"Mr. Ink Wash, it's not good."
Hearing this, Tendo also put down his chopsticks, then said with a smile, "Yes, it really isn't very good."
"But why didn't you tell Danica?"
Tendo's glasses reflected a cold gleam, and then he earnestly gave his answer. "Because I wanted you to try it too. After all, what if it's not the noodles that are bad, but my taste buds that are malfunctioning?"
Danica: "..."
Although Tendo's tone was serious and his expression grave, the little girl, having been with him for several days, instantly knew this was definitely one of Tendo's pranks. No doubt about it, Tendo was just that kind of person!
Thinking this, Danica imdiately turned her head, her cheeks puffed out like an angry little pufferfish, clearly upset. Tendo wasn't worried about this. Instead, he placed a stack of money on the table.
Looking at the banknotes, which clearly exceeded the price of two bowls of noodles, the ran shop owner hesitated for a mont, then pushed the money back, saying, "Custor, you've given... a bit too much."
"The extra money is compensation for the items in your shop that will be broken in a mont."
Hearing this, the owner seed to understand sothing and looked up towards the noodle shop's entrance. Outside the shop, a group of people wearing blood-red skull masks had appeared. And the leader of the group was none other than Cicero, the little boss of the Blood Skulls, who had caused trouble at the Rusty Nail Tavern not long ago.
Who knows what gave this guy the courage. Cicero actually led the way, kicking open the wooden door, and upon seeing Tendo and little Danica near the counter, he arrogantly said, "The Blood Skulls are conducting business. Unrelated personnel... scram!"
Hearing Cicero's words, the remaining custors in the noodle shop imdiately scattered like birds and beasts. Even the noodle shop owner and the helpers in the kitchen also fled out the back door.
For a mont, in the cramped noodle shop, only Tendo, dressed in a Fifth Squad Captain's uniform, and little Danica, also in a Star Envoy uniform, remained, confronting the murderous gangsters.
But a comical scene soon unfolded...
Bang!
Amidst the laughter of the dinsional viewers, Cicero, the gangster who thought he was being cool, was once again thrown out of the shop. And just like before, he landed face down on the ground, his butt sticking up in a very embarrassing posture.
Different ti, different place, but the sa result.
Although the dinsional viewers knew that Cicero was just a small fry, the fact that he was featured twice in the main series by the Stars production team indicated that this guy would definitely play so role.
"Co on, take to et your new boss."
When Tendo imdiately ntioned that the Blood Skulls had recently changed leaders, Cicero's pupils instantly constricted. He clearly rembered that their new boss had specifically said it was best not to reveal their information recently. Yet, this newly arrived Fifth Squad Captain had, with a single sentence, divulged intelligence that should only be known to their internal mbers. It was clear that there was a 'ghost' in their Blood Skulls ranks!
"What, aren't you going to move?"
"I guess you don't want to send you to the Uptown prison, do you?"
Cicero shivered, then noticed Tendo's glasses, which were completely covered by a reflection of light. After a mont of hesitation, he imdiately stood up very ekly.
"Y-Yes, I'll take you there right away."
Between betraying his gang and saving his own life, Cicero unhesitatingly chose the latter. After all, how much money did he even make in a month? It wasn't worth risking his life for the gang!
"Kong, I told you to let that idiot go up by himself."
"See? Now you're in trouble, aren't you? You're being hunted down along with this guy. Let's see what you'll do now."
Liu Ma looked at Chenkong, who was sitting not far away, and couldn't help but complain to him. At this, Vivian, whom he called trouble, not only wasn't angry but very calmly also tried to persuade Chenkong.
"Kong, your friend is right. You don't actually need to help . I will personally go to the Church and explain the issue to the Bishop, clearing your na."
Looking at the rigid and stubborn Vivian, Chenkong rubbed his forehead, a headache brewing. This girl was just like her prejudiced father, incredibly foolish...
"Vivian, do you still not understand by now?"
"The Church doesn't care whether you're innocent. They just want soone to take the bla."
"Otherwise, why would they claim you stole the Holy Relic when it was clearly them who sent you to find it?"
"Isn't that blatant framing?"
"So, listen to . Let's go outside and lay low for a bit. Once the situation has been investigated thoroughly, we'll co back."
"If you go up there now, what's the difference from a lamb walking into a tiger's den?"
Vivian wasn't ignorant of what Chenkong was saying. But she had her own persistence.
"I'm sorry, Kong, Liu Ma, I can't leave. Because if I do, no matter what happens afterward, everyone will assu I'm a petty thief. And I would rather die to prove my innocence than let such a thing happen."
"..."
Looking at the stubborn Vivian, Chenkong and Liu Ma both fell silent. They had tried to persuade her these past two days, but she had refused every ti. That's why Liu Ma, in a fit of pique, had directly told Chenkong to abandon her. After all, who would knowingly walk into a trap? What else could that be but foolishness?
Perhaps not wanting to burden Chenkong and Liu Ma, Vivian hesitated for a mont before stating her reason.
"Kong, Liu Ma, I know you are both good people, and I understand how much trouble my decision has caused you. But my father William's chivalric path, which he guarded with his life, absolutely cannot be ruined by . I cannot let him be shad."
"Therefore, even if I die, I will find a way to tell everyone the truth and have the Church clear my na."
"Damn it!"
Seeing Vivian, who was still as stubborn as a rock and completely unswayable, the impatient Liu Ma grew anxious. He forcefully ran his hand through his hair, then pointed at Vivian and said, "No, Miss Knight, have you had your head knocked silly or sothing?!"
"If you leave now, and co back after things are investigated, does that affect you clearing your na? You why can't you be flexible?!"
To this, Vivian calmly replied, "If I choose to leave, it ans I'm compromising with evil to so extent, and I won't allow myself to compromise, because I must protect this precious thing my father left ."
"The na of the Clockwork Knight must never be disgraced by , Vivian."
"..."
Silence. Faced with Vivian's unwavering resolve, Liu Ma fell completely silent. He simply couldn't understand why Vivian was being so stubborn. She was purely a blockhead, completely obsessed with knighthood.
But strangely, even in front of such a blockhead, Liu Ma couldn't bring himself to just abandon her and leave. The reason for this, even he couldn't explain.
And just as Liu Ma was gritting his teeth, about to knock Vivian out and have Chenkong carry her out of the Rusty Iron District, the ceiling above them was suddenly sliced open by a streak of inky sword energy.
In the nick of ti, Chenkong abruptly pulled Vivian to his side, allowing her to barely dodge the falling concrete chunks from above. Amidst a cloud of dust, Chenkong and the others heard a gentle, unfamiliar voice.
"I greatly admire your chivalry, Miss Vivian, but unfortunately, I also need to adhere to the association's rules and regulations."
"So... may I ask you to accompany to the branch?"
Tendo landed steadily, his Fifth Squad Captain's uniform fluttering slightly in the wind. Looking at Tendo, who had a gentle smile and an harmless appearance, Chenkong and the other two's expressions turned serious. They had considered that staying in Rusty Iron Hell would eventually lead to them being found by the Star Envoy Association or the Gear Church. But they hadn't expected it to happen so quickly. And the one who found them was actually a squad captain from the Steam City Branch.
Just as the atmosphere grew tense, a childish cry for help suddenly rang out.
"Lord Ink Wash, quickly help Danica! Danica is going to fall!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see little Danica half-stuck in the ceiling crack, her short legs flailing wildly in the air. She was clearly about to fall from the ceiling and was in a panic.
Tendo: "..."
Chenkong and others: "..."
It was clearly a very tense atmosphere, but because of Danica's little mishap, the entire scene instantly beca bizarre and comical.
And because Tendo had maintained 'Myriad Phenona Concealed' earlier, Chenkong, along with the unconscious Liu Ma and Vivian, had not heard Danica's na. Therefore, seeing Danica now hanging from the ceiling, wearing a Star Envoy uniform, and with her hair dyed pink, they did not connect her to the mysterious masked man from earlier.
The only ones who knew Danica's na were the dinsional viewers.
But this ti, the dinsional viewers exploded!
They had all firmly believed that the mysterious masked man was Tendo, with no other possibility. But now, this man, who was with Danica and also wore a long sword at his waist, was actually an ordinary-looking man with black hair, black eyes, and outdated black-rimd glasses. How could they accept this?!
This clearly ant the production team was just playing with them!
But soon, so dinsional viewers raised questions. The mysterious masked man at the ti had azure eyes. But the current Fifth Squad Captain, Ink Wash, had standard black eyes. To claim that the mysterious masked man was Ink Wash right now would undoubtedly be too presumptuous.
However, this alone couldn't convince those who doubted. Soon, the dinsional viewers engaged in a heated discussion revolving around a series of questions: 'Is the mysterious masked man Tendo?', 'Is Ink Wash the mysterious masked man?', 'Could Ink Wash possibly be Tendo?', etc. And for now, no one could convince anyone else. Because each side could present so conclusive evidence.
This undoubtedly, to so extent, increased the dinsional viewers' attention on the character 'Ink Wash.' Although there was a suspicion of him piggybacking on 'Tendo's' popularity, the previously ordinary 'Ink Wash' suddenly beca quite controversial in the eyes of the dinsional viewers.
And this was why Tendo had specifically brought little Danica today. When it ca to leveraging traffic, Tendo... was also a professional. Especially when it ca to leveraging his own traffic. Everyone thought Tendo was on the first floor, but in reality, he was in the stratosphere!
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