This villain is too popular.

Chapter 166 The 'Fire' Ignited in Hell

Most of the brass nobles, including the Speaker of Parliament, did not understand what the name 'Jack Bailey' meant.

But Bishop Clementi and Saint Euphemia were well aware of just how much trouble this man's betrayal would cause them.

No wonder she chose to be taken to the conference hall instead of escaping, even though she knew she was going to die.

She had perfectly timed this moment!

Having realized all of this, Krivie gritted his teeth under the mask.

If he had known about Vivian's plan sooner, he would have crushed Jack and Vivian's bodies in the Rust Belt sewers like rats, letting them rot and stink until not even a bone fragment remained!

Although there was nothing he and Euphemia could do in the current situation where everyone was watching.

But do you think you can bring us down with just a rat from the downtown area?
Vivian, you are still too young.

In the silence between Krivie and Euphemia, the leader finally waved to the guards.

“Bring 'Jack Bailey' from the Lower City.”

"Yes."

After a long wait, the doors to the conference hall were reopened.

Suddenly, a sour smell of rust and engine oil abruptly entered the conference room, overpowering the long-standing fragrance of tulips.

Unlike the impeccably dressed and elegantly behaving brass nobles in the conference hall at this moment.

Old Jack was wearing an old leather jacket, and his right hand, a prosthetic arm modified with low-level AI, was covered in visible rust.

Sloppy and vulgar.
The 'savagery' of the lower city was fully embodied in Old Jack at this moment.

"Tsk~"

After a series of disgusted gasps, several brass nobles dramatically pulled out handkerchiefs and covered their mouths and noses.

It was clearly resisting the air in the hall that was now 'contaminated' by Old Jack.

The inherent arrogance of the Upper Town, like the steam rising from the outside city, began to spread among the brass aristocracy.

Although the councilor frowned in displeasure, he was constrained by the special circumstances at the moment.

He still maintained his composure and spoke in a formulaic tone: "Jack Bailey, Vivian says you have evidence to prove her innocence. Show it to her."

Under the scrutiny of countless eyes, Old Jack's once straight back in the Lower City involuntarily bent over.

But this awkwardness and tension did not last long.

After a moment, he took a deep breath and pulled two things out of his pocket.

A yellowed ledger with curled edges, and a voice recorder with worn-out paint.

Seeing this, the Speaker of Parliament waved his hand, signaling his assistant to leave.

The assistant quickly stepped forward and opened the somewhat old ledger in front of everyone.

When the densely packed characters came into view, a commotion immediately broke out in the hall.

Because what's recorded here is a pile of shady 'stolen money' that the Gear Church has collected over the years through Old Jack in the Lower City.

Old Jack meticulously wrote down every detail of the transfer of the embezzled funds, including the time, place, and the people involved.

It allows people to judge its authenticity at a glance.

However, such a ledger can prove that the church is secretly controlling the underground transactions in the lower city in some way.

But this cannot clear Vivian of the charges against her at this moment.

Therefore, the truly crucial thing was actually the recording pen he took out.

At the speaker's signal, the assistant promptly pressed the play button on the recorder.

Before long, Saint Euphemia's voice suddenly rang out in the quiet hall.

'Vivian, in three days I will lure Grand Master Fischer of the Knights away, and the bishop will also specifically disable the defensive devices in the prayer room.'

'Go and bring out the things and people inside, then take them to the Gray Rat Gang in the lower city.'

Euphemia paused for a moment in the recording, then said in a seductive voice, "After it's done, the Church and I will apply to the Holy See for a divine initiation ceremony for you, and you'll receive a unique mech imbued with a machine spirit. What do you say?"

Faced with Euphemia's promise, Vivian's answer in the recording was quite straightforward.

"I understand, Lady Euphemia."

The recording contained little information, but the information it revealed shocked everyone.

Because if this recording is authentic, then in a sense, Vivian did not steal the sacred object.

Taking something without permission is theft; how can acting on orders be considered theft?

With solid evidence in hand, old Jack felt more confident. "My lords, this is the evidence I possess that proves Vivian's innocence."

"Furthermore, I also know quite a bit about Saint Euphemia and Bishop Krivie over the years. If you gentlemen need any information..."

"enough!"

Without giving old Jack a chance to continue, Bishop Clementi angrily interrupted him.

He stood on the high platform, looking down at old Jack, who appeared incredibly small below.

"A rat from the lower city dares to speak ill of clergy here? What can a recording prove? It can be faked without Star Source. Who can you fool with such a clumsy trick?"

Clift paused, then looked around at the nobles and said meaningfully, "Gentlemen, do you think I'm right?"

Krivie's tone was neither sad nor happy, but some of the guilty brass nobles could detect a clear threat in his voice.

Therefore, after exchanging a few glances, most of the brass nobles nodded in agreement, indicating that what Clift said was correct.

Simply recording something doesn't prove anything.

The brass nobles exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Vivian and old Jack below fell silent.

Meanwhile, along with them in silence were countless Rust Iron District residents watching the live broadcast on screens in the Lower City.

On a physical level, what blocks the sunlight from the lower city is the "steam cloud" that gathers over the city year-round.

On a psychological level, what truly makes the citizens of the lower city feel darkness is the indifference and contempt that these brass aristocrats take for granted at this moment.

Are the people in the Lower City even human?
For the brass nobles at this moment, the question finally has a clear answer—no.

Seeing that the brass nobles were all on his side.

Bishop Clementi, who had not yet realized the seriousness of the matter, or rather, who had never taken the Lower City seriously from beginning to end, immediately said with a cold face: "Vivian, the evidence of your theft of the holy relic is conclusive, and you have also used despicable means to slander the Church."

"Now, in the name of the bishop, I hereby strip you of your Silver Knight status and implore the councilor to punish you severely according to the laws of the Steam City."

After a moment's thought, the councilor made a decision.

"After investigation, it was found that Vivian Howard stole church relics, and the chain of evidence is complete."

"This Speaker hereby announces that Vivian Howard is sentenced to 'furnace punishment,' to be carried out in seven days."

"Alright everyone, let's begin the vote,"

The vote began, and of the twelve bronze nobles, all but one—Golden Knight Fisher and two association representatives—raised their hands in agreement with the verdict.

Among those who approved were also the Speaker of Parliament.

Upon seeing this, Bishop Clyvi, Saint Euphemia, and Vivian below all laughed.

The former is the victor's 'bragging' to the loser.

The latter is the Avengers' mockery of the ugly posture of the Decayers.

In an inconspicuous corner of the conference hall, Tiandao, shrouded in shadow, also curled the corners of his mouth into a smile.

But there was neither 'showing off' nor 'mocking' in his smile.

Yes, there is only the purest 'expectation'.

Because when the verdict of 'furnace punishment' was broadcast live, it reached every inch of the steam city.

He then heard the faint, indistinct sound of flames burning in the darkness of the Rusty Iron Hell.

The pent-up anger in the lower district was finally ignited at this moment.

How can we bring light to people in darkness?
It's very simple, just set a fire among them.

However, to make the fire burn even brighter, some external help is needed.

For example, a gust of wind.

In the original story, the person who came to fan the fire was Yu Chen, the vice-captain of the Fifth Division.

But with Yu Chen locked up by him, this last 'wind' had to be stirred up by the Heavenly Dao itself.

Although he has always considered himself a kind person who 'loves peace' and 'rejects the excessive use of violence'.

But in the distorted environment of the steam city.

'Peace' and 'friendliness' cannot buy what you want.

For these guys, fists are more persuasive than words.

(End of this chapter)