Chapter 197: The Reborn 'Ink'

【Steam Capital, Twelve Brass Council】

【Third Day After the Vivian Trial】

In the grand hall forged of yellow brass, the Council President’s fingertips lightly tapped the table, their steady voice echoing through the vast, hollow chamber.

“Gentlemen, I have convened you today for three matters.”

“First—final judgment on the former Silver Knight Vivian of the Gear Church.”

“Second—how to deal with the Lower City rioters.”

“And third—investigation into the death of the late Fifth Squad Captain of the Steam Branch, ‘Ink’.”

The Council President surveyed the other Brass Nobles, calmly stating the purpose of their gathering.

Unlike the full attendance three days prior, five seats were now empty.

Saintess Yufemia and Golden Knight · Fischer had been confirmed dead.

Bishop Cleve was embroiled in scandal and had not appeared in public for days.

The remaining two representatives were from the Steam Branch.

To the Stellar Envoy, the murder of their Fifth Squad Captain had been an act of brazen provocation—clearly a message that the killer had no regard for the Steam Branch, nor for the entire Stellar Envoy Association.

Now, the Steam Branch was seething with fury, mobilizing its entire force to hunt down the murderer. Naturally, they had no time for council matters.

Yet even without five members, the Brass Council could proceed.

By Council rule, a motion passed with a simple majority of the Brass Nobles in agreement.

“Let us begin with the former Silver Knight Vivian’s crimes,” the Council President said. “Personally, I recommend upholding the original verdict. What say you?”

Despite the evidence presented yesterday by Liam, the Steam Branch leader—proof left behind by Yufemia—his tone remained unshaken.

Between the dignity of the Brass Nobles and the abstract notion of ‘justice,’ he chose the former without hesitation.

After all, the verdict had been declared before the entire city. Admitting error? That would be trampling the Twelve Brass Council’s face into the dirt.

The other Nobles shared the same mindset.

They were the entrenched elite of Steam Capital. The authority of the Council was the foundation of their power. Compared to chasing some distant ideal of fairness, they preferred to keep their grip on power tight and firm.

“Agreed.”

“Agreed.”

The unanimous vote settled the matter. The Council President nodded.

“Very well. This issue is closed. Next, we turn to the Lower City rioters. Any thoughts?”

Where the first topic had been met with quiet consensus, this one ignited instant passion among the Nobles.

“Deploy every steam unit from the Upper City! Round up every participant!”

A broad-faced Brass Noble slammed the table.

“Too extreme,” countered another, adjusting his monocle with slow deliberation. “I believe we should take a more measured approach.”

“Oh? How so?”

The monocle-wearer’s eyes flickered with cold precision.

“Such incidents happen once, they’ll happen again. If we don’t make it absolutely clear—beyond any doubt—that defiance of the Upper City carries a price, then this will only recur.”

“Therefore, I propose not just arresting the ringleaders, but expanding the net. Capture every Lower City citizen who participated directly or indirectly—this is the only way to set an example.”

Silence fell across the hall.

Even the Council President raised an eyebrow.

He’d assumed the man to be a moderate—yet he was far more ruthless than the radicals.

After all, the number of Lower City citizens involved—directly or indirectly—was nearing one-third of the entire population.

To arrest them all would be a seismic event, with repercussions far beyond imagination.

But before debate could spiral further, the Council President made his decision.

“Enough. Quiet.”

He raised a hand to still the chamber.

“I propose we follow my initial suggestion—arrest only the principal offenders. Lesser participants, punished proportionally.”

A pause. Then, nodding in agreement.

This compromise preserved Upper City prestige without triggering mass unrest. A balanced solution.

Two of the three issues resolved.

The third—Ink’s death—was swiftly dismissed.

It concerned internal affairs of the Stellar Envoy Association. The Brass Nobles could only assist. They had no authority to investigate.

After brief discussion, all present agreed: first resolve the Vivian matter and the Lower City riots. Only then would they cooperate with the Association’s inquiry into Ink’s murder.

After all, the former brought them a powerful new ‘Gear Guardian.’ The latter ensured their grip on power remained unshaken.

As for Ink?

It was the Steam Branch’s shame, not theirs. No need to overextend themselves.

“Then,” the Council President rose, his family crest glowing with a sudden pulse of yellow brass light.

“Let us activate the Brass Path to the Steam Furnace. Upload Vivian’s data to Gear Central. Begin the forging ritual.”

His words echoed.

The crest flared.

Instantly, the other Nobles’ emblems responded in kind.

Within moments, twelve beams of light—six from occupied seats, five from empty ones—converged in the center of the hall, coalescing into a vast, shimmering projection of a furnace.

【Steam Furnace Activated】

【12 authorized users detected. 6 confirmed. Gear Forging Protocol Initiated. Please input target’s information.】

As the Council President transmitted Vivian’s data to Gear Central, his hand paused.

There were twelve seats.

Seven Nobles present.

Yet only six were authorized.

Someone had betrayed them?

But the ritual had begun. They could not stop.

Each activation of the Steam Furnace consumed vast resources. It could not be halted on a whim.

With the final data input complete, Gear Central’s cold voice returned.

【Identity data entered.】

【Name: Vivian Howard】

【Title: Former Silver Knight, Gear Church】

【Rank: First-Rank Stellar Envoy】

【Stellar Source: Black Iron Clock】

【Data Completeness: 90%】

【Forge Conditions Met. Steam Furnace Activating. Gear Castle Synthesis Initiated. Personnel must be delivered to the Steam Furnace in three days to complete the final brass gear casting.】

The phantom furnace faded.

The Council session concluded.

But as the members prepared to depart, the figure seated in the far corner—Brass Noble Leidon—suddenly spoke.

Or rather, the man known as Leidon.

More accurately: Hidden Star Society · Tian Xie Zuo · Leidon.

“After all this time… it has finally come.”

The Nobles turned to him, puzzled by the sudden pronouncement.

Before the Council President could speak, the heavy brass doors groaned open with a slow, creaking breath.

And then—there he stood.

A figure no one could believe.

Clad in the familiar uniform of a Steam Branch Captain. The plain black-rimmed glasses. The gentle smile—calm, unassuming, utterly harmless.

Yet this man… should not be here.

He was Ink.

The former Fifth Squad Captain.

A man declared dead just days ago.

Ignoring the stunned silence, the figure floated slowly into the air, hovering above the hall, his gaze sweeping down upon the Council President and all present.

“Gentlemen,” he said, voice light, yet carrying an unyielding weight.

“I believe it’s time Steam Capital underwent a complete transformation.”

He smiled.

“Don’t you?”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end