Chapter 85 The enemy is attacking?
Caitlyn noticed Vi's hesitation.
So she struck while the iron was hot and helped Wei correct her "wrong ideas": "Wei, the radical approach won't work."
"Piltover's strength is far greater than Zaun's. The huge network of interests behind Piltover is even more closely tied to a powerful empire like Noxus."
"With the strength of the leader, it is impossible to win by bloody struggle—"
"President Levi and Vice President Victor also agree with this."
"Uh..." It would have been fine if Caitlyn didn't mention Levi and Victor, but as soon as she mentioned them, Wei's expression became strange.
Because she knew very well that Levi was actually a staunch violent fighter.
All that mild reform bullshit he made up to fool people.
Uh... Wei secretly glanced at Caitlyn - yes, it is used to fool this kind of noble lady.
However, despite all the lies, Levi, the guild leader, always advocates moderate reforms. Therefore, in the eyes of the moderates such as Caitlin, the current leaders:
They are moderates and they are the orthodox ones. Radicals like Wei are the ones who have gone astray.
"Wei." Caitlin thought that Wei's silence was a struggle of thought: "Think about it carefully..."
She talked to Wei very patiently, trying to win him over.
"Haha..." Wei was not as good at talking as her, and it was not easy for her to reveal the truth and bring up Li Wei, so she had to listen with gritted teeth.
Finally, someone came over and interrupted their conversation.
It's Victor.
Victor looked quite different from how he had looked a week ago.
He improved the mechanical exoskeleton he had improvised a week ago into a set of Hextech mechanical armor that had a brass luster all over, was lighter, more fitted, and could provide mechanical assistance to the human body.
He now wears this suit of armor when he goes out to meet people. He doesn't look like a university professor at all, but rather like a mechanical warrior.
"Professor Victor, why are you..." Caitlin was very familiar with Victor, so she couldn't help but ask, "Why are you dressed like this for the meeting?"
“Oh, this…”
Victor's personality seems to be much more lively than when he was not wearing armor.
He spread out his hands that no longer needed crutches, and stamped his once limp legs:
"This is the walking-assisting armor I use to replace crutches."
Caitlin: “…”
But Victor didn't lie.
Ever since I put on this Hextech mechanical power armor and felt the freedom of flexible legs and feet and the infinite strength...
Victor never wanted to take it off again.
He really treats this thing as a "walking aid" and even wears it as a part of his body.
It feels so good to be an iron man.
If possible, he really wanted to replace his body with iron.
"Okay..." Caitlin reluctantly accepted this.
Vice President Victor happened to be here, so she pointed at Wei beside her and said to Victor:
"Professor Victor, please tell us about it too."
"This guy is a stubborn radical who is completely contrary to the correct path that President Levi insists on."
"I think as the vice president you should stand up and make a statement to correct the erroneous radical ideas prevalent within the Leaders."
“Uh…” Seeing Wei and many people around looking at him with concern, Victor’s expression suddenly became subtle.
He suddenly regretted not wearing his helmet.
This would cover his face and save his poor acting skills.
"Well... Caitlin is right... We still have to fight for it in a non-violent way..." Victor tried to speak seriously.
"See, Wei? Violence won't solve problems."
"I..." Wei looked at Victor's iron armor and the "third hand" dangling behind him... and felt that his words were not convincing.
Sure enough, Victor quickly changed the subject:
"Wei, this is the gift Levi asked me to give you."
"He said this thing would suit you very well. Maybe you could try it on."
As he spoke, he opened the large suitcase he had with him.
Inside the box was... a pair of steel gloves inlaid with hextech gems.
"What's going on again..." Caitlin felt something was wrong.
"Jace and I invented this. Hex Miner Gloves... um, for mining."
Caitlin: “…”
She had heard from Jace that these miner's gloves were indeed for miners.
But handing it over to a little girl from Zaun... you can't let Wei wear this thing and go back to Zaun to mine, right?
"This is a Hextech weapon! Professor Victor, how could you hand over such a dangerous weapon to an uncontrolled radical?"
Caitlin strongly disagrees.
Victor had no choice but to explain: "Wei is very capable and is suitable for this weapon. We gave her the weapon only to enhance the self-defense power of the Leader... um, yes..."
"Our leaders' weapons are only for self-defense, not military. These weapons are only for self-protection and cannot be used in external combat..."
"Do you understand, Wei?"
"Yes!" Wei couldn't wait to hold the boxing gloves in her arms, her eyes shining: "I understand!"
Caitlin: “…”
You know nothing!
After Wei put on the pair of Hextech gloves, she could hardly hide the ferocious smile on her lips.
The more Caitlin watched, the more uneasy she felt.
She believed that Levi's indulgence of the radicals' wrong ideas to spread internally, and even handing over Hextech weapons to radicals like Wei, would sooner or later lead to disaster.
"It seems like I have to find an opportunity to have a good talk with Levi." Caitlin thought to herself.
But at this time, Levi had already stood on the podium and announced the official start of this general meeting of leaders.
More than 500 leaders, including Wei and Caitlyn, fell silent.
The thin white lines drawn from their bodies were still clearly visible above their heads.
Looking around, the venue was full of flashing fluorescent lights.
The light is bright and dim, like stars.
Then Levi looked at these "threads of faith" and said to everyone:
"I think everyone has noticed recently that there are differences between moderate and radical ideas within our group."
"Yes!" Everyone nodded.
Caitlin straightened her body with concern:
Finally, Levi talked about this issue!
She was waiting for him to clarify the correct route as the president and correct radical elements like Wei who had gone astray in a timely manner.
But what Li Wei said at this time was: "In fact, there is no need to discuss this issue at all."
"Because the enemy has already chosen the path for us."
"Huh?" The atmosphere in the conference hall suddenly became subtle.
Although Levi hasn't said it explicitly, the word "enemy" in his words has already implicitly explained many problems.
Sure enough, Levi continued:
"I have some unfortunate news for you all—"
"The Piltover Council has secretly reached a resolution to completely eliminate our Leaders Association by force."
"The councillors have issued a clear warrant, saying that we have become bandits and cannot be saved. Anyone who has anything to do with the leader, regardless of age or gender, will be wiped out and killed without a single survivor."
This shocking news stunned everyone present as soon as it was thrown out.
The 500-plus people present suddenly became a mess.
"No, this is impossible!" Caitlyn stood up from the audience in disbelief: "President Levi, are you kidding me? The Piltover Council wants to encircle and suppress the Wind Leader, why received any news?"
"Hey, Caitlin..." Levi sighed sadly: "I'm sorry, I'm telling the truth."
"It seems that your family's influence is not as reliable as you think."
"This..." Caitlin widened her eyes and was speechless for a long time.
Others were even more panic-stricken and horrified.
“Then, what should we do…” Someone murmured, “President, Goddess Janna will save us, right?”
"I'm sorry." Levi just sighed: "Janna's power hasn't recovered yet. She can't save us."
As soon as these words were spoken, the morale of the leader's army was instantly shaken and even collapsed.
Janna is unreliable. Are they going to fight Piltover's law enforcers? Do they have the strength to do so now?
So in just these few seconds, the light of many people's "threads of faith" became dim, gray... or even disappeared directly.
Those already fragile beliefs melted and disappeared in an instant, just like butter in contact with heat.
Among those whose faith has collapsed, there are not only moderates but also radicals.
In the face of the great terror of life and death, everyone, regardless of their origin or faction, has become an ordinary person.
Only a small number of people still have firm faith, and some of their faith has even become brighter and more brilliant in .
"It's true..." Levi sighed secretly.
The threshold for becoming a leader is still set too high.
Having faith, having firm faith, and having faith that can stand the test of time are two completely different things.
It seems he made the right decision.
Leaders must be fearless pioneers who can lead the struggle, not just a social party of enthusiasts.
"Everyone--"
Just when the scene was in chaos and some people couldn't help wanting to run away, Levi spoke again:
"Don't be afraid, actually... I was just testing you."
"The Piltover Council did not send anyone to encircle and suppress us."
"Huh?!" Everyone was shocked.
Can such a life-threatening matter be used to test people? You are the president! How can you speak like a talk show host!
Everyone was excited and indignant, but Levi just explained with a serious expression: "I just want everyone to think seriously:"
"Moderate struggle is also struggle , and non-violent non-cooperation is also non-cooperation. Non-cooperation will eventually offend people—"
"What if this joke comes true one day in the future?"
"As leaders, do you really have the courage... to face this cruel test?"
