Chapter Summaries

Elliot struggled to assert authority over the Balk Family’s Copper Mine and asked the Creator for help obtaining a new Loen water pump. Hobart arranged a way to provide one, and Elliot prepared to impress the family by reporting the purchase to the Clan Head.

• Elliot toured the Copper Mine, where Zachary and the other Beyonders treated him as a figurehead and asked him to secure a replacement water pump.
• Elliot prayed to the Creator for help buying a Loen-made pump, and Hobart realized he could source one through Mr. Dikeus.
• Hobart privately told the Creator that Mr. Dikeus’s advanced centrifugal pumps cost about 1,200 pounds, then sent the information to Elliot through the Country of Disorder.
• Elliot received the message during dinner and decided to buy a pump, reasoning that the family had plenty of gold even if Loen banknotes were hard to obtain.
• Elliot planned to report the large purchase to the Clan Head by praying to him.

Elliot asked Clan Head Lawrence to help him buy two Loen-made water pumps, while Hobart arranged to acquire the pumps for his friend and planned how to transport them. After Hobart discovered that several groups were watching him, he used a bluff to drive the observers away, and two of them later said they could largely clear him of suspicion.

• Elliot prayed to Clan Head Lawrence about purchasing two new water pumps for Hodges Copper Mine, and Lawrence agreed to help and provide a Sealed Artifact.
• Hobart asked Mr. Dikeus about buying two SL550 water pumps and learned that shipping them abroad would be difficult and costly.
• Hobart considered using Creator Express to transport the pumps and planned to seek help from Machinery Hearts to shake off the people watching him.
• Hobart discovered that four watchers from different groups were testing each other, then confronted them and threatened to report them to Captain Ikanse of Machinery Hearts.
• Two of the departing watchers entered a residence on Rose Street and told a middle-aged man that they could largely clear Hobart of suspicion.

Bennett Tamara and Ambassador Tim investigated Hobart’s suspicious actions but did not consider him an immediate threat. That night, Hobart entered the Freight Railway Station, where a frightening supernatural disturbance prompted rumors of a haunting.

• Bennett questioned his subordinates about the people following them and ordered them to investigate the Lawyer’s faith and follow another stranger.
• Ambassador Tim told his subordinates to stop following Hobart, then reconsidered after noticing inconsistencies in Hobart’s behavior.
• Hobart confirmed no one was following him, traveled to the Freight Railway Station, and climbed over its wall.
• Grove saw an abandoned locomotive rise repeatedly into the air amid eerie gusts and sensed a terrifying presence overhead.
• Grove fled the area, and rumors of a haunting at the Freight Railway Station spread the next day.

Hobart tested the limits of his Black Emperor power, arranged to explore ruins with Azik, and was surprised when Azik appeared beside his carriage. Meanwhile, Alger sold Byron information about a valuable ship and was held under guard while Hell Admiral considered the offer.

• Hobart found that holding the Black Emperor card and distorting a small locomotive's weight let him pull it close to the Gate of Sacrifice, and he believed he could lift it after reaching Sequence 6.
• Alger told Byron about a ship carrying valuables worth over 200,000 pounds, negotiated a 3,000-pound reward, and agreed to stay in a room under guard.
• Hobart told Christine that he planned to explore ruins with a Demigod of the God of Death pathway, then left a letter at the haunted villa at No. 16 Wanbo Avenue as Azik had instructed.
• Azik appeared beside Hobart's carriage and asked him to take him to the ruins.
• Hobart asked to keep some Extraordinary Items from the ruins, and Azik said he only wanted the Hard Feather.

Azik brought Hobart through the Spirit World to the ruins outside Backlund and led him to a hidden door guarded by a Black Hound Spirit Beast. He identified the creature as an already-dead guardian containing Sequence 3 Ferryman characteristics, but warned that extracting them with the Underworld’s power could cause terrifying consequences.

• Hobart left a fare for the coachman before Azik carried him through the Spirit World to the ruins outside Backlund.
• Hobart led Azik into the underground structure and showed him the sealed entrance to the hidden area.
• Azik found the concealed door by spreading his blood on the wall, then told Hobart to close his eyes as they opened it.
• Hobart saw a dog-headed, human-bodied creature inside the doorway that resembled Anubis.
• Azik identified it as a Black Hound Spirit Beast, said it held complete Sequence 3 Ferryman characteristics despite already being dead, and warned that extracting them could bring terrible consequences.

Hobart and Azzik discovered Gregaire, the Ancient Death God, in a hidden Stone Chamber and learned the history behind her corpse. There, Hobart found a notebook left by his father, Rex, and was told he could take two divine stone pillars to forge into weapons.

• Azzik identified the giant bird's corpse as the indestructible remains of Gregaire, the Ancient Death God, and explained how the Night Emperor had intended to use it against the Nether Emperor.
• Hobart realized the Stone Chamber was a separate space connected to the Door pathway and that its presence explained why he had been unable to use the Teleport Stone Statue.
• Hobart and Azzik examined three skeletons, including one beside unclaimed Death pathway Extraordinary Characteristics, and found two iron-like cylinders and two volumes.
• Azzik told Hobart that the cylinders were parts of stone pillars steeped in divinity and could be forged into weapons capable of harming souls.
• Azzik recognized Rex's name in a notebook and gave it to Hobart, who read that his father had left it there for his descendants and that a Zaratul Family member had left the chamber's belongings untouched for him.

Hobart and Mr. Azik explored the sealed ruins, where Hobart discovered a Blasphemy Slate and several powerful items. After returning to Backlund, Hobart offered most of his gains to the Country of Disorder and began examining them.

• Hobart searched the skeleton and found a Sequence 5 Error pathway Pocket Watch, an Extraordinary ring, and a Blasphemy Slate.
• Mr. Azik declined to take any of the items, and Hobart packed them along with the two Black Iron cylinders.
• Mr. Azik restored the ruins' seal and took Hobart through the Spirit World to Backlund, then gave him an address for sending future letters.
• Hobart returned to his room and offered most of the expedition's gains to the Country of Disorder.
• Hobart sensed that the Black Iron could harm spirit bodies and considered asking Jessica's Artisan friend to forge it into a weapon before picking up the Blasphemy Slate.

Hobart examined the God of Death card and learned the complete God of Death pathway Potion Recipes, including the rituals for Undying and Ferryman. He assessed the effects of several Extraordinary items and prepared to seal a dangerous Pocket Watch.

• Hobart activated the God of Death card and read the Blasphemy Slate’s Sequence details and Potion Recipes.
• Hobart concluded that Doffis had been preparing for the Undying ritual and that Silver City’s former Chief had failed the Ferryman ritual.
• Hobart decided to sacrifice the Blasphemy Slate to The Fool next week, pursue the Red Priest card only if an opportunity arose, and sell the Sequence 5 Gatekeeper characteristics.
• Hobart used the Country of Disorder to learn that the ring sped up thinking but impaired attention, while the Pocket Watch stole spirituality, vitality, and luck over time.
• Hobart wrapped the Pocket Watch in the Power of Order and tried to seal it.

Hobart reduced the Pocket Watch’s negative effects, arranged a Water Pump deal with Elliot, and summoned Aputon to Backlund for a job. Aputon left his gang in Connat City, while Hobart began reading Rex’s notes about ancient ruins and the Royal Family’s modifications to them.

• Hobart sealed the Pocket Watch and stored it as a trump card after reducing its negative effects.
• Elliot told Hobart that his clan head wanted two Water Pumps and offered a Sealed Artifact for the second Bribe; Hobart agreed to arrange the order after preparing the gold.
• Hobart used his alternate account to ask Aputon to meet him in Backlund, offering part of Bribor’s main ingredient as payment.
• Aputon received Hobart’s message while celebrating with the Coast Gang and announced that he would return to Backlund.
• Hobart read Rex’s notebook and learned that Rex had found seven ancient ruins in Backlund, four of which the Royal Family had modified.

Hobart read Rex’s notes about the Royal Family’s mausoleums and the Night Emperor’s history, uncovering entrances that could help him sabotage George III’s advancement. He found that Solomon’s strange behavior began after he became the Black Emperor and was linked to a Lamp Spirit, which the Trensoost family also sought.

• Hobart learned that four ruins excavated by the Royal Family were Solomon’s mausoleums and that Rex had found hidden entrances in them.
• Hobart read Rex’s account of a sealed chamber containing a dangerous Black Hound Spirit Beast and learned how to open the chamber and locate it.
• Hobart discovered documents showing that Duke Servia had recorded conversations between Tudor and Trensoost before they became Sequence 1.
• Hobart learned that Tudor and Trensoost suspected an unknown force had influenced Solomon after he became the Black Emperor, especially when Solomon spoke of a Lamp Spirit.
• Hobart offered the old notebooks to the Country of Disorder and read Rex’s note that Trensoost had sought a Lamp Spirit said to contain power beyond that of a True God.

Hobart studied Rex’s notes and pieced together possible links between the Night Emperor, the Child of Chaos, and the Trensoost Family’s Curse. After reflecting on Rex’s love and advice, he examined the notebook and map taken from the Skeleton.

• Hobart suspected that the Night Emperor had been corrupted by the Child of Chaos and had sought the Lamp Genie to release it.
• Hobart read how the Trensoost branches had separated, how Rex’s branch had suffered the Curse, and how powerful descendants had died trying to overcome it.
• Hobart learned that Rex believed the Night Emperor had placed an entrance to the Country of Disorder within the family bloodline and had attempted advancement to lift the Curse.
• Hobart found Rex’s final message urging him to walk his chosen path with his head held high.
• Hobart left the Country of Disorder, reflected on his family and Rex’s notes, then began seriously reading the notebook and map from the Skeleton.

Hobart read Valentine Victor’s notebook and found the location of a Skeleton Lord in the Feneport Kingdom, then told Christine and Doffis about his discovery. Their expressions changed when they heard where the creature was, leaving Hobart to wonder what they knew about it.

• Hobart read Valentine Victor’s account of encounters with undead creatures and learned that Valentine had found a Skeleton Lord in Colson County.
• Hobart compared Valentine’s marked map with a map of the Feneport Kingdom and confirmed the Skeleton Lord’s location.
• Hobart returned home, ate dinner with Christine’s family, and joked with Donna about his wealth and legal work.
• Hobart recounted the ruins expedition to Christine and Doffis, omitting some of Mr. Azik’s actions and words.
• Hobart revealed that the Skeleton Lord was in the Feneport Kingdom, and Christine and Doffis reacted with changed expressions.

Hobart shared a clue about the Skeleton Lord and learned about the troubled Colson County before heading to court to represent Emma in her case against Wendell. When Wendell argued that prostitution payments were not protected by law, Hobart shifted his accusation to fraud, leaving the trial poised to take a new direction.

• Hobart told Doffis and Christine about the Skeleton Lord clue, and Christine said Doffis should wait before pursuing it.
• Christine described Colson County’s abandoned waterways, its dead demigod, and its reputation as a lawless place.
• After a night of nightmares, Hobart went with Jessica to Emma’s trial against Wendell at a crowded Magistrate Court.
• Wendell claimed the law could not convict him because prostitution payments were not legal income, provoking the spectators.
• Hobart proposed accusing Wendell of fraud, prompting the Judge’s interest and Jessica’s admiration.

Hobart won Emma’s fraud case against Wendell, then spoke publicly in defense of the women he represented. Reading about the trial, Klein reconsidered his own belief that ordinary people could not change the world.

• Hobart argued that Wendell’s failure to pay Emma constituted fraud, and the Judge ordered Wendell to pay compensation and a fine and serve six months in prison.
• The Judge approved Hobart’s request to enforce Wendell’s financial penalties immediately, and Wendell paid them before being taken into custody.
• Hobart invited other women with similar cases to hire his team, while Jessica arranged meetings with potential clients.
• Hobart told reporters that the women’s circumstances reflected the sorrow of the era and urged them to hold their heads high.
• Klein read the newspaper report about Hobart’s case and speech, then wondered whether Hobart was changing the world by fighting for ordinary people.

Audrey learned that Hobart had defended a streetwalker and planned a Justice League gathering to help him. At his law firm, Hobart took on a weapon commission and replied to Elizabeth’s letter, offering to address her recurring nightmare in person.

• Audrey told Susie that Hobart had claimed not to represent Justice, yet kept acting justly, and decided to organize a Justice League gathering to help him.
• At breakfast, Hobart told Xue and Fors that he had defended Emma because she needed help, not because he cared about others’ opinions.
• Hobart asked Jessica to arrange a meeting with her Artisan friend Kelly about forging a weapon, and Jessica said Kelly also had a matter to discuss with him.
• Elizabeth wrote that she kept dreaming of a bull-headed monster with golden antlers and asked Hobart how to solve the nightmare and distinguish genuine Seers from others.
• Hobart replied that he could handle Elizabeth’s nightmare in person, advised her not to seek casual Seer interpretations, and invited Melissa’s brother to visit Backlund.

Hobart responded to Selena’s Mysticism questions and met Aputon to arrange a commission involving steam engine water pumps. Aputon chose the more lucrative payment option and agreed to sacrifice the pumps to the Creator for delivery to other Blessed.

• Hobart explained that Selena’s questions concerned Ordinary Mysticism and invited her to visit Backlund to learn more.
• Hobart met Aputon at the Ghost House and learned that Aputon’s gang-leader role was helping him digest the Barbarian Potion.
• Hobart offered Aputon two payment options for establishing a company and purchasing two steam engine water pumps from Sharp Intent Machinery Company.
• Aputon chose to pay for the pumps himself in exchange for two-thirds of a Bribor Extraordinary Characteristic and general distributor status.
• Hobart instructed Aputon to purchase the pumps, find a secluded warehouse, and sacrifice them to the Creator so they could be bestowed upon other Blessed.

Hobart arranged a commission for Aputon, then brought exceptional Black Iron to Jessica and Kelly to forge two weapons. Kelly asked Hobart to protect her so she could refuse a mysterious Extraordinary Organization’s offer to recruit her and Jessica.

• Hobart assured Aputon that he could refuse most future commissions and would not lose money on them, and Aputon accepted the arrangement.
• Hobart read that an epidemic had broken out at the Wharf Union and realized it was the Official Extraordinary cleanup after Klein killed Lan'erwusi.
• Hobart brought Black Iron from the Country of Disorder to his law firm and showed it to Jessica and Kelly.
• Hobart asked Kelly to forge a Tang Sword and a modified longsword from the Black Iron.
• Kelly asked Hobart to protect her and Jessica so she could turn down a mysterious Extraordinary Organization that wanted them to join.

Hobart agreed to help Kelly and Jessica negotiate with the Beyonder team threatening them, while preparing to make his Corrupted Baron potion. Alger received 3,000 Pounds from Byron for his information and learned the Hell Admiral’s operation had ended; Hobart then waited for the Tarot Club to begin with the God of Death card ready.

• Kelly told Hobart that a team with one Sequence 6, one Sequence 7, and two Sequence 8s had targeted her, and Hobart agreed to accompany her and Jessica to negotiate after making his weapon.
• Hobart ordered the Corrupted Baron potion’s auxiliary materials from Gael, paid a deposit, and obtained aged wine from his family cellar.
• Byron told Alger that the Hell Admiral’s operation had ended and paid him the agreed 3,000 Pounds for his information.
• Alger returned to his ship and sent sailors to learn the details of the Hell Admiral’s operation.
• Hobart collected his potion materials and prepared for the Tarot Club, bringing out the God of Death card from the Country of Disorder.
• At three o’clock, Hobart was drawn into the gray fog as the Tarot Club began.

At the Tarot Club, Mr. World described the desperate lives of Backlund’s poor, prompting Audrey to confront the city’s suffering. Hobart then offered Mr. Fool the Death Card, and Klein allowed him to carry out his second Bribe.

• Mr. World described the poverty and early deaths of workers and children in Backlund, and Hobart argued that the powerful paid attention only when evil gods threatened to descend.
• Audrey said she would visit the East End herself and thanked Mr. Fool, Mr. Emperor, and Mr. World for helping her understand the problem.
• Alger manifested the Rosell diary page he still owed, and Mr. Fool read an entry about the taste of a Witch.
• Hobart presented the Death Card, which revealed part of the Corpse Collector pathway and captured Klein’s attention.
• Klein told Hobart that he could carry out his second Bribe.

Hobart sacrificed the God of Death card to Mr. Fool in exchange for Beyonder knowledge, completing the digestion of his Bribor Potion. Mr. Fool revealed that the Blasphemy Slate contained the complete potion recipes and rituals for every Pathway, offering a path to godhood and leaving the Tarot Club members shaken.

• Hobart asked Mr. Fool to share Beyonder knowledge after the gathering, and Audrey persuaded the Tarot Club to take a break so everyone could listen.
• Hobart performed the Bribe by sacrificing the God of Death card to Mr. Fool, and his Bribor Potion was fully digested when the sacrifice was accepted.
• Hobart returned to the Giant Hall with Audrey, Alger, and Derrick, where Mr. Fool explained that there were two Blasphemy Slates.
• Mr. Fool revealed that the Blasphemy Slate contained the complete sequence potion recipes and rituals of every Pathway, which could be called the Path to Godhood.
• Alger, Audrey, and Derrick reacted with shock as they considered what the revelation meant about Beyonders and the gods.