Standing on the left hand side of the king was the Captain of the Crowned Guard, who looked the same as when Zhao Xin first met her.

To the right of the king is a young boy dressed in a royal tunics. He sat in his oak chair, his little feet in leather boots dangling from the edge of the chair. No one can ignore the similarities between him and the King, who share the same stubborn nose bridge and angular jaw. Next to the three men were two guards, spears in their hands, the tips of which stabbed into the sky.

"Viscello is an unusual name," said King Gavin III, "and what is the origin?"

Zhao Xin lowered his gaze, he wasn't quite sure how to answer.

"When the king asks, answer aloud." The sword captain said in a commanding tone.

"It doesn't matter, Tiana," said the King, waving his hand, "he must have been frightened by what had happened in the last few days. We should give him more time, you say."

The Sword Captain opened his mouth, but closed it without saying a word, and finally only nodded slightly.

"The name is a nostalgia for my hometown." Zhao Xin said.

"Oh yes," said the king, with great interest, "I have studied Noxus in depth, but I have never heard of a place called Viscello. ”

"It's not a place, it's a memory, except it changes meaning in Noxus."

"Ah," said the king, glancing over his son, "a man's childhood memories are true."

"But that's not my real name."

"How dare you interrupt the king," snarled the sword captain. Her hand was already gripping the hilt of the sword.

Zhao Xin buried his head. Then, he heard a hearty laugh. Still the voice of Gavin III.

"You are the first person to make Tiana so irritable today," said the King, "and this is the first battle in which she has led the Dreadnought, but it is not a battle, you must think so." ”

He patted the little prince on the shoulder, who was sitting quietly next to him, watching his father's words and deeds intently. "Don't be restrained," said the king, "tell your story, Vescello, a man whose real name I don't know yet." ”

Zhao Xin continued to lower his gaze, took a deep breath and said, "My real name is Zhao Xin, and it was my biological parents who gave me this name, but I haven't seen them since I was a child. They may still be alive or they may be dead, I don't know. ”

He swallowed hard, "I was born in a small village by the sea, Laiken, where the land of the newborn is called Ionia. I spent my childhood on a fishing boat called Viscello, and I gave hands to the elders. Life was simple and quiet until the marauders, in black and red boats, broke everything. ”

He closed his eyes and paused for a moment. The Demacians were silent.

"We have no chance of winning. I was taken away. After a few months at sea, I found myself in Noxus. Everything is so towering, oppressive, and sharp. The beauty of nature that is ubiquitous in my hometown is completely not found there. ”

Zhao Xin seemed to hear people's voices of secret approval. It's a resonant murmur, a whisper that invariably agrees.

"Like all disoriented children, I had to do dishonorable things in order to survive. I was also noticed by those in power because of this. They saw my strength and turned me into a fighter. Since then, Vescello was born, he was a liquidator. ”

He sighed, his tone softened. "I've killed many, many enemies. There are some people I don't even know by real name. The more I killed, the louder the cheers of the people became, and the gold coins of Vis Sero fell into the pockets of their masters. I thought I'd spend the rest of my life like this, putting on thrilling fights for others in the arena. It wasn't until later that Noxus gave my masters a sum of money that they couldn't earn in the arena. ”

Zhao Xin's shoulders went limp. "So I came here. Your soldiers will know what happened next. ”

Gavin III did not say a word. Everyone was waiting for him to speak.

"What a life you have been a wanderer," said the king at last. He glanced at his son, then at Zhao Xin. "Thank you for sharing your journey with us. It makes me, and the whole of Demacia, proud that we were able to free you from the shackles of Noxus. ”

The king nodded to one of the guards, and he took out a linen bag and placed it in front of Zhao Xin. Inside is the sound of coins colliding.

"This is a gift from King Gavin III," the Captain declared loudly, "and there is enough gold to make for a week's trip." You know, you have already made a great mistake when you invaded the lands protected by the Kingdom of Demacia, but as a gesture of goodwill, our King has given you a second chance. Shape up or ship out. ”

Zhao Xin glanced at the money bag. Didn't move. It's as simple as taking the money bag and leaving to seek peace Just now, he said the most sincere words about himself in this life, but he was facing a person who could take his life at will.

For some reason, the stranger was willing to listen. By virtue of this, he was no longer a stranger.

I've long since lost peace with Anning, but maybe I can find a reason to fight

"Please." The Captain of the Crowned Sword said, holding out two fingers in the direction of the exit.

Zhao Xin lowered his head. "Forgive me for my presumptuousness, but I have one thing to ask for."

"Speak." The king said.

"I hope to join your guard."

"Ridiculous," shouted the Crowned Sword Captain. All the guards smashed the handles of their guns on the ground in unison.

The king chuckled softly, then faced his sword captain. "What an interesting proposition."

"Your Majesty, you won't" The Captain of the Crown Guard was about to speak, but was stopped by the king's gesture.

"Let him say," said Gawain III with a smile, "I would like to hear what he thinks." ”

Zhao Xin raised his head. He looked at the king. "You have shown me mercy and honor," he said, "two things that I have not really seen until today." I've been fighting for people in Noxus all these years, and I've only learned two things during this time. Victory means life, defeat means death. What taught me were the fighters who fell in the arena and the warriors who lost forever after being defeated too many times. But you and your people are fighting for something else. Something even more remarkable. ”

A gust of wind shook the tent. A pair of small leather boots swayed. Zhao Xin cleared his throat.

"So I'd rather die fighting for honor than spend the rest of my life in remorse."

Gavin III leaned forward. Everyone present was respectfully silent.

"Well said," replied the king, "honestly, even better than some of my advisers. But after all, my staples have years, if not decades, of training. How can I believe you have this ability?"

Zhao Xin looked at the king, at the prince, at the captain of the crown guard. Half of him knew what he could say; The other half of him knows what he can do. Is this his choice?

No..

Fate has long made its choice.

He grabbed the purse and threw it at the Sword Captain, right in front of her. As she adjusted, he kicked the guard on the left to the ground with a sweeping kick. Zhao Xin grabbed the spear of the Demacian guard and swept around and tripped the guard on the right. His body moves intuitively, and his mind recalls what he was like in the arena. The spear spun in his hand one last time, then stabbed at Gavin III, the blunt end of the handle resting a few inches in front of the king's throat.