This villain is too popular.

Chapter 175 The bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish.
[Early morning, Upper Town, Steam Guard Hall, outside the main gate]

"Impossible, Kong. Those guys are only interested in fire now. No matter who goes, they can't stop them now."

"But no one but you can get them to listen to even a single word."

Upon hearing Chen Kong's words, Old Jack, who had just been bailed out by him and Isabel, fell silent instantly.

Seeing that Old Jack was still hesitating, Chen Kong took a half step forward with all his might.

"Old Jack, some things may be difficult, but we can't back down just because they are difficult."

"Didn't you stand firmly on the side of 'justice' yesterday, even knowing the difficulties? Why are you backing down now?"

"justice?"

Old Jack suddenly looked up and pointed to an advertising screen not far away that was playing yesterday's 'trial results' on a loop.

"Look at that, emptiness. That is the price of justice."

On the screen, Vivian stood alone on the judge's bench, her pale and weak face heartbreaking to see.

[Vivian Howard, the former Silver Knight of the Church, will be executed by the 'Furnace Punishment' on October 3rd of the 101st year of the Star Origin Era.]

“Vivian has already shown us with her life that in this steam city, so-called ‘justice’ and ‘hope’ are incredibly expensive luxuries.”

"We rats from the lower city are so presumptuous that even looking at those two things is an overreach, let alone hoping that they will befall us."

At this point, Old Jack chuckled self-deprecatingly and then patted Chen Kong on the shoulder.

“Kong, thank you so much for bailing me out.”

"But right now, I probably can't help you with anything."

"After all, if I can't leave the Steam City as soon as possible, once the church is free to deal with me, you might have to search through the stinking ditches in the lower city to find me again."

With that, old Jack waved his hand, turned around, and walked through the puddles towards the steam train station.

"Are you willing to leave like this?"

Old Jack stopped and turned around, his aged face filled with bitterness.

"What can you do if you're unwilling? Acknowledging your ordinariness and incompetence is itself a necessary form of growth."

He gazed at the empty sky, his eyes filled with weariness.

"I already repaid William's favor yesterday with half my life on my hands. I have no need or obligation to take any more risks now."

"Besides, do you think those guys in the lower city don't know what the consequences of their actions will be?"

"No, they know the cost better than anyone else."

"Even so, they still rushed towards that 'light' that did not belong to them, like moths to a flame."

"Want to stop them? Fine, then let them see real hope."

At this point, old Jack raised his hand and pointed to his aging self.

"But look at me, Kong. Do you think I'm the kind of person who can bring them hope?"

"I'm just an ordinary bar owner. The most I can do is, like yesterday, pass on what I have at the right time, that's all."

After saying that, old Jack took one last look at Chen Kong, then turned and walked into the deserted alley in the early morning.

At this moment, old Jack was no longer the stern-backed, rusty-nailed bar owner.

An elderly man, having come to terms with reality, walked alone towards a future destined for solitude.

"I'll give it a try."

Chen Kong's voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into water, causing Old Jack's back to freeze abruptly.

"I did this not because I am so great, but simply because I am also a part of the Rusty Iron District."

“Everyone says the Rusty District is hell, but it was in this hell that I found real ‘warmth’.”

"Therefore, I will absolutely not back down like this."

Chen Kong took a deep breath, his expression becoming incredibly resolute.

"Because I know very well that if I stand idly by today, and disaster befalls me in the future, then no one will cheer for me anymore."

"Also, I won't just watch Vivian die. I will do everything in my power to ensure she gets the outcome she deserves."

"After all, you're not the only one who owes Uncle William a favor, old Jack."

After saying this, Chen Kong turned and walked towards the 'Nut Hub Station'. Old Jack at the alley entrance paused for a moment, but ultimately did not turn back.

But as he left, he bent his back even lower.

In the morning sunlight, their shadows stretched longer and longer, growing further and further apart, until they disappeared completely at the ends of their respective paths.

As Isabel watched the two figures walk away, she pondered for a moment before taking out her data terminal.

Before long, a middle-aged man wearing a silk bathrobe appeared on her terminal screen; he was clearly still half asleep.

This man was none other than Isabel's father, Dorian, the richest man in the metropolis of Deep Blue.

"What's wrong, my little navigator? Why are you contacting me so early in the morning? Did you miss me?"

"Father, you said that the bigger the waves, the more valuable the fish you catch, right?"

Dorian raised an eyebrow, then sat up straight.

"That depends on whether your boat is sturdy enough."

"But what?"

Isabelle asked curiously.

"But since you're saying this to me, it means you're not seeking my opinion, but simply informing me of this matter."

"After all, the answer to many things is already in your heart the moment you say them out loud."

"While I could forcibly change your dangerous thoughts right now, I don't intend to do so. Do you know why?"

Looking at Dorian, who was keeping her in suspense, Isabel feigned innocence and asked, "Why?"

"Because a qualified captain would never think of avoiding storms."

"Go for it, my little navigator. Even if the result isn't ideal this time, as long as you don't sink the entire Steam City, I think your old man can still cover for you."

Dorian thought his cool speech would earn him a burst of admiration from his beloved daughter.

Unexpectedly, what Isabel said next made him jump out of bed instantly.

There's no exaggeration; it really was a 'jump'.

"Father, but what I'm about to do might actually turn this place upside down."

"What did you say!"

Dorian on the screen instantly jumped out of bed.

This intense movement not only caused the belt of his bathrobe to come undone immediately, but also made his hair stand up in a messy, upright manner.

He had completely lost the air of nobility and composure he exuded as the richest man in the deep blue metropolis when he was just showing off.

Holding his data terminal, he said urgently, "Daughter, don't worry, please don't worry, tell me what happened first."

Isabel blinked, her beautiful, large, kazilan eyes filled with innocence.

"But Father, didn't you just say you weren't going to stop me?"

"Um, I was still half asleep just now, so what I said might have been a bit irrational."

"Forget about those boring details, just tell me what's been going on in this Steam City lately."

"Ok."

As Dorian listened to Isabel's description, he became increasingly alarmed, and the more he listened, the more sweat poured down his forehead.

It is often said that daughters are their fathers' warm little cotton-padded jackets.

But Dorian felt that his little darling was a bit leaky!
And look at the poor old father on the screen, who was putting on airs one second and then jumping up and down in a panic the next.

The anime/manga audience was overjoyed.

'You like to play the stoic old man, huh? Well, your daughter's about to make you soar!'

'Isabel's amazing! She baited the spot before casting the hook, and even Dorian, the city's richest man, has caught a bunch of mandarin fish!'

So, are the main characters going to make headlines next? Looking forward to it!

Dorian: Serves you right for pretending! Serves you right for pretending! Are you going to keep pretending or not? (Slaps himself repeatedly.jpg)

(End of this chapter)