Arcane: The Gods Want Me to Pick a Route-Chapter 178: Spymaster Akali, Grand Admiral Sarah Fortune

Ionia is a land made up of countless islands. And because of Ionian customs, there are plenty of small isles in the surrounding waters that have never been discovered—places with no human footprints at all.

Right now, on one such island—no larger than a few square miles—a group of people were crammed together. Quite a few men with headscarves were hunched over, retching onto the sand.

Two of them had even passed out completely, foaming at the mouth in a way that looked genuinely frightening.

"Uh… are they going to be okay?"

After hesitating, Sarah finally asked the woman standing straight at the front.

She wore a long robe, her figure striking—especially the long legs visible beneath the hem, bronzed with a beautiful wheat-gold sheen. Her face was lovely, but the most captivating thing about her was her eyes.

Bright. Intelligent. And filled with compassion.

Hearing Sarah's question, Karma replied, "They'll be fine. It's just their first time coming into contact with magic, so their bodies are reacting poorly."

Sarah nodded.

To be honest, she'd had to work up real courage just to ask—because back in the lower city, she'd seen this woman with her own eyes.

Flying.

Actually flying in the sky.

With a single flick of her fan, a green spirit dragon thousands of meters long tore through the night that Nagakabouros had created and brought light back to Bilgewater.

This woman had suppressed Nagakabouros, shattered Illaoi's plan, and forced Nagakabouros to retreat in defeat.

So when Sarah spoke, she'd been prepared to get scolded.

Who was she, and who was Karma?

But for her crew… she still asked.

And the people lying there—alive or dead, she didn't even know yet—were her most loyal companions.

Especially Rafen. He was out cold too, his body twitching slightly.

"They won't die," Karma said gently. "But they're also done with magic forever."

"We live every moment in an environment saturated with magic. Even Demacia—always shouting about banning magic—still lives in magic every day. Magic reshapes our bodies and strengthens our bloodlines."

"But sometimes…" Karma smiled at Sarah, "…there are people whose changes were never completed."

Sarah blinked, surprised. Someone that powerful—and that patient?

"Then can I use magic too?" a delighted voice burst out from the side.

Jinx pointed at her own face, grinning, while Janna—already snoring—was curled up on top of her head.

Janna was completely exhausted. The moment Karma appeared and stopped Nagakabouros, Janna had started resting. She needed sleep—fast—so she could replenish every last bit of faith power she'd burned through.

The little blue bird had only come out for a brief moment, and she'd slimmed down noticeably for it.

Karma looked at Jinx, then at Janna sleeping in her hair. She pressed her lips together, genuinely caught off guard by how close Janna was to this blue-haired girl.

Karma nodded and said softly, "You're already using magic."

"Huh?" Jinx looked at Logan, confused.

Logan was confused too. He stared at Karma suspiciously.

Jinx was already using magic?

Sure, Jinx had built all sorts of magical gadgets, but she hadn't actually cast magic herself.

And Logan still hadn't learned how to use magic either!

The gusts his Wind-Style Swordsmanship produced weren't magic—seriously, they weren't. But if you forced Logan to explain what they were, he'd use Demacia as the example.

A Demacian punches a mountain apart, hauls hundreds of tons around like it's nothing, screams "Demacia forever," calls magic evil and says it should be purged—then turns around and swings a giant glowing sword that cleaves your head off.

Is that magic?

Fine. Maybe you'd argue the sword is the problem—that the sword has magic built in, and the hypocritical Demacian is using a magic weapon while yelling about hunting mages.

Then explain a certain guy who looks suspiciously like Garen.

Plant a flag and suddenly "dragon strike" launches you ten-plus meters. Fall from the sky and you make the ground collapse.

Is that magic?

Obviously not. Right?

So yeah—magic in Runeterra is terrifyingly strong, but it isn't the only path to power. Martial techniques exist too. They're just far harsher to learn than magic.

Karma only smiled and didn't continue the topic.

That girl had Janna's favor, and she was constantly surrounded by magic. Magic was already flowing through her—she just hadn't found the method to control it yet.

Logan wanted to push for a clearer explanation—because Jinxie was staring at him now, and it was obvious she was just as lost about the whole "I can use magic" thing.

But Karma had already moved on.

"Logan," she asked, "how are you going to thank me?"

"Uh…" Logan scratched his cheek. After thinking, he said, "Is there something you need?"

He genuinely hadn't expected Karma to help.

In his impression, Ionians—especially the powerful ones—wouldn't even step in when their own people were suffering, afraid it might affect their cultivation. Why would someone like that help an outsider?

But Karma had intervened.

If she hadn't stopped Nagakabouros from descending—and instantly whisked them all away from Bilgewater—then Logan's only option would've been to summon Ahri and have the fox handle the fight.

So Logan was bewildered by her motives.

With Logan's not-very-deep understanding of League lore, he didn't know that the current Karma—the Darha in front of him—was different from the countless Karmas before her. Otherwise she wouldn't have been labeled the most rebellious Karma of all.

And after speaking with Irelia, Karma had become even more certain of one thing:

Peace doesn't come from waiting.

Sometimes you take action.

That was Darha's approach.

Irelia had told Karma about the changes in Zaun and Piltover, and Karma had formed a plan because of it.

"I know that even without my help, you could handle Nagakabouros," Karma said quietly. "The Spirit of Salvation is stronger than I am."

"But to summon her into this world, you'd pay a tremendous price."

"So tell me… what do you think I can get in exchange for that price?"

Logan gave a helpless laugh and looked at her seriously.

"I honestly don't know what I have that you'd want. But if there is something, say it. I'll do my best to agree."

Logan couldn't wrap his head around it.

Karma was a demigod—yet she was acting like she needed something from him.

If this were some normal person, Logan would accept it easily. He had Ahri's Charm skill, and he wasn't exactly ugly either. If some stranger showed up and said they couldn't help themselves, Logan might not accept it—but he'd at least understand.

Human nature.

Because who could resist Ahri's Charm?

But Karma was different.

She was a demigod. A demigod.

Karma didn't drag it out. She stepped forward several paces, stopping right in front of Logan where he sat on the beach, and looked down at him as she stated her request:

"Logan, I want Zaun to establish diplomatic relations with Ionia."

"And I want you to support Irelia—help her succeed in founding a nation."

"Ionia must become a nation. We need to connect everyone, bind them together—so that people no longer follow hermit sects and hidden orders, but instead move with the will of a country."

"Wait—founding a nation? Irelia?" Logan looked up sharply. Meeting those green eyes, he asked, "Why not you?"

"Me?" Karma shook her head. "I can't. Only Irelia can do this."

If, back then, after firing that blast of light, Karma hadn't retreated under the urging of elders, monks, and the voices of Karma within her mind—then maybe she would've been qualified to found a nation herself.

But she had backed away.

Irelia never had.

"But can Irelia really do it?" Logan asked after thinking.

In stories, Irelia was always the one placed opposite Swain. When people spoke of Ionia, she was the unquestioned leader.

But Logan didn't believe Irelia could truly match Swain.

No matter how strong Irelia was, she couldn't be stronger than Swain empowered by demonic force. And as for intelligence—don't joke.

Swain's mind was even more frightening than his strength.

The man literally had a "master tactician" skin.

Karma smiled slightly. "She can do it. The Spirit of Ionia chose her. And I will help her. I will support her."

"I've already spoken with her. She agreed. She also believes that only by building a nation—like Noxus and Demacia—can Ionians truly unite."

"And to accomplish that… we need Zaun's help. We're missing too many things."

"…" Logan fell silent.

He wanted to agree immediately. Establishing ties with Ionia and obtaining rare local goods was something he'd already considered.

But…

He also felt like he could squeeze a little more out of Karma.

Because come on—she was a demigod, and she was the one asking.

Then, the next second, Logan wanted to slap himself.

What the hell was he thinking?

Karma had helped him. Even if it wasn't exactly "saving him in a blizzard," does "adding flowers to brocade" mean you don't owe gratitude?

Of course not.

So Logan stood with a smile, reached his hand out to Karma, and said warmly:

"Alright. I agree. When I get back, I'll have Zaun prepare a delegation to establish relations with Ionia."

"Whatever you need, you can bring it up to them then. And of course, we'll have our own requests—special foods, plants, minerals, things like that."

She took his hand in a light, graceful clasp—like she'd finally exhaled.

"Thank you."

"Then, if there's nothing else, I'll return to Ionia," Karma said. "I need to tell Irelia."

Logan nodded.

Karma nodded as well, raised her fan, and with a gentle flick, vanished from in front of him.

Before leaving, she thanked Logan once more.

Just as she'd said—even if she hadn't appeared, Logan could've dealt with Nagakabouros.

But she had come anyway.

Calling it "help" was true… but in reality, she'd used the favor as leverage to push Zaun into formal relations with Ionia.

Luckily, Logan didn't dislike the idea.

As for why Karma didn't simply send them all back to Zaun herself…

Well—wasn't Janna still here?

They clearly still had things to say, and Karma staying would only get in the way.

After Karma left, Logan walked over to Sarah.

As for Akali, she was alone—sitting in a tree with her head lowered, lost in thought.

"Sarah," Logan called.

Sarah turned from tending her people. Her beautiful, seductive face showed clear gratitude.

"Logan… seriously, thank you. You and Jinx saved me. If you hadn't come, I really would've ended up dying at Gangplank's hands."

Logan almost said that even if he hadn't come, Illaoi wouldn't have let Sarah die to Gangplank—because the story was clear: Sarah passed Nagakabouros's trial and became Bilgewater's sea queen.

But still… Logan and Jinx's arrival really had changed a lot.

"So what are you going to do now?" Logan asked.

Sarah gave a bitter smile. "Lay low for a while. Gangplank's injured, but the Bearded Lady appeared—and Illaoi is on his side. Going forward, Bilgewater will listen to him."

"So for now, I'll take my crew and disappear. There are a lot of islands around Bilgewater. As long as we stay away from the Blue Flame Isles' most dangerous waters, we can survive."

Logan looked at her, thought for a moment, then said, "Come to Zaun."

"Sarah. Come to Zaun," Logan repeated, voice firm.

Sarah froze and looked at her crew.

Rafen had woken up too, and he'd heard Logan. With grime still smeared at the corner of his mouth, he forced a rough smile and said, "Why are you looking at us? You're the one at the helm, Captain."

"Yeah, boss—we'll follow you!"

"Boss, wherever you go, I go!"

Her people burst into laughter, shouting over each other.

After what happened, Sarah had lost—yet they trusted her with their lives even more.

Because even at their worst moment, she'd been thinking about them.

Following a leader like that might not guarantee fortune… but one thing was certain:

When danger came, the boss would be the first one in front.

Sarah rubbed her nose, then looked at Jinx and asked quietly, "Would you welcome me?"

Jinx blinked, wrinkled her nose, and snapped, "Quit talking. If you're coming, then come."

Sarah smiled.

"Alright. Then I'll go."

"Logan… I'll go to Zaun."

She looked at Logan and said it seriously.

Logan laughed too. He reached out his hand to her.

"Zaun welcomes you," he said. "Future Zaunite."

Sarah reached out and shook his hand.

Well then.

Zaun had gained Akali, the spymaster—

And now it had gained a future grand admiral, too.

In this world, when it came to naval warfare, was there anyone better than Bilgewater's future queen of the seas?

Nope.

Spymaster Akali. Grand Admiral Sarah.

Zaun really was overflowing with talent.

//Check out my P@tre0n for 10 extra free chapters //[email protected]/Razeil0810