Recaps

Velin rewarded Andrew and entrusted Kyle with responsibilities before secluding himself to complete the final step of becoming a Gold Knight. He emerged months later with greatly increased strength, while Kyle had advanced to Silver Intermediate.

• Velin rewarded Andrew with two Intermediate Magic Crystals for his service as governor of Blue Gauze Town.
• Velin gave Kyle three Mermaid Pearls and instructed him to handle exchanges and avoid bringing him matters he could manage himself.
• Velin entered the sealed chamber and cultivated for months, focusing on merging his Battle Qi vortex into his heart.
• Velin completed the final step and became a Gold Knight, gaining a surge of Battle Qi and demonstrating his power by blasting a hole in the chamber wall.
• Kyle congratulated Velin on his breakthrough, and Velin praised Kyle for reaching Silver Intermediate before ordering a lavish meal.

Velin checked on the Mutated Griffons, heard Kyle’s reports about the assassin training base and Maple City’s new Free Adventure Zone, and weighed whether to pursue a Master Magic Craftsman or wait for the Mystic Illusion Mirror. The next morning, he examined the combat skill Two Blooms and learned it required the Druid profession alongside a primary knight profession.

• Velin visited the Stable, instructed the Mutated Griffon to approach gently, and promised to leave it wine that evening.
• Kyle told Velin that Hilda and Sisina’s assassin training base was ready with one hundred recruits, and reported that Maple City had opened a Free Adventure Zone and connected its Teleportation Array to other territories.
• Velin approved Kyle’s handling of the merchant association and left him to rest.
• Velin poured Glowing Wine into a basin for the Mutated Griffon, then debated whether to trade the Sweet Fruit for a Master Magic Craftsman or keep his ticket for the Mystic Illusion Mirror.
• Velin decided to use an Alignment Check to help him choose what to do about the Master Magic Craftsman.
• Velin examined Two Blooms and learned that its cultivation required a knight as the primary profession and Druid as the secondary profession.

Velin traveled to Cadro Province to inspect Qixing Manor and Raimondo’s growing network of influence. He reviewed the manor’s facilities and underground fortress, then heard that Eunice had supervised construction responsibly.

• Velin committed to cultivating Two Blooms while returning to his routine of cultivation and delegating business to Belder.
• Eunice returned after completing Qixing Manor, received one hundred Gold Coins from Velin, and wondered whether staying with him might not be so bad.
• Velin and his group arrived in Cadro Province in mid-September, where Raimondo showed them the completed manor.
• Raimondo reported that Velin’s people controlled five West City District streets, had placed personnel in local constabulary offices, and leased 130 shops for eight thousand Gold Coins in annual rent.
• Velin inspected the underground fortress and learned that Eunice had inscribed a purification array and supervised the construction conscientiously.

Velin met Governor Fisk in Cadro Province to discuss a deal for one hundred skilled male Half-elf prisoners of war. After inspecting them, Velin offered 2,150 Gold Coins each, or 2,300 if Fisk provided compensation, leaving the bargain unresolved.

• Velin arrived in Cadro Province and received an invitation from Governor Fisk, agreeing to meet him three days later.
• Fisk told Velin that the kingdom would send Inspection Troops to inspect nobles' armies in six months.
• Fisk offered Velin one hundred skilled male Half-elf prisoners of war, and they haggled over the price.
• Velin inspected the Half-elves in a basement and offered 2,150 Gold Coins each, or 2,300 if Fisk provided compensation.

Velin found the Neutral Good old beggar he had been seeking and brought him and two children back to his residence, where he learned the old man was a Master Magic Craftsman. When the old beggar could not remember his past, Velin showed him the Sweet Fruit, triggering black energy and strange characters to emerge from his body.

• Velin received a letter saying his brother Ilisis had completed the Mysterious Illusory Realm trial and would not be able to enter it again for thirty years.
• Kyle told Velin that a powerful old beggar had appeared in South City District, and Velin went there to find him protecting two little beggars.
• A priest used Alignment Check and confirmed that the old beggar was Neutral Good, so Velin invited him and the children to his residence.
• Velin learned the old beggar was a Master Magic Craftsman and chose to help him rather than pursue the Sweet Fruit elsewhere.
• After the old beggar said he remembered nothing, Velin took out the Sweet Fruit, and black energy formed mysterious characters around the old man.

Velin used the Sweet Fruit to purify the black aura consuming the old beggar, restoring him to his true form as O'dor Kadra. O'dor recounted his tragic love for his teacher Eileen Bakart and joined Velin's faction, hoping to find her reincarnation and protect her.

• Velin threw the Sweet Fruit at the old beggar, and its fairy form purified the black aura while Kyle collapsed in relief.
• The old beggar returned to a young man's appearance, awakened, and introduced himself as O'dor Kadra.
• O'dor told Velin and Kyle that he had fallen in love with his teacher, Eileen Bakart, left her, and returned years later to learn she had died.
• O'dor explained that he had traded his sanity to seek the place where Eileen might have appeared, and that her reincarnation was likely near Velin.
• O'dor asked to join Velin's faction so he could find and protect Eileen in a new life, and Velin welcomed him.

O'dor took the beggar siblings as his students, renaming them Theo Kadra and Isla Kadra, while Velin funded their travels around Cadro Province. Three days later, Velin joined the province’s nobles at the Noble Council, where the meeting was about to begin.

• O'dor reunited with the two children, declared them his students, and comforted them when they worried about leaving their family roles behind.
• O'dor named the boy Theo Kadra and the girl Isla Kadra, then Velin gave him ten thousand Gold Coins to take them sightseeing.
• Velin prepared for the Noble Council after O'dor and his students departed.
• Velin greeted his uncles Olcott and Edgar and his cousin Brian, who discussed their territories and plans to retire.
• The sixty-three nobles of Cadro Province entered the Noble Council Hall, and Velin took his seat as the meeting began.

At the seven-day Noble Council, Velin secured approval for three proposals, including a road to his territory, public grain warehouses, and cleaner territories. After returning to his residence, he learned Kyle and O'dor had been away training, and the group prepared to depart the next day.

• Viscount Moncas announced new troop, weapon, and armor requirements for lower nobles, then opened the council.
• Baron White paid Baron Sterk three thousand Gold Coins to settle their dispute over Lake Ownership.
• Velin proposed a road connecting his territory to Cadro Province, and the nobles voted to approve it.
• Over the seven-day council, Velin submitted two more proposals, for public grain warehouses and Environmental Management, and both passed.
• Velin returned to his residence, where Kyle and O'dor were absent; Kyle later told O'dor the group would depart the next day.

Velin returned to Lake of Star Prayer, where O'dor confirmed he could build Elemental Knights and advised him on protecting a Treasure Vault. After settling on a cheaper vault design and planning to buy materials, Velin asked O'dor for advice about an abandoned Teleportation Array connected to the Underground World.

• Velin returned to Lake of Star Prayer and had Kyle show O'dor around while Eunice took charge of the hundred Half-elves.
• O'dor asked Kyle about women close to Velin as he searched for his teacher's reincarnation, but none of those he had met matched.
• Velin asked O'dor to construct four Elemental Knights from his Elemental Cores, choosing to use them as guards for a Treasure Vault.
• O'dor listed the costly materials for the Elemental Knights and recommended strong materials and a Magic Barrier for the vault; Velin opted for a cheaper reinforced-stone approach.
• Velin agreed to obtain the materials within a month and asked O'dor how to develop an abandoned Teleportation Array connected to the Underground World.
• O'dor asked Velin how he had discovered the array, and Velin began recounting what had happened.

Velin approved O'dor's plan to develop the Underground World and assigned Eunice to oversee a new castle, rewarding her with a salary, a home, and more supplies. After Velin ordered his administrators to select people from the hundred Half-elves, Belder rushed to claim his share.

• Velin accepted O'dor's plan to expand the Teleportation Array and establish fortresses in the Underground World, with development set to begin in two years.
• Velin promised O'dor a monthly salary and a share of future profits, then wrote to his father for supplies at Isis's expense.
• Eunice told Velin that her kin had signed ten-year service contracts, and Velin tasked her with designing a new castle.
• Velin gave Eunice an official salary, arranged a house for her in Star Prayer City, and increased her Glowing Wine supply.
• Velin told Kyle to notify Belder, Orlando, and Andrew that they could select from the hundred Half-elves, and Belder hurried to the castle to choose people.

Kyle oversaw the division of Half-elves among Belder, Orlando, and Andrew, while Velin chose not to intervene in their competition. In Maple City, Duke’s merchant guild prospered, and Velin received a large shipment of materials and letters from his family.

• Belder selected fifty Half-elves, Orlando took thirty-five, and Andrew was left with fifteen before later persuading Belder to give him ten more.
• Velin told Kyle to send Andrew to Belder for more people and decided to let the three towns compete for talent.
• Duke reviewed the Star Prayer Merchant Guild’s profits in Maple City, where Ice Blue Potions were selling rapidly and magical construction transformed the city.
• Mag delivered Velin’s requested materials for eleven million Gold Coins, along with three letters and a book from Velin’s parents.

Velin received letters from his parents and the Restore as Before battle skill, then focused on preparing Qixing Territory for the coming war. He traveled to Orlando Town to inspect the Fire Lion and Ice Bear Knight Orders, which assembled to greet him.

• Mag delivered Velin his father's letters and the Restore as Before battle skill after confirming Velin had reached Gold Knight.
• Velin read his father's training advice and his mother's letter, then stored Restore as Before to prioritize cultivating Two Blooms and improving as a Druid.
• Velin approved Eunice's New Castle plans and allocated one million Gold Coins for construction, appointing O'dor chief engineer and Eunice deputy chief engineer.
• Five days later, Velin left for Orlando Town to assess the Fire Lion and Ice Bear Knight Orders and plan Qixing Territory's development before the war.
• Orlando and Hebrew's four-hundred-strong knight orders formed ranks outside Orlando Town as Velin approached.

Velin led four hundred knights north to find Monster Clans to test their swords on, but the tribes they encountered fled before they arrived. After reaching the abandoned Task Tribe camp, Velin agreed they needed a new way to locate their targets, and Kyle offered a suggestion.

• Velin ordered the four hundred knights to move north toward the borderlands, where Monster Clans still lived.
• Task learned that an armored human force was approaching and ordered his tribe to flee rather than fight.
• Velin found the Task Tribe camp empty, marking the third Monster Clan to escape his force.
• Velin's group requisitioned the camp, hunted for dinner, and discussed how to find Monster Clans before they ran away.
• Kyle told Velin he had a suggestion for locating their targets.

Velin planned to lure the Monster Clans with a fake gold-mine rumor, but he learned of a genuine super-large gold deposit and began plotting to exploit the underground world. As Orlando and Hebrew’s trap attracted nearby tribes, a Kobold uncovered a real rusty iron chest, leaving Orlando unsure how to proceed.

• Kyle proposed using greed to draw the Monster Clans into an ambush, and Orlando, Hebrew, and Velin agreed on a plan built around a fake treasure hoard.
• Velin learned that a super-large gold deposit lay north of the underground world and imagined using captured underground creatures as mining slaves for Qixing Territory.
• Orlando and Hebrew brought Goblins and Kobolds into a mine, where they worked under harsh conditions, then allowed some to escape and spread rumors of the gold.
• Nearby Monster Clans gathered in secret, while Orlando ordered increased patrols to make the humans seem vulnerable and draw the tribes closer.
• A Kobold uncovered a rusty iron chest in the mine, and Orlando sent a subordinate to ask Velin what they should do.

Velin’s camp uncovered thirty-three chests of Dwarvish treasure, and Velin distributed some of the wealth to his knights. After the mining slaves were killed and the mine was left to draw in nearby tribes, Ogre Task recognized the discovery as a human scheme but chose to avoid getting involved.

• A Kobold dug up a rusted chest, so Orlando delayed the plan and made the slaves keep digging until they uncovered thirty-three chests.
• Velin’s men opened the chests and found coins, jewels, and books; Velin ordered rewards for the knights and his attendants.
• The mining slaves were given a lavish final meal, then died in their sleep, and Orlando ordered their bodies burned before withdrawing with his men.
• Scouts from nearby tribes searched the mine, found a Gold Coin, and hurried back to report to their clans.
• Ogre Task questioned a Kobold who brought him a Gold Coin, killed him, and decided the discovery was a human conspiracy he would stay out of.

Velin watched Orlando and Hebrew’s Knight Orders annihilate an army of monsters, then returned to Qixing Territory. He told Belder he would soon be away for months or years and began assigning him important tasks.

• Task took the Gold Coins and went to sleep, while six Monster Clans gathered nearly two thousand monsters to attack his camp.
• Orlando and Hebrew led four hundred knights in a charge that routed the monster army, leaving fewer than five hundred survivors.
• Velin praised Orlando and Hebrew’s battle formation and ordered the group to return to Lake of Star Prayer.
• The group returned to Qixing Territory, and Task later came back to his undamaged camp and fell asleep.
• Velin told Belder he would be leaving for months or years and asked him to expand the army with help from Orlando, Andrew, and Cassius.

Velin assigned Belder the tasks of rebuilding the Standing Army, expanding Qixing Territory, and increasing its population before departing. He then discussed the underground labor system and other responsibilities with O'dor, leaving the territory’s preparations in the hands of his subordinates.

• Belder calculated that the Standing Army needed more than 4,600 recruits, and Velin refused to lower its standards while directing him to establish training camps and expand food production.
• Velin ordered Belder to claim 10,000 square kilometers of surrounding land within three years and raise Qixing Territory’s population from 130,000 to 300,000 within five years.
• Velin gave Belder one million Gold Coins for Star Prayer City and arranged for Raimondo to transfer Duke under Belder’s command, but refused to provide more staff.
• Velin and Kyle joked about finding Belder a wife and concubines, and Kyle wrote down Velin’s plan to seize wives for him during their visit to the Duke of Boghan.
• At the construction site west of Star Prayer City, O'dor sent Theo and Isla to practice the Flame Technique and discussed Velin’s Magic Array labor system with him.
• Velin left O'dor in charge of the Elemental Knights and the Underground Treasury before returning to the castle.

After Grand Duke Bohan’s death, Kaiya and Allen fought for control of the Duchy of Abraham while Loen and Ka Linna’s neutral faction withdrew. Two months later, in Qixing Territory, Velin had made progress training Flower Blooms Twice when his attendant arrived.

• Kaiya killed the guard who began proclaiming Grand Duke Bohan’s will naming Loen as successor, and Allen declared that the throne would be settled by strength.
• Loen allowed his grandfather’s former supporters to choose a faction, then left the capital with Ka Linna and Russell Fuld.
• Kaiya’s and Allen’s forces fought in the royal palace; Kaiya seized it, while Allen retreated south and both princes sought aid from their respective kingdoms.
• The Bashio Kingdom and the Kingdom of Isia began assembling expeditionary corps as the conflict spread.
• In Qixing Territory, Velin merged his misshapen clone back into his body when he heard his personal attendant approaching.

Velin traveled to the border and joined his father Angus at the Expeditionary Army’s camp, where Angus explained the army’s command and assigned Velin five thousand troops under Draide’s leadership. Velin accepted that Draide would make the battlefield decisions and began learning the organization of the Third Camp.

• Velin received Angus’s order to reach the border before May 15 and left Qixing Territory with Kyle on April 25.
• Velin met Mag in Sinna Province and followed him to North Rock Great Camp, where Angus commanded thirty thousand troops.
• Angus explained the Expeditionary Army’s commanders, legions, and troop strength, then assigned Velin five thousand men and Draide as deputy commander.
• Velin met Draide, agreed not to interfere with his battle decisions, and received an explanation of the Third Camp’s forces.

Velin took command of Third Camp and joined Ilia Kingdom’s vast expedition into Duke Bohan’s Country, where rival kingdoms prepared to fight over the Grand Duke’s succession. The allied armies took their positions, and the war began with Oxley Mersedes choosing to defend the central city-states rather than attack.

• Velin inspected Third Camp’s five thousand soldiers, then met its Gold Professionals and declared that Draide’s combat orders would take priority during the expedition.
• On June 1, 9726, the Ilia Kingdom Expeditionary Army crossed into Duke Bohan’s Country as Bashio Kingdom’s army entered from the north.
• Sirid met Third Prince Allen at South Stone Main Camp, where the southern forces had gathered amid worsening conditions in Nanshi Province.
• Sirid swore in as commander of the 1.3-million-strong southern allied forces and began moving the army three days later.
• Oxley Mersedes took command of the northern allied forces and planned to hold the central city-states and wear down the southern army.

Velin and Draide led an eight-thousand-strong army into Fire Leaf Territory under orders to capture Fire Leaf City. Earl Ikalon Horens prepared to defend the city, knowing that reinforcements would take a month to arrive.

• Velin received orders to capture Fire Leaf City within half a month, and Draide warned him not to underestimate the enemy.
• The army marched with five thousand core troops and three thousand soldiers from Born Vixie's First Camp.
• After seven days, the army crossed into Fire Leaf Territory, while Ikalon learned it was approaching his city.
• A messenger told Ikalon that Governor Chris City expected him to hold out until reinforcements arrived in a month.
• Ikalon and his Third Grandfather decided to defend Fire Leaf City, gathering troops and supplies and strengthening the city's defenses.

The Southern Army captured Fire Fish Town after its outnumbered defenders surrendered, then learned that Fire Leaf City was preparing to resist. Velin ordered the army to take the city within five days and assigned Born Vixie to escort its spoils of war, leaving Velin wondering how much wealth they could seize.

• Fire Fish Town’s mayor raised a white flag after Captain Lake told him the defenders had no hope against the approaching Southern Army.
• Draide sent Born Vixie and five hundred soldiers to take over the town, and the surrendered defenders opened its gates for the main force.
• A Silver Intermediate Warrior told Fire Fish Town’s Captain of the Guard that the army belonged to the Isian Kingdom Expeditionary Army and was led by an earl’s son.
• Velin learned that Fire Leaf City was preparing for war and ordered his army to capture it within five days.
• Velin assigned Born Vixie two thousand surrendered troops and tasked him with escorting the army’s spoils in exchange for ten percent.
• After Born Vixie left to prepare, Velin asked Draide how much wealth the army might gain.

Velin and Draide led the Third Camp toward Fire Leaf City, where the defenders hurriedly prepared for a siege. After seeing the enemy dismantle the city’s traps and assess its magical defenses, the white-haired elder concluded that defeat was inevitable, while Velin awaited the advance.

• Velin urged the army to capture wealthy Fire Leaf City quickly, and the Third Camp force-marched two hundred kilometers in eight hours while Born Villish’s troops followed with recruits and supplies.
• Fire Leaf’s commanders reported that the city had conscripted fifty thousand men and that Fire Fish Town had surrendered, then learned that five thousand enemy troops had arrived twenty kilometers away.
• The white-haired elder ordered Fire Leaf City sealed and defended, while Ikalon returned to guard Horrens Castle.
• The city activated its magical defensive curtain the next morning, and Draide explained its capabilities and the battlefield value of High-Grade Magic Crystals to Velin.
• The army advanced toward Fire Leaf City, and its Gold Warriors cleared the defenders’ traps as the white-haired elder accepted that defeat was inevitable.
• At two in the afternoon, the troops formed six square formations and moved forward while Velin watched Draide expectantly.

Velin's Third Camp captured Fire Leaf City after Draide shattered its defenses, and the Hens Family surrendered its territory and paid a ransom. The chapter ended with Velin's forces finishing a three-day search of the city's wealthy households and recording an enormous haul of money, weapons, armor, and magical supplies.

• Draide destroyed Fire Leaf City's Magic Energy Cannons and defensive curtain with two sword strikes, forcing Donk Horens to surrender.
• Velin ordered the Third Camp to enter the city, disarm its defenders, and take control of the City Lord's Mansion.
• Donk Horens explained why the Hens Family had joined Kaiya's Northern Army, and Velin ordered him imprisoned while Fire Leaf Territory came under his authority.
• Velin rewarded Draide and the soldiers, while the Hens Family later surrendered Horrens Castle and paid twenty-five million Gold Coins.
• Velin's troops searched Fire Leaf City's wealthy households for three days and recorded a massive store of currency, equipment, magic crystals, books, and supplies.

Velin counted the immense wealth seized from Fire Leaf City, returned its governance to the Hens Family, and left his father to collect the spoils. After spending days at leisure, he remembered his duty to find a wife for Belder and went undercover with Kyle to search the city.

• Kyle finished tallying the spoils from Fire Leaf City, which were valued at 1.5 billion Gold Coins, and Velin arranged for his father to send trusted people to collect them.
• Draide learned he was owed 75 million Gold Coins, then decided to inform Angus and let him handle the wealth.
• Velin returned Fire Leaf City's governance to the Hens Family in exchange for their joining the Southern Army, and the conscripts were dismissed while qualified soldiers formed a ten-thousand-man garrison.
• Angus sent Migos to collect the fortune and considered finding wives for Draide's unmarried sons.
• Velin remembered that Belder needed a wife, sent Kyle to investigate candidates, and went with him in disguise to search Fire Leaf City's streets.