[The City of Steam, Transfer Point Between Upper and Lower Cities, Nut Hub Station]
"Good morning, Mr. Ink Wash"
"Hello."
Inside Nut Hub Station, Tendo walked through the exclusive employee passage, making his way to his office. Before Tendo could open the door, chaotic sounds and Little Danica's milky voice, chewing on potato chips, drifted out: "Attention, everyone! Listen to my command, begin counting off!"
"1!"
"2!"
"3!"
After seven or eight voices chimed in succession, Danica's amusingly childlike voice once again came from inside the office: "Excellent! Now, I order you all to act on your own, in accordance with the association's rules and regulations!"
"Yes!"
Before long, a flurry of rustling and clattering came from the office. Though Tendo hadn't entered yet, he could guess what was happening inside. He shook his head and pushed open the office door.
Immediately, a bizarre and fantastical scene appeared before Tendo.
Little Danica was nestled in the captain's sofa, which was two sizes too big for her. She hugged a bulging bag of potato chips, her short legs swinging back and forth as she issued commands to her surroundings. All around her, numerous 'documents' that had sprouted limbs were carrying out Danica's orders, each performing their respective tasks. These documents looked just like mischievous little imps.
Some tiptoed towards the bespectacled 'Captain's Seal,' shyly lifting their covers to reveal their inner pages, awaiting their 'stamp.' Others stood in line, waiting for 'Mr. Pen' to sign, emitting tiny murmurs as the pen's tip glided over them. But most of the 'documents' were crowded around the 'Violating Folder,' chattering incessantly, as noisy as a bustling market. Among these constantly crying 'violating documents,' some had intentionally concealed information on their pages. Others had simply written false, fabricated information.
If a normal person were to review these documents, the process would not only be tedious, but they might not even be able to spot the hidden 'traps' and 'smoke screens' within them. However, thanks to Little Danica's special ability called [Information Vivification], the ordinarily cumbersome document approval process now instantly became an effortless chore, requiring only her command for the documents to act on their own.
Of course, there were still some minor troubles in this process. For example, some didn't think they had done anything wrong.
"It's an injustice! Lady Danica, it's an injustice! I truly have no problem!"
Just as Danica was happily munching on potato chips, a 'violating document' shook off the others around it and knelt before Danica. Seeing this 'violating document' crying out for justice, Lady Danica, who considered herself exceptionally wise, put down her potato chips and straightened her face, imitating Tendo's serious adult demeanor. She said in a childlike voice, "Are you saying the great Lady Danica has wronged you, then?"
Hearing this, the 'violating document' crying out below immediately trembled all over, with simulated 'sweat beads' seeping from its pages: "N-no, I just felt that I followed all the rules and did not deliberately deceive the great Lady Danica, so I hope Lady Danica can be lenient." As it spoke, this 'violating document' remarkably produced a stack of banknotes from its 'belly' and held them high.
"Lady Danica, this is a small token of my respect for you. Please take it and buy snacks."
"I just hope Lady Danica can be lenient and let me off."
"I will surely abide by the association's rules from now on and never try to cheat!"
Gazing at the banknotes held aloft by the 'violating document,' Little Danica's eyes instantly turned into the shape of gold coins. Drool trickled from the corner of her mouth, as if she was already imagining how many delicious snacks she could buy with those banknotes.
However, before Little Danica could speak, Tendo walked in and casually took the banknotes from the 'violating document's' hand.
"Danica, it's one thing to eat snacks during work hours, but you're trying to accept bribes too?"
Tendo held up the banknotes and lectured Danica: "…It's a good thing you're not the captain of this Fifth Squad, otherwise I can't imagine what you'd turn this place into."
Seeing Tendo appear, Danica's eyes instantly reverted from gold coins to their normal shape, then she stuck out her tongue, attempting to adorably get away with it again.
"But Mr. Ink Danica didn't say she'd let it off if she took the money, and besides, I didn't even get it…"
You want to take the money without doing the work?
Tendo shook his head helplessly. He truly didn't know who Little Danica had learned such bad habits from. Just a few days ago, she was still so innocent and well-behaved.
After flicking Little Danica's forehead lightly, as a form of punishment, Tendo picked up the 'violating document' from the ground and used his Vector Control to break the 'Information Vivification' that Little Danica had cast upon it.
He then looked at the information on the 'violating document.' It was, in fact, a cargo manifest from the Rust Iron Hell, District 4. Special documents like these, which contained 'Star Energy Items,' required strict approval. They needed his specific approval as a specialized Association Star Envoy before they could truly be delivered to the Upper City. This was because both the seller and buyer of such goods had to be Star Envoys.
Managing Star Envoys and coordinating relationships between different Star Envoys was the mission of the Star Envoy Association, and Tendo's primary duty as the captain of the Fifth Squad.
[Document Name: Etching Gold Flower Concentrate * 3 barrels]
[Estimated Value: 300,000 Star Energy Coins]
[Applicant: District 4 * Keilva]
District 4, Etching Gold Flower… connecting these keywords, Tendo instantly understood. As expected, this was likely the result of the Blood Skulls of District 4 collaborating with certain individuals in the upper echelons. He knew very well what the words 'Etching Gold Flower' signified. He was even more aware of the cruel reality represented by the concentrate made from it.
The reason the Rust Iron District became the hell of the City of Steam was not simply due to the Upper City's inaction. Many other specific reasons contributed to it. For instance, certain transactions involving immense profits could only occur in places like the Rust Iron District. If the Rust Iron District were to disappear, many things that were previously kept hidden would be completely exposed to the light. For some powerful figures in the Upper City, this was unacceptable. After all, they didn't want to relinquish their power.
Although aware of these facts, Tendo had no intention of changing things for now. This was because it wasn't the right time for a change, and a change would not bring him any benefits. However, the catalyst for change in the entire City of Steam was about to arrive.
Thinking of this, Tendo picked up the document and said, "Let's go, Little Danica. We're taking a trip to the Rust Iron District."
"Oh, okay."
Little Danica hopped off the sofa and ran to retrieve her special little backpack.
"Mr. Ink where are we going?"
Tendo looked at the wanted poster prominently displayed in his office, casually taking it down. "District 4 of the Rust Iron Hell."
"Oh, so what are we doing this time?"
Tendo thought for a moment, and a cold glint flashed behind his dark-rimmed glasses. He said meaningfully, "Catching butterflies."
"Catching butterflies?"
Little Danica's eyes lit up, and she excitedly said, "Danica loves catching butterflies the most!"
With that, Danica happily put on her little backpack and followed Tendo onto the 'lift elevator' at Nut Hub Station, which led to the Rust Iron Hell. As the elevator descended, a unique smell, a mixture of rust and engine oil, entered the elevator where Tendo and Danica stood. This was the unique scent of the Rust Iron District, a blend of despair and madness.
The numbers on the elevator display kept jumping: 10… 5… 3… 1…
Finally, it stopped at the cold '-1 Floor.'
The moment the elevator opened, Danica, thinking they were genuinely going to catch butterflies, impatiently pulled Tendo and rushed out.
"Faster, faster! Mr. Ink let's go catch butterflies!"
Tendo gazed at the flickering steam lamp at the entrance to District 4, his eyes behind his lenses unfathomable. The storm about to erupt in the Rust Iron District was only just beginning.
[Wanted Poster: Vivian Howard]
[Reason for Bounty: Suspected of privately concealing a holy relic of the Gear Church.]
[Bounty Amount: 3,000,000 Star Energy Coins]
[Note: Although this person is a First-Class Star Envoy, with the Gear Church's special battle armor, she possesses strength exceeding half of a Second-Class Star Envoy. Please proceed with extreme caution.]