"No, Mr. Ink Wash, are we really going to be okay?"
Little Danica looked at Tendo, who had already changed his attire, her voice still carrying an undisguised nervousness. After several days of intensive learning, little Danica had gained a considerable understanding of the outside world. Thus, she knew very well how dangerous the place Tendo and she were heading to was.
It was the Steam City Branch of the Star Envoy Association, the New Federation's strongest enforcement agency. And Tendo's wanted poster was currently hanging on the Steam City Branch's mission board, a Grade A bounty mission, second only to an 'S-rank.' Therefore, once Tendo's identity was exposed, his life in Steam City, and even the entire New Federation, would not be easy.
However, Tendo wasn't too concerned about little Danica's worries. He knew the Steam City Branch's inner workings like the back of his hand, and he trusted the Hidden Star Society's masterful identity forgery techniques even more. His persona as 'Ink Wash,' the genius calligrapher... simply wouldn't be exposed!
"Don't worry, Danica, no one will recognize me."
Tendo ruffled little Danica's hair, then turned to look at himself in the mirror, scrutinizing his reflection. Unlike his usual high-profile 'silver hair and blue eyes,' the Tendo in the mirror now looked completely different. He had not only dyed his silver hair ink-black using the 'all-purpose hair dye' redeemed from the Popularity System but also changed his azure Star Eclipse Eyes into deep black with 'special contact lenses.'
But the most crucial element was the 'black-rimmed glasses' perched on his nose.
[Name: Passerby A's Glasses]
[Effect: Significantly reduces one's presence, giving a direct impression of "utter ordinariness"]
[Remarks: Even the most dazzling light will eventually dim when wearing these.]
Although it was merely a slight adjustment of hair color, eye color, and clothing, combined with the boost from these special 'Passerby A's Glasses,' Tendo's demeanor had undergone a drastic change, and even his appearance was significantly altered. He was certain that even if he actively stood in front of the Children of the Stars who had known him since childhood, they would have a hard time seeing through his disguise.
After confirming that his disguise was flawless, Tendo took out the 'all-purpose hair dye' and firmly swiped it over little Danica's head. In just a moment, little Danica's previously bright green hair turned into a soft pink.
Looking at his masterpiece, Tendo said with satisfaction, "Good, good. This is perfect."
"Alright, Danica, it's time for us to go."
"Okay."
Little Danica nodded, then immediately followed Tendo out of the temporary residence arranged by the Hidden Star Society.
As a character temporarily 'offline' in Stars Season 2, Tendo's screen time had been minimal. But starting today, everything would change. Because he would be active in most of the upcoming plot under a brand-new persona.
Although it was a disguised identity, Tendo was not at all worried about damaging his popularity. Because every step he took was precisely in line with his experience from anime in his past life. For example, his popularity plan tailor-made for Season 2—Above the High Heavens—was the result of him integrating the essence of a 'villainous forced king' from a classic anime in his past life, combined with the original plot of Prequel of the Stars: Glimmer.
It was important to note that the 'villainous forced king' who loved to speak provocative words and slick his hair back in his anime was overwhelmingly more popular than the protagonist group. Therefore, Tendo had no concerns about whether he could once again claim the top spot in popularity for Season 2. After all, when it came to generating popularity, Tendo was a professional!
As for his new identity, soon to be revealed before the dimensional audience, it was...
[Name: Ink Wash]
[Identity: Genius Calligrapher of Deep Blue Metropolis, Sword Master, Encyclopedia of Star Energy Formulas]
[Level: Second-tier Intermediate]
[Star Source: Ink Wash Manipulation]
[Personality Traits: Refined, Amiable, and... a tiny bit devious]
[Comment: "No one stands in the heavens from the beginning, neither you nor I, not even gods. But the vacant period of this heavenly throne is about to end, for from now on, I shall stand at the pinnacle." — Ink Wash]
In the early morning, unlike the hellish scene of the Lower City, the Uptown was noticeably more prosperous and filled with life. Tendo, wearing a moon-white long robe with black clothing underneath, leisurely led little Danica down the street towards the Steam City Branch, leisurely enjoying the 'scenery' along the way.
Inside the blacksmith shop, sparks constantly flew from the casting furnace, and the bellows beside it hissed. From the bakery, the freshly baked golden bread exuded a unique warmth mixed with the aroma of butter. On the street, the ringing of copper bells from aerial cable cars and the whirring of gears from some steam locomotives intertwined, forming the unique clamor of Steam City.
However, what held Tendo's gaze the longest was the iconic building of Steam City not far away—the Gear Tower. The tower's walls, embedded with mechanical gears, and the giant bronze clock that precisely chimed a heavy 'dong-dong' on the hour, all gave this unique building a blend of modern city advancement and prosperity, along with some of the quaintness and historical vicissitude of an old era.
But Tendo knew very well that the true Steam City had actually stagnated for a long time. It needed a huge, thorough change. And the fated encounter between Vivian and Chenkong was the catalyst for this change. The flapping wings of these two butterflies would soon break the fragile balance between Steam City's Upper and Lower Cities, and stir up a storm named 'Reformation.' And this storm would not only sweep through all of Steam City, but even some high-ranking officials at the Star Envoy Association headquarters would be drawn in.
And he could perfectly use this 'storm' to legitimately bring himself to the forefront. After all, getting the Star Envoy Association to withdraw his wanted order was no easy feat. But there were exceptions to everything, such as having President Einit himself personally demand that the association withdraw his wanted order. There was no doubt that Einit, that old man, had such ability and authority.
And getting that old man to do so wasn't complicated, actually. Because that homebody president's mind was far more expansive than the world imagined. He was a true 'consequentialist.' As long as the outcome was good, even if the process was a bit 'evil,' that old man would think nothing of it, and even actively help you weather the slight storms brought by that 'evil.'
Of course, conversely, once he felt that your existence and actions hindered the progress of the human race, then no matter how restrained your actions were or how righteous the process, he would crush you without hesitation. This was Einit, the strongest in the association, seemingly benevolent but ruthless in his methods.
For those whom Einit protected, Einit was humanity's highest mountain, the strongest guardian shielding them from wind and rain. But for those Einit purged, he was the most terrifying nightmare in this world. Because the Star Envoys and ordinary people who died directly or indirectly by his hand, their corpses alone could pile up into a small mountain. After all, the title 'strongest' isn't just talk. It's a supreme throne built upon strength and bones.
And precisely because he knew this, Tendo was absolutely confident in his own 'whitewashing.' Because as long as he could prove that his future self alone could rival the entire Star Envoy world, and that his stance would always be on humanity's side, then even if the whole world hated him and rejected him, Einit would go against all opinions and push him to a high position, standing at the pinnacle of the heavens. After all, some positions naturally belong only to specific people. Those vulgar individuals without talent don't even have the right to glance at that position.
As for how to make Einit, who was thousands of miles away, aware of his situation and recognize his value to humanity, that would undoubtedly be by stepping over the people of the entire Steam City Branch to rise to power. A 'cleaner' who could purge the filth of an entire city by himself would undoubtedly be most to Einit's liking. After all, that old man just couldn't find a suitable successor, which prevented him from easily leaving the Star Rail Corridor. Otherwise, this strongest Star Envoy butcher of the current era would soon make certain oblivious individuals understand what a true 'butcher's knife' was.
And Tendo intended to use the entire Steam City as his stage, to let that somewhat aged old man know that this new era already had its true successor. As for him, the old remnant of the old era, he should pack up and quickly descend from that throne above the high heavens. Otherwise, his reputation in his twilight years would be ruined~
"Mr. Ink Wash, it smells so strange here..."
After arriving at the Gear Tower, where the Steam City Branch was located, little Danica sniffed, muttering softly. The unique smell of coal smoke and the pungent odor of mechanical lubricant in the air made her, who had spent years in church prayer rooms, very uncomfortable.
In response, Tendo raised his head to look at the towering structure, the tallest in Steam City, which pierced the clouds. He smiled and said, "Because this is the smell of Steam City, a special scent of industrial embers from the old era and new era Star Energy."
With that, Tendo raised a hand to adjust the collar of his long robe, and the gaze behind his glasses suddenly sharpened.
Perhaps to others, the sky of Steam City was very high. But to Tendo, the sky here was still a bit too low. He wanted to stand in a higher place. Because only then could he realize his childhood dream: standing in the highest place, seeing... the farthest scenery.
After all, what meaning would the name 'Tendo' have if he couldn't stand in the heavens?