Irius Bolbok stood at the edge of the balcony, eyes scanning the sprawling cityscape of Piltover below.

The night air was cool, carrying with it the faint hum of the city’s endless motion. The lights of the upper city gleamed like stars, while the shadows of Zaun below pulsed with a far less controlled energy. A fitting metaphor for the constant tug-of-war between the two.

He sneered as he caught sight of a few lower-class workers moving about in the streets, their movements hasty and desperate. He loathed the constant reminders of what Piltover had been forced to deal with, but the power he held would keep those dirty streets at bay, as long as his alliances remained strong.

A small smirk curved his lips. It wasn’t often he had a chance to shape the political landscape to his favor like this. Tonight’s meeting would solidify his influence in the council, and anyone who thought they could challenge him would soon learn that Bolbok wasn’t one to be outmaneuvered.

As he turned from the balcony, the door creaked open, and the familiar face of one of his most trusted allies entered the room. Bolbok’s eyes glinted with calculated ambition. He knew how to use people—how to manipulate their desires for his own gain.

Whether they came from the highest echelons of Piltover society or the depths of Zaun, all were pawns in his grand game. But even pawns could be valuable.

"Your presence is… timely," he said, his voice smooth, almost dripping with charm, though there was a sharp edge lurking beneath. "I trust you’ve taken the necessary steps? The others won’t wait long."

Irius’s mind was already elsewhere, turning over the pieces of the game in his head. Who could he trust? Who had hidden agendas? Every action, every word, could tip the scales in his favor—or someone else’s.

But then again, that was why he was so good at this game. Others might play to win, but Irius played for control. His eyes narrowed slightly as he thought of his next move.

Tonight was only the beginning.

Irius wasn’t the only player on this board, after all.

And he was already positioning himself to make sure he remained at the top.