Facing the sudden appearance of Tendo.
Chen Kong and Liu Ma instantly became wary, as if facing a formidable enemy.
In contrast, Vivian, the wanted person, appeared remarkably calm.
There seemed to be no hint of resistance from her.
Just as Tendo caught Danica falling from the ceiling,
Chen Kong looked at Tendo, who wore a gentle smile, like a benevolent gentleman, and after a moment of hesitation, spoke: "Captain, I believe you are aware of Vivian's situation."
"How could someone like her possibly steal the church's sacred object and flee in fear of punishment, as the church claims?"
"I think there must be some misunderstanding here; perhaps..."
Tendo sighed softly, interrupting him.
In Chen Kong's solemn expression, Tendo said gently: "My friend from the lower city, the right or wrong of some matters has never been important."
"Because what those above want is merely a result. As for the process, they simply don't care."
"Similarly, even if I let you go today, do you think no one else will come?"
As he spoke, Tendo placed his hand on 'Shattered Star' at his waist.
"Let her come back to the association with me. At least in my sight, no one would dare to touch her."
"After all, a captain's identity still holds a certain amount of sway in this branch."
Faced with Tendo's explanation, Chen Kong fell silent.
Because he truly couldn't find many reasons to object.
But just because he couldn't find any, didn't mean Liu Ma beside him couldn't.
"Easy for you to say."
Accompanying the sound of a wooden chair shattering, Liu Ma's burly two-meter-two frame suddenly rose, standing up with a 'whoosh'.
The phantom of a Nether Steed neighed behind him, and the patterns on its horns glowed golden.
It was visibly clear he intended to make a move.
"If the association was truly as good as you say, then this wanted order wouldn't have been issued by you, would it?"
Tendo looked up at the suit-clad brute, thirty centimeters taller than himself. Not only did he not get angry, but he also nodded and said: "Indeed, the association does, as you say, have quite a few problems, but..."
Tendo maintained his 'Ink Wash' persona as a benevolent gentleman, patiently explaining: "...Before questioning a system, you should first come up with something better than that system."
"After all, destruction is always easy, but construction and maintenance... are far more difficult."
"Mr. Liu Ma, the association has many rules, and the people within the association are also very complex."
"But you must admit that it is precisely because of the existence of these rules that the originally unruly Stellar Envoys have become relatively controllable."
"And it also ensures that the current New Federation will not fall apart due to conflicts between Stellar Envoys."
"Therefore, I will strictly abide by the association's current rules, at least until I find something better than these rules."
As his words fell, Tendo took a step, and his captain's uniform began to move without wind.
At the same time, Little Danica, sensing Tendo's intention to act, immediately ran to the side with her backpack.
Then, she took out a bag of bear-shaped crunchy snacks from her backpack and leisurely began to eat them.
It was as if she wasn't there to accompany Tendo in apprehending a criminal, but merely attending a kindergarten outing.
But in contrast,
Chen Kong and the others at this moment felt an incredibly powerful pressure.
Even though Tendo's Stellar Energy fluctuations were clearly only at the Second Class, Mid-Tier Awakening level.
Yet, for some reason, his pressure was so strong that even Chen Kong, with his Second Class, Perfect Awakening, found it difficult to resist.
Among them, Liu Ma bore the brunt of the pressure.
It was so intense that he even had to activate his 'Stellar Mark' just to barely withstand Tendo's pressure.
Tendo approached Liu Ma, explaining to Chen Kong and the others, as well as the audience outside the dimensional screen.
"Generally speaking, the association mainly considers two aspects for a Stellar Envoy's rank."
"One is their basic Stellar Energy value, and the other is their Stellar Source development, which is what most Stellar Envoys know as the number of Stellar Source awakenings."
"Those who acquire a Stellar Source for the first time, regardless of their basic Stellar Energy value, are called First Class Stellar Envoys."
"Those who complete one Stellar Source awakening and have a basic Stellar Energy value of over 1000 points are called Second Class Stellar Envoys."
"But..."
Tendo stopped in front of Liu Ma, looking at Liu Ma, who was already struggling to simply resist his 'captain-level pressure', and smiled: "...Second Class is merely the starting point for all Stellar Envoys."
"Because it only signifies that you have initially mastered your Stellar Source and understood its function."
"Like a toddler who has finally learned to walk on their own for the first time."
At this point, Tendo paused, then looked at Liu Ma, whose forehead was constantly sweating.
"Are you wondering why, despite having completed your Stellar Core Awakening and possessing a powerful transformation-type Stellar Source, the Nether Steed, you can't even withstand the pressure from a mere Second Class, Mid-Tier Awakened Stellar Envoy like me?"
Liu Ma did not speak, but his clenched jaw and silent expression clearly conveyed this very thought.
Tendo did not keep them in suspense and immediately offered an explanation.
"That's because Stellar Source awakening... has never been the entirety of measuring a Stellar Envoy's strength."
"It must be admitted that the existence of Twin Stars is indeed very powerful for ordinary Stellar Envoys."
"Because it means you possess both the physical body and bloodline abilities of a 'Star Beast,' and the special Stellar Source and human intelligence of a 'Stellar Envoy.'"
"But sometimes, acquiring too many things isn't necessarily a good thing."
As he spoke, Tendo placed his hand on Liu Ma's shoulder, patting it with a moderate amount of force.
With a 'bang', Liu Ma's single knee slammed into the floor, and the hard concrete immediately cracked with numerous spiderweb-like fissures.
"Because it not only disperses your energy, preventing you from fully unleashing your potential, but it also mistakenly leads you to believe that your body has already been developed to its 'limit' early on."
"But in reality?"
Tendo looked at Liu Ma kneeling before him and said gently, "In reality, your potential is far from fully developed."
"You should know that in the long history of Stellar Envoys, there is no lack of rare cases, nor a shortage of some geniuses with special talents."
"And the appearance of these geniuses has not only repeatedly refined the association's construction of the Stellar Envoy system but also allowed the association to formulate a complete standard for judging Stellar Envoy strength, one that is better than Stellar Energy values and Stellar Source awakening levels."
"This standard is: Strength, Agility, Spirit, Precision, Vitality, Stellar Energy Value."
"You are clearly a Stellar Envoy type with potential in Strength and Vitality, and I estimate your Strength and Vitality potential should be around B+ to A+ grade, yet you haven't developed these two attributes to the corresponding level."
"However, the person who nurtured you is very clever, because she clearly understood this, and that's why she always held back from letting you undergo a perfect Stellar Source awakening, instead continuously strengthening your potential in these two areas through various methods."
"You should thank her, because it is her existence that kept you from going astray."
After easily suppressing Liu Ma, who had intended to make a move, Tendo turned to look at Chen Kong not far away.
Thanks to the pure Stellar Energy brought by his perfect awakening.
Chen Kong's situation was much better than Liu Ma's at this moment.
Because the milky-white Stellar Energy fluctuations around him effectively offset the pressure from Tendo.
However, compared to his gentleness towards Liu Ma, Tendo's words to Chen Kong were much sharper.
"You must be quite proud, considering you completed a [Perfect Awakening]."
Looking at Tendo, who seemed to be smiling yet not smiling, Chen Kong's expression was grim.
Because he saw sympathy in Tendo's eyes.
And Tendo's subsequent words confirmed Chen Kong's thoughts.
"If I'm not mistaken, your perfect awakening should have been completed at some point before adulthood, because at that stage, your body hadn't fully developed, and your own potential was only partially activated."
"This means that during this period, developing your Stellar Source to its extreme was actually a relatively easy task."
"But..."
Chen Kong looked at Tendo, his pupils constricted.
He seemed to have understood something from Tendo's words.
"...An early perfection does not represent true perfection, because that was merely your future, prematurely overdrawn to gain strength far beyond your current stage."
"You must have noticed it too, compared to the Second Class, Perfect Awakened Stellar Envoy you imagined, the current you... doesn't seem as powerful as you thought."
"But you've been unable to find the problem, because subconsciously, you don't want to deny your past decision."
"That lazy, cowardly decision to temporarily avoid difficulties."
As he spoke, Tendo had already arrived before Chen Kong.
"A captain-level position in the branch, besides requiring a minimum of Second Class, Mid-Tier Awakening, also requires at least one of the six-dimensional attributes to be developed to an A-grade standard among Second Class Stellar Envoys."
"But this only means one of my attributes has reached A-grade, it doesn't mean... I only have one attribute at A-grade."
"You should understand what I mean by now, right?"
Tendo ignored Chen Kong beside him and walked directly to Vivian.
"Let's go, Miss Knight. After all, if possible, I'd rather not lay hands on a lady like yourself."
Looking at Liu Ma, who was pinned to the ground and unable to move.
And Chen Kong beside him, whose forehead was constantly breaking out in cold sweat.
Vivian thought for a moment, then said, "Alright, but please don't make things difficult for them, because they have nothing to do with this."
In response, Tendo smiled, "Naturally. After all, you are the only one on the wanted poster, not these two law-abiding citizens."
With that, Tendo took Vivian and turned to walk outside.
But watching Vivian about to be taken away by Tendo, Chen Kong's gaze... gradually became firm.
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