Shurima.
In the port city of Urzeris, near the coastline.
This place had once been the port of a small Shuriman kingdom. Now, it had become one of Noxus's territories, and it seemed to be the starting point of Noxus's ambition toward the continent of Shurima.
Noxus's iconic black stone had been used to build towering city walls here, and merchant caravans came and went through its gates.
On the city streets, Shurimans and Noxians could be seen everywhere. Some hurried along, while others strolled at an easy pace.
And now, the wind from Valoran had blown all the way here.
Inside the estate of House Du Couteau in the city.
Soreana looked at the message in her hand. Her arm trembled faintly despite herself, and her pupils contracted beyond her control.
"Mother, what does the letter say?"
A soft, alluring voice sounded beside her, strikingly distinctive. It was not a deliberately seductive tone, but something natural, an effortless charm that seemed woven into her bones.
The speaker was a young and beautiful woman with extraordinary grace, lovely brows and eyes, and an excellent figure. Her features were extremely delicate, and on closer look, one could see some resemblance to Soreana.
"Cassiopeia."
Soreana glanced at her daughter and let out a heavy breath. "Your father is dead. Katarina was the one who did it. She has now taken the position of leader of the Assassins' Guild."
At that, Cassiopeia's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. "So she still took that step? Should we be happy for her, or sad?"
"Happy or sad, it makes no difference. With the way he raised people, father and daughter turning on each other was bound to happen sooner or later. We both expected it."
Soreana raised a hand and tidied the hair beside her daughter's ear, her gaze flickering. "But that is not the important part this time."
Confusion appeared on Cassiopeia's face. "Then what is?"
Soreana forced her tone to steady. "She used the Assassins' Guild to expose news of the Black Rose to Noxus. Now the whole of Noxus is answering the call to bring down the Black Rose."
Cassiopeia froze for a moment, as if she had never expected her own sister to be the one to do such a thing.
Back then, Du Couteau had led his troops in taking this Shuriman port city, then settled their family of four here.
However, the family reunion they had imagined did not last long. Not long afterward, Darkwill launched his invasion of Ionia and urgently recalled Du Couteau.
Before Du Couteau left, he took Katarina with him. The sisters were separated from then on, while Cassiopeia stayed in Urzeris with her mother, Soreana.
During that time, she discovered that her mother had joined a secret organization, the Black Rose.
Naturally, Cassiopeia, who was receiving her mother's instruction, also joined the organization. Because of her own gifts, she had already become one of the Black Rose's important members.
For all these years, the Black Rose had acted from the shadows.
Now, the Black Rose had suddenly been dragged into the open. This was something neither mother nor daughter had expected.
And the one who had exposed it was Katarina, their own closest blood.
"The news came from the Black Rose's inner circle. It has basically been confirmed."
Soreana held the letter over a candle and watched it slowly burn. "The pale sorceress has now ordered all of us to hide our tracks and lie low for a while. It would be best not to expose ourselves."
Cassiopeia's brows furrowed despite herself. "Then we..."
"We can only obey orders. During this period, do not associate with any other members of the Black Rose."
Soreana looked at Cassiopeia and gave her warning.
Cassiopeia nodded seriously. "I understand."
The room fell quiet. After a while, Soreana let out a low sigh.
Cassiopeia saw why her mother was sighing and spoke softly. "Mother, are you worried that the Black Rose's situation will affect us?"
"Yes. This matter has pushed the Black Rose into the eye of the storm almost overnight. Katarina seems intent on opposing the Black Rose, and she is determined to tear the organization out by the roots."
A few traces of worry appeared on Soreana's face. "If this keeps escalating, we will be dragged into it in the end. Right now, every member of the Black Rose is in grave danger."
Soon, she forced down her worry and began thinking. Almost immediately, she made a decision. "I think we must start finding a way out for ourselves. The Black Rose absolutely cannot fall. It is the foundation we stand on."
"Mother, do you mean we should move against sis, against Katarina?"
Cassiopeia's gaze flickered, and the image of a red-haired girl flashed through her mind. She was the instigator behind this whole affair.
From the Black Rose's position, that meant Katarina was also their enemy.
"No." Soreana gently shook her head and took Cassiopeia's hand. "No matter what, she is my daughter and your sister. Our blood and flesh are connected. She is doing what she believes is right. We joined the Black Rose to gain more power. If you look at it from another angle, how is this not also an opportunity for us?"
Cassiopeia nodded, a wise light shining in her eyes. "In other words, she is clearing a path for us?"
"Exactly. All these years, no matter how hard you and I have worked, we have never been able to enter the Black Rose's true inner circle."
Soreana said slowly, "Because of Du Couteau's influence, the pale sorceress has never truly trusted us. But now, she has too much to deal with herself. This is actually an opportunity for us to break into the Black Rose's core. Relying on the family will never be a foolproof plan, so what we need now is a powerful force, something that can serve as our new foundation, as well as the capital we need to enter the upper ranks of the Black Rose."
Over the years, mother and daughter had done a great many things for the Black Rose and had accomplished many deeds.
But they had never been able to squeeze into the Black Rose's true inner circle.
With their intelligence, it was not hard for them to see that the pale sorceress had deliberately blocked their path forward.
But now, a new opportunity had appeared before their eyes.
The Black Rose had been exposed, and every member was in danger. Even the pale sorceress had no choice but to order everyone to hide their tracks.
This matter made Soreana realize that when danger arrived, only one's own strength could preserve one's life in peril.
In her mind, she thought of certain things she had come into contact with in Shurima over the years.
"In ancient times, there was once a key that determined ancient Shurima's supreme dominance. It was a power almost divine."
Soreana held her daughter's hand and spoke slowly. "Because too much time has passed, even many locals think it is only a legend. But I know it is not a legend. It is a power that truly exists, and it is now sealed somewhere on this ancient continent of Shurima."
Cassiopeia said softly, "If we obtain this power, we will no longer have to obey the pale sorceress forever. In the coming danger, we will also have the capital to protect ourselves."
"Yes. All these years, I have been secretly searching for clues to this power."
Soreana nodded, looking gently at this daughter she was most satisfied with and proud of. "However, the clues I have uncovered are only scattered fragments. Originally, I planned for us to set out only after making sufficient preparations. But now, we have no choice but to act ahead of schedule."
Cassiopeia took her mother's hand in return and said earnestly, "Don't worry, Mother. Leave this matter to me. I swear I will find this power and bring it back."
"I will bear the pressure coming from Noxus. Now that Du Couteau is dead, many eyes are on me. I cannot get away right now, so this matter can only be left to you."
Soreana spoke softly. "Cassiopeia, we do not have much time. But while searching for this power, what I hope for even more is that you protect yourself. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Mother. Don't worry. I was taught by you personally, after all."
Cassiopeia smiled and nodded.
There was almost no delay. By that very afternoon, Cassiopeia had finished preparing to set out.
After living here for so many years, she was already very familiar with this continent.
However, before leaving, she still needed to find a reliable helper.
Stopping in front of a tavern, Cassiopeia reached out, pushed open the wooden door, and walked inside.
Her steps were light. Even though she was wearing clothing meant to keep out sand and dust, one could still see her perfectly curving figure.
And the moment she entered the tavern, her beautiful face drew the attention of every man present.
However, once they realized who Cassiopeia was, those people all looked away one after another.
This woman was a great local noble, and they could not afford to offend her.
At the far end of the tavern, there was a woman who did not turn around. She wore a set of mercenary armor and had short black hair. She was seated in front of the bar, draining the liquor in her cup in one gulp.
Cassiopeia walked forward, swaying her slender waist as she sat beside her. She looked at her with a smiling expression. "Sivir, there's a new job. Want to take it?"
At that, Sivir turned her head, looked into Cassiopeia's lovely eyes, and smiled. "Don't be cryptic. I remember telling you that as long as the pay is enough, I'll take any job. But if even you're being vague about it, then it looks like this one won't be easy."
The two had worked together several times before, but this time, Sivir immediately noticed something different about Cassiopeia.
After being seen through, Cassiopeia nodded lightly and smiled. "That's right. This time, even I don't know the exact destination, and I don't know how long the mission will take either."
Sivir laughed out loud. "Then what did you come looking for me for? To go shopping with you, my lady? I wouldn't mind. Renting Sivir for one day only costs one hundred gold."
To her surprise, Cassiopeia took the joke seriously. She stared into Sivir's eyes. "Then I'll probably need to rent you for at least three months."
This time, Sivir was stunned. "Are you joking with me? Renting me for at least three months is not something one hundred gold can cover."
How many jobs could she take in three months?
Her title as the queen of Shuriman contracts was not just for show.
One hundred gold a day was fine if all she had to do was accompany a delicate little beauty around town.
But three whole months at once? Absolutely not.
Cassiopeia pouted a little, looking wronged. "But weren't those your own words?"
"Don't try that on me. If you have business, talk business."
Sivir replied flatly, pushing her cup toward the bar to signal the owner for a refill.
The little beauty in front of her was looking at her with eyes so sweet they might as well be spinning silk. Every move, every frown, and every smile were enough to leave all the men in the tavern hooked.
She could guarantee that as long as this little beauty said the word, those men would probably throw themselves at her feet at once.
There was nothing to be done about it. Even Sivir had to admit that Cassiopeia was indeed stunning.
The problem was, she was a woman.
And she liked men.
Cassiopeia realized that beauty was not going to work here, so she began discussing the matter seriously. "Two hundred gold a day. That is the limit. We calculate it by the number of days, until we find it. If the job succeeds, I will give you an additional commission of five thousand gold afterward."
To be honest, the payment did catch Sivir's attention. "Two hundred gold a day. Even if we count it as three months, that's eighteen thousand. Another five thousand after the job is done, and that's only my personal rate. Tsk, tsk. Looks like you're really bleeding yourself dry this time. I'm pretty curious now. What could make you spend this much money?"
The eighteen thousand and five thousand were both Sivir's personal price.
To be honest, even for Sivir, nearly twenty thousand gold was no small sum.
If that was the case, this job was not impossible to accept.
However, right now, she was even more curious about what Cassiopeia was planning to do.
After all, this job definitely could not be just the two of them. Cassiopeia would certainly need to find other people as well.
And Sivir had a mercenary company under her command waiting to be paid.
Added together, these amounts were no small sum at all.
"In short, we are looking for something. Even I have very few clues, so we will have to uncover them along the way. There will definitely be danger, so think carefully before accepting."
Cassiopeia's answer remained vague.
But since she had said that much, Sivir figured that on the road, she would learn what she needed to know sooner or later.
As for danger...
The corner of Sivir's mouth curved into a smile. "No danger beats twenty thousand gold. Get the money ready. When do we leave?"
Cassiopeia said, "If possible, right now."
"No problem. I'll go round up the crew."
Seeing twenty thousand gold about to land in her hands, Sivir was in a very good mood.
She drained the freshly refilled cup of liquor in one gulp, then took a gold coin from her pocket, placed it on her hand, and flicked it with her thumb. With a crisp ding, the gold coin flew up, spinning rapidly.
"Get this beautiful lady a glass of Solar Redheart."
As she spoke, Sivir had already turned and walked out with easy steps.
The gold coin fell quickly, landing steadily and precisely on the tabletop in front of the owner. It did not even bounce.
It was, without question, a successful show of skill.
Cassiopeia also wore a faint smile as she watched the owner set a glass of ruby-red liquor in front of her, then nodded lightly in thanks.
After that, she picked up the cup as well, tilted her head back, and drained it in one gulp.
The liquor entered her stomach, adding a flush of red to her peerlessly beautiful face. At that moment, her red lips looked even more vivid and alluring.
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