Was Darius already the 'Hand of Noxus' before allying with Swain?

Reading the comic, I noticed that on page 10, in the flashback to 9 years prior, Darius was already referred to as the 'Hand of Noxus'. Later on page 20, we see that it was during the failed Ionian invasion.

I always thought Darius got the name 'Hand of Noxus', after he had decided to ally with Swain, because of the whole 'Game of Thrones' thing with Swain as Grand General naming Darius his 'Hand' when handling affairs of chopping off heads.

But it looks like he had the title prior to Swain becoming Grand General. In the old/current canon we have, it states Swain was removed from participating in the Ionian invasion due to 'bureaucratic subversion', and he wasn't even a member of High Command yet during that time.

So Darius always had this title? Was he originally the 'Hand' to Boram like how he is to Swain now? Or it was a less direct role with Boram?

Also, speculation time, does Darius blame the capital bureaucrats for weakening the Ionian invasion force by pulling back Swain for political reasons; resulting in Quiletta losing her arm and faith in Noxus during the retreat?

Was that when he focused on the idea of purging the Noxian Capital of the bureaucrats, and to ally with Swain to get him on the throne as Grand General/Dictator?