"A shadow without light, even its very existence becomes a long-drawn-out torment."
In the quantum realm of the Steam Forge, Tendo looked at the lonely figure of Caroline on the dimensional screen and the words that appeared at the end of the side story. His emotions were very complex. Was it heartbreak? Guilt? A sense of sin? Or all of the above?
This "dagger" from the Stars Productions team even "wounded" him, the one who had written and directed this entire script. He had believed it was all done with "good intentions." After all, with Caroline's personality, if he hadn't temporarily sealed that "memory," Tendo was genuinely afraid that when he woke up, Caroline would have already self-destructed by attacking the Iron Dome family. But wasn't it a different kind of cruelty to leave her behind, unable to remember what she was "living for"?
Tendo couldn't give a satisfying answer to this question.
Fortunately, this "cruelty" wouldn't last much longer. Because as soon as he completed the next part, he could openly appear before Caroline. At that time, Tendo believed that Caroline would understand him, just like she did when she was a child, and forgive his little tantrum... right?
"Mr. Tendo?"
Just as Tendo was lost in his thoughts, Danica pulled him back to reality. Tendo came to his senses and saw that they had already passed through the "Bronze Road" and arrived in front of a giant gear.
It was a bronze gear as tall as a three-story building, and the gears still had a luster from oil that hadn't faded in a hundred years, indicating its extraordinary nature at a glance. Around the bronze gear, twelve figures stood solemnly like metal sculptures. They were the prototypes of the Twelve Bronze Nobles, the most loyal executors and guardians of the Code of Gears, and they had been placed here when the Steam Forge was first created.
Unlike the simple-minded steam guards outside, these Gear Guardians had a light golden energy flowing through them, and their cold eyes carried an inexplicable sense of pressure. Each one had the strength of a Tier-3 Mid-tier.
Looking at the twelve expressionless figures guarding the bronze gear, Danica nervously tugged on Tendo's pants.
"Mr. Mr. Tendo… they look so fierce."
Tendo patted Danica's head and said with a smile, "It's fine, let's go."
"Oh, okay."
With that, Tendo led Danica and Vivian, who looked pale beside them, toward the bronze gear. As soon as the three of them stepped out of the Bronze Road, the two statue-like Gear Guardians closest to them suddenly turned their necks. Their gazes swept over Tendo, passed by Danica, and finally settled on Vivian.
"Information verification successful. Forge tempering ritual commencing."
As the words fell, the Gear Guardians, as if by prior agreement, all moved to the side at the same time, revealing a path leading to the giant gear. Seeing this, Danica's eyes widened, and her mouth was slightly agape.
"Don't just stand there. Let's go."
"Huh? Oh."
Danica quickly scurried to catch up, her small hand once again grabbing his pants. Although Tendo said it was fine, Danica was still a little nervous and secretly looked up as they passed by the group. It wasn't until they arrived at the bronze gear that the Gear Guardians made no movement, as if they had returned to being sculptures.
Danica couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Tendo, why didn't they attack us?"
Hearing this, Tendo gave an explanation to Danica, but he was also telling the dimensional viewers in Station 13 the reason.
"They may seem alive, but they are just mechanical puppets that follow the Code of Gears."
"The Code dictates that as long as a being with gear authority doesn't threaten the core, they will not attack."
"But I don't have this 'authority' you're talking about, Mr. Tendo, and I don't even know what the Code of Gears is."
Danica scratched her head, very confused.
To her surprise, Tendo smiled and said, "No, you do, and your authority is higher than any of the Bronze Nobles."
"Huh?"
Danica was completely bewildered, her eyes turning into swirls. She clearly didn't understand what was going on. In fact, not only her, but the dimensional viewers were just as confused, and they were also wondering why Tendo insisted on bringing Vivian. According to the previous plot, after Tendo collected the twelve quantum keys, he could have come here alone. There was no need to deliberately confirm Vivian's guilt and bring her here as a prisoner. It seemed like an unnecessary move.
As if asking the question for the dimensional viewers, Danica tilted her small face up, pointed at Vivian beside her, and said, "Mr. Tendo, why is this sister also okay?"
Just as Danica finished speaking, the ground beneath them began to shake. Not long after, a giant forge with a dark red hearth slowly rose from the shadows below the bronze gear.
Looking at the giant forge in front of them, Tendo calmly gave his answer.
"Because she is the sacrifice the Steam Forge needs this time. And the bronze gear will only briefly reveal its true self after the sacrifice appears."
"I need her to help me guide my true gear core out, so I can obtain what I want."
Danica blinked, as if she understood, and then suddenly clapped her hands in realization. "I know! This sister is bait, and Mr. Tendo is using her to fish!"
Tendo was stunned for a moment, then he laughed. "In a sense, what you said is not wrong."
"Hehe!"
Danica proudly raised her chin.
Unlike their relaxed demeanor, Vivian, who was beside them, grew visibly paler after seeing the giant steam forge not far from her.
Seeing this, Tendo suddenly said with a meaningful tone, "Miss Knight, the fire of tempering has appeared before you. It's your turn to step up."
Vivian lowered her head in silence. She didn't respond or move, as if to protest Tendo's actions. Tendo simply waved his hand calmly.
The next second, a powerful force was instantly applied to Vivian. Then, like a small flat boat caught in an invisible wave, she was "pushed" into the giant steam forge.
And as Vivian disappeared from her sight, little Danica said something that took the dimensional viewers by surprise.
"Mr. Tendo, are you helping this knight sister?"
"Huh? Why do you say that?"
Little Danica blinked, then tilted her head and said, "Because I know you're a very gentle person, and..."
Little Danica pointed at the steam forge not far away, as well as the bronze gear that was slowly descending onto the groove on the top of the steam forge.
"...It just told me that the meaning of tempering is not to replace, but to evolve."
"The people around here are the products of failed evolution."
With that, little Danica said with certainty, "Mr. Tendo, you must believe that this knight sister will definitely pass that so-called evolution, right?"
In response, the corner of Tendo's mouth curved into a smile. "That depends on her own fortune."