Chapter 142: A Twist After Another — Everyone's a Villain

“So… why are you telling me all this?”

Vivian stared at Tian Dao, her lips parting several times as if to argue—but each time, no rebuttal came.

Because if she connected what Tian Dao had said with everything that had happened to her recently…

It all made sense.

But knowing the truth was one thing.

Accepting it? That was another entirely.

Seeing Vivian’s dazed expression, Tian Dao knew he needed to drive the knife deeper.

Dannika was the key to unlocking the Miracle Gate.

And Vivian? She was the indispensable stepping stone—his path to that gate.

As for whether these revelations would alter the course of events?

Tian Dao didn’t care.

Because in the original story, it was the current Deputy Captain of the Fifth Squad—Yu Chen—who had captured Vivian and revealed these very secrets.

So now, Tian Dao was simply reclaiming someone else’s role.

“Vivian,” he said, leaning back in his chair, “this world is complicated. And people’s hearts? Even harder to read.”

“You never know how many masks someone hides beneath their skin. Or if the face you see is even the one they want you to see.”

As he spoke, the air around File 23—labeled “No. 23”—shivered.

Ink, black as void, surged from nowhere, coiling around the file like a living shadow.

It twisted, warped, turned black, and finally crumbled into ash.

A silent gust swept through the interrogation room, scattering the dust across the table—leaving no trace, no evidence.

“Sacred Artifact missing? Bishop Cleve will surely be questioned by higher-ups.

But as long as Saintess Yufemia gives her approval, Cleve can remain in power—no matter that he failed the succession rites.”

“And without concrete proof, the Machine Church’s leadership won’t dare intervene.”

“After all, those ironclad zealots are the strictest adherents to doctrine.”

“So tell me now… do you still believe the Saintess is preaching the truth?”

Tian Dao leaned back, voice languid, yet every word struck like a blade.

“I’d wager she’s already contacting her allies—telling them to go into hiding.”

Even after that, Tian Dao didn’t stop.

He looked down at Vivian’s ashen face and dropped one final, brutal truth.

“Vivian… do you know who leaked your location?

And who led me straight to you so fast?”

Vivian froze. Then, her voice cracked.

“Old Jack?!”

“No,” Tian Dao said, a cold chuckle slipping out. “Impossible. He’s been helping you—protecting Chen Kong—”

“Protecting?” Tian Dao scoffed. “You really think Rust Iron Hell’s Safe Zone was built on loyalty to Chen Kong and Old Jack?”

“Why would those wild, ruthless gangs abandon Zone 12—such a lucrative prize—just because Old Jack ‘raised’ them?”

“When have the bloodthirsty bosses of Rust Iron Hell ever shown such filial piety?”

He stood, walked to her, and looked down.

“Miss Knight… the best way to control a dog isn’t by beating it.

It’s to feed it—then tighten the leash at your command.”

“Old Jack? He’s the leash. The Church’s leash.”

“And don’t you wonder how Bishop Cleve and the Saintess always know the Lower City’s movements?

How they keep the gangs under control?”

Silence.

Vivian sat frozen, mouth moving, but no sound came out.

The tiny inconsistencies she’d ignored before now snapped into place—like pieces of a nightmare puzzle.

And the final image?

A dark, suffocating hell she’d never dared imagine.

Meanwhile, the Dimensional Audience watching from Station 13 were stunned.

> “The Saintess is the villain? Old Jack too?! Steam Capital’s a damn cesspool!”

> “This twist is brutal. Vivian’s gotta be shattered.”

> “Ink knows way too much. Who is he, really?”

> “Add in the Hidden Star Society from Season 2’s opening… I finally get why Ainet, the Central Council’s leader, is called the greatest Stellar Envoy of our age. Without him, the New Federation would’ve collapsed ages ago!”

Tian Dao said nothing more.

He just watched Vivian—knew the agony of watching faith crumble.

But some truths, no matter how painful, had to be revealed.

Because that was the cost of growing up.

After a long silence, Vivian whispered, her voice hoarse:

“Then… why are you helping me?”

Tian Dao removed his glasses, wiped them gently, then slid them back on.

His expression softened—back to the kind, unassuming man everyone knew.

“If I must give a reason… it’s probably just that I don’t like the dark.”

He turned to Dannika, smiling.

“Dannika, tell Deputy Captain Yu Chen we’ll let him handle the knight’s custody until the Association issues formal orders.”

“Of course.”

Dannika nodded, tapping her neck terminal to relay the message.

When Yu Chen arrived, Tian Dao excused himself with a casual, “Time for lunch,” and walked out with Dannika—leaving Vivian alone with the man who always kept his eyes half-lidded.

Alone in the room, her mind reeling, Vivian sat motionless—lost in thought.

Then Yu Chen stood abruptly, turned off the surveillance feed, and returned to her.

And then he said the words that left her brain utterly blank.

“Vivian… I don’t know what Ink told you. But don’t trust him.”

She looked up—shocked—seeing Yu Chen’s eyes now fully open, sharp, serious.

He said nothing more, only added:

“Don’t ask why. Don’t try to uncover the truth.”

“Because the water here is deeper than you can imagine.”

“Remember this: neither the Steam Branch nor the Gear Church—most of them—are trustworthy.”

“But don’t worry. I’ll find a way to help you. I’ll clear your name.”

Then he reactivated the camera, turned, and left.

Alone in the silence, Vivian was torn apart by a whirlwind of revelations.

First—Ink claimed the Bishop and Saintess were corrupt.

Then—Old Jack was revealed as a Church spy.

Now—this strange deputy captain warned her not to trust Ink.

Now she couldn’t tell right from wrong.

Who was good? Who was evil?

Everyone wore masks.

And only she—still raw, still honest—had shown her true face.

Not long after Yu Chen left…

The scene shifted abruptly to the Fifth Squad’s captain’s office.

Tian Dao sat alone at his desk, a single file before him.

Just as he reached to place it into the secure case, the Dimensional Audience caught a glimpse of its contents.

In the top-left corner—faded, yellowed—was a photograph.

A child with narrow, squinting eyes.

The background? Gear Church’s Third Orphanage.

Just one glance.

But with Tian Dao’s earlier words in mind, some viewers already guessed the truth.

> “Yu Chen… was one of the missing orphans?”

> “Then why does he distrust Ink? He’s supposed to be the enemy of the Church!”

> “Ugh, my head’s itching… I think I’m finally starting to think.”

> “Wait—what if Ink’s actually a sleeper agent for another faction? He’s feeding Vivian these secrets just to muddy the waters. He’s not helping—he’s manipulating.”

> “Another conspiracy theory? Seriously?”

Amid the heated debate, Tian Dao slid the file into place, then turned toward the sky above.

The Upper City stretched out—clear, sunny, endless.

Whether it was the weather… or something else…

A soft, gentle smile touched his lips.

He looked nothing like the scheming mastermind Yu Chen had described.

And yet—there, in that quiet moment, the truth lingered in the air.

PS: The final three chapters will be released tomorrow at noon. As always, your support means everything—please consider voting for me!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end