First, take down the Sword Demon, then save Runeterra.

"But that's not my concern. It's better if Demacia is in chaos, then the Empire will have a chance."

Atto did not offer any opinion, silently eating the food on his plate.

"By the way, Ator, once we arrive in Ionia and war breaks out, casualties are inevitable. I'll definitely have a lot more Ionian lives on my hands then. You don't mind, do you?"

Is she mistaking me for an Ionian? Indeed, to the people of this world, my original appearance is only found in Ionia, and I have no way to explain it to her…

“This is your duty as a Noxian soldier,” Ator shook his head. “But I won’t help you attack Ionia. I have some things to take care of once we get there.”

"You're leaving?" Riven turned to look at Atto. "Will you come back?"

"I'll come find you after I've finished this. Just follow your boss's orders as usual."

"No one knows what will happen on the battlefield, and even people in the same battle group often get separated. How did you find me?"

After thinking for a moment, Ator decided to tell Riven the truth: "The day you were injured, I used flesh magic to heal you and marked your blood. I can sense your approximate location."

"Back then?" Riven exclaimed in surprise. "Magic is indeed convenient. It's a pity I don't have any talent for magic, otherwise I would have asked you to teach me."

Ato sighed inwardly.

In the novels he read in his previous life, blood was a common material for curses, and being marked by someone else was not a good thing.

But Riven's unconditional trust left him feeling somewhat lost, and he could only keep it to himself.

“I was worried that you would disappear after you got off the ship and abandon me as your friend. Now that you have been able to find me, I am relieved.”

"What if I don't come looking for you? Will you be able to find me?"

"Hey, you can't not come!" Riven stopped stuffing meat abruptly. "You're my only friend..."

Ator shook his head and chuckled: "Just kidding. Be careful, Ionia is a magical place, maybe an earth spirit is hiding under an ordinary stone."

"Yes, I know. The general specifically warned us that the most dangerous thing in Ionia is not people, but the natural forces."

After the two finished their food and left the canteen, they suddenly saw a group of special soldiers walking towards them.

What makes them special is that these soldiers still have obvious childishness on their faces, and they look to be around fifteen years old.

“Child soldiers…” Riven looked at them with a complicated expression, “The Empire is really…”

Child soldiers? Athos pondered for a moment and thought of Aatrox's old friend Rhaast and his master Kayn.

He was in the scout squad Noxus used when it attacked Ionia.

"It was Commander Dukur's suggestion that led him to send people to investigate in Ionia for a long time and come to the conclusion that Ionians are generally compassionate."

"He suggested that His Majesty train a group of child soldiers to take advantage of their compassion, and His Majesty actually agreed."

“Dirty tactics, but very effective.” Ato’s gaze swept across their faces, trying to find Kayn, but he didn’t seem to be in the group.

Is he in another battle group?

“Most of them are orphans. Joining the army would at least ensure they have enough to eat, but as expected…” Riven bit her lip, her trust in the Empire wavering slightly.

“Then try to change it. If you were Darius, perhaps you could stop it.” Ato’s tone was flat.

Riven sighed and said dejectedly, "I will."

The next day, Riven met the squad that had been assigned to her in this war.

She simply went over and greeted them briefly, recognizing their faces, but didn't say much to them.

“The better my relationship with them, the more painful it will be to lose them on the battlefield.” Riven drew her runeblade and clashed with Ator in close combat.

Ato sensed that she was distracted and ended the duel prematurely.

"Have you ever wondered why you were given a different squad to lead before the war?"

"It's probably because of that special mission," Riven said without giving it much thought. "They must have some skills that are suited for the mission."

They were all victims of testing new weapons... Ato, who knew the ending, didn't tell Riven.

Only by personally experiencing the empire's betrayal could she see the true nature of Noxus.

Ten days is neither a short nor a long time; in the blink of an eye, the day of departure arrived.

Atto heard the wake-up whistle for the first time.

Before dawn, the military camp was already bustling with activity. After a quick wash, the soldiers picked up their pre-packed luggage and assembled in the open space.

They set off in silence, leaving the military camp and arriving on the streets of the Immortal Fortress. Only the breakfast vendors who came out to sell breakfast saw this scene.

The Immortal Fortress was not far from the sea, and by noon, the main force had arrived at the large port on the coast.

Several warships, nearly 200 meters long and 40 to 50 meters high, were quietly moored there.

When they arrived, soldiers from other warbands were boarding those warships.

As assigned, Ato and Riven's factions split into two groups and headed towards their respective ships.

A battle group requires two warships to carry it, so four battle groups would require eight ships. However, there are only four ships here. The rest of the warships will arrive tomorrow and depart. Ato and his men are the first batch.

As he ascended the gangway, Ator gazed curiously at the magnificent warships built by Noxus.

It was painted in the Noxian red color, and the jet-black cannons on both sides of the deck gleamed coldly.

Before setting off, each soldier received a unique number, and after boarding the ship, they went to their assigned quarters according to their numbers.

Each room could accommodate six soldiers—space was limited on the ship, so there were no individual rooms.

Ator and Riven were no longer neighbors; she now lived with a small number of female soldiers.

However, Atto had no complaints. He knew everyone in his room; they were Gil and his friends.

"What a coincidence, brother! We've become roommates!" Seeing that it was an acquaintance, Jill greeted him warmly.

After putting away his luggage, Atto smiled and said, "I hope we can all come back alive."

There's also a problem if your roommate is someone you know well, because it's hard to get away once you arrive at the battlefield.

"I need to disappear from their sight frequently during these few days on the road, so they can get used to it in advance..."

After exchanging a few words with Jill, Atto made an excuse to leave and went up to the deck. Not long after, someone patted him on the shoulder.

“I have immense respect for the people who built this ship; they possess boundless wisdom.” Riven leaned casually against the railing.

"Is Amistan on this ship too?"

“Of course he is, he’s the legion commander.” Riven looked up at the high place. “He has a private room on the entire ship.”

Following Riven's gaze, Ato noticed several rooms with excellent views at the highest point.

Just then, a whistle drew everyone's attention.

The warship has started up.