Chapter Summaries

Roland learned that the Giant Magic Cannon Turret could be worth its high construction cost and tasked Puvela with designing one. Meanwhile, the Black Dragon clan joined the Northern Kingdom, and Zarick confronted Beowulf as the dragon clan’s conflict threatened to weaken the Fire Dragons.

• Nuwa explained that the Giant Magic Cannon Turret cost about eight hundred thousand gold coins but could cast eight Level 12 spells per charge and replenish its energy over ten days.
• Roland approved the turret’s development and assigned Puvela to create its crafting plan, leaving Ella visibly uneasy about the competition for his favor.
• Zarick learned that the Black Dragons had joined humanity and the Northern Kingdom rather than defecting to hell.
• Zarick tried to rally the continent’s races against the Black Dragons, but they refused to help.
• Zarick led the remaining four-colored dragons against the Black Dragons, then realized that a costly victory could destroy the Fire Dragons’ position.

The Black Dragon clan broke away from the Dragon race and joined the Northern Kingdom after Zarick defeated Beowulf and Adrian in a three-day battle. Across the continent, the shift in power alarmed the Elf Empire and intensified calls within the Beastkin Empire to prepare for war.

• Zarick attacked Beowulf and Adrian after Adrian declared the Black Dragon clan’s separation from the Dragon race, and Zarick won their three-day battle.
• Adrian led the Black Dragon clan out of the Mysterious Sea and into the Northern Kingdom, where Amalfi welcomed them as guardian divine beasts with status equal to the royal family.
• Angest told Seraphina that Zarick had won, and the Elf leaders judged that the Northern Kingdom’s new strength could cause conflict with the human empires and its own factions.
• Akdina worried about the Black Dragons joining the Northern Kingdom, but Seraphina reassured her that the Giant Kingdom stood between them and the Elf Empire.
• Beastkin royal clans urged Durontan to tear up the peace treaty and attack humanity, but Grommash urged them to restore their strength and prepare for war, with Durontan’s backing.

Roland ended the expedition’s exploration of the Sea of Hope and assigned Junot, Puvela, and Felicia to lead its development. After returning to Black Fortress, he reunited with his family and invited Gweniel to share dinner with them.

• Roland rejected Dylan Fikernando’s offer to scout the dangerous passage and led the group back to the cave, deciding to focus on developing the Sea of Hope.
• Roland appointed Junot, Puvela, and Felicia to oversee development with substantial forces and supplies, and Junot agreed to stay for three years.
• Junot asked to teach Caesar and Ares martial arts, but Roland settled the dispute by allowing him to train Ares while Dylan continued teaching Caesar.
• After two more trips through the passage to plan development, Roland returned to the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands with Dylan Fikernando, O'Neal, and the other senior figures.
• At Black Fortress, Gweniel and the children greeted Roland, and he invited Gweniel to have dinner with the family.

Roland shared a warm family dinner with Gweniel before Reff and Leslie rushed to learn about the expedition to the Sea of Hope. After reading the report of its extraordinary treasures and resources, the department heads celebrated the benefits these gains could bring to Roland’s kingdom.

• Roland reassured Gweniel that she had helped him greatly, and she offered to care for Elizabeth and the three children.
• A guard reported that Reff and Leslie were waiting, so Roland left the family dinner to meet them.
• Reff and Leslie eagerly followed Roland to his study, where he showed them a top-secret report on the Sea of Hope expedition.
• Reff and Leslie reacted with astonishment to the report’s treasures, including Thunderlight Ore, fire-element super Magic Crystals, and a Half-step Legendary Lava Spirit.
• Leslie learned that Roland had subdued a Level 20 Legendary War Puppet and obtained the ruins of a top-tier floating city, then celebrated with Reff over the kingdom’s prospects.

Roland and Leslie agreed to conceal the Sea of Hope’s resources and use the territory’s sudden loss of forces to lure Phillips into making the first move. Roland also tightened the territory’s anti-corruption measures and approved expanded trade with the Beastkin Empire to strengthen his kingdom against Terra.

• Leslie urged Roland to keep non-Saint Domain members of the Sea of Hope expedition inside for five years and hide the passage, Sky City, and Legendary War Puppet; Roland agreed to prepare a convincing cover story and consider luring Phillips into an attack.
• Leslie reported that hundreds of corrupt officials had been punished and sixteen million gold coins recovered, so Roland ordered the Supervision Department to establish an Integrity Office and keep the anti-corruption campaign out of public view.
• Leslie told Roland that the two empires had agreed to expand trade with the Beastkin Empire and that seven eastern kingdoms had learned of the negotiations and demanded to participate.
• Leslie explained that the maritime trade route included Roland’s kingdom, Autran, Storm, and Kayrock, while the land route included Terra, Cardina, Ribela, and Flame, with thirty percent of profits going to the empires.
• After learning that his kingdom could earn over twenty-five million gold coins per month while Terra could earn at most around seven million, Roland ordered the trade plan to proceed.

After the Human Alliance lifted its trade blockade on the Beastkin Empire, Roland’s commerce helped the Hidden Valley Clan gain wealth and breathing room. He and Leslie pressed Sanita to honor the clan’s promises, while Roland offered Salit support for a Legendary breakthrough and a future Legendary Mage Tower, leaving her to consider serving him more fully.

• The Human Alliance opened trade with the Beastkin Empire, and Roland’s merchant fleet and other traders flooded the empire with goods.
• Sanita thanked Roland for helping the Hidden Valley Clan, but Leslie reminded her of the clan’s obligations in return.
• Leslie demanded that the Hidden Valley Clan provide two thousand high-ranking priests before Roland helped Salit reach Legendary, and Sanita rejected the condition as a threat to the clan’s autonomy.
• Roland took Salit to see Alice’s new Mage Tower and promised to build a Legendary Mage Tower in the Hidden Valley Clan’s territory if the clan truly served him.
• Salit asked Roland for time to consider his offer.

Roland sought Zarick’s help to open a demon smuggling route because his territory needed more adamantine and Mithril for golem production. Zarick arrived troubled by the Black Dragons’ betrayal, and Roland prepared to offer him benefits, though he had no solution to the Dragon race’s predicament.

• The Hidden Valley Clan agreed to secretly send two thousand high-ranking priests to Roland’s territory under Leslie’s terms.
• Leslie told Roland that Kailan Kingdom’s help could expand demon smuggling enough to cover most of the territory’s need for adamantine and Mithril.
• Cassius announced that Zarick had arrived, and Roland forced Leslie to accompany him to welcome the Dragon King.
• Zarick admitted that the Fire Dragon clan lacked the numbers to defend the Dragon race’s position without the Black Dragons.
• Roland said he could not solve the Dragon race’s predicament but had benefits to offer, then coaxed Zarick into Black Fortress.

Roland tried to convince Zarick to let his fleet enter the Mysterious Sea by offering the Fire Dragon clan valuable Fire Element resources and promising to protect the dragons’ rule there. Zarick agreed on the condition that Roland keep the Elf Empire from threatening the dragon race, then took the resources as this year’s share.

• Roland had Leslie present Zarick with a trade plan that would bring the dragons resources worth at least fifty million gold coins each year, but Zarick rejected the idea of allowing Roland’s fleet into the Mysterious Sea.
• Roland explained that he understood the political risks of outsiders entering the Mysterious Sea, then revealed a mountain of Fire Element super Magic Crystals and Heart of Flames to show what he could provide.
• Zarick admitted he valued his relationship with Roland more than the offered resources and apologized for briefly coveting Roland’s gains.
• Roland promised to provide Fire Element resources every year and argued that the Kailan Kingdom could shield the dragon race from other powers, especially the Elf Empire.
• Roland promised to keep the Elf Empire from threatening dragon rule for a hundred years, and Zarick agreed to admit his fleet if Roland succeeded, with Roland required to withdraw if he failed.
• Zarick swept up the Fire Element resources and called them this year’s share, leaving Roland to protest inwardly that the year was nearly over.

Roland's territory's revenue recovered as rumors of heavy losses in the Sea of Hope drew attention from rival factions, while Terra's King Phillips ordered further espionage and continued plans to weaken the Solomon Family. In the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands, Roland's new meditation method accelerated his cultivation and raised Nuwa's estimate of his chance to reach Legendary.

• Roland's fleet opened a route to the Kailan Kingdom, and trade helped the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands' revenue reach a new high.
• Rumors spread that Ice Winter, Tide of Water, and five Dark Angel Brigades had perished in the Sea of Hope, prompting friendly factions to inquire and Terra, Autran, and the Storm Kingdom to send spies.
• Cameron reported Terra's recovering revenue and poor grain production to Phillips, who ordered Rade to investigate Roland's strength and told the Noble Council to strip the Solomon Family of its ducal coronet within ten years.
• Roland used the Primordial Fire God Meditation Method for three months, increasing his Mental Power and Mana by more than three hundred points.
• Nuwa estimated that Roland would need five years and eight months to reach the Mental Power threshold for Legendary and calculated his success chance at twenty-eight percent.

Roland faced a growing shortage of Saint Domain Potion ingredients and decided the territory needed to buy more from the Arcane Empire. He left Leslie to negotiate the risky deal, while teasing Olivia before turning to the matter of supplies.

• Roland realized potion demand would soon outstrip the territory’s supply of high-grade ingredients, threatening the cultivation of its experts.
• Roland visited Olivia’s Cultivation Room, teased her about their relationship, and fled when she summoned three flame hounds.
• Roland summoned Leslie and told him the territory needed at least thirty percent more potion ingredients next month, with shortages expected to worsen.
• Leslie explained that only the Three Great Empires could meet the territory’s growing demand, and warned that the Arcane Empire would impose conditions.
• Leslie agreed to handle negotiations with the Arcane Empire and take responsibility for the consequences, while Roland promised to share the pressure.

Merrick Malfoy led the Malfo Family toward the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands to attend Roland's founding ceremony, hoping to secure his support. Roland's forces warmly received and escorted the family because they wanted to retain Zorn Malfoy's services.

• Merrick and the Malfo Family saw numerous Type II Magic Crystal Cannons guarding the islands and marveled at Roland's wealth.
• A four-masted warship from Roland's Third Fleet ordered the Malfoy merchant ship to stop for inspection.
• Three Sky Warriors boarded and identified Merrick, then explained that Roland had ordered them to welcome the Malfo Family in gratitude for Zorn Malfoy's contributions.
• The Sky Warriors invited Merrick and his family aboard their warship and arranged for the Deep Sea to approach.
• Merrick realized that Roland's special attention was likely meant to keep Zorn Malfoy from leaving, while the family members eagerly anticipated boarding the warship.

On the eve of the Founding Ceremony, Roland used a staged exchange to feed misinformation to Del, a Terra Kingdom agent, while preparing for the ceremony and reviewing the visiting factions. The ceremony began the next morning with Double Gate Island’s citizens and elite legions gathered, as three Mage Towers unleashed a spectacular display of magic.

• Roland endured preparations for the ceremony while Elizabeth, Leslie, and Reff argued over his royal regalia, and Leslie planted a remark meant for Del to overhear.
• Roland reflected on Del’s identity as a Terra Kingdom agent loyal to Phillips, information supplied by Alix and the Medici Family, and politely asked Del how he liked Double Gate Island.
• Roland ordered Reff to help Nob monitor suspicious figures, heard Leslie report on the arriving factions, and confirmed that the ceremony was ready.
• At dawn, hundreds of thousands of citizens gathered in Azure Tide City as the Bulwark Legion, Green Turtle Legion, and Hurricane Legion displayed the kingdom’s military strength.
• As music played, the three Mage Towers sent red, blue, and green pillars into the sky, creating a vast vortex and dazzling spectacle over Double Gate Island.

At Black Fortress, Roland’s founding ceremony displayed his enormous forces, including more than fifty Saint Domain experts and many powerful giants. The nobles admired the show of strength but questioned the absence of the sea demons and Ice Elves, while the Storm and Autran representatives reconsidered whether Roland’s losses in the Sea of Hope were real.

• Kailon led more than a hundred powerful giants out of Black Fortress, drawing surprise and mockery from the assembled nobles.
• Thousands of Griffin Knights and two hundred human Sky Warriors and Archmages took their positions above the fortress.
• More than fifty Saint Domain experts emerged, and the nobles marveled at their numbers and strength.
• The nobles noticed that the sea demons and Ice Elves were absent and speculated that their mage corps had suffered losses in the Sea of Hope.
• Emis Garrett and Lionel Strauss doubted their earlier conclusion that Roland was faking weakness, as the allies’ absence cast suspicion on his plans.

Roland and Elizabeth celebrated the founding of the Sacred Co-Prosperity Kingdom before soldiers, citizens, nobles, and representatives of kingdoms and empires. After Zarick and two great empires offered their support, Roland took Elizabeth’s hand and began the Sacred Path toward Azure Tide City.

• Roland delivered a founding speech as hundreds of thousands of soldiers and citizens acclaimed him and the Sacred Co-Prosperity Kingdom.
• Emis Garrett, Lionel Strauss, representatives of eight other kingdoms, and more than a hundred noble families offered their congratulations.
• Zarick arrived, pressured the nobles, and congratulated Roland, who addressed him as his godfather.
• Two floating cities appeared, and the Arcane Empire and Elf Empire issued their blessings, though Roland distrusted the Elf Empire’s words.
• The crowd called on Roland to walk the Sacred Path, and he and Elizabeth stepped onto the golden road toward Azure Tide City.

At the Sacred Co-Prosperity Kingdom’s founding ceremony in Azure Tide City, Roland announced extensive welfare policies and honored Leslie for his service. He left the crowd celebrating and the nobles alarmed, then named Leslie a duke and granted him Barrix Province and three hundred thousand slaves.

• Roland led Elizabeth to the platform in Central Square and thanked his soldiers and subjects for helping him attain the throne.
• Roland announced three years of tax exemption for freemen and a thirty percent pay increase for the kingdom’s soldiers, mages, and priests.
• Roland announced eighteen welfare policies, including free professional training for soldiers’ gifted children and freedom for slaves who earned one hundred contribution points.
• Roland named Leslie Oroko a duke, granted him Barrix Province, and awarded him three hundred thousand slaves.

After founding the Sacred Co-Prosperity Kingdom, Roland met with Alix of the Medici Family and gave him twenty tons of Thunderflare Stone worth over ten million gold coins. Roland offered an annual supply in exchange for Alix’s help securing Saint Domain Potion ingredients from the Arcane Empire, and Alix agreed to arrange the cooperation.

• After the kingdom’s founding, Leslie helped the Administrative Department bring more than a million free citizens from the continent to the Sea of Ten Thousand Islands over the following half-year.
• Roland initially refused another audience, but agreed to meet Alix after Leslie told him the Medici Family head had come to see him.
• Roland thanked Alix for providing intelligence on the Terra Kingdom’s hidden agent and offered him twenty tons of Thunderflare Stone as a gift.
• Alix realized the Thunderflare Stone was worth more than ten million gold coins and accepted after Roland insisted that their family relationship mattered more than the resources.
• Roland revealed that the Sea of Hope produced around a hundred tons of Thunderflare Stone annually and asked Alix to help secure Saint Domain Potion ingredients from the Arcane Empire.
• Alix agreed to use the Medici Family’s influence to pursue the cooperation, and Roland welcomed the prospect of reducing the empire’s additional conditions.

The Sacred Co-Prosperity Kingdom prospered while its senior officials divided into several powerful factions. As the year-end conference approached, Gustav asked Ulysses for help joining the Saint Domain priority training list, and Ulysses warned him that he needed to improve his relationship with Roland.

• The Sacred Co-Prosperity Kingdom expanded its farms, workshops, and trade while Roland remained secluded on Double Gate Island.
• On December 28th of Year 62, territory officials returned to Double Gate Island and visited the estates of Leslie, James, Reff, O'Neal, and Ulysses.
• The chapter outlined the kingdom's five major factions and noted that the mages and Old Nob's Inspection Department remained independent of them.
• Ulysses told Gustav that the Sea of Hope was a top secret and warned him not to investigate it.
• Gustav asked Ulysses to recommend him for priority training, and Ulysses said his chances were low unless he changed his distant attitude toward Roland.

At the Year 62 summary meeting, Leslie reported the kingdom’s population, resources, revenue, and expenditures to Roland and the assembled officials. The meeting ended with officials stunned by the kingdom’s enormous income and military salaries, while tensions over regional tax contributions remained unresolved.

• Roland arrived at the Administrative Department headquarters and opened the year-end summary meeting.
• Leslie reported that the kingdom’s population exceeded 37.4 million, grain production reached 28.5 million tons, and the territory’s mines and workshops had expanded.
• Leslie announced that the Azure Sea Region contributed 120 million gold coins in taxes, while several other regional governors reacted with concern over their lower totals.
• Leslie reported that the kingdom earned over 700 million gold coins in Year 62, including revenue from trade routes with the Beastkin Empire and Elf Empire.
• Leslie revealed that legion and Mage Regiment salaries cost 320 million gold coins, shocking the officials, before continuing with other expenditures.

Reff reported the Sacred Co-Prosperity Kingdom’s growing military strength as Roland’s officials prepared for the Demon Extermination War. Roland learned that the kingdom would fight in the Elf Empire war zone, while he kept the kingdom’s strongest forces hidden to protect Leslie’s plan against the Terra Kingdom.

• Reff reported the kingdom’s professional ranks, legions, mage regiments, fleets, weapons, and secret golem production to Roland and the officials.
• Roland warned that the kingdom’s priority was to win the Demon Extermination War without suffering losses that would invite hostile nations to attack.
• Roland weighed keeping the Ice Winter and Sea Tide Mage Regiments, Boulder Golems, and Legendary experts out of the war so Leslie’s plan against the Terra Kingdom would not fail.
• Reff outlined the Human Alliance’s mobilization schedule and its plan to send the Sacred Co-Prosperity Kingdom, Storm Kingdom, and Autran Kingdom to attack the demons in the Elf Empire war zone.
• The officials were relieved by the assignment, and Roland noted that he, the Storm Kingdom, and the Autran Kingdom had helped secure it.

At the year-end conference, Roland discovered that the Military Affairs Department’s war plan included the Sea God Legion despite his order to keep it out, exposing an effort to suppress the Merfolk. He persuaded Leslie and Reff to withdraw the legion from the campaign, leaving it to defend the Cloudy Waves Sea Region against the Storm Kingdom.

• Leslie reported that supplies were ready for the war, and Reff presented a deployment plan involving six hundred thousand troops, including the Sea God Legion.
• Roland secretly confronted Reff about including the Sea God Legion, and Reff’s response led Roland to recognize a deliberate attempt to curb Merfolk power.
• Roland warned Leslie and Reff that Felicia was close to becoming Legendary, prompting both leaders to reconsider the legion’s deployment.
• Leslie proposed keeping the Sea God Legion at home, and Reff supported stationing it in the Boya Sea Region; Winston’s objection to the plan was thereby defeated.
• Roland canceled the Sea God Legion’s participation in the war and ordered it stationed in the Cloudy Waves Sea Region, then fined Leslie one year’s salary for his disrespectful conduct.