Chapter 176: Ink's Sudden 'Death'

"This is no longer just an ordinary civilian incident — we must strike with full force!"

Inside the Twelve Brass Council Chamber, Council President·Frank slammed his fist onto the table, his usually composed demeanor shattered by fury.

For a man who prided himself on elegance and restraint, such a display revealed just how dire the situation had become.

After a brief burst of anger, Frank regained his composure. He turned toward a nearby Brass Noble and asked, "What’s the Guild’s stance?"

"They claim ordinary matters should be left to ordinary hands. They refuse to intervene."

"Preposterous! When did protocol become more important than survival?!"

Yet deep down, Frank knew the truth. If the Steam Branch stepped in to suppress the rioters, word would quickly reach the Central Council through other branches. The consequences would be catastrophic — not only would the entire Steam Branch be punished, but those who urged them to act would face severe repercussions as well.

Frank took a slow, deliberate breath. His gaze drifted to the three vacant yellow-brass seats far across the chamber.

"And the Church’s Will? Have they resolved their internal issues yet?"

The Stellar Envoy Association, bound by respect for the Grand Councilor, couldn’t directly interfere in local affairs. But the Gear Church was different. Though also constrained by the Guild’s rules, if handled with care, they could still act in secret.

But the news that followed was even worse.

"Their situation is just as dire. Golden Knight · Fisher’s death was too suspicious. They can no longer suppress internal dissent — they’ve already reported the matter to the Mechanical God Church Tribunal. Until the Church’s envoys arrive, they won’t take any further action."

Frank grimaced, yanking at his collar. "Damn it! Why does everything go wrong all at once?!"

By now, everyone present had begun to sense something was deeply wrong.

First, Vivian’s sudden assault on the Church.

Then, the mysterious death of Golden Knight · Fisher.

Now, the sudden uprising in the Rust Iron District — a veritable rat infestation.

Each event was bad enough on its own. But all three happening at once? It felt as if an invisible hand were pulling strings behind the scenes.

Just as Frank and the other Brass Nobles were grappling with how to end the chaos in the Lower City, one of them suddenly shot to his feet with a sharp clack.

All eyes turned to him.

"What’s wrong?"

The Brass Noble trembled as he spoke: "The Steam Branch reports... the Fifth Squad’s Ink —"

"Speak clearly! What happened to Ink?!"

"Ink… he’s dead. Found dead in the Fifth Squad’s base at the Gear Tower!"

"WHAT?!"

The shock was palpable. Faces darkened.

Because unlike the previous incidents, this one — if mishandled — could destroy them all.

Six years ago, the Ironcrown Family had been punished severely for merely diverting resources from the Steam Capital and Deep Blue Metropolis without authorization. The legendary Grand Councilor, Ainet, had personally appeared — a man who hadn’t left the headquarters in years.

He simply stood outside the Third Floating City · Quantum Fortress, raised his hand — and in an instant, at least one-third of the fortress was reduced to flaming wreckage.

The current situation hadn’t yet reached that level of escalation. But still — a Squad Captain murdered in his own base? That wasn’t just a crime. It was a slap in the face to the entire Stellar Envoy Association.

"Move! To the Gear Tower — now!"

Without hesitation, all seven Brass Nobles rose and rushed toward the tower.

Watching the frantic scene unfold on the Dimensional Screen, the chat exploded like a storm.

"Not serious — Ink’s already gone?"

"Wait, this feels off. How can so many things happen in one night?"

"Damn, this plot twist hit harder than a rocket launch! One second we’re watching rioters, next second — this?!"

In the midst of the confusion, the camera cut to the Fifth Squad’s base.

The image that followed was jarring — a brutal, unforgettable death.

There, on the walls of the base, was Ink — the very same captain who had dominated multiple episodes in Season 2: Faint Light. Now, he was impaled through the chest with a blade, pinned like a specimen to the wall.

Blood, thick and congealed, pooled across the white wall, turning his corpse into a grotesque bloom — a flower blooming on a cliff’s edge.

The audience gasped. There was no doubt — Ink was dead. Beyond recovery.

The production team then zoomed in on the surroundings.

No slash marks. No blast damage. Not a single brick cracked or shattered.

It was clear as day: Ink hadn’t fought back. He hadn’t even had time to react.

The silence was deafening.

"Wait — the close-up… the production team knows he didn’t resist!"

"Creepy. Who could take down Ink like that… without a fight?"

"Blind guess: Liam, the Branch Head! Only he has the power!"

"Think again — if Liam wanted to kill a Squad Captain, why nail him to a wall like a warning? He could’ve done it silently, never leaving a trace."

"Exactly. This isn’t an assassination. It’s a message. A provocation aimed straight at the Steam Branch."

"Could it be the mysterious masked man from the first episode? The one who looked like Tian Dao?"

"Maybe… he hasn’t shown up since episode one. But now, suddenly… this?"

Though the audience didn’t yet know the truth behind Ink’s death, one thing was certain:

With Golden Knight and Ink both dead under suspicious circumstances, and the Lower City in open revolt, the three most powerful organizations in Steam Capital — the Gear Church, the Twelve Brass Council, and the Stellar Envoy Association·Steam Branch — were all now drowning in their own crises.

The city was on the brink of total chaos.

And on the wall beside the bloodied corpse, Chen Xing stood beside the one who had finally shed all disguises — Tian Dao — both of them watching their masterpiece in quiet satisfaction.

The body — flawless in every detail, indistinguishable from the real thing.

"Tian Dao," Chen Xing said. "After all this, you’re finally ready to wrap it up, aren’t you?"

Tian Dao glanced at the lifeless form of Ink, then adjusted his Sunglasses. A slow, knowing smile curled across his lips.

"Yeah. It’s time."

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end