Chapter Summaries

Lynn interrogated Molly’s captured man, used his confession to launch mass arrests, and worked with Molly’s group to establish the Efficiency Department across Shalin. After about ten days, Molly’s group brought Lynn to a flat wilderness for his next task.

• Molly told Lynn she wanted to become lord of Shalin, then left him to handle the captive and pursued her own work.
• Lynn caught the wounded man trying to crawl away and ordered his subordinates to torture him until he confessed.
• After reading the confession, Lynn gathered soldiers from Blackwater City and began mass arrests across Shalin.
• Lynn cooperated with Molly’s group to clear obstacles and establish a branch of the Efficiency Department within Shalin’s administration.
• About ten days later, Molly’s group brought Lynn to a stretch of flat wilderness.

Molly told Lynn that Richard had ordered a New City to be built near Blackwater City, showing him both its vast future blueprint and the smaller plan they were to start with. Lynn began coordinating construction, which had to be completed within half a year, and focused on securing materials and managing the work.

• Molly brought Lynn to the wilderness near Blackwater City and revealed that they were there to build a New City.
• Female Wizard Su gave Lynn a blueprint for an enormous city cluster, and Molly explained that the project would begin with only a smaller section.
• Lynn learned that the first stage had to be finished within half a year and that he was responsible for mobilizing materials.
• Lynn arranged to obtain stone both by expanding local quarries and by purchasing it elsewhere, then became involved in managing workers.

Lynn coordinated New City’s construction as successive groups of “later arrivals” accelerated the work, while Molly and Richard secretly tested the third group. Two months in, the city was taking shape ahead of schedule, and inspector Raymond confronted workers over a wall built out of alignment.

• Lynn received a few dozen Wizards from the Ancestral Spirit Society, whose spells greatly accelerated construction and produced quality work.
• Molly sent several thousand southern workers, who brought their own management system and further increased the construction pace.
• Lynn assigned a third group of over a hundred people to a separate work area as Molly instructed, then noticed Molly and Richard visiting to test them.
• By March 19th, New City’s construction site had grown into a vast, organized operation, and the builders expected to finish ahead of schedule.
• Inspector Raymond angrily confronted a squad for building a wall half a meter out of alignment, but none of the workers admitted to defending the mistake.

Raymond punished workers for building a wall incorrectly, ordering it demolished and rebuilt, while the shift change spared them from cleaning up the rubble. Tai Lande drank with the Ross brothers, who complained about Raymond and speculated that he had come to Shalin to show off.

• Raymond declared the wall unqualified, withheld the workers' wages, fined them, and ordered the Demolition Team to destroy it.
• After the Bronze Bell signaled a shift change, Raymond let the departing workers leave and assigned the cleanup and rebuilding to the next shift.
• Tai Lande headed for the cafeteria, but Da Ross and Xiao Ross grabbed him and persuaded him to join them for drinks.
• At a tavern, Tai Lande and the Ross brothers drank beer and complained about Raymond's strict treatment of their squad.
• Da Ross said Raymond had left Shangbala Mine for Shalin after Mr. Hua Erzi offered workers a choice, and guessed Raymond wanted to show off.

Da Ross explained to Xiao Ross and Tai Lande why ordinary laborers had little chance of advancing, then the three noticed a strange, expressionless worker at the tavern. The man left after drinking, vomited on Da Ross, and left the group with more questions about who he was.

• Da Ross explained that Raymond had left Shangbala Mine for Shalin because advancement would be easier there.
• Xiao Ross considered learning to read to improve his prospects, but gave up when Da Ross described how long it would take.
• Da Ross joked that Tai Lande was a future big shot because he could read, and Tai Lande agreed to pay for their drinks.
• Da Ross pointed out a lone, expressionless worker, and Tai Lande wondered whether he was one of the rumored slaves at the worksite.
• The Expressionless Man paid for his drink, stood to leave, and vomited all over Da Ross.

Da Ross nearly fought the Expressionless Man after he vomited on him, but Raymond Supervisor paid for the damage and let the man go. Raymond then followed him to a sealed-off area, where Barry revealed that the man was one of the targets the Ancestral Spirit Society was watching.

• The Expressionless Man vomited on Da Ross, who grabbed him and demanded compensation while Tai Lande tried to prevent a fight.
• Xiao Ross found no money on the Expressionless Man, and Da Ross raised his fist until Raymond Supervisor intervened and paid him one silver coin.
• Raymond told the Expressionless Man that he owed him the coin, then released him and followed him after the Ross brothers and Tai Lande left.
• The Expressionless Man entered a sealed-off area at the construction site, where Raymond reported to Barry that the target had caused only a minor disturbance.
• Barry praised Raymond for handling the situation, refused to explain who the targets were, and entered the darkened area.

Barry brought the final humanoid Biological Weapon to Lich Old Man A Fu, who extracted information from the group and delivered it to Richard. Richard considered how to improve Tinwood’s Biological Weapons, which he intended to use for security, combat, and possibly ordinary labor.

• Barry led Expressionless Man through the restricted area and delivered him to Lich Old Man A Fu.
• Lich Old Man A Fu placed Expressionless Man among rows of nearly identical people, then used a crystal ball to draw threads from their brains and collect information.
• Lich Old Man A Fu took the crystal ball to Richard in Blackwater City, where Richard examined its contents.
• Richard recalled that Tinwood’s ability to create Biological Weapons had recovered after Richard fed him a Super-Breeding Species’ core, though mass production would take about three years.
• Richard had asked Tinwood to create humanoid Biological Weapons for testing in Shalin, hoping to improve them for public order, defense, combat, and labor.

Richard studied the Biological Weapons’ memories and instructed Tinwood to make the next batch more human-like, even if some changes reduced their combat strength. He then told Bi Bi that memory restoration had become safer, and she agreed to try it.

• Richard considered an explanation for the Biological Weapons’ origins and studied the memories extracted by the Lich Old Man.
• Richard contacted Tinwood and requested changes to the Biological Weapons’ faces, speech, and other human traits.
• Tinwood agreed to produce a small second batch with Richard’s requested adjustments, warning that production would take time.
• Bi Bi arrived at Richard’s workshop, and he explained that his research had made restoring her memories safer.
• Bi Bi chose to try restoring her memories and lay down while Richard prepared.

Richard restored Bi Bi’s sealed memories, and she quickly recovered without noticeable side effects. Bi Bi then asked him to implant learned knowledge directly into her mind, eagerly volunteering to test his still-unverified research.

• Richard used a crystal ball and a metal rod to restore Bi Bi’s sealed memories.
• Bi Bi recovered quickly and said the experience had only brought back memories, though she had expected something more exciting.
• Richard warned Bi Bi to watch for discomfort over the next few days.
• Bi Bi asked whether Richard could add memories and proposed implanting knowledge so she would not have to study.
• Richard revealed he had been researching spells to impart knowledge directly, but warned that his method was unverified and risky.
• Bi Bi insisted that she was not afraid and urged Richard to try the knowledge-impartation spell on her.

Richard used the Crystal Skull to impart introductory mathematical knowledge to Bi Bi. The transfer appeared successful, and Bi Bi realized she could solve a problem Pandora had given her.

• Bi Bi volunteered to receive knowledge, choosing mathematics because Pandora had been teaching her and calling her stupid when she struggled.
• Richard explained that he would impart only introductory knowledge at first, then agreed to give Bi Bi mathematics.
• Richard used the Crystal Skull, which he had recently studied for its ability to add knowledge-related memories, to transfer mathematics to Bi Bi.
• After the ten-second transfer, Richard checked himself for side effects and found only slight mental fatigue.
• Bi Bi sprang up excitedly and said she could now solve the math problem Pandora had given her.

Richard observed Bi Bi as she struggled to use newly imparted knowledge, then considered the research’s potential for training subordinates. Molly later reported that construction of New City was progressing according to plan and discussed ways to address labor shortages.

• Bi Bi briefly applied newly imparted mathematical knowledge, then forgot how to solve the problem, and Richard estimated she would need three days to two weeks to digest it.
• Bi Bi rushed off to find Pandora and practice math, while Richard recorded his observations and considered expanding his Knowledge Impartation research.
• Richard reflected that Knowledge Impartation could help him rapidly train capable subordinates, though recipients would need to meet certain mental and intellectual requirements.
• Molly arrived for her meeting with Richard and reported that New City’s ten districts were at different stages of construction but broadly on schedule.
• Molly proposed recruiting local workers and assigning experienced miners as leaders to train them and help ease the manpower shortage.

Molly managed New City’s construction and infrastructure projects through two difficult months, completing the city on schedule. Atlantis Mantino became Shalin’s administrative center, and Richard left Molly’s promised discussion for after her assessment.

• Molly proposed expanding quarries and building roads across Shalin, but Richard refused to discuss her requested matter until she passed the New City construction assessment.
• Molly dealt with construction delays, labor disputes, quarry setbacks, and opposition to the roads over the following two months.
• New City was completed four months after construction began, and residents and visitors gradually moved in.
• On June 6, Richard’s residence, Shalin’s City Hall, and the Efficiency Department headquarters relocated to New City, which became Shalin’s administrative center.
• The city gates bore the name Atlantis Mantino, shortened to Atlantis, meaning “City of Peace” in the local Shalin language.

After deciphering most of the Barta Text, Richard entered the knowledge repository and eagerly studied its books. He later met Molly in Atlantis City and offered her a ten-year arrangement that could help her reclaim the Sika Royal Family’s rule.

• Richard finished studying the Holinster Manuscript and confirmed he had deciphered most of the Barta Text.
• Richard immersed himself in the books stored in Barta, absorbing their contents and knowledge.
• Molly confronted Richard for arriving late to their meeting and said Atlantis City was ready for their discussion.
• Richard explained that he and Molly could cooperate, then proposed a ten-year term for her service.
• Richard told Molly that if she carried out his plans during those ten years, he would guarantee her a territory and give her better than even odds of reclaiming the Sika Royal Family’s legitimate rule.

Molly negotiated a ten-year service agreement with Richard in exchange for a satisfactory territory and a chance to reclaim the Sika Royal Family's legitimate line, with Shalin promised as a fallback. After they bound the deal with a Prophecy Spell contract, Richard outlined his extensive plans for developing Shalin and recruiting talent, while leaving the purpose of its empty buildings unexplained.

• Molly demanded safeguards for Richard's promises, and Richard offered her Shalin if he failed to provide a satisfactory territory and a better-than-even chance of reclaiming the Sika Royal Family's legitimate line.
• Molly and Richard agreed that she would serve for ten years while retaining considerable freedom, then signed a magical contract using Molly's Prophecy Spell scroll.
• Richard told Molly to establish specialized departments under the Efficiency Department to organize Shalin's administration.
• Richard instructed Molly to recruit talented people from many fields, especially Wizards, by offering access to profound spell knowledge.
• Molly agreed to carry out Richard's many demands and asked about the city's empty buildings, but Richard said their purpose would become clear after outsiders arrived.

Richard's letters invited his former students and acquaintances to Shalin, where he planned to stay for a long time. Harry and Kathy decided to go, Bobobo Wei Qi set out for Shalin, and Sherlock kept the invitation despite initially rejecting it.

• Harry read Richard's letter inviting him and Kathy to Shalin, and he began packing to leave.
• Kathy agreed to travel with Harry after he asked her to come along.
• Jessica trimmed Bobobo Wei Qi's fast-growing hair while he read Richard's letter, and Bobobo Wei Qi announced that he was leaving for Shalin that day.
• Sherlock dismissed the invitation to Shalin, then reconsidered and tucked the letter into a book before going back to sleep.
• Hai Di woke from her nap and wiped drool from the sleeping Justice Girl Nellide's mouth.

Circe considered whether to accept Richard’s invitation to Shalin, while Abel and others received similar letters. In Atlantis City, Richard confirmed Bi Bi could safely absorb knowledge and began teaching her the food-related subject she had chosen.

• Circe showed Hai Di and Nellide Richard’s invitation to Shalin and asked whether they thought she should go.
• Abel read a letter about Shalin and wondered whether it offered access to ancient wizard knowledge and creations.
• Richard explained that Bi Bi had handled the previous knowledge infusion better than human test subjects because she was a spell puppet.
• Bi Bi chose to learn Food Studies, saying she wanted to create and taste more delicious food.
• Richard used the Crystal Skull to infuse Bi Bi with food-related knowledge.

Richard prepared Harry and Kathy to choose advanced fields of study by transferring fragments of knowledge to them. Kathy chose Spell High-Energy Materials Science, while Harry chose to continue studying philosophy, and Richard sent them off with guides to begin their studies.

• Richard explained that Harry and Kathy could stay in Shalin and choose which discipline to study next.
• Richard gave them potions and used the Crystal Skull to transfer knowledge fragments from several disciplines.
• Kathy chose to study Spell High-Energy Materials Science because she found the explosions in the knowledge interesting.
• Harry chose philosophy, believing it was the simplest path to understanding what the world truly was.
• Richard approved their choices and sent them outside to meet the people who would guide their studies.

Harry and Kathy were brought to an unnamed estate and learned it was the site of a six-month experiment that might become Atlantis University. Six months later, Machu Philip arrived at the university and found its research and study programs laid out before him.

• A tall, thin old man led Harry and Kathy from Lord Richard's estate to an unnamed complex.
• The old man explained that Lord Richard's experiment would test a combined education and research institution for six months, after which it might become Atlantis University or be erased from recognition.
• Six months later, Machu Philip entered Atlantis University after passing its qualifying examination and joining its work-study program.
• Machu saw tables marked with unfamiliar fields such as Spell Mechanics, Spell Thermodynamics, and Spell Cultivation.

Ma Qiu explored the university's research disciplines and learned that some fields could teach spells even to students without Wizard talent. After weighing his interests, he chose a discipline and submitted an application, though the chapter did not reveal which one.

• Ma Qiu listened as a Spell Biology professor described the study of life, disease, and the body, then moved on to learn about other fields.
• A professor of ancient wizard civilization told students that learning ability and hard work could matter more than Wizard talent, and that Atlantis University could teach spells to those without it.
• Ma Qiu heard about Spell High-Energy Materials Science and learned from a Red Robe Wizard that Spell Linguistics studied how incantations affected spellcasting.
• Ma Qiu encountered the baffling problems and explanations offered by Spell Mathematics and Spell Philosophy, while considering disciplines including Spell Fluid Mechanics and Spell Ancient Artifacts.
• After thinking over his choices, Ma Qiu walked to one of the tables and submitted an application to its Wizard.

Ma Qiu chose Spell Linguistics to suit his strengths and began university at an increasingly overcrowded Atlantis University. During his first academic year, the university expanded into numerous branches as Shalin and the surrounding region underwent dramatic political and economic changes.

• Ma Qiu chose Spell Linguistics because he believed his language skills gave him the best chance of graduating from Atlantis University.
• Ma Qiu saw successive waves of new students turn the initially sparse campus into an overcrowded place, prompting the university to build more Stone Towers.
• Atlantis University established branches across Atlantis City, including the Spell Chemistry Academy and Spell Physics Academy.
• Ma Qiu heard accounts of Shalin resisting sabotage, bandit raids, a revolt, and threats from neighboring Lords, with Wizards and General Soren involved in the events.
• Shalin's grain production rose and food prices fell, while foreign merchants drove up prices for magical goods in Atlantis Market.
• Ma Qiu completed his first academic year as Atlantis University and the region continued to change rapidly.