"Life is an adventure. It might seem peaceful, but every day brings a new story."
The words ca to Jenkins in a flash of inspiration. The middle-aged sailor wholeheartedly agreed.
"I don't know who you are, but you must have a deep understanding of life. You're absolutely right. Life is an adventure, like sailing on a calm sea. It looks tranquil, but danger can strike at any mont. No one can say what the future holds, just as no one can know what lies ahead on an uncharted course. Life is an adventure... ah, those are the words of a poet."
He sighed in admiration, but Jenkins was already riding a wave of inspiration.
"Sir, even though you've given up adventuring on the sea, shouldn't you face the unknowns of life with that sa spirit? Even if you're unwilling to face the risks of the ocean, the decades you've spent honing yourself against it have surely forged courage and strength within you. Life may be hard, but the adventure of life is just a new starting point for you, a new harbor. We have to look forward. If you fear life, how will you live the days to co? Everything will get better. As long as you face life bravely, I believe everything will be alright."
A smile touched the middle-aged sailor's face.
"Yes, everything will be alright. There might be so trouble with the club, but I'm sure I'll find a way to handle it. I don't plan on going back to sea, but my adventure certainly won't end here. Just as you said, the adventure of life has only just begun. Marriage, children, all the big and small things... they'll all be new and challenging for , but I don't think I'll be afraid. After all, having survived the adventures of the sea, what could life possibly throw at that's more terrifying?"
Jenkins wanted to warn him that fate's cruel jokes could sotis make life more terrifying than facing a sea monster, but to avoid wasting his breath, he prudently kept his mouth shut.
"I can't lose this courage."
The sailor pressed a hand to his heart.
"Whenever I rember battling nature in a storm, or fighting for my life against pirates, my heart still pounds in my chest. For the sake of my life, I won't go back to sea, but I won't lose that excitent—that thrill of adventure and fearlessness. It's the most precious treasure of my life, the jewel I've polished over more than thirty years. Yes, things will get better. Life ashore might be tough, and the club might assign difficult jobs, but I won't be afraid. I have to live, after all... for myself, I have to keep living..."
His voice trailed off, becoming a whisper only he could hear. The heart-shaped diamond erged from the sailor's chest, and Jenkins caught it in one hand.
He only needed one hand because the diamond was not very large—in fact, it was quite small. After all, no matter what Jenkins said, the sailor had still lost his fearless spirit of adventure and given up his life at sea. Even if his passion for life and courage to face its difficulties had been rekindled, it couldn't hide the fact that he was still afraid of the ocean.
Therefore, the fact that this diamond appeared at all was sothing of a miracle. Jenkins wasn't asking for much. In a Mysterious Realm, "passing" was enough. "Excelling" was only for extra rewards, and this ti, he was perfectly content with just passing.
"How about that?"
Jenkins tossed the small diamond in his hand and turned to the clockwork man. The latter said nothing, instead leading Jenkins to the bow of the ship, which faced the docks and the city. Together, they watched the sumr rain fall on the workers who scurried about like shuttles across the bustling, clamorous dock.
To facilitate the work at the docks, the level of steam-powered chanization here was no less than in the city center. Not to ntion, the density of streetlights installed for night work was higher than in most ordinary districts.
"Surely the sailor's story can't remind you of the flaws in human society again, can it? His story could happen in any era. As long as people have hearts, they will have fears."
Jenkins remarked.
"I don't wish to discuss the sailor. I want you to look at this scene before you."
If the scene of the workers toiling in the rain at the docks were painted at this mont, it would undoubtedly be the perfect picture to capture the essence of the era.
"Savior Williatte, do you think this is fair? These people labor in the rain, yet what they receive is barely..."
"I believe we've already discussed this topic. Could we perhaps talk about sothing new?"
Jenkins cut him off bluntly.
"Very well, let's change the subject. In an age where civilization reaches a new peak, everyone plays a different role. The ambitious claw their way up, hoping to change their social class through wisdom, cunning, and effort. And then there are always those who walk with their heads bowed, never realizing what kind of era they live in. Just like the people before us."
The clockwork man gestured toward the docks below.
"Of course, it's not entirely correct to say they can't see. They don't see because soone makes sure they can't. No matter how big the cake is baked, there will always be those who want the largest slice, so they must keep more people from seeing the cake at all, or even understanding that they have a right to a piece of it. Look at them. They are born with their heads bowed, and they will die with their heads bowed, never knowing to look up and see all of this. Savior Williatte, the foundation of civilization is these people. The foundation of civilization is filthy and despicable."
"I thought you were going to explore so new principle, but you've circled back to this again. I stand by my opinion: everything has a chance to change, and it will change in a human way, not by converting everything into chanical gears. If you have no new ideas, please stop trying to sell this narrative. It's truly tedious."
He waved a dismissive hand.
"If you truly think that, then I am sorry. But only two targets remain, Williatte. Are you prepared?"
With that, the clockwork man leaped from the bow of the ship. Jenkins scooped the cat into his arms and followed, landing smoothly inside Pops Antique Shop.
He toyed with the diamond for a mont before casually tossing it onto the counter. The clockwork man, already back behind the counter, snatched the spinning jewel and placed it into the fifth slot in the hidden compartnt in his chest.
"How are the impassioned emotions of humanity?"
Jenkins asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about,"
the clockwork man replied.
"Liar."
The accusation was simple and direct.
Only two targets remained. Since Jenkins had decided to save the Nolan Clock Tower for last, the sixth target had to be the woman at the textile factory in the eastern part of the city.
The brass statue showed a woman sitting at a loom, hunched over her work. She was undoubtedly a common factory worker, a profession with nothing unusual about it.
"Before we reach the target, why don't you tell what we're after this ti?"
Jenkins suggested, pointing at the red dot. The clockwork man nodded.
"This ti, it is the Heart of Diligent Labor."
"A textile worker? Diligent labor? Oh, you truly have a dark sense of humor."
Jenkins praised, half-joking. In terms of labor intensity, the average worker in a textile factory was not much different from a docker. While their conditions might not have reached the depths of the indentured servitude he'd read about, it was still a life spent burning away for a wage that could never match their sacrifice.
That was why Jenkins found the choice so darkly humorous.
"Savior Williatte, though the next target is also ordinary, with no outstanding features compared to the previous ones, the textile industry was the dawn of your human steam revolution. Therefore, this woman holds a certain symbolic significance. Before we leave this shop for our next adventure, would you answer a small question for ?"
"You can ask. I may not answer."
Jenkins said, stroking Chocolate. The cat was getting thoroughly impatient. It now wished the Difference Engine would suddenly go insane, violate the rules, and attack Jenkins directly. When Jenkins was forced to flee for his life, Chocolate would transform into a savior, defeat the terrible foe, and thereby win back Jenkins's trust.
The cat had replayed this scene in its mind countless tis. Every ti it imagined swatting the Difference Engine to pieces with a single paw, followed by Jenkins scooping it up and joyfully exclaiming, "Chocolate is the most trustworthy person I know!", the cat would tremble with excitent.
Though its heart thrilled with this fantasy, its expression was one of lancholy as it watched the still-talking clockwork man, wondering why it was wasting so much ti on such aningless chatter.
"When you wear clothes made in these factories, have you ever considered how much money the textile workers earn from you? Most of your clothes are, of course, handcrafted, but you have surely used cloth produced in factories like these."
the clockwork man asked.
"Probably not much. I've never calculated it specifically."
Jenkins replied, guessing what the next question would be.
"You see, after the first five targets, we now arrive at the sixth. These six people, representing different facets of your era, are all people you know nothing about. Savior Williatte, when you stand at the pinnacle of society and look down, there will always be blind spots you cannot see, and there will always be things you are powerless to change even if you do see them. Even if you truly beco a god, with rely the seat of a pseudo-god, can you fundantally change all of this? Of course you can't. Even gods are constrained by one another; you cannot directly influence the material world."
"What... are you trying to say?"
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