Chapter 141: The Rust Hidden Within Clean Steam Pipes

【Steam Capital, Upper City, Gear Tower】

【Stellar Envoy Association Steam Branch】

“Ink Captain, why did you bring her back?”

Yu Chen, Deputy Captain of the Fifth Squad, stared in disbelief at Vivian, who was being gently led by Tian Dao’s hand.

His usually half-lidded eyes were wide open now—pupils dilated with shock.

Tian Dao glanced at him, voice calm.

“Why not? I can’t bring her back?”

Yu Chen instinctively scanned the room. Around them, members of the branch were whispering behind hands, casting furtive glances in their direction. The air hummed with quiet speculation.

Seeing this, Yu Chen lowered his voice.

“Captain… you’ve only just arrived in Steam Capital. You might not be aware of the situation here.”

“Our branch’s relationship with Gear Church is… delicate. Bringing her back now—well, the Association won’t have an easy time.”

Before Tian Dao could respond, the Dimensional Screen erupted in a storm of comment pop-ups:

‘Difficult? Then just don’t do it, idiot!’

‘No way, Yu Deputy—your cowardice ruins the whole “narrow-eyed enigma” vibe! We were promised these eyes meant monsters!’

‘Even if Gear Church is powerful, can they match our Ink Master?’

Amid the barrage of mockery, Tian Dao’s presence shifted abruptly.

The gentle, ink-drawn calm of the “good old man” vanished.

In its place came a cold, unyielding solemnity.

“Deputy Captain Yu Chen… are you teaching me how to do my job?”

The words landed like ice.

The air between them froze.

Even in the Stellar Envoy Association, where Ink was universally beloved—non-competitive, selfless, even volunteering for the dreaded “Nut Hub Station” job that others fled—this was the first time anyone had seen him so serious.

And the silence that followed spoke volumes.

Yu Chen hesitated, then bowed slightly.

“Forgive me, Captain. I meant no disrespect. Whatever you decide, I’ll follow.”

Tian Dao nodded. Then, still holding Vivian’s hand, he walked past Yu Chen, heading straight toward the Fifth Squad’s designated zone.

The screen cut to a close-up of Yu Chen’s lowered head.

But beneath the surface of submission, his eyes—now fully open—glistened with something unreadable. A storm of thought brewing behind their surface.

---

【Steam Branch, Fifth Squad Base, Single-Occupant Interrogation Room】

The metal door clicked shut.

Tian Dao raised his hand, untying the black rope binding Vivian’s wrists. Then, from his pocket, he produced a specialized device—Stellar Lock, designed to suppress Stellar Energy.

With a soft snap, the device locked onto her wrist.

At the moment of contact, Vivian felt her Stellar Source freeze—its pulse dimming like a dying ember.

“Sit,” Tian Dao said, gesturing to the chair across from the interrogation table.

Vivian sat in silence, hands resting on the table.

“Speak,” Tian Dao began, breaking the heavy stillness. “Why did Gear Church accuse you of stealing the Sacred Artifact? And why did Chen Kong and the others insist you’re innocent?”

Vivian exhaled deeply. Then, she recounted everything—the full story.

Though Tian Dao already knew every detail from the original timeline, he had to play the role of someone hearing the truth for the first time.

He waited until she reached a critical moment—then interrupted.

“So you really don’t know why the Church branded you a thief, do you?”

Vivian fell silent.

Tian Dao didn’t give her space.

“No. You do suspect something. You just refuse to admit it.”

Her shoulders jolted. She looked up, eyes flickering with panic.

“I—”

“Let’s be honest,” Tian Dao said, voice soft but precise.

“Can the Gray Rat Gang really steal a Sacred Artifact from the core of Gear Church—where high-tier Stellar Envoys guard it?”

“I doubt it.”

The words struck like a blade.

“Gear Church hasn’t stood for decades by being careless. If their sacred relics were that easy to steal… they wouldn’t still be standing.”

He paused.

“Vivian… you’re being used as a scapegoat.”

She didn’t speak.

But her silence was enough.

Finally, she whispered, “But I believe… when Saintess Yufemia returns, everything will be cleared up.”

Tian Dao arched a brow. Then, with a sigh, he asked:

“You’re so certain she’s on your side?”

Vivian blinked, stunned—her expression betraying confusion.

“Dannika, bring me File 23.”

“Coming!”

A bright, childish voice echoed from outside, followed by rapid footsteps.

Moments later, Dannika burst in, clutching a blue folder. She balanced on tiptoes and handed it to Tian Dao.

“Here you go, Captain!”

“Thank you.”

Tian Dao placed the folder on the table in front of Vivian.

“Read it yourself.”

She opened it slowly.

And as her eyes scanned the first page, her already pale face drained of all color.

The document listed the names of children—adopted by Saintess Yufemia from the Lower City over the past several years.

The time span between adoptions ranged from one to ten years.

Yet Vivian recognized some of them.

Some had even been her friends.

She remembered—six years ago, she’d lived in the Church’s orphanage.

But at the bottom of the list, every name was marked with a single word:

[Missing]

One. Two. Three.

Fifty-seven names.

All vanished.

Children rescued from hell—erased.

“You’re shocked,” Tian Dao said, his voice like a shard of ice piercing her ears.

“The Saintess who preaches mercy to the world… she’s been working with Bishop Cleve all along. Running a vast underground network beneath Gear Church.”

He looked at her trembling hands.

“While Gear Church sings hymns in the light, the gangs of the Lower City do the dirty work—unseen, unacknowledged.”

“Do you think your troubles are just Cleve refusing to let go of power?”

He shook his head.

“You’re naïve, Vivian. This isn’t about power. It’s about timing.”

He leaned forward.

“Why is the Lower City so chaotic lately? Why did Yufemia leave—now, of all times?”

Vivian opened her mouth.

But no words came.

Tian Dao didn’t wait.

“They need time. Time to clean up their past—time to bury their tracks so no one above can uncover the truth.”

He fixed her with a steady gaze.

“And you? You were chosen. A perfect fall guy. A ‘suicide’ to cover the cracks.”

He paused.

“After all, you’ve never truly been one of them. They never trusted you. You were never part of their inner circle.”

The words were calm. So calm they almost sounded casual.

But both Vivian—and the Dimensional Audience—felt the weight behind them.

The cold, undeniable truth.

And beneath the bright, clean skies of Steam Capital’s Upper City, a darkness stirred.

A darkness that could swallow everything whole.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end