Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng, a gladiator champion, is ambushed in his Domus by high-caliber assassins from the Hounds, a rival organization to the Blade of Balance.
• Zhang Heng kills one assassin and disarms another archer, but more assassins emerge, surrounding him.
• Zhang Heng retrieves a hidden bow and arrow, killing another assassin, and then takes to the rooftop, where more assassins await.
• Zhang Heng uses a pair of shadowy wings to escape, leaving the Hounds' assassins shocked and confused.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng demonstrates his combat skills, strategic thinking, and adaptability in the face of overwhelming odds.
• The Hounds' assassins show their professionalism and teamwork, but are ultimately unable to capture or kill Zhang Heng.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between the Blade of Balance and the Hounds, with the latter gaining the upper hand.
• Zhang Heng's mysterious past and abilities, hinted at by the shadowy wings.
• The ruthless and cunning nature of both organizations, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng faces off against multiple Hounds' assassins, showcasing his combat prowess and tactical thinking.
• The Hounds' assassins work together, attempting to surround and capture Zhang Heng, but ultimately fail due to his unexpected abilities.
• Zhang Heng's escape leaves the Hounds' assassins confused and uneasy, questioning their understanding of the situation and their enemy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lucilla, the Emperor's sister, lives in her own residence after remarrying.
• She seems distracted and dispirited during a banquet, refusing to dance with suitors.
• Zhang Heng finds her about to drink poison from a jade bottle.
• He reveals he knows she's the priestess Keleisi from the Assassin organization.
• Zhang Heng explains how he deduced her identity.

Character Developments

• Lucilla: Struggles with her situation, contemplates suicide, but regains composure when faced with Zhang Heng.
• Zhang Heng: Shows deduction skills, remains calm and collected, and is not swayed by Lucilla's nudity.

Significant Themes

• Trust and deception: Lucilla kept her true identity hidden from Zhang Heng.
• Power dynamics: Lucilla's status as Augusta and her role in the Assassin organization contrast with her vulnerability in this scene.
• Mortality and suicide: Lucilla considers ending her life, echoing Cleopatra's death.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Lucilla: Zhang Heng confronts Lucilla about her true identity, showing he's not fooled by her facade.
• Lucilla and her suitors: She refuses their advances, showing her disinterest in her current lifestyle.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng finds Lucilla, the last surviving member of the Blade of Balance, who plans to commit suicide rather than live in fear.
• Zhang Heng reveals he hasn't lost yet and wants to honor their previous agreement: he'll help her deal with Autrus, and she'll take him to the Blade of Balance's secret library.
• Zhang Heng decides to eliminate Autrus and the Hound using an assassin's method, despite not knowing their exact whereabouts.
• Zhang Heng reveals Autrus is Commodus's twin brother, exiled and believed to be dead, but survived and grew up unknown to all.

Character Developments

• Lucilla accepts her brother's fate and decides to live, entrusting Zhang Heng with killing Autrus.
• Zhang Heng demonstrates his resourcefulness, determination, and adaptability in the face of overwhelming odds.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and Betrayal: The Blade of Balance's strict loyalty is highlighted, contrasting with Autrus's perceived betrayal.
• Family and Blood Relations: The complex dynamics between Lucilla, Commodus, and Autrus (her brother) are explored.
• Power and Survival: Characters grapple with maintaining power and surviving in a dangerous political landscape.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Lucilla's interaction shows mutual respect and understanding, with Zhang Heng proving his worth and Lucilla entrusting him with her life's mission.
• Zhang Heng's revelation about Autrus's true identity shocks and influences Lucilla's decision.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng escapes assassins sent by the Hounds, using a decoy safe house and a secret hideout.
• He heads to the Roman Forum, aiming to find Autrus in the Temple of Jupiter or Juno.
• Zhang Heng infiltrates the Temple of Jupiter undetected, using stealth and the distraction of an owl.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng demonstrates improved stealth skills and strategic thinking in evading assassins and infiltrating the temple.
• Autrus, though not present, is revealed to be hiding in one of the two temples on Capitoline Hill.

Significant Themes

• Stealth and Deception: Zhang Heng's use of decoy safe houses and stealth to evade assassins and infiltrate the temple highlights the importance of these tactics in his operations.
• Religion and Superstition: The owl, a symbol of ill omen in Rome, influences the young priest's actions, demonstrating the power of superstition and religious beliefs.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng interacts with the young priest at the Temple of Jupiter, though the priest is unaware of their encounter.
• Zhang Heng's actions indirectly influence the priest, causing him to retreat back inside the temple due to the sight of the owl.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng discovers hidden vents and a movable stone slab behind statues in the temple, leading to a narrow space containing breadcrumbs and unfinished water.
• He searches the priests' living quarters but finds nothing.
• At the temple of Juno, Zhang Heng witnesses a priestess leading children out and a male priest being silently killed by an unknown assailant.
• Zhang Heng examines the dead priest, identifying him as one of Autrus's elite guards.
• Zhang Heng deduces that Autrus is using temples to gather intelligence, targeting both commoners and nobles.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng demonstrates his investigative skills and keen observations.
• Autrus's methods of intelligence gathering are revealed, showing his cunning and resourcefulness.

Significant Themes

• Intelligence gathering and manipulation.
• The use of religion and sacred spaces for political purposes.
• The power dynamics between Autrus and the priests.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng interacts with the young priest and the priestess Vera, though they are unaware of his presence.
• The male priest's interaction with the unknown killer reveals Autrus's hidden guards.
• Zhang Heng's deductions about Autrus's methods are based on information provided by Klind.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng infiltrates the Juno temple, silently eliminating two attendants and a priest.
• He discovers a secret passage leading to Commodus's study and decides to eliminate Autrus before he can escape.
• Autrus traps Zhang Heng in a maze-like underground tunnel, using a voice-distorting trick to create the illusion of being in the Underworld.
• Zhang Heng deduces Autrus's proximity by his ability to hear through a copper pipe and uses a sonic attack to provoke Autrus.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng demonstrates exceptional stealth, combat, and deduction skills.
• Autrus showcases his cleverness with the voice-distorting trick and the homemade truth serum, but his tactics are ultimately ineffective against Zhang Heng.

Significant Themes

• Cleverness vs. Wisdom: Autrus's clever tricks are no match for Zhang Heng's strategic wisdom and deduction skills.
• The Power of Deduction: Zhang Heng's ability to deduce Autrus's proximity and intentions highlights the importance of critical thinking and observation.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Autrus engage in a battle of wits, with Zhang Heng outmaneuvering Autrus at every turn.
• Zhang Heng's actions demonstrate his determination to eliminate Autrus and complete his mission.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng, disguised, arrives at Autrus's hideout to assassinate him.
• Autrus, aware of Zhang Heng's presence, tries to determine his opponent's identity and intentions.
• Zhang Heng uses a sound device to disrupt Autrus's guards, allowing him to close in on Autrus.
• Autrus attempts to flee but is pursued and ultimately killed by Zhang Heng.

Character Developments

• Autrus: Initially confident and arrogant, he becomes increasingly desperate and fearful as Zhang Heng closes in, eventually begging for his life.
• Zhang Heng: Remains calm and composed throughout the mission, showing no mercy towards Autrus.

Significant Themes

• Pride and Arrogance: Autrus's overconfidence in his abilities and voice-altering trick leads to his downfall.
• Fate and Inevitability: Despite Autrus's attempts to escape, his death is portrayed as inevitable, as Zhang Heng has already received news of his death five days ago.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Autrus: Their interaction is one-sided, with Autrus trying to discern Zhang Heng's identity and intentions, while Zhang Heng remains silent and focused on his mission.
• Zhang Heng and Autrus's Guards: Zhang Heng uses a sound device to disrupt and defeat Autrus's guards, clearing his path to Autrus.

Post-Chapter Events

• Zhang Heng encounters difficulties exiting the stone chamber maze, leading to a delay in his next assassination target: the leader of the Hound.
• Zhang Heng decides to wait for the leader of the Hound to deliver himself, rather than actively pursuing him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lucilla struggles with anxiety as Zhang Heng's wanted posters appear around Rome.
• Zhang Heng reveals he's still in Rome and knows the Hound leader's identity.
• Zhang Heng takes Pompeianus hostage in Lucilla's room, revealing he knows Pompeianus is the Hound leader.

Character Developments

• Lucilla: Struggles with anxiety and worry for Zhang Heng's safety.
• Pompeianus: Maintains his gentle demeanor despite being taken hostage; his true identity as the Hound leader is revealed.

Significant Themes

• Disguise and deception: Pompeianus's dual life as a kind husband and the ruthless Hound leader.
• Trust and betrayal: Zhang Heng's realization that Pompeianus was behind the assassination attempt on him.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Lucilla: Zhang Heng reveals his knowledge of Pompeianus's true identity to Lucilla.
• Zhang Heng and Pompeianus: Zhang Heng takes Pompeianus hostage, revealing he knows Pompeianus is the Hound leader. Pompeianus remains calm and uncommunicative.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng infiltrates Senator Pellegrino's residence, finding him living simply despite his wealth, suggesting he's not a miser but possibly funneling money to someone else.
• Zhang Heng deduces that Pompeianus, Lucilla's husband, is behind the money flow to the Honeycomb, an organization supporting the Hounds, another Assassin faction.
• Zhang Heng reveals that Pompeianus orchestrated the deaths of several of Aurelius's generals, including Lucius, Aurelius's brother and co-emperor, to secure his own power.
• Pompeianus admits to sending an assassin after Zhang Heng out of jealousy, believing Zhang Heng was Lucilla's lover.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng demonstrates his investigative skills and deductive reasoning.
• Pompeianus reveals his ruthless ambition and deep love for Lucilla, accepting her wild nature and past affairs.
• Lucilla shows her fierce protectiveness towards her son and her resentment towards her father for using her as a political pawn.

Significant Themes

• Power and ambition: Pompeianus' actions highlight his desire for power and influence.
• Love and obsession: Pompeianus' love for Lucilla is portrayed as both possessive and accepting of her wild nature.
• Jealousy: Pompeianus' jealousy of Lucilla's perceived lovers drives him to attempt to eliminate Zhang Heng.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Pompeianus: Their conversation reveals Pompeianus' motivations and acceptance of his past actions.
• Lucilla and Pompeianus: Their dynamic shows Lucilla's fiery nature and Pompeianus' acceptance and love for it.
• Lucilla and Zhang Heng: Lucilla's initial fear of Zhang Heng turns to anger when she learns about Pompeianus' actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lucilla reveals she knows the location of the Library of the Blade of Balance, but only if Zhang Heng kills Pompeianus.
• Zhang Heng agrees and kills Pompeianus, who dies with a cryptic message.
• Lucilla offers Zhang Heng a position as the Speaker of the Assassins and substantial payment, but he declines.
• Lucilla reveals the Library's new location in Egypt.
• Zhang Heng leaves Rome, retrieves his stored items, and uses his Makeup Artistry to exit the city.
• He travels by sea to Egypt, visiting the Pyramids upon arrival.
• Zhang Heng prepares for a seven-month journey into the desert to find the Library.

Character Developments

• Lucilla: Despite her power being weakened, she remains cunning and strategic. She's willing to make deals and reveal secrets to achieve her goals.
• Pompeianus: He remains calm and confident even in his final moments, hinting at a deeper secret.
• Zhang Heng: He remains focused on his mission, declining Lucilla's offer and preparing thoroughly for the desert journey.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and political maneuvering, as seen in Lucilla's offer to Zhang Heng.
• The consequences of past actions, as Pompeianus's death reveals a hidden truth.
• The relentless pursuit of knowledge and truth, as Zhang Heng prepares for a long and dangerous journey.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Lucilla: Their interaction is tense but productive, with Lucilla revealing the Library's location in exchange for Pompeianus's death.
• Zhang Heng and Pompeianus: Their final interaction is brief but impactful, with Pompeianus's cryptic message leaving Lucilla and Zhang Heng curious.
• Zhang Heng and the sailors: Zhang Heng befriends the sailors on his journey to Egypt, showing his adaptability and sociability.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng wanders in the desert for a month before finding the Library's entrance.
• He encounters bandits, losing two camels and a guide, but manages to deal with them.
• Zhang Heng finds the stone tablet, follows Lucilla's instructions, and opens the bronze door to the Library.
• He spends seven months and eleven days in the Library, exploring, learning, and upgrading his Assassin skill to Lv3.
• Upon returning, he pays off his debt to the Bartender Lady and has her appraise an item he obtained.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng demonstrates resilience and determination in navigating the desert and facing challenges.
• His Assassin skill improves significantly due to the resources and knowledge available in the Library.

Significant Themes

• The passage of time and the enduring legacy of the past (the Library's existence and the Blade of Balance's influence).
• The value of knowledge and learning (Zhang Heng's skill upgrade and personal growth).

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng interacts with the Bartender Lady, paying off his debt and requesting an appraisal.
• He also interacts with the guides during his desert journey, though briefly and with tragic consequences for one of them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng learns from the Bartender Lady that a peculiar individual, later identified as Mukaiji Nanako, might be problematic.
• Zhang Heng decides to warn Chen Huadong but changes his mind, thinking Mukaiji Nanako is targeting him, not Chen.
• Zhang Heng starts preparing for final exams, utilizing his improved memory and a memory palace technique.
• Han Lu arrives at the campus, inviting Zhang Heng on a spontaneous vacation to Japan.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng shows concern for Chen Huadong's safety but ultimately decides not to intervene.
• Zhang Heng's memory and learning abilities have improved due to his experiences and the use of Deduction.
• Han Lu shows appreciation for Zhang Heng's help in the past and wants to do something for him.

Significant Themes

• Caution and Trust: Zhang Heng is warned about Mukaiji Nanako but decides not to act immediately, showing a balance between caution and trust in his acquaintances.
• Gratitude and Repayment: Han Lu feels indebted to Zhang Heng and wants to express her gratitude by taking him on a vacation.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and the Bartender Lady have a brief exchange, leading to Zhang Heng's concern about Mukaiji Nanako.
• Zhang Heng interacts with Wei Jiangyang, who is awestruck by Han Lu's presence and reveals Zhang Heng's whereabouts to her.
• Han Lu and Zhang Heng have a conversation, leading to Han Lu's invitation for a vacation together.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Han Lu invites Zhang Heng to Okinawa, arranging his passport and visa, and they fly together.
• Zhang Heng expresses concerns about Fan Mei Nan, Loki's agent, and her unsavory partner.

Character Developments

• Han Lu: Struggles with her feelings for Zhang Heng, initially feeling betrayal due to her attraction to him, but ultimately decides to go with the flow. She shows concern for Zhang Heng's well-being and is more open with her emotions.
• Zhang Heng: Remains calm and collected, even when faced with potential danger. He expresses worry for Fan Mei Nan and her safety, showing a deeper level of care for others.

Significant Themes

• Loss of control: Han Lu experiences this when faced with supernatural forces, leading her to question how Zhang Heng and others cope with it.
• Emotions and relationships: Han Lu grapples with her feelings for Zhang Heng, and Zhang Heng shows a deeper level of care for Fan Mei Nan, highlighting the complexities of human emotions and connections.

Character Interactions

• Han Lu and Zhang Heng: Their interactions are more open and honest, with Han Lu initiating the trip and Zhang Heng expressing his concerns about Fan Mei Nan. They engage in casual conversation, showing a growing comfort with each other.
• Zhang Heng and Fan Mei Nan: Zhang Heng expresses worry for Fan Mei Nan, showing a level of care and concern for her well-being, despite their strained relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng learns about his mother's past expedition to Greenland.
• His mother found something significant during the expedition, but hasn't published her findings.
• Zhang Heng's mother kept his existence a secret from her best friend, Han Lu, for a while.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng shows curiosity and determination in uncovering his mother's past.
• Han Lu reveals she was upset that Zhang Heng's mother kept her pregnancy a secret.

Significant Themes

• The impact of secrets and hidden truths on relationships (friendship, family).
• The allure of exploration and discovery, even at personal cost.
• The tension between personal desires and responsibilities towards family.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Han Lu share a conversation about his mother's past, revealing their close relationship.
• Han Lu expresses her feelings of being left out by Zhang Heng's mother, hinting at a strain in their friendship.
• Zhang Heng and Han Lu plan their next day's activities, showing a comfortable dynamic between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Han Lu and Zhang Heng arrive in Naha, Okinawa, and meet their local guide.
• They spend the morning shopping for clothes and accessories at a mall.
• The guide, feeling unappreciated and overworked, decides to quit, but Han Lu insists he wait until they find a replacement.
• Zhang Heng reveals he can speak Japanese, surprising the guide and Han Lu.

Character Developments

• Han Lu: Shows enthusiasm for shopping and expects high-quality service from her hired guide. She's assertive and decisive, firing the guide when she finds his service unsatisfactory.
• Zhang Heng: Remains calm and patient throughout the shopping trip. He reveals his ability to speak Japanese, surprising both Han Lu and the guide.
• The Guide: Initially confident and proud of his high service fee, he becomes dejected and disgruntled when treated as a mere coat rack. He decides to quit but is forced to wait for a replacement.

Significant Themes

• Miscommunication and Assumptions: The guide assumes Zhang Heng can't speak Japanese, leading to misunderstandings and tension.
• Value and Worth: The guide feels undervalued and underappreciated, questioning his worth as a guide.
• Power Dynamics: Han Lu, as the employer, expects high-quality service and isn't afraid to dismiss the guide when she's unsatisfied.

Character Interactions

• Han Lu and Zhang Heng: They interact cordially, with Han Lu making decisions and Zhang Heng going along with them. Their dynamic changes when Zhang Heng reveals his language skills.
• Han Lu and the Guide: Their interaction is strained, with Han Lu expecting more from the guide and the guide feeling unappreciated.
• Zhang Heng and the Guide: They have minimal interaction, with Zhang Heng only speaking to the guide when necessary. The guide is surprised and impressed when Zhang Heng reveals his language skills.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng and Han Lu visit Yonaguni Island for diving.
• Zhang Heng receives a photo of his newly recast sword from the Bartender Lady.
• They enjoy a beach dinner prepared by Zhang Heng using local seafood.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng displays his knowledge of Japanese and survival skills, impressing Han Lu.
• Han Lu shows curiosity and a desire for a peaceful vacation.

Significant Themes

• The beauty and tranquility of nature.
• Zhang Heng's resourcefulness and adaptability.
• Han Lu's appreciation of simplicity and freedom.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Han Lu enjoy each other's company, with Zhang Heng taking the lead in activities.
• Han Lu expresses her thoughts and feelings to Zhang Heng, showing trust and comfort in his presence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng and Han Lu have a picnic dinner on the beach, cooking seafood naturally.
• Zhang Heng reveals he might not be related to his current parents by blood.
• He decides to go on a vacation with Han Lu before his trip to Greenland.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng: Realizes his potential non-biological relation to his parents, struggles with his identity, and decides to take a break before facing the truth in Greenland.
• Han Lu: Shares her first love story, reflecting on her past and the impermanence of feelings.

Significant Themes

• Identity and self-discovery: Zhang Heng grapples with his true origins and what it means for his identity.
• The impermanence of feelings: Han Lu's story illustrates how feelings can change over time and how youthful love doesn't always last.
• The unpredictability of life: Both characters acknowledge that life doesn't always go as planned, and one must be ready to face unexpected turns.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Han Lu: They share a moment of connection, with Han Lu offering advice on relationships while Zhang Heng remains guarded about his emotional struggles.
• Zhang Heng and Kronos: Though not present, Kronos's actions and motivations are discussed, adding tension to Zhang Heng's internal conflict.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng and Han Lu ride wild horses back to their hotel.
• They go diving the next day, aiming to see hammerhead sharks and humpback whales, but find neither due to the wrong season.
• They decide to explore underwater ruins near Yonaguni Island instead.
• They hire a local dive guide, Nelly, for the next day's dive.

Character Developments

• Han Lu shows nervousness when riding a wild horse but adapts.
• Zhang Heng demonstrates his ability to handle horses, indicating his adaptability to new environments.
• Han Lu shows concern for Zhang Heng's diving skills and hires a guide for safety.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation: Characters adapt to new environments and situations, such as riding wild horses and diving in an unfamiliar location.
• Safety and Responsibility: Han Lu prioritizes safety by hiring a dive guide, showing her responsible nature.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Han Lu work together to ride horses back to the hotel, showing teamwork.
• Han Lu and Nelly bond over skincare, showing female camaraderie.
• Zhang Heng, Han Lu, and Nelly communicate and coordinate during the dive, demonstrating trust and cooperation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Heng, Han Lu, and Nelly go diving in Okinawa to explore underwater ruins.
• The ruins are at a depth of 25 meters, posing no significant danger.
• They encounter a massive underwater palace or pyramid structure, believed to be around 10,000 BC.
• Inside, they find a narrow passage leading to an open "hall" with sea turtles.
• Zhang Heng feels a sense of déjà vu and decides to abort the dive.

Character Developments

• Zhang Heng: Shows caution and intuition based on past experiences in the Death Dreamscape and Alien Race Instance.
• Han Lu: Trusts Zhang Heng's judgment and follows his decision to ascend.
• Nelly: Initially puzzled by Zhang Heng's decision, she later understands the urgency and signals to ascend.

Significant Themes

• Trust and intuition: Zhang Heng's past experiences have honed his intuition, which he trusts, and Han Lu trusts his judgment.
• The unknown: The underwater ruins represent an unknown, potentially dangerous world beneath the surface of everyday life.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Heng and Han Lu: They share a silent understanding based on their shared experiences in the Death Dreamscape.
• Nelly and the group: Nelly initially leads the dive but later follows Zhang Heng and Han Lu's decision to ascend when she understands the urgency.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The divers encounter a down current while diving, causing their bubbles to sink instead of rise.
• Visibility decreases due to stirred-up sediment, and Han Lu goes missing.
• A bizarre red tide appears, further reducing visibility and making it difficult to search for Han Lu.
• Nelly decides to ascend with Zhang Heng first, hoping Han Lu might have returned to the boat.

Character Developments

• Nelly demonstrates her experience and calmness under pressure, making decisions based on safety and practicality.
• Zhang Heng shows no signs of panic despite the unexpected current and red tide, indicating his composure and adaptability.
• Han Lu's disappearance highlights her independent nature, as she doesn't wait for the others before potentially moving on her own.

Significant Themes

• Safety and Risk Management: Nelly prioritizes safety, considering the risks of decompression sickness and the challenges of searching in adverse conditions.
• Unpredictability of Nature: The sudden appearance of the red tide emphasizes the unexpected and potentially dangerous aspects of nature.
• Decision Making Under Pressure: Nelly must make tough decisions with incomplete information, weighing the risks and benefits of different courses of action.

Character Interactions

• Nelly and Zhang Heng work together to navigate the current and red tide, showing trust and understanding between them.
• Nelly's concern for Zhang Heng's safety is evident in her decision to ascend with him first, rather than risk losing him in the search for Han Lu.
• Han Lu's independent actions contrast with Nelly's cautious approach, potentially leading to miscommunication and separation.