To me, Mr. Istvan is an extraordinary man. You can't rule Umbraton for as long as he did without guts and grits. That town owed Istvan for turning over a new leaf and into prosperity. But that doesn't mean we should be complacent when dealing with Istvan's and other gangs...
It figured that Istvan would be interested in our Colossus. As the boss of Umbraton, he's got eyes sharp enough to tell what he needed to pay attention to. Now that you think about it, you would have to hear, see, and know practically everything going in Umbraton to rein in all the dangerous elements.
A word of caution, Navigator: Someone who could lead dangerous elements—like Istvan—is the most dangerous of them all. No matter how friendly he appears, always assume there's something to the contrary under the facade. Fortunately, Istvan doesn't seem to have any plans to oppose us so we should take advantage of that as much as we can. But still, can't let your guard down.
—Vice

You must have heard of me. I am Istvan, Lord of Umbraton. I heard some of my people have visited here? Sorry for any trouble they caused, but it's actually your honor.
Umbraton is different from any other place. At least that's what I think. It accepts anyone who's willing to accept it, as long as they're not beyond hope. Unlike Lumopolis, Umbraton doesn't impose belief and order on you, but every dweller has their own reason to live. Just look into their eyes when they fight, and the sweat along with the spilled blood. You'll know I speak the truth.
As for you, you have a mission too. The one reason you live for, that you will do whatever necessary to personally see it to fruition... What can it be? I don't care what it is exactly, though. I just wonder if you can do it and whether you will. That day won't come anytime soon, but I hope you won't disappoint me too quickly.

The Umbraton of present wasn't built in a day. Before becoming what it is now, it was a filthy, degenerate, desperate hellhole. People wasted away, frantically pursuing fleeting moments of happiness, even if that meant they wouldn't live to see the sunrise next day. But that's not their fault. The blame lied in those who exploited them, those who didn't belong to Umbraton, yet poisoned the town, sustaining themselves on the blood and tears of Umbraton. Without extracting their dirty hands, there wouldn't have been a new Umbraton.
I will not deny my effort or the price I paid in giving Umbraton a new leash in life, but I am still incredibly grateful to the town folks for standing with me. They, too, wanted a better life. If they weren't willing to help themselves, I could not have pulled Umbraton out of the quagmire, no matter how hard I tried. I will take half of the credit; the other half belongs to everyone in Umbraton.

The best thing about today's Umbraton is that it's escaped the pernicious elements. Life is still hard. Some are still homeless. Some still can't afford bread. However, the impetus for living is no longer the dangerous thrills, but the determination and courage to protect others, to improve oneself, and to get a new life. Connolly's coffee shop, Dayna's gang, and Sheol's guild all run on their own faith, as well as fearlessness. At a bare minimum, I'm satisfied with what Umbraton is now. The least I can do is maintain the status quo and keep the poisons out of town.
Eclipses are another threat to Umbraton. They always lurk and never, ever leave. I also understand, that because of the town's geographical location, it invariably is the first line of defense whenever the Eclipsites decide to invade Lumopolis. But we won't be fighting them for Lumopolis; we'll be fighting them for Umbraton. Until the continent returns to peace, Umbraton will never stop fighting and its people will never surrender.

Do you play chess? It's an interesting game. A small board with two handfuls of pieces, victory and defeat hanging in the balance. One misstep, every move thereafter is naught, and the outcome is already decided. You must regard every move as life-or-death, because there's no return.
I love playing chess but I could never find a suitable opponent in Umbraton. They either couldn't beat me, or are afraid to beat me, regretfully. When I feel the urge to play, I can only resort to solving chess puzzles left by long-dead grandmasters in books. Not having real opponents is pitiful, but once you realize you yourself are also just a chess piece in the game of life, you'll prefer not having opponents, or even anyone else playing the game.
So how about it? You can play with me if you're interested. I'll even surrender a few pieces.