Chapter Summaries

Tracy killed the demon that had attacked Klein, while Xu Yue concealed Klein’s identity and cooperated with the Storm Church’s investigation. Afterward, Xu Yue advised Duke Negan to consider a compromise rather than face repeated assassination attempts.

• Tracy tore the demon’s arm free and killed it, then collapsed from her abdominal wound; Klein transferred the injury to himself and passed out.
• Xu Yue emerged from the shadows, used a paper figurine to conceal traces of Klein’s identity, and raised his hands when the Storm Church’s team arrived.
• Xu Yue told the Storm Church that he worked for Duke Negan and had saved him; the God Singer thanked Xu Yue and let the team examine the demon’s corpse.
• The spirit-channeling specialist found only fragmented memories of the demon’s victims, while the Church arranged treatment for Klein without detaining him.
• Xu Yue hinted to Duke Negan about the Twilight Hermit Society and urged him to consider a measured compromise to avoid further assassination attempts.

Xu Yue secured Duke Negan’s cooperation after the assassination attempts, while Klein was released by the Storm Church and learned about the Twilight Hermit Society. Duke Negan used his political strength to pass reforms and broaden voting rights, leaving Lord Derville as a major beneficiary.

• Duke Negan agreed to invest in Silver City by transferring land in the Rosted Islands, and planned to seek Evernight’s support.
• The Storm Church released Klein after investigating his role in discovering and fighting the Demon Dog, but required him to remain near Backlund.
• Xu Yue teased Klein about Tracy, then told him that the organization behind the plot was the Twilight Hermit Society.
• Duke Negan rallied conservative nobles and passed worker-protection and climate-improvement measures while relaxing election requirements.
• Lord Derville gained influence among workers and became one of the greatest beneficiaries of the expanded electorate.

Klein, Xu Yue, and Sharon discussed the Serpent of Fate and an investigation into Phantom Thief Black Emperor before Sharon proposed exploring an ancient noble’s tomb. They agreed to probe the ruins’ outer area, despite its connection to Amon.

• Klein asked Xu Yue whether the paper crane could help him contact the Serpent of Fate, and Xu Yue said it might draw a response.
• Sharon visited Klein and Xu Yue, then asked them to investigate the true identity of Phantom Thief Black Emperor for a high-sequence Beyonder.
• Sharon told Xu Yue about dangerous ruins discovered by a friend of Marich, and she said the tomb belonged to an ancient noble surnamed Amon.
• Klein recognized the name Amon and warned against entering the tomb, while Xu Yue believed the King of Angels could not return yet.
• Xu Yue, Klein, Sharon, and Marich agreed to explore the ruins’ outer area first and gave Xu Yue priority in choosing and dividing any spoils.

Xu Yue led Klein’s team through Amon’s tomb, overcoming its dangers with Sunflame Charms and collecting everything they could carry. They reached the burial chamber, where Medici revealed that the recent intruders had died after their time was stolen.

• Xu Yue’s team descended into the tomb and used a Sunflame Charm to eliminate the creatures beyond its stone doors.
• Klein recognized Human-Skin Shadow characteristics among the remains, while Xu Yue stored them and looted the tomb’s artifacts and antiques.
• Medici warned the team about a lethal Ghostly Picture Frame, which Xu Yue had him cover before packing it away.
• Xu Yue ordered Medici to push open the main burial chamber’s doors, revealing a black coffin, still-burning candles, and numerous corpses.
• Medici explained that the corpses had their time stolen, then praised Xu Yue for coming prepared and bringing him along.

Klein, Medici, and the others explored Amon’s fake mausoleum, uncovered a mural linking Amon and Adam to the ancient Kings of Angels, and divided the valuable spoils. After the haul still left Klein short of his financial goal, he returned to learn that his friend Talim had died.

• Medici turned over the picture frame and revealed Amon’s self-portrait, then explained the mural depicting Amon and Adam as babies carried by Medici and Orochi.
• Medici mentioned exploiting a bug, prompting Klein to wonder whether Medici had encountered a transmigrator.
• Xu Yue and the others finished looting Amon’s fake mausoleum and divided the proceeds, with Klein set to receive more than ten thousand pounds.
• Klein found that he was still about five thousand pounds short and remained puzzled by the price of Xu Yue’s gloves.
• Xu Yue gave Sharon and the others permission to use his summoning ritual for a storage-capable spirit world creature.
• Klein returned and learned that Talim, his friend and riding instructor, had died.

After Talim died suddenly, Klein was summoned by Prince Edsac Augustus to investigate the suspicious circumstances, alongside Xu Yue. Klein was recruited after Xu Yue recommended his detective and divination skills, leaving him facing a royal investigation he had hoped to avoid.

• Klein attended Talim's funeral and learned that Dr. Allen suspected something was wrong with Talim's sudden death.
• A royal butler invited Klein to meet his master, revealing that Talim had been a friend of Prince Edsac Augustus.
• Klein learned that Xu Yue had also been summoned from Duke Negan's residence and went with the butler to Red Rose Manor.
• Klein found Xu Yue chatting with Prince Edsac, who asked Klein to uncover the truth behind Talim's death.
• Prince Edsac said Xu Yue had recommended Klein for his skill in deduction and divination, leaving Klein reluctantly responsible for the investigation.

Klein accepted Prince’s thousand pounds to investigate Talim’s death, while Xu Yue revealed that their involvement might be part of 0-08’s arrangements and that Prince’s beloved woman was a Witch. At the Tarot Club, Klein warned the members about 0-08’s influence in Backlund and sold them the clues he and Xu Yue had uncovered.

• Klein accepted Prince’s thousand pounds and requested Talim’s hair and belongings for divination, while Xu Yue persuaded Prince to keep strands of their hair.
• After leaving Rose Manor, Xu Yue told Klein he sensed a chain of arrangements; Klein connected the danger to 0-08 and considered asking Mr. Azik for help.
• Xu Yue said Prince’s beloved commoner woman was a Witch who might be able to resist 0-08, and Klein agreed they should investigate her.
• At the Tarot Club, Audrey provided Klein with copied diary pages about Mr. Door, the Moon Pathway, and angel families.
• Klein sold Audrey information about 0-08’s influence in Backlund and warned her not to dwell on its details or report it carelessly.

The Tarot Club discussed Audrey’s plan to report the threat of 0-08, the effort to relocate Silver City beside Bayom, and Xu Yue’s role in saving Duke Negan. After the meeting, Klein and Xu Yue considered how Audrey might involve the Church of the Evernight as they prepared to investigate Ince Zangwill’s scheme.

• Audrey decided she would report the 0-08 matter to the Church of the Evernight and said she might hire Mr. The Lovers and Mr. World.
• Little Sun reported that Silver City had the Council of Six’s approval for the rescue plan, while Alger sought ships and captains, including Admiral Star.
• Xu Yue revealed that Silver City’s new settlement would be near Bayom, and Audrey suspected the land deal involved Duke Negan.
• Xu Yue admitted that he had saved Duke Negan, and Audrey asked him about the reason for the assassination.
• Xu Yue explained that the organization behind the assassination was connected to Adam, whose power exceeded that of 0-08.
• Klein and Xu Yue discussed whether Audrey would report the matter to the Church of the Evernight while planning to investigate Ince Zangwill and disrupt his scheme.

Klein investigated Talim’s murder and learned that the Witch Church was involved, while Tracy warned him before leaving Backlund. He then discovered that Little Sun’s team was trapped in a memory-erasing cycle, and the Chief tried to break it without trusting The Fool completely.

• Klein confirmed through divination that a woman had killed Talim and suspected Prince’s lover was involved.
• Tracy warned Klein that the royal family’s dealings with the Witch Church made the matter dangerous, then announced she was leaving Backlund.
• Little Sun prayed to Klein after his team repeatedly found a child from the outside world and reset into the same exploration cycle.
• Klein recognized the cycle as an effect of the Serpent of Fate’s power and told Little Sun to ask The Fool for protection.
• Little Sun told the Chief that prayer to The Fool had freed him from the cycle, but the Chief chose to try breaking it himself rather than call on The Fool.

Klein tried to retrieve his hair from Prince but was forced to flee after Triss infiltrated his carriage and meteors targeted him; Azik rescued him, though they were pulled into the underground ruins near Ince Zangwill. Meanwhile, Xu Yue negotiated with Panatia to change the Aurora Society and Witch Church’s plan, leaving her to consider creating chaos in the Queen’s Area instead of the East District.

• Derrick Berg’s team escaped its predicament, found a child who could serve as evidence, and prepared Silver City for war.
• Klein heard Emlyn’s prayer, then received Audrey’s report that the Evernight Church had taken her information about 0-08 seriously and might contact the other True God Churches.
• Klein decided to retrieve his hair from Prince before it could fall into dangerous hands and set out for Rose Manor.
• Triss infiltrated Klein’s carriage, identified herself, and asked him to report her to the True God Churches; Klein fled and summoned Azik for help.
• Meteors struck as Klein reached a grove, but Azik pulled him into the spirit world before they landed near Ince Zangwill and his companion in the underground ruins.
• Xu Yue pressed Panatia to change their plan away from the East District, and she suggested stirring up the Queen’s Area instead.

Klein discovered that the Aurora Society was helping Panatia unleash the Great Smog Incident, and the attack on Queen's Area killed hundreds, including dozens of nobles. As the True Creator began to descend through Xu Yue's ritual, Klein disrupted it with a shot, then fled while Mr. A pursued him.

• Klein overheard Mr. S and Panatia, then learned that the Aurora Society was willing to take the blame for summoning a True Creator avatar.
• Panatia released poisonous fog in Queen's Area, but the churches and nobles responded quickly; hundreds died, including two earls.
• Ruen's cabinet imposed harsh measures against the Aurora Society, and the kingdom went on war readiness.
• Xu Yue opened the passage for the True Creator, but Klein fired at him and accidentally struck the ritual's weakest point, forcing the True Creator's legs back through.
• Klein fled after throwing Sunflame Charms, while Xu Yue told Mr. A to catch him; Mr. A pursued Klein in a rage.

Xu Yue saved Klein from Mr. A by directing the Angel of Secrecy to erase him, then gave Klein back his disguised hair and the glove before leaving to pursue his own plans. Klein decided to seek the Mermaids near the Forsaken Land’s entrance and took Medici above the Gray Fog, demanding his cooperation.

• Xu Yue redirected the Angel of Secrecy toward Mr. A, who vanished under her power while Klein survived.
• Klein reached the riverbank, where Xu Yue blamed him for acting alone and revealed that the hair he had left with Prince was disguised as Xu Yue’s.
• Xu Yue gave Klein the glove, took all his money as repayment, and said they would meet again when Silver City emerged.
• Xu Yue told Klein that the Mermaids he sought were likely near the Forsaken Land’s entrance, and Klein decided to look for them.
• Medici’s three-in-one evil spirit emerged from the glove, celebrated his freedom, and offered Klein guidance.
• Klein brought Medici and Crawling Hunger above the Gray Fog and warned Medici to cooperate because he knew Klein’s secret.

After Klein forced Medici to swear that he would keep Klein’s secret, Medici warned him to beware of Marauders and Apprentices. Klein was hailed as a hero and granted a barony for stopping the True Creator’s descent, but he fled Backlund when he realized the unexposed culprit might target him, while someone ominously tracked his escape.

• Klein made Medici swear in the name of The Fool to keep his secret, and Medici warned him to be careful of Marauders and Apprentices.
• A hot-tempered man brought Klein to the damaged ritual site, where Arrodes showed the Churches how Klein’s gunfire had disrupted the ritual and stopped the True Creator’s descent.
• Klein told the Church representatives how he had escaped the Shepherd pursuing him, and they treated him as a hero for saving Backlund.
• Ikonso informed Klein that he would receive a landed barony and one thousand gold pounds as a reward for his actions.
• Klein fled south despite the Steam Church offering protection, while someone in a dark chamber prepared to pursue him.

After the Great Smog Incident, Klein left Backlund under his new identity, Gehrman Sparrow, and introduced Emlyn as Mr. Moon at the Tarot Club. Once the meeting ended, powerful pursuers used Sherlock’s hair to track him, including a demigod from MI9.

• Audrey emerged from the underground shelter, learned the Aurora Society had claimed responsibility for the smog, and worried about her family leaving Backlund.
• Klein brought Emlyn above the Gray Fog, accepted him into the Tarot Club, and established him as Mr. Moon.
• At the Tarot Club, Audrey thanked Mr. The Lovers and Mr. World for their role in stopping the True Creator’s descent, while Klein confirmed Baron Sherlock had left Backlund.
• Klein said he would go out to sea and help with Silver City’s rescue plan, and Xu Yue demanded that he repay his debt.
• After Klein’s departure, his pursuers used strands of Sherlock’s hair to divine his direction and sent powerful agents, including MI9 deputy director Qunass Korg, after him.

MI9 major general Qunass Korg hunted Xu Yue, expecting his demigod status to overpower a mid-Sequence opponent. Xu Yue turned the ambush around, and Qunass recognized him as Franklin.

• Qunass Korg used an MI9 mission as cover to board a military airship and tracked Xu Yue with a Divination Sealed Artifact.
• Qunass Korg leaped from the airship and glided toward Xu Yue, then confronted him in the forest.
• Xu Yue made Qunass Korg tumble from the sky when Qunass tried to distort the rules against him.
• Qunass Korg amplified himself and charged at Xu Yue, but Xu Yue caught him and slammed him into the ground.
• Qunass Korg recognized Xu Yue's fighting style and identified him as Franklin.

Xu Yue killed Qunass Korg, consumed the Fallen Count’s Beyonder characteristic, and drew the Augustus Family’s attention. Delink Augustus set out to track Baron Sherlock’s friend, while Amon sensed an angel’s malice and went to investigate.

• Qunass Korg transformed into his incomplete Mythical Creature form, but Xu Yue struck his eye with a Sunflame Charm and grievously wounded him.
• Xu Yue possessed Qunass Korg, forced him to crush his own heart, and swallowed the Fallen Count’s Beyonder characteristic.
• William Augustus I learned that Qunass Korg had died and ordered Delink Augustus to investigate Baron Sherlock’s friend, warning him to withdraw if an angel was involved.
• Delink Augustus tracked the friend with a Sealed Artifact and flew toward his location.
• Amon sensed the malice of a Sequence 2 angel, found its direction, and went to investigate.

Klein sailed aboard the White Agate while wondering where to find a Mermaid, and Xu Yue attended a high-level Thief-pathway gathering at Babol River Valley. Xu Yue posted a mission to investigate Baron Sherlock and offered to answer one question for the gathering in exchange for support.

• Klein boarded the White Agate as Gehrman Sparrow and heard warnings about pirates, then wondered what Xu Yue was doing and where to find a Mermaid.
• Xu Yue arrived at Babol River Valley with a Fallen Count Beyonder characteristic and used a badge to enter the Hermits of Fate gathering.
• Xu Yue recognized Leonard and the inexperienced Heiryl Macht among the attendees, while a Sequence 4 Parasite also joined the gathering.
• The participants discussed the many requests for concealment and transformation items amid Loen's state of emergency.
• Xu Yue asked the gathering to investigate Baron Sherlock's background and offered a free answer to the question that gained the most support.

At a Beyonder gathering, Xu Yue offered information about Baron Sherlock and was challenged to answer a question about Amon. After a Sealed Artifact confirmed his answer, Xu Yue revealed that he had recently disturbed one of Amon’s tombs near Backlund, leaving the attendees scrambling to find safety.

• Xu Yue’s offer to investigate Sherlock made the Hermit of Fate Society’s members wary, though they considered accepting the job for a high enough price.
• Leonard suggested asking where Amon was, while Haileur Macht and Flora Yag proposed testing Xu Yue with a question about the Great Smog Incident.
• The gathering’s members agreed to Leonard’s question, and one of them used an Arbiter Sealed Artifact to check Xu Yue’s answer.
• Xu Yue said Amon had been in the Forsaken Land some time ago, and the Crystal Ball turned blue to confirm his words.
• Xu Yue revealed that he had dug up one of Amon’s tombs near Backlund and disrupted his plans, prompting five attendees to leave and others to consider moving into the city.

Amon parasitized Drinker Augustus and planned to use him to investigate a mysterious visitor from the stars. In Port Damir, Klein hunted for pirate bounties and smashed Sea Eagle Logan into a bar counter after Logan tried to make him pay for food.

• Amon turned Drinker Augustus into an avatar and considered using him to investigate the visitor from the stars.
• Klein arrived in Port Damir aboard the White Agate and studied the pirate bounty notices outside the Flying Fish and Wine bar.
• Klein learned from Airlan that Sea Eagle Logan was rumored to serve Hell Admiral, the master of the Black Tulip.
• Sea Eagle Logan offered Klein cured meat while arranging to make him pay five pounds for it.
• Klein accused Sea Eagle Logan of being Hell Admiral's lookout and smashed his head into the bar counter.

Klein beat Sea Eagle Logan at a bar, learned about recent pirate news, and was recruited by Dunnitz the Blazing. Recognizing Dunnitz’s three-thousand-gold-pound bounty, Klein attacked and captured him.

• Klein knocked Logan unconscious, paid the bartender, and learned Logan had fabricated his claims of being Ludwell’s informant.
• The bartender told Klein about the Royal Navy’s ironclad, clashes between pirate admirals, and Plague Vice Admiral’s return.
• After leaving the bar, Klein realized a man in a black cloak was following him and confronted him.
• The man introduced himself as Dunnitz the Blazing and invited Klein to join the Golden Dream’s treasure-seeking pirate crew.
• Klein recognized Dunnitz as a wanted man worth three thousand gold pounds, attacked him, and pinned him to the ground.