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Chapter 141 The 'Rust' Hidden in Clean Steam Pipes

[Steam City, Upper Town, Gear Building]

[Star Envoy Association Steam Branch]

"Captain Shuimo, why did you bring her back?"

Fifth Division Vice-Captain Yu Chen looked at Vivian, who was being led by the hand by Tendo.

His usually squinted eyes were wide open for the first time, his pupils filled with shock.

Tiandao glanced at him and said in a calm tone, "What, can't I bring her back?"

Yu Chen subconsciously glanced around and saw many people in the association secretly glancing in their direction, whispering among themselves, seemingly discussing something.

Seeing this, Yu Chen immediately lowered his voice and said, "Captain, you haven't been in the Steam City for long, so you may not be familiar with the situation here."

“The relationship between our branch and the Gear Church is very delicate. Bringing her back at this time will be difficult for the association.”

Before the Heavenly Dao could respond, the comments on the dimensional screen had already exploded:

'Difficult to handle? Then don't do it!'

"Seriously, Vice Captain Yu? Does this cowardly behavior do justice to your squinty-eyed persona? What happened to the saying that all squinty-eyed people are monsters?!"

'Even if the Gearbox is amazing, can it compare to our ink painting masters?'

Amidst the audience's complaints, Tiandao's aura suddenly changed.

The image of that gentle, kind-hearted man, as delicate as an ink painting, has completely vanished.

Instead, there is a cold seriousness.

"Vice Captain Yu Chen, are you trying to teach me how to do things?"

Upon hearing this, the air between Tiandao and Yuchen instantly froze, and the atmosphere became eerie.

You should know that 'Shuimo' is known for his good relationships within the association.

He didn't vie for credit or power, and even took the initiative to take on the mess that many people would avoid as the "station manager of the Nut Hub Station".

But this usually kind-hearted man is unusually serious right now.

It was obvious that he was angry.

After thinking about this, Yu Chen hesitated for a moment, but still chose to back down.

"Your subordinate dares not, I will follow the captain's orders."

Tendou nodded, then led Vivian past him and headed straight for the Fifth Division's exclusive area.

At the same time, the anime gave a close-up shot of Yu Chen looking down.

His eyes were fully open in his lowered head.

His eyes held an inexplicable depth, as if he were deep in thought.

[Steam Branch, Fifth Division Headquarters, Single Interrogation Room]

The metal door clicked shut.

The Heavenly Dao raised its hand and untied the black rope on Vivian's wrist. Instead, it took out a 'Star Lock' specifically designed to seal the Star Envoy's Star Energy and fastened it to Vivian's wrist.

The moment the handcuffs were put on, Vivian clearly felt the star energy within her body freeze and fall silent.

"sit down."

Tiandao pointed to the chair opposite the interrogation table.

Vivian sat down silently, placing her hands on the table.

"Speak, why does the Gear Church believe you stole the sacred relic? And why are Chen Kong and the others so certain of your innocence?"

Tiandao spoke first, breaking the silence in the interrogation room.

Vivian took a deep breath and then explained the whole story to Tiandao in detail.

Although Heaven already knew the whole story in the original plot.

But at this moment he had to play the role of 'first encounter with the truth', so he didn't speak until Vivian mentioned a certain key point.

"So, you don't actually know why the church has put you on their wanted list, right?"

Seeing Vivian suddenly fall silent, Tiandao didn't give her any face and said directly, "No, you actually vaguely know, but you just don't want to believe it."

Vivian's shoulders trembled violently, and she abruptly raised her head, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes: "I..." "To be able to steal a sacred relic from the core area of ​​the church, where a high-ranking Star Envoy is stationed, the Gray Rat Gang? I don't think they have that kind of ability."

The voice of Heaven was calm and gentle.

But it was like a bucket of ice water poured over Vivian's head.

"If the relics of the Gear Church were so easily lost, the Gear Church would not have stood in the Steam City for decades."

"Vivian, you've been made a scapegoat."

Having said that, Vivian decided to share her own thoughts.

"But I believe that as long as the Holy Maiden returns, everything will be settled."

Faced with her statement, Heavenly Dao raised an eyebrow and sighed, "Are you so sure that the Holy Maiden is on your side?"

Vivian stared wide-eyed in astonishment, as if she hadn't understood the meaning of those words.

"Danica, bring in document number 23."

"Coming!" came the little girl's clear voice from outside the door, followed by a series of hurried footsteps.

Before long, little Danica ran in carrying a blue folder and handed it to Tiandao on tiptoe.

"Captain, the file is here!"

"Thank you."

Tiandao took the folder and placed it in front of Vivian.

"See for yourself."

Vivian opened the document with a puzzled look, and after she saw the contents, her already pale face, already tinged with injury, became completely bloodless.

The document contained a list of orphans that Saint Euphemia had "adopted" from the lower city over the past few years.

Although the children have been adopted from each other for as long as ten years.

But Vivian still met some of the people there.

Some of them could even be considered her friends.

Because six years ago, she had spent some time in a 'church orphanage'.

However, at the very end of this adoption list, the same word was marked on all of them—[Missing].

One, two, three... a total of fifty-seven names, without exception.

All the children who were led out of 'hell' by the saintess have disappeared.

"Shocking, isn't it?"

The voice of the Heavenly Dao pierced her ears like an icicle.

"The saintess who appears to be compassionate to outsiders has actually been working with Bishop Crivey to run a huge underground business under the church."

"The Gear Church stands in the light, singing hymns of praise, while the gangsters in the lower city do the dirty work for them."

He watched Vivian's trembling hands and relentlessly continued to reveal to her the dark side hidden beneath the white steam of the steam city.

"You think everything you're going through right now is just because Clive is unwilling to relinquish power?"

"You're too naive, Vivian. This is just a tactic they're using to delay the investigation from above."

"Why do you think the lower city of the Steam City has been so chaotic lately? And why is Euphemia going to preach in other cities at this particular time?"

Vivian raised her head, her lips moved, but she couldn't speak for a long time.

She couldn't say it, but Heaven had no qualms.

"Because they need time to clean up the mess they've left over the years and make sure that their superiors don't find out anything."

“And you, Vivian, you are the one they chose. They need a scapegoat who ‘commits suicide’ to deal with the investigation from above.”

"Why is it that your behavior has consistently prevented them from treating you as one of their own and fully integrating you into their inner circle?"

The words of Heaven were calm, so calm that it seemed as if they were describing something insignificant.

But whether it's Vivian or the audience from another dimension.

Everyone can feel the cruelty contained in the words of Heaven's Way.

And that all-consuming darkness hidden beneath the clear skies of the upper city of the steam-powered city.
(End of this chapter)