Steam Capital, Upper City, Steam Branch
Half an hour after the wanted criminal Vivian was imprisoned
"Captain Shui Mo! This is bad! Please come out and take a look!"
The sudden shout broke Tiandao's concentration as he had been practicing calligraphy.
As a result, the character for "tranquility," which had nearly been completed, went slightly awry in its final flourish, leaving the last stroke somewhat sloppy.
Tiandao did not pay it much mind.
He silently set down his brush and looked up.
A Fifth Squad member stood before him, drenched in sweat, his expression as frantic as an ant on a hot pan.
"Don't panic. Tell me what happened first."
Tiandao's voice was calm, gentle as afternoon sunlight.
Soothed by his tone, the Fifth Squad member quickly calmed down.
He took a deep breath, then swiftly yet clearly reported what had happened outside.
Before long, Tiandao understood the situation.
The Gear Church had learned that he had captured Vivian and impatiently come to the Association to demand her handover.
But the Association—or rather, Deputy Captain Yu Chen—was not very willing to release her.
As a result, the two sides had already fallen into a standoff, the atmosphere drawn taut as a bowstring.
"I see."
Tiandao nodded, then picked up the captain's robe hanging beside him. He slipped one arm into a sleeve and draped it over himself.
The moon-white captain's robe swept through the air in a soft arc. After fluttering for a moment, its hem settled steadily at Tiandao's side.
"...Let's go. Let's see what little troubles our dear Vice Captain Yu has brought me."
Though he said that, the Fifth Squad member did not hear even a trace of anger in his voice. Instead, he sounded as calm as though he were heading to an ordinary calligraphy gathering.