Chapter 198: The Process Doesn't Matter—What Matters Is the Result

Seeing Ink suddenly come back to life wasn’t just a shock to the Brass Nobles present. Even the Dimensional Audience gathered at Station 13 were left stunned—none had expected this turn of events.

‘Dude, the guy was literally impaled into the wall—how is he still alive?’

‘I knew something was off! Ink’s a top-tier legend—how could he die so pathetically?’

‘Change? Feels like Ink’s planning something big.’

‘Hear that tone—Ink’s about to flip the table! Hell yeah! I’ve been sick of these smug high-and-mighties for ages!’

Amidst the torrent of chaotic, excited messages flooding the Dimensional Audience feed, the Council President’s cold voice cut through the silence of the chamber.

“Ink, as an Association Stellar Envoy, you’ve recklessly meddled in affairs beyond your jurisdiction. Do you not fear the consequences from headquarters?”

“Association Stellar Envoy?” Tian Dao let out a soft, mocking laugh. The light from the brass chandeliers flickered across his black-rimmed glasses, casting a shadow over his eyes. “My status as an Association Stellar Envoy ended the moment I died. So…”

He casually adjusted his glasses, the gesture almost habitual.

“…what you see before you now is nothing more than a simple Book mage enthusiast.”

His gaze drifted to the spot where the Steam Furnace’s projection had vanished. A quiet sigh escaped him.

“The original Quantum Information Forging Furnace… how nostalgic.”

He tilted his head upward, his voice laced with disdain.

“A miracle artifact capable of turning virtual data into reality, of giving form to Machine Souls—yet you’ve reduced it to nothing more than a tool for crafting ‘mechanical puppets.’”

“Truly… a waste.”

He turned his attention to the Council President, standing tall.

“If you’d ever entrusted the furnace’s access to those truly gifted Mechanical Stellar Envoys—instead of hoarding it like a power play—

I believe this Steam Capital could’ve become one of the most vibrant cities in the entire New Federation, second only to the Seven Floating Cities.”

“Insolence!”

A sharp shout erupted as one of the Brass Nobles slammed his fist on the table and shot to his feet.

“This is the legacy built with blood and sweat by our ancestors! Why should we hand it over to others?!”

Tian Dao watched the man’s face redden, shaking his head in weary resignation.

He’d seen this countless times in his past life.

The desperate grip on power, the refusal to embrace change, even when progress meant prosperity for all.

They weren’t blind to the benefits of opening the furnace.

They simply feared losing the privileges they’d built on monopoly.

After all, it had been far too comfortable—colluding with the Mechanical Deity Cult to dominate the quantum equipment market.

Between monopoly and public good, they’d long since chosen the former.

“Pathetic. And tragic.”

Tian Dao’s hand rested on the hilt of the Shattering Star at his waist.

The black scabbard pulsed faintly, as if breathing. Dark ink-like mist began to seep from its intricate engravings.

Seeing this, another Brass Noble shouted frantically:

“Guardians! Where are the guardians?! Can’t you see a dead man just walked in here?!”

“Stop shouting,” Tian Dao said, voice calm as a still lake.

“Your voice won’t carry. The signal from your Data Terminal has already been blocked.”

The noble’s face paled instantly.

That’s why he’d been sending silent distress signals since Ink’s arrival—his screen remained blank the entire time.

Not because the signal failed to send…

But because it was severed before it even left.

This wasn’t a mistake.

This was a conspiracy.

A meticulously planned one.

The atmosphere in the chamber grew thick, suffocating.

After a pause, the Council President glanced at Tian Dao, then swept his gaze toward Leidon in the corner—the man who had remained silent throughout.

“Ink. Leidon. Just what are you planning?”

“What?” Tian Dao smiled, his moon-white captain’s cloak fluttering without wind.

“Simple. I’m borrowing the Steam Furnace. Then, I’ll share it with those who truly need it.”

“You’re mad!” The Council President shot to his feet, the brass emblem on his chest blazing with blinding light.

“Mad? Really?” Tian Dao chuckled. “Tell me—what do you think Grand Councilor Ainet would say if I opened the furnace to every qualified Mechanical Stellar Envoy across the New Federation?”

The Council President’s pupils contracted sharply.

He knew full well what Ainet would think.

After all, the Grand Councilor’s envoy had visited them multiple times, pushing for open access.

But with the Ironcrown Family’s backing, they’d kept demanding more and more—driving negotiations to a standstill.

His expression twisted. “So… Ainet gave you permission to do this?”

Tian Dao met his gaze, utterly calm.

“No. Not at all. This is entirely my own doing.”

Even as he spoke the truth, not a single Brass Noble believed him.

How could a mere district captain dare challenge an entire city—and a powerful Stellar Envoy family?

Yet, knowing the situation was beyond repair, the Council President still tried to reason.

“Ink, Grand Councilor has always believed Stellar Envoy matters should be handled by Stellar Envoys. Ordinary affairs, by ordinary people. You’re not just defying the rules—you’re insulting the Grand Councilor!”

“Still trying to use Ainet as a threat?” Tian Dao smiled, drawing the Shattering Star from its sheath.

But as he did, the blade remained unmarked—its signature cracks invisible.

Because Tian Dao had wrapped his ‘Perfection Stellar Source’ around it, concealing its true nature from the Dimensional Audience.

“Rules are rigid. People are not. As long as the result is good, Ainet won’t care about the process.”

“Of course,” he added, “only if you’ve already delivered the good result to him.”

“And I happen to have exactly what he wants.”

With that, Tian Dao raised the Shattering Star.

No sudden flash. No blade’s gleam.

Instead, a silent flood of deep, ink-black Stellar Energy surged from the blade—like a tide rising from the abyss.

The entire chamber was swallowed by darkness.

The light vanished.

Even the brass armrests of the seats and the chandeliers above began to weep black veins, consumed by the energy radiating from Tian Dao.

“Alright,” he said, voice calm. “I’ve said all I needed to. The rest is just clearing the path.”

“Because in my new Steam Capital, there’s no room left for people like you.”

Then, the ink-black Stellar Energy surged—not just enveloping the Brass Nobles present, but also turning the Dimensional Screen into a blank void.

Though the audience beyond couldn’t see what happened next, the screams that followed made it clear enough.

A revolution—led by Ink—had begun right here, within the heart of the Steam Capital’s chamber.

PS: Daily update complete! As always, kindly consider dropping a vote for the moon ticket!

Just one more chapter needed to fully repay last month’s backlog. So, I’ve decided to slow down a bit—take time to carefully craft the next arc.

After all, this is where the second volume reaches its climax… and where key threads for the third volume begin to weave.

Must get it right.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end