned.
At least, Lester, the leader of a "small" regiment, was not qualified to decide to give up the massacre.
If he didn't massacre the city, the emperor would have to massacre him.
"It seems you understand." Lester noticed Riven's complicated look: "Since you also know my difficulties, then don't waste time talking to me."
"If you really want to stop this massacre, why not go directly to the Emperor!"
"..." Riven was speechless.
Are you kidding me? How could she have the ability to communicate with the emperor?
The last time she saw this madman, she knelt at his feet the entire time and didn't even have the right to raise her head.
But is she going to give up just like that?
Are we going to watch these hundreds of thousands of people die? !
“No!” Riven had no choice but to shout: “Goddess Janna will not tolerate this happening in front of her! You must find a way to stop it—”
"Otherwise, if we offend the gods, no one knows what will happen!"
"You threaten me?!" Lester was very angry.
But when he looked at Riven's reckless and crazy expression, he felt a little uneasy.
Is the goddess really watching here? This question always troubles those who stand on the opposite side of the leader.
Finally, he made the biggest concession he could:
"Well, Miss Orianna..."
"I can give you a certain number of quotas. You can make a list for me in the next few days, as long as it does not exceed the quota. You want to save people, but I can only let you save so many."
