"We have followed your instructions and secretly spread the word that the Steam Church's lost holy artifact is very likely in Chen Kong's hands in District 12 of the Rust Iron Hell."
Scorpio–Leyton bowed his head and murmured, showing none of the arrogance expected of a Twelve Brass Noble.
Tendo tapped the armrest of the sofa with his finger and asked, "How did Bishop Cleve react?"
"He believed it."
Leiden's tone was very certain.
"After all, he knows better than anyone what the true holy artifact should be. Therefore, this kind of half-truth, half-false news is the easiest to hook him."
"However..."
Leiden's Adam's apple bobbed; he finally couldn't resist saying, "Chen Kong is just a weak, second-tier Star Envoy. Do you really think he can withstand the Church's pressure alone?"
"Once he's captured by the Church, it won't just expose that the true holy artifact isn't in his hands; it will immediately implicate us, affecting our plan to seize the Mechanicum Church's 'Authority of Law.'"
"I think..."
Leiden wasn't questioning Tendo's decision; he simply couldn't trust Chen Kong's strength.
After all, Andromeda Euphemia had personally fought that boy when she went to 'intercept the goods.'
If it weren't for the protection of his special identity as a 'Child of the Stars,' Euphemia could have killed that boy immediately, leaving him no time to react.
But before Leiden could finish speaking, Tendo interrupted, "Just do as I say. Don't think about doing anything extra, otherwise..."
Tendo leaned forward, slowly pushing down the sunglasses on his nose with his fingertips, revealing his pale blue eyes, which gleamed dangerously.
He gazed at Leiden with a smile.
"...I'll kill you before you mess things up, you know."
Although Tendo's tone was playful, Leiden couldn't detect any hint of a joke.
There was only a silent threat.
"Understood."
Standing in Leiden's shoes, Tendo could understand his concerns.
After all, Bishop Cleve had specially invited the Qianxia Group from Martial Heaven Capital to deliver the goods to ensure this self-directed drama was fully under control.
This showed his重视 (zhongshi - emphasis/importance) on the holy artifact.
Therefore, it was foreseeable how much pressure Chen Kong would face once they spread this news.
But Tendo, having read the original plot, knew that being wanted by the Church was something Chen Kong was destined to experience anyway.
He was merely putting everything back on track.
So, after a brief glance at the silenced Leiden, Tendo turned to the window.
Seeing Tendo look at her, Euphemia, clad in a pristine white dress, instinctively licked her red lips.
Her fair cheeks were flushed.
This scene, which should have been utterly seductive, had no effect whatsoever on Tendo, who knew her true nature.
"Euphemia, someone will come to investigate you recently."
"This person has not only vaguely guessed your true identity but may also know that I've joined the Hidden Star Society. I suspect he either has an informant within the Hidden Star Society or some other intelligence channel."
"Oh? There's such a figure in Steam City? Who is it?"
Euphemia straightened up, her white skirt rustling softly as it swept the floor.
"My vice-captain, Yu Chen."
"Him?"
Euphemia raised an eyebrow, her exquisite and charming face filled with confusion.
Leiden, not far away, seemed to understand something and his pupils suddenly constricted.
This momentary panic did not escape Tendo's notice, but he did not expose it.
Meanwhile, Euphemia, standing by the window, asked suspiciously, "But I've never dealt with him. How could he have targeted me?"
Hearing this, Tendo, lounging on the sofa, casually explained, "Euphemia, do you remember that Church orphan who escaped from you twelve years ago?"
"Twelve years ago..."
Euphemia tapped her chin with a fingertip. After a moment's thought, she suddenly smiled.
"Oh, that clever little imp."
"But I clearly remember that after he luckily escaped to the lower city, I immediately asked the Gray Rat Gang in the lower city to bring me his corpse, and they did indeed give me a corpse."
At this point, Euphemia finally understood.
She clicked her tongue twice, then said with disgust in her voice, "What a bunch of greedy sewer rats. They didn't even complete the mission, yet they gave me a fake corpse to fool me."
"It's just that my foundation in the Church was unstable back then, and I was distracted by other matters; otherwise, how could I have been so easily deceived by them?"
Tendo replied, "He was lucky. He happened to run into the previous generation's Clockwork Knight, William, who was patrolling in the Rust Iron Hell while he was escaping."
"As a price for William letting him go, and out of greed for your reward, the Gray Rat Gang simply kept the matter quiet."
"However, that boy was afraid of implicating William, so he didn't tell William the truth. After his injuries healed, he quietly left Steam City and only returned six years ago."
Euphemia interjected, "And when he came back, he became Yu Chen, the Star Envoy of the Association, right?"
Tendo nodded, indicating that this was indeed the truth of the matter.
After hearing all this, Euphemia pondered for a moment, then suddenly clapped her hands. "No wonder Vivian, the tribute I favored five years ago, mysteriously gained Star Origin three days before I was supposed to collect her, thus getting noticed by the Bishop and incorporated into the Church Knight Order."
"So it was all his doing behind the scenes! It made me lose my appetite for days~"
Speaking of this, Euphemia licked the corner of her lips, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.
"William, that good-natured old man, really did a lot of good deeds. He's been dead for so many years, and someone still remembers his kindness, risking exposure to save his only daughter."
"It's a pity that Steam City wants everything, except good-natured people like him."
"Because even if he hadn't died in that special mission six years ago, I would have teamed up with Cleve to quietly deal with him on his way back."
At this, a hint of murderous intent flashed in Euphemia's eyes.
"Although it was a mistake I made twelve years ago, it's not too late to make amends now."
"Lord Tendo, do you need me to get rid of that boy Yu Chen?"
"No need."
Tendo interrupted her, then, while accepting the soda little Danica handed him, said, "Let him investigate. This will perfectly tie up his energy and make my plans within the Association smoother."
"After all, with me suppressing things for now, Cleve can only truly kill Vivian and silence her by using this opportunity of the Twelve Brass Conference."
"And I also need him to help me gather these individuals, completely off guard."
As he spoke, Tendo's eyes suddenly darted, then he vigorously shook the soda in his hand and, without any warning to little Danica, abruptly opened it!
Pffft!
The spraying soda instantly drenched little Danica.
The little one was so angry her teeth were bared. She raised her wet little hand, ready to wipe it on Tendo, to get her revenge.
But Tendo, at this moment, had completely changed from his disdainful and indifferent attitude towards Euphemia and the others.
He laughed and pressed down on her little head, not letting her get the sticky soda on him.
After all, only he, Tendo, had the right to bully others; how could he possibly let others bully him back?
What a joke!
Watching Tendo playing around with little Danica, Euphemia, bathed in the moonlight by the window, curtsied and said in a sickly sweet tone, "Don't worry, Lord Tendo, I'll keep my measure~"
Despite her words, Tendo wasn't truly listening at all.
Because the little one, seeing her revenge fail, was now completely exasperated by Tendo.
"Mister Tendo!"
"Why are you yelling so loudly? This soda was clearly brought by you, so is it my fault?"
"But you deliberately shook this soda!"
"My shaking the soda is one thing, but what does that have to do with you getting sprayed by it? Don't meddle in adult matters, little one, what do you know?"
"Aaaaaah!!!"
Looking at the enraged little one, Tendo felt no guilt whatsoever; instead, he laughed gloatingly.
While bullying others was a bad habit, Tendo felt he probably couldn't kick it.
Because this joy... was just so much more interesting when built upon the suffering of others!