Chapter Summaries

Saban told the tavern crowd Wu Heng’s deductions about a pocket watch and began a new case involving Mary Morstan and her missing father. Shiraque and Shi Yali read the story at the Association, then agreed not to compete over Wu Heng.

• Saban recounted how Wu Heng inferred the pocket watch’s owner’s habits and history from its marks.
• Mary Morstan asked Wu Heng for help after receiving anonymous pearls for six years and being invited to meet their sender.
• Saban stopped the story before Wu Heng and Watson could investigate, frustrating the tavern crowd.
• Shiraque returned from patrol and read the new newspaper story with Shi Yali at the Association.
• Shi Yali teased Shiraque about Wu Heng’s female companions, and the two agreed not to compete over him.

Newspapers and the serialized detective story drew crowds of visitors to Gold and Silver as Wu Heng assembled an Electromagnetic Cannon. Granda recalled her husband’s past and a figure resembling him, while Magnoro arrived to seek advice about meeting Wu Heng.

• Visitors learned that the Island Master's Manor issued newspapers every seven days and went to the Town Hall to find the story's first issue.
• Wu Heng checked the newspaper's reception with Xiaoxiao, Beni, and Granda while overseeing the weapon's assembly.
• Granda told Wu Heng that she had seen a familiar-looking silhouette and recalled how her husband had trapped her in a burning basement.
• Wu Heng promised to help Granda find her husband after the exhibition, and she accepted his offer of a hug.
• Magnoro visited Vice Deacon Skitt to ask about Wu Heng's preferences and gifts, then asked whether Wu Heng had served as a captain in Luntam City.

Wu Heng’s exhibition introduced a fountain pen, a wristwatch, and an Enhancement Potion, drawing intense interest from merchants and nobles. After learning that Magnoro had registered for the potion, Wu Heng realized Granda had recognized someone connected to her past and sought the Skeleton Prophet’s help to find her.

• Magnoro questioned Skitt about the Island Master’s reputation and spirit servants before attending the exhibition with Ludius.
• Wu Heng’s exhibition opened to merchant associations and nobles, who praised the fountain pens and wristwatches before crowding around the Enhancement Potion.
• Granda spotted a familiar man leaving the exhibition, recognized him as someone she believed was dead, and followed him in anger and fear.
• Wu Heng learned that Magnoro had registered his name at the potion display and noticed Granda had not returned.
• Wu Heng asked the Skeleton Prophet to show him where Granda had gone, and it took his arm as images began appearing in his mind.

Magnoro prepared to leave Treasure Island while Ludius discussed the merchant associations competing for the island’s new products. Granda confronted Magnoro in a tavern room, but his protective pendant and Divine Radiance repelled her, leaving their violent reunion unresolved.

• Magnoro told Ludius he planned to leave before dusk, and they discussed merchant associations joining forces to secure Treasure Island’s new products.
• Wu Heng left his carriage in the crowded Lighthouse Street and continued toward the harbor on a Flying Carpet with patrol skeletons following.
• Granda followed Magnoro to a tavern private room, determined to learn why he had killed her.
• Magnoro’s pendant shielded him from Granda’s first attack, and Divine Radiance struck her back when she lunged again.
• Magnoro recognized Granda and welcomed her return, while she declared that killing him would let her sleep soundly.

Wu Heng intervened when Magnoro attacked Granda, then killed him after learning he had tried to destroy her ghost. After removing Magnoro’s belongings, Wu Heng found rings suggesting ties to the Mystic Association and another organization, and asked Granda about them.

• Magnoro claimed Granda was a ghost trying to kill him and attacked her with holy scrolls as guards rushed into the room.
• Wu Heng arrived, and his skeletons killed Magnoro after he refused to stop and Granda confronted him about her death.
• Wu Heng searched Magnoro’s corpse and found a ring associated with the Mystic Association and another bearing a cat-head design.
• Wu Heng left the tavern with the bodies and reassured the patrons that the incident had nothing to do with them.
• At the Association meeting room, Wu Heng showed Granda the rings, and she said she had not known her ex-husband was connected to the Mystic Association.

Wu Heng questioned the captured Mystic Association member Magnoro by awakening his soul, uncovering the Association’s mission on Treasure Island and its connection to the Cat-Rat Society. He then let Granda confront Magnoro about killing her, but Magnoro tried to escape blame by professing love and asking her to spare him.

• Wu Heng showed Granda two rings and learned that Magnoro had held a high position in the Mystic Association and that the second ring’s organization remained unknown to her.
• Wu Heng brought Shiraque to the morgue and used Awaken Soul to summon Magnoro’s soul from a slain Blood Race exile’s body.
• Wu Heng questioned Magnoro in front of Association investigators, who recorded that he had come to investigate Treasure Island and retrieve a lost artifact.
• Magnoro identified the owl-and-rat ring as belonging to the Cat-Rat Society, an organization under the Mystic Association that included gangs, merchant groups, and low-ranking officials.
• Shiraque demanded the names of the Mystic Association and Cat-Rat Society members Magnoro knew, but he refused to reveal them, so she left the interrogation to Wu Heng.
• Wu Heng summoned Granda and asked Magnoro why he had killed her, and Magnoro pleaded that he loved her and asked her to forgive him.

Granda avenged herself on Magnoro and learned that he had murdered her to earn a place in the Mystic Association. Wu Heng comforted her by sharing his own betrayal, and the next day Treasure Island buzzed with excitement as the exhibition opened to the public.

• Granda devoured Magnoro after Wu Heng released him, then showed Wu Heng memories revealing that the Mystic Association had ordered Magnoro to kill her so he could join.
• Wu Heng handed Magnoro's corpse to the examiners, returned to the manor, and prepared for the exhibition's public opening by ordering extra security and removing the Enhancement Potions from display.
• Granda remained troubled by her past, so Wu Heng told her how a steward in Blackstone Town had tried to seize his body and encouraged her to move on from the people who had hurt her.
• A system prompt announced that Granda had unlocked Unfinished Business after she had worked through her feelings on her own.
• Treasure Island erupted with excitement when the exhibition opened, and word spread that the manor's fountain pens and pocket watches had impressed merchants and residents alike.

Wu Heng checked on Granda after her Unfinished Business was resolved, then returned to the Zombie World to review the base and plan a power-plant expedition. Meanwhile, the Treasure Island exhibition drew large crowds, and a cloaked visitor recognized Wu Heng as the Alchemy Master she had been seeking.

• Wu Heng confirmed that Granda's Unfinished Business restriction had disappeared and considered what might be preventing Xiaoxiao from resolving hers.
• Wu Heng took the three wraiths through a Portal to Busan Port, where Qi Hancai reported that the base was operating smoothly and the skeletons had successfully tested the warship.
• Wu Heng told Qi Hancai to continue training skeletons and arrange for people to learn alongside them, then asked her to prepare a trip to clear Zombies near the power plant.
• The Treasure Island exhibition opened to the public, drawing crowds to the fountain pen display while machinists studied the watch designs upstairs.
• A cloaked visitor stared at the Association and conglomerate certificates for Enhancement Potions and declared that she should have known Wu Heng was the Alchemy Master she had sought.

Shiraque investigated Magnoro’s visit to Skitt and confirmed through the Skeleton Prophet that Skitt had told the truth. In the Zombie World, Wu Heng’s army captured a power plant, and he sent the frigate through the Portal to Treasure Island.

• Skitt told Shiraque that Magnoro had questioned him about Wu Heng and given him a gem-inlaid shortsword, and Shiraque instructed him to keep quiet and skip his next patrol.
• Shiraque visited the Island Master’s Manor and had the Skeleton Prophet verify Skitt’s account, confirming that Magnoro had only asked about Wu Heng.
• Wu Heng’s forces defeated the Zombie Horde, absorbed Residual Souls, and captured the power plant, where Qi Hancai began arranging measurements for restoring power.
• Wu Heng returned to Treasure Island, opened the port gate with the Bronze Ring, and sent the frigate through the Portal.

At the exhibition, Wu Heng’s fountain pen, watch, and Enhancement Potion drew widespread attention, while he told Shiraque and Shi Yali he had organized the potion’s development. To settle their bet about producing an impressive mechanical device, he took them to Port Number Two and revealed the island’s enormous iron guard ship, leaving them stunned and wondering how it could float.

• A bard described the Island Master's Manor’s fountain pen, watch, and Enhancement Potion as the exhibition’s most remarkable displays, drawing crowds eager to meet Wu Heng.
• Shiraque told Wu Heng that Skitt had met the Mystic Association member he killed, and confirmed that the Skeleton Prophet’s investigation showed Skitt was not an accomplice.
• Wu Heng told Shiraque and Shi Yali that he had introduced the fountain pen and watch and organized the Enhancement Potion’s development.
• Shi Yali reminded Wu Heng of their bet, and he proposed showing them a mechanical device before taking both sisters to the port in hoods.
• At Port Number Two, Wu Heng revealed the island’s colossal iron guard ship, and Shiraque and Shi Yali stared in shock and asked why it floated on the sea.

Wu Heng test-fired the frigate’s naval gun, gave the ship to Philippa, and discussed plans with Shanala to sell Treasure Island’s products. After Shanala took two Enhancement Potions, Wu Heng traveled to the Zombie World and learned that Gao Rong had finished testing a Production Line.

• Wu Heng took Philippa, Shiraque, and Shi Yali aboard the frigate and demonstrated its weapons by destroying a Black Flag fishing boat with one naval-gun shot.
• Wu Heng gave the frigate to Philippa and told her to leave route patrols to the First Mates; Shiraque and Shi Yali agreed that they owed him a favor.
• Wu Heng and Shanala discussed sales plans and prices for Fountain Pens, watches, and potions, including limiting the first Fountain Pen sales to merchant guilds.
• Wu Heng gave Shanala two Enhancement Potions, and she drank them despite their painful side effects.
• The next morning, Wu Heng opened a Portal to the Zombie World and learned from Qi Hancai that Gao Rong had completed testing a Production Line, which she suspected was for rifles.

Wu Heng returned from Busan Port to the Military Factory after arranging for a Skeleton Pioneer Team and Logistics Convoy to clear Zombies and rescue survivors. He confirmed that Gao Rong’s team had successfully tested the Rifle Production Line, then told Gao Rong that Qi Hancai’s owl had an ability that could strengthen the body without side effects.

• Wu Heng arranged a Skeleton Pioneer Team and Logistics Convoy to advance along the main road, clear Zombies, gather supplies, and rescue survivors while he was away.
• Wu Heng traveled by cargo ship from Busan Port and reached the Military Factory after two and a half days.
• Gao Rong told Wu Heng that the Rifle Production Line had completed a successful trial and that thirteen Printing Presses had been made.
• Wu Heng inspected the factory equipment and instructed Gao Rong to run the Production Lines for a full day and teach the skeletons how to operate them.
• Wu Heng told Gao Rong that Qi Hancai’s owl could strengthen the body without the side effects of consuming a Corpse Core.

Wu Heng rewarded Gao Rong with profession scrolls and checked in with Zhao Yanqiu before returning to Treasure Island. As merchants flocked to the island, a pirate captain learned that the Emerald Sea’s pirates had been wiped out and heard that Treasure Island’s new Island Master was below level 15.

• Wu Heng gave Gao Rong a Mechanical Research and Development scroll, told him to keep the scrolls secret, and asked him to continue overseeing the military factory.
• Wu Heng spoke with Zhao Yanqiu and Xiaoxiao, promised to look for combat skill books, then returned through the Portal to Treasure Island.
• Andeviel reported that merchants were buying Central District properties, and Wu Heng ordered prices raised before deciding to visit Shanala the next day.
• A pirate subordinate told his captain that the Association had wiped out most of the Emerald Sea pirates and that merchant caravans were gathering around Treasure Island.
• Wu Heng's manor began selling limited-quantity fountain pens, drawing crowds of merchants who hoped to copy them and locals who praised Wu Heng's abilities.

Shanala promoted Treasure Island’s upcoming watches, Enhancement Potion, and supply orders to merchant representatives. Wu Heng approved a group of tavern waitresses adapting Beni’s story and offering them Profession Scrolls if they trained, then Brittany revealed that she had met him in Netarei City.

• Shanala told merchant representatives that watches would soon be sold in limited quantities and that the Enhancement Potion would likely be auctioned.
• Shanala distributed Treasure Island’s large, long-term supply orders among the merchant associations.
• Wu Heng met five tavern waitresses who wanted to adapt Beni’s story and encouraged them to rehearse, promising Profession Scrolls if they proved suited to the path.
• After the other women left, Brittany removed her hood and reminded Wu Heng that they had met in Netarei City when she traded him a wondrous item for a potion.

Brittany asked Wu Heng to help her reclaim the Yeke Kingdom, but he refused to join her and agreed only to report her brothers’ suspected ties to an evil cult. Back at the manor, Wu Heng tested his companions’ levels, and Andeviel returned with the day’s fountain-pen earnings.

• Brittany revealed that she was the Fifth Princess of the Yeke Kingdom and asked Wu Heng to join her team and help her take the throne from her brothers.
• Wu Heng refused to enter the kingdom’s political struggle without evidence, but promised to report her suspicions to the Association and keep her safe on Treasure Island.
• After Brittany left, Wu Heng bought two machinist Profession Scrolls, ordered more, and purchased a young gray-feathered owl.
• Wu Heng tested Minnie, Robbie, and Annette with a level crystal; they reached Levels 9, 6, and 3 respectively.
• Andeviel returned with 182,500 Silver Coins after selling 7,300 fountain pens.

Wu Heng inspected the new rifle production line and airport in the Zombie World, then reunited with Li Yahong and gave her a Little Owl. The chapter ended after Li Yahong successfully bonded with the owl and returned from a shower.

• Wu Heng learned that the fountain pen shop had earned 180,000 silver coins and tested Andeviel, who had reached level 11.
• Gao Rong reported that two researchers had used Class Change Scrolls and that the rifle factory had begun production, so Wu Heng inspected the factory and airport.
• Wu Heng met Li Yahong at the Military Factory, accepted the gold and Corpse Cores she had collected, and joined her for dinner.
• Wu Heng gave Li Yahong a Little Owl and explained its abilities, then showed her how to establish a beast-taming contract.
• Li Yahong bonded with the Little Owl, which flew around the room, and she later returned from a shower in a bathrobe.

Wu Heng learned that the Storm Pirate Group was attacking merchant convoys near Treasure Island and planned to sail out with Philippa to destroy them. As he considered ways to raise his reputation, Shanala brought him purchase lists and asked why he needed so much Oak Tree Sap.

• Wu Heng gave Shiraque and Shi Yali collector's-edition Fountain Pens and told them that Brittany had reported an evil cult's involvement in the Yeke Kingdom's succession struggle.
• Shiraque asked Shi Yali to report Brittany's information to Association Headquarters and request an investigation by local Associations in the Yeke Kingdom.
• Shiraque told Wu Heng that the Storm Pirate Group, with five ships and flying Harpies, was raiding merchant convoys along the route to Treasure Island.
• Wu Heng decided to have Philippa prepare for a voyage to eliminate the pirates, and Shiraque offered to send a Vice Deacon and squad along.
• Wu Heng checked his reputation and worried that it was rising too slowly, then Shanala arrived with purchase lists and asked why he was buying so much Oak Tree Sap.

Wu Heng arranged for the Wood Elves and Elf Race to supply materials and prepared to sell watches and auction Enhancement Potions with Shanala. He then sent Philippa to hunt the Storm Pirate Group, and ended the night considering how to power ships on Treasure Island.

• Wu Heng chose the Wood Elves' Star Flower and the Elf Race's Silver Leaf Caravan to gather and transport materials, while Shanala dismissed the Council of Elders' request for preferential treatment.
• Wu Heng and Shanala agreed to put the watches on sale the next day and hold an auction for Enhancement Potions afterward.
• Wu Heng told Philippa to sail that night along the Lingaxi Shipping Route and eliminate the Storm Pirate Group with a frigate, skeletons, and an Association squad led by a Vice Deacon.
• Wu Heng considered raising Granda to level 20 and strengthening Treasure Island's defenses with captured battleships.
• Wu Heng realized that building a power plant aboard a ship might let it run continuously without burning fuel.

Wu Heng launched watch sales on Treasure Island, foiled merchant associations’ attempts to copy the watches, and learned that Philippa’s escort ship had reached the Lingaxi Shipping Route. He directed Philippa to attack seven Black Hurricane Pirate Ships pursuing three Merchant Ships.

• Wu Heng planned the Furnace Power Station installation, the fountain pen and watch factories, and defenses against the Mystic Association, the Divine Punishment Cult, and vampire Exiles.
• Treasure Island began selling watches, while Brittany regretted her earlier meeting with Wu Heng and wondered whether they could have met sooner.
• Merchant associations dismantled their newly bought watches but failed to put them back together, and Granda reported their copying attempts to Wu Heng.
• Wu Heng changed the after-sales rules to exclude deliberately damaged watches, while Beni reported brisk sales and Xiaoxiao caught a pickpocket.
• Minnie told Wu Heng that Philippa had reached the Lingaxi Shipping Route ahead of schedule, and he used the Emerald Sand Table to locate seven Pirate Ships chasing three Merchant Ships.
• Wu Heng identified the ships for Philippa and ordered her to open fire on the Pirate Ships.

Pirates and Harpies attacked three merchant ships in the Emerald Sea, but Philippa’s escort ship destroyed the pirate fleet and killed the flying attackers. After ordering the merchants to disarm, Philippa commanded her skeletons to shoot everyone still holding a weapon.

• The merchant ships dumped cargo to outrun pursuing pirates, but Harpies bombed them and the pirates surrounded and boarded them.
• The pirates began slaughtering the sailors until an unseen long-range weapon destroyed their ships.
• Gadain and Team One watched the escort ship approach, and Philippa explained that its weapon could hit anything in sight.
• Philippa ordered Shooter Skeletons to fire on the attacking Harpies, killing most of them and driving the survivors away.
• Philippa warned the merchant caravan to disarm, then ordered her skeletons to kill everyone who still held a weapon.