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

Ato stayed in Tiwaser for a few more days, making sure the Tiwaser people weren't causing any more trouble before leaving.

News of the war had spread throughout Ionia, and the common people stayed at home, not venturing out. Not a single ship could be seen at sea all day.

Unfortunately, Atto could only travel to the northernmost part of Baru province, which is very close to Navoli province, and he could barely see the outline of Navoli province.

With rumors of war spreading and no ships to be found, and with no other options, Ator could only consume the blood energy within the Demon Sword to make it float on the sea and cross the strait.

After landing, Ator walked a distance to the west and encountered Irelia, who had just lost all her relatives.

Ato did not stop and continued north, his destination being the Temple of Balance.

……

Duguer ran back to Noxian-controlled territory and entered an occupied house, which became his temporary command center.

He took a mirror out of the drawer, tapped the surface with his finger, and the mirror rippled like water. Dukur's image disappeared, and he became a face with a hood that obscured his features.

"Madam! We need help!" Dukur gasped for breath; it had taken him a lot of effort to get here from Zan's house.

"Support?" A mature woman's voice came from the mirror. "Didn't you say last time everything went smoothly and there weren't many obstacles?"

"Now they've been attacked! The Ionians have begun to rebel!"

"The number of troops I sent was more than enough, taking into full account the possibility of resistance." The woman's voice was tinged with displeasure.

"Madam, you didn't come, so you don't know! The Ionians... they possess magical powers!"

LeBlanc frowned, her face hidden in the hood. She knew Ionia was not simple, so she warned Duguel not to underestimate her.

But seeing Dukur's panicked expression, she had to reconsider the matter.

Did I misjudge Ionia? Am I still underestimating them?

I don't have many troops left!

"Tell me in detail, what kind of force did you encounter?"

Dukur immediately recounted Irelia's story.

"If a little girl can suddenly unleash such power, what if she's not an isolated case? Does every Ionian actually possess immense hidden power?"

After hearing the description, LeBlanc paid attention to something else.

"I told you not to underestimate the enemy, and you still led a small team to rob a local powerful family? Hah, our commander-in-chief was almost killed by a little girl..."

"It was my mistake!" Dukur became nervous. "And the progress this week has been just too smooth..."

"Alright." LeBlanc didn't say anything more about it.

"The Immortal Fortress cannot be left without a legion. Demacia on the western border is insane, and I have already sent half a legion to support it."

"Madam, we really need..."

"I never said I wouldn't send troops!" LeBlanc was annoyed. "Ionia is the most important. I'll send another legion; that's the maximum!"

"Thank you, madam!" Hearing that reinforcements had arrived, Dukur was finally relieved.

"How is the establishment of the forward base going?"

When it came to serious matters, Dukur truly acted like a commander, giving a serious report to LeBlanc.

“Amistan captured Philol Island in just two days. Many Vastaya have defected to us. There is still farmland on the island. The base has been almost completed in the past few days. Their next target is Baru province.”

LeBlanc nodded slightly: "Darkwell just signed a military order that says we can't just focus on occupation; we also need to dig deep and find items that can grant immortality."

"Is this to kill Jericho?" Dukur asked.

“That’s right. Although he obeys your orders now, he still holds a high position and is not so easy to kill.”

Dukur understood: "Using His Majesty's pursuit of immortality, have soldiers dig up magical artifacts, divert Jericho's men to weaken his power, and ultimately trap him in the Ionian encirclement?"

"It seems you're not too stupid. This is all I can do. You'll have to figure out the rest yourself."

“Yes, madam. Jericho Swain will not return to the Empire alive.”

"I hope so." LeBlanc's figure disappeared from the mirror.

Dukur stared at the mirror, now back to normal, for a moment in silence, then put it back in its original drawer.

Although he had some connection with Jericho, he had no choice but to obey the Pale Lady's orders.

"Don't blame me, Jericho. It's just that we're loyal to different people."

He wrote down his orders, summoned a messenger, and had the messenger deliver them to Jericho Swain.

……

In a Noxian camp in northwestern Navori province.

"Attack Presidium... in search of the magical artifact that grants immortality..."

With eagle-like eyes and a serious expression, Jericho Swain looked at the latest order in his hand, his brows furrowing involuntarily.

"That means we won't have enough manpower. Now that a resistance movement has emerged in Ionia, attacking Presidium will only become more difficult..."

"The order concluded with a statement that His Majesty had sent another legion to serve as reinforcements... If that's the case, it's certainly feasible."

Swain decided to act quickly and seize Presidium before the resistance was fully organized!

He stepped out of his tent and ordered his adjutant, "Break camp! Advance! Headquarters: Presidium!"

The adjutant hesitated for a moment, but still stepped forward and asked, "General, shouldn't we send some men to search for the magical artifact?"

Swain stared intently at his adjutant, his eyes sharp: "How did you know that the orders we just received included the search for the Holy Relic?"

“Because…” the adjutant said quickly, “Because before we set off, His Majesty asked us to help him find magical artifacts, but we haven’t looked for them even once in all these days we’ve been here.”

This could not deceive the wise Swain.

"Humph!"

His adjutant was a man of Dukur, and even more so, a man of His Majesty the Emperor, sent to monitor whether he was fulfilling his orders to find the sacred artifacts.

Since someone was watching him, Swain had no choice but to comply.

Because he was loyal to the empire.

"Send one-third of the manpower to search every place with magical energy, starting from here!"

"The rest of you, keep moving! We must take Presidium, this holy site!"

The adjutant finally stopped nagging and, after receiving his orders, went to assign the troops.

"Hopefully reinforcements will arrive in time. Without them, even if we capture Presidium and hold it, we won't be able to hold out for long..."

If he still had command of the war, he would never have wasted his forces searching for the so-called magical artifacts.

Putting aside the issue of magical artifacts, at the current pace of progress, he was confident that he could take over the entire Ionia within two months.

"Your Majesty has definitely been deceived by the Pale Lady. I was also deceived by her once. If this continues, the empire will be in danger."

He has decided that after the war ends, he will return and unite his forces to deal with the Black Rose and the Pale Lady, who is suspected to be alive.