Chapter 233: Season 2 Ends

"So, the start of Season 3 is Ruli’s concert, huh?"

"Probably. If Ruli managed to get Tian Dao involved, this has to be way more complicated than it looks."

"The Tian-Kalolin Faction is finally stepping up!"

"Ruli’s the best—always thinks of us, our little cat! I’m sending her all my votes right now!"

"Wait, what if Ruli’s playing the long game? Maybe she’s just being clever?"

"Please. Ruli’s clearly the group’s favorite—everyone’s favorite!"

"Looks like everyone’s back for Season 3! Yay!"

Watching the screen, where Jing Ruli now stood—though her figure had matured, her personality remained unchanged from her childhood days in Season 1.

Though she’d recently shared a quiet private chat with Chen Xing, the Tian-Kalolin Faction showed no hostility toward the Tian-Xing Faction like they once had. After all, Ruli was unmistakably part of the Stellar Production Team—the ultimate ‘wingman’ assigned by the system to Kalolin.

Who would willingly attack their own ally and hand their enemies a victory?

Amidst the scrolling stream of comments, someone quietly typed: “Time flies… everyone’s grown up.”

The next instant, the opening credits of Season 2, Faint Light, faded into silence.

One by one, old-style animated panels—yellowed, textured with the faint scent of aged paper—slowly unfolded before the Dimensional Audience.

The first image showed the new face of the Twelve Brass Council.

Though Tian Dao had recently purged most of the current Twelve Brass Nobles, he’d only removed the current heads—leaving their families intact.

After negotiations led by Liam, the Steam Branch’s president, the old nobles had reluctantly accepted reality and permitted the opening of the Steam Furnace.

But the new Furnace was no longer under their control.

They still received a share of the profits—drawn from the Steam Branch’s earnings—but these payments felt more like charity than compensation.

Though bitter, they knew compromise was their only option.

Tian Dao’s arrival had rewritten the rules of Steam Capital.

To refuse meant only one thing: a new coffin in the city’s graveyard.

As for the new Council President, only one noble had survived the purge: Tian Xie Zuo·Leidon.

No one knew why Tian Dao spared him. But as the last surviving old aristocrat, the new elite had no choice but to accept the arrangement—no matter how much they resented it.

And the Steam Branch was perfectly fine with that. Stability was their top priority.

The process? Irrelevant.

On screen, Leidon’s profile was half-shrouded in steam, his expression unreadable. He toyed with a pocket watch, as if counting the seconds of someone’s fate.

After a brief overview of the Brass Nobles’ fate, the animation shifted to the Lower City of Steam Capital.

The recent uprising had inflamed tensions between the Lower and Upper Cities to the brink of total collapse.

But with the old nobles gone, Leidon sought to appease the populace.

He rallied several major corporations and jointly released a public Lower City Renovation Plan Statement.

Even the old nut transfer stations—symbols of division—were torn down and replaced with seamless Nut Elevators.

Though citizens of the Lower City remained wary—suspicious of the Upper City elite’s sudden generosity—there was no denying: for the first time in years, a sliver of light had pierced the darkness of Steam Capital.

To tackle the environmental damage caused by the Steam Furnace, Leidon partnered with Qianyu Group, a subsidiary of Wudou Tian Du, to address the city’s rampant steam pollution.

As part of the deal, much of the Lower City’s redevelopment was handed over to Qianyu Group.

Though the animation didn’t detail what the future held, the Dimensional Audience could already sense hope.

Even Old Jack—once thought to have left Steam Capital for good—reappeared on screen.

His Rust Nail Bar had transformed completely.

From a grim, post-apocalyptic dive bar, it had become a warm, inviting music lounge—cozy lighting, wooden beams, soft melodies filling the air.

Once just a safe zone in Zone 12’s Rust Iron Hell, the new Rivet Tavern had become the heart of the entire Lower City.

Change isn’t always good.

But when you’ve already hit rock bottom, no matter which way you go, it’s upward from here.

With the city’s transformation complete, the scene cut to a high-tech, otherworldly hall.

Inside, a massive humanoid mech sat on a throne-like chair, face blank, staring down at a black-haired woman below.

Though the Stellar Production Team didn’t reveal their conversation, the woman’s identity—combined with her recent dialogue with Grand Councilor Ainet—made it clear: she’d come to deliver a warning.

To the Ironcrown Family.

And under the weight of Ainet’s threat, they had no choice but to yield.

Then, in the center of the screen, a wanted poster appeared—featuring a young Tian Dao’s photo.

The image burned instantly, consumed by a burst of flame, curling, blackening, then dissolving into ash that scattered into the air.

An unmistakable signal: without the Ironcrown Family chasing him, the official wanted poster had been revoked.

After that revelation, the screen snapped back to Steam Capital—where Chen Kong and the others stood.

Ping!

Just like the beginning of Season 2, Vivian set down her umbrella and pushed open the familiar door.

Where once stood the Rust Nail Bar, now hung a wooden sign: Rivet Tavern.

The new wooden floor creaked faintly beneath her steps.

“Need help?”

Vivian smiled at Old Jack, who was arranging tables nearby.

Old Jack looked up. His wrinkles had deepened, but his smile—brighter than ever—was unmistakable.

“Help? I’m just old, not dead yet.”

“Besides, you should be helping Chen Kong over there. He’s the one drowning in work.”

Vivian nodded and stepped into the kitchen.

Chen Kong was surrounded by bottles—some she recognized, others utterly foreign.

Just as she entered, he was stretching on tiptoe, trying to place a bottle labeled Tianhai Zhi Meng on a high shelf.

Then—clack.

The door opened.

A sudden jolt—his grip slipped.

But before the bottle could fall, a slender hand caught it mid-air.

“Be careful,” Vivian said.

Chen Kong looked up, grinning. “I was just clumsy for a second. I’m usually very careful.”

Vivian shook her head and placed the bottle where it belonged.

Their fingers brushed.

She flinched—like she’d been shocked. Her ears turned faintly pink.

Chen Kong, ever the gentleman, simply chuckled and said nothing.

Then—suddenly—the camera shifted.

The background blurred.

Vivian and Chen Kong faded into light, their silhouettes dissolving into the center of the kitchen table—where a bright, gleaming invitation lay.

[Wudou Tian Du · Stellar Sky Ladder Ranking Tournament · Invitation Letter]

The handwriting on the envelope was crisp and new. But the edges were slightly curled—subtle, almost imperceptible.

A quiet hint: this journey wouldn’t be easy.

Then—ding!

A sharp, clear train whistle echoed from off-screen.

The scene cut to Steam Capital’s train station.

Inside the first-class cabin of a steam locomotive, Tian Dao lounged in his seat—same lazy posture, same look as when he first arrived.

But this time, he wasn’t alone.

Around him sat Chen Xing, Jing Ruli, Dannika, and others.

The camera froze on the group—still, silent, framed in golden light.

Then—darkness.

A cold, mechanical voice echoed in Tian Dao’s mind.

[Season 2 has ended. Season rating calculation in progress.]

On his screen, data scrolled endlessly.

He knew—his Season 2 arc was officially over.

Now, it was time to prepare for the next chapter: Theater Edition.

PS: Daily vote appeal!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end