Return to Bandle City.

The receptionist looks up from her papers, seeming bored. The sight of Poppy is a mild shock, though. She adjusts her glasses and blinks a few times, smiling a little for the first time in a while.

"Well, hello Ambassador. It's good to see you back in one piece I'm sure Dennison would love to see you. He's in his office at the moment. The door is open!"

Now beaming happily, she presses a button on the microphone in front of her and speaks into it softly.

"Mister Bwill, I believe you have just lost our little wager. Feel free to drop off the reward at my desk at any time. Oh, and do take time to give miss Poppy a kind hello."

Inside his office, the mayor is surrounded by more than the usual mountains of paper. Several officials pop in to grab papers and leave every so often, and Dennison himself is busily writing away and inspecting various documents. When Poppy arrives he doesn't even look up, until she speaks that is. When she does so he immediately stops and looks up in surprise.

"Oh, Poppy! Why, hello there! It's great to see that you're here, and still in one piece. We have heard of the occurrences in Demacia, and I'm very proud of the assistance you were able to give. I really should write and tell them how deeply sorry Bandle City is for not being able to provide more for them, but we're just so busy here ourselves. The world is a much more dangerous place than it once was, and we're going through the necessary precautions in case an invasion were to hit our city. Thanks to the combined efforts of our Rumble and Piltover's Ezreal, actually, we managed to create a device to warn us in case a Void presence were to appear near Bandle. We've gotten the dishes set up on various rooftops in town, which you may have seen on your way in. More troops are being stationed around our borders as well. After one occurrence about a month ago with someone intoxicating over eighty percent of the town, it occurred to me that we are fatally unprepared. Luckily Veigar has kept to his word and hasn't caused any disturbances lately, though I can't say the same about Lulu. You've seen that store she's set up outside our gates, I presume?"

The mayor pauses to take a breath and smile. His Ambassador is home safe, and it is a great relief for him. Lately he's been very stressed out, but hopefully things won't be as hectic in the near future.

Dennison lets out an exasperated sigh with this news, though he already knew much of it thanks to the Scouts and Megling units. It certainly isn't the news he'd like to hear.

"Somebody tainted the city's water supply. Our scientists did extensive research to figure out the culprit, but unfortunately we've had little results. A small cask was found at the scene of the crime, containing unknown fingerprints. However, the traces of liquid inside matched that of a compound in the water, as well as an ingredient used in Gragas' brews. We interrogated the large man, but there wasn't much we were able to get before we were forced to release him. As you might guess, the captain Teemo believes that Fizz is the one behind it, considering he was in the city at the time and he... has caused a few minor influxes in the past. Either way, we don't have enough evidence to make a solid claim.

I'm not too worried about Veigar, by the way. We never swore to protect him, only to allow him to move about the city as he pleases so long as he causes no trouble in our name. And Lulu has been cooperating decently enough where she isn't as big of a threat as we thought.

The Shadow Isles, now... yes, I was told by Rumble, Teemo, and Titus that there was a possibility of invasion. If the nightmare is with them I can only imagine the destruction they may cause. Our naval units have been doubled recently, something you may have seen on your way here since that is the way you came in. Security measures, as I said, are becoming more strict and there are now larger patrols inside the city. We may not be able to hold back a total onslaught... but I'm hoping that at the very least we will be able to evacuate if the need comes."

The mayor sighs deeply and sits back in his chair, seeming much older and more frail than he had during Poppy's last visit. The stir of recent events was taking its toll on him.

The mayor sits in silence for a few moments, thinking to himself behind closed eyes. When he speaks again he puts on a tone similar to that of a caring grandfather.

"The League has their ways with things, and we have ours. They've been lacking recently but... let's not worry about that. What's done is done. How about you, Poppy? Are you feeling well, despite the battles fought and travels made? It must be exhausting sometimes..."

((Sorry about the slow posts. I'll be pretty busy for the rest of the weekend and may not be able to post much. >.<))

The mayor sighs contently through his nose, easing slowly into his chair. This would probably be his only break all week, and he wants to enjoy it.

"Ah... well, we may be very busy here, but if you ever need anything don't be afraid to come ask. Even for someone like the Iron Ambassador, an arm with a wound like that is no laughing matter. Do take care on your time off."

"Hmm... indeed, they are foolish to wish that. I, too, hope for a swift recovery for Demacia. They are a very strong ally of ours, one that I am hoping to keep. Unfortunately... we have no spare yordles to send to aid them at this moment. Rumors have begun spreading in Bandle of what might happen should we be attacked as well. Most don't speak of them openly, but they certainly have reached my ears. By moving our troops closer to home, into our lands even, I'm hoping that the city folk will remain calm and keep faith should something go amiss.

At any rate... if you would like, I suppose I can relieve Titus of his duties and appoint him as a personal guard for you until your arm has healed. You're a very capable woman, yes, but in times like these I don't want to take any chances. The choice is still yours, but I would be grateful if I could be informed every so often that you're doing alright."

The mayor pauses to glance at a clock on the wall before he returns to his papers, ears still perked up to listen to the ambassador.

Jadefellow nods, his nose buried in a book of old records.

"Yes, yes. I'll be sure to keep up on your condition. You take care now, Poppy."

He doesn't give a wave goodbye, but instead sighs faintly. It's time to get back to work, and that would only mean more hours of paperwork.