Chapter Summaries

Wesker and Tilin asked Isabelle about the outsiders expected in Gondolin and the controversy over renting shops to them. Isabelle explained that the visitors would help revive commerce and said she would welcome a group arriving that day, leaving Wesker eager to meet other human survivors.

• Wesker and Tilin visited the City Lord Office to ask where the outsiders were coming from and why their arrival had stirred rumors.
• They found Isabelle, now an Elf Ball after biological surgery, reviewing documents with Pu Yunchuan.
• Wesker told Isabelle that residents questioned the outsiders' identities and objected to renting shops to them first.
• Isabelle explained that the outsiders would stimulate commerce and that a group would arrive that day for civilians to observe and question.
• Wesker became excited at the prospect of meeting other human survivors, and Tilin also looked forward to the visitors.

Isabelle introduced Little Cabbage as Lady Christine, a southern noble whose supplies had helped Gondolin, and announced that survivors remained in the south. She explained that travel through the costly magical passage was limited, then promised a Hope Channel and unveiled a Points System to support trade and recovery.

• Soldiers at the city gate heard that foreign adventurers had arrived through a magical passage and were meeting the Duke at the Trial Square.
• Isabelle introduced Little Cabbage as Lady Christine of Doronkel and credited her with providing food, weapons, and equipment for Gondolin.
• Isabelle told the crowd that many survivors remained in the south, but ordinary people could not yet afford to use the magical passage.
• Isabelle announced plans for the adventurers and their forces to establish the Hope Channel by exploring and clearing a route south.
• Isabelle promised that the newcomers would open shops with scarce goods, then announced a Points System that would reward work and let residents trade for supplies.

Soldiers discussed the Duke’s new Points System, its work-based rewards, and the goods they could buy with their earnings. The chapter ended with Old Soldier John revealing that soldiers could earn much more by exploring the Mutation Zone, though the work was dangerous.

• A soldier showed the camp the Points System table, and Old Soldier John read its daily labor rates aloud.
• The soldiers questioned why guards earned less than some workers before learning that Points could buy affordable cloth, salt, sugar, and other goods while food rations remained unchanged.
• A soldier described costly luxury goods, including a fully armored Black Armor Giant Lion priced at thirty thousand Points.
• The soldiers complained that their duties left little time to earn extra Points through other work.
• Old Soldier John explained that exploring the Mutation Zone guaranteed one hundred Points a day, with additional rewards for new terrain and kills, including a thousand Points for killing a python.

Pu Yunchuan and Isabelle prepared to lease shops in their commercial district, and Isabelle explained how its goods could tempt the Northwest Seven Cities’ soldiers to spend and take risks. During registration, a lord’s claim that his faction sold Hextech products alarmed Ran Xiaojuan, and Pu Yunchuan recognized the bewildered young man as Xu Xian.

• Isabelle explained that attractive goods and the Points System would encourage the soldiers to seek more income and spend in the commercial district.
• Pu Yunchuan and Isabelle went to the registration office, where Isabelle explained that lords’ business potential and products received comprehensive ratings.
• Ran Xiaojuan rated Bat Is Not a Dish Name’s faction A after reviewing its food supplies and practical Tier Two arcane items.
• Ran Xiaojuan angrily challenged a frail young man after he claimed his faction sold Hextech products.
• Pu Yunchuan recognized the young man as Xu Xian.

Isabelle explained that Hextech required advanced mechanical and arcane research, making Xiao Qing’s faction’s achievements seem unlikely. Xiao Qing demonstrated their Hextech equipment, then revealed she was Xu Xian, just before the real Xu Xian arrived and slammed her onto the table.

• Pu Yunchuan mistook Xiao Qing for a man from an earlier communal bath, and Isabelle explained the difficulty of developing Hextech.
• Ran Xiaojuan inspected Xiao Qing’s faction information and doubted they could have developed Hextech so quickly.
• Xiao Qing’s companions presented an Atlas Gauntlet, and she listed other Hextech weapons and a portable battery.
• Pu Yunchuan stopped Xiao Qing from grabbing Isabelle and asked why she looked like Xu Xian.
• Xiao Qing claimed she was Xu Xian and said technology had let her change genders.
• A Black Shadow appeared and slammed Xiao Qing onto the table, revealing the real Xu Xian had arrived.

Xu Xian explained that his faction had cooperated with the Little Cabbage Faction to develop Hex products, and Alice realized the rival faction had used her market to attract attention while quietly expanding elsewhere. The chapter left Alice recognizing that she had been outmaneuvered by the other Alice.

• Pu Yunchuan mistook the Shapeshifter for Xu Xian’s twin sister before Xu Xian revealed the man’s special profession.
• Alice explained that Shapeshifters could temporarily copy other people’s genes, abilities, and attributes from samples.
• Xu Xian told Alice he wanted to rent four shops near the Little Cabbage Faction and admitted that his group had developed Hex products with its help.
• Alice inferred that the Little Cabbage Faction’s cooperation with Xu Xian had enabled its arcane and mechanical research.
• Alice realized the other Alice had used her market to draw attention while expanding the Little Cabbage Faction through the grassland, and she understood she had been outmaneuvered.

Gondolin’s market opened to a bustling crowd, and Jack’s group explored its shops and bought scarce goods and sweets. Jack tried a Military Ration Pill, then discovered it cost more points than he had and was left unable to pay.

• Isabelle opened Gondolin’s market after granting most workers two days off, drawing residents and visiting players to the city.
• Jack gathered Black Bear, Trism, Bain Ironhoof, and their families and children to visit the market.
• Bain Ironhoof and Trism bought large bags of salt, sugar, and candy, quickly spending their group’s points.
• Jack sampled a Military Ration Pill and found that it cured his hunger, but the shopkeeper charged him 100 points.
• Jack tried to pay with his Points Card, learned it held only 80 points, and realized he could not cover the pill’s cost.

Jack and his companions explored Gondolin’s shops, where One Pillar Holds the Sky sold Military Ration Pills and a salesman displayed expensive mounts and weapons. They left the Military Supply Zone wondering whether their guard wages would ever let them afford such goods.

• One Pillar Holds the Sky explained the benefits and price of her Military Ration Pills to Jack, then prioritized a Green Titan who ordered a thousand portions.
• One Pillar Holds the Sky gave Jack a pill and asked him and his companions to promote her shop in the military district.
• Jack’s group wandered into the Military Supply Zone and saw a Black Gold Lion King priced at thirty thousand points, far beyond Bain’s remaining funds.
• Jack and his companions admired the enchanted weapons but found them unaffordable, then left dispirited as Jack wondered if they would ever earn enough to buy such things.

Jack, Black Bear, and their companions shopped for cloth and quilts after losing heart over their guard duties, then encountered Isabelle and Pu Yunchuan discussing a lucrative live-capture project. The chapter ended with Black Bear asking Isabelle how much she would pay for capturing creatures alive.

• Jack, Bain, and the others felt dissatisfied with spending their lives as guards after seeing the market’s wonders.
• Black Bear’s group bought coarse cloth and cotton quilts at Li Gou Dan Tailor Shop, where Li Gou Dan’s mother’s garments and makeovers impressed the women.
• Black Bear’s Wife hurried out of the shop, while Black Bear reconsidered his bargain purchases after comparing them with the fine silk on display.
• Jack spotted Pu Yunchuan carrying Isabelle, and Bain pulled Trism over to greet them.
• Isabelle told Pu Yunchuan she wanted to assign a project team to research mounts and offer high rewards for capturing low-mutation creatures alive.
• Black Bear approached Isabelle and asked how high the reward for live captures would be.

Isabelle offered generous rewards and military merit for capturing rare creatures, inspiring Black Bear to ask about joining an exploration of the Mutation Zone. After his wife reluctantly accepted his decision to go, Black Bear set out with Jack, who agreed to join him.

• Isabelle told Black Bear and the others that capturing creatures such as mutated dragon horses and griffins could earn substantial points and military merit.
• Black Bear asked Isabelle what was required to join an exploration of the Mutation Zone.
• Black Bear's wife argued with him about leaving, but he said he wanted to improve their family's life, and she reluctantly accepted.
• The next morning, Jack waited outside Black Bear's home and asked if his wife had agreed to let him go.
• Black Bear told Jack to care for his wife if he failed to return, then accused him of coveting her; Jack proposed that they go make their fortunes together.

Bain joined the soldiers registering for the Mutation Zone expedition, hoping to prove himself and improve his clan’s standing. After Pu Yunchuan restored order, he told Jack and the others to finish registering and gather on the east side for a briefing.

• Bain told Jack and Black Bear that he would join the expedition while Trism stayed behind to care for the children.
• Beastmen flocked to the registration desk, and registrar listed Luke En’s Sequence 4 procedure and fifty-ninth overall ranking.
• Registrar placed Bain sixteenth overall, and Bain grabbed him in protest until Pu Yunchuan threw Bain aside.
• Bain recognized Pu Yunchuan and abandoned his challenge, while Pu Yunchuan warned the applicants to keep order.
• Jack asked whether Pu Yunchuan would lead the expedition, and Pu Yunchuan told him and the others to gather on the east side after registering.

Pu Yunchuan secretly gave Jack and the other new soldiers protective gear and better military rations before their expedition toward Otto Real. Isabelle discovered that he had spent private funds, approved of his efforts to win trusted subordinates, then grew jealous when he mentioned borrowing money from Gou Dan.

• Pu Yunchuan summoned Jack and the other two soldiers and secretly gave them Ion Shield Triggers, teleportation scrolls, insect-repellent crystals, and Military Ration Pills.
• Pu Yunchuan explained how the supplies could protect them and help them grow stronger, and told them to earn points for better equipment and mounts during their expedition.
• Pu Yunchuan said the group was heading southeast toward Otto Real to explore and seek mount specimens, including Dragonhorses and Griffins.
• Pu Yunchuan returned to the city lord's office, where Isabelle confronted him about hiding private funds.
• Isabelle accepted his plan to cultivate trusted subordinates but became jealous after learning he had borrowed money from Gou Dan.

Pu Yunchuan led Jack and a small group of soldiers out to join the treasure-hunting expedition, while Isabelle studied the market’s sales and considered how to build her own military market. The chapter ended with Isabelle summoning the alchemists to discuss an important matter.

• Pu Yunchuan arrived outside the city with Jack and Bain and saw the elite troops and mounts gathered by other player lords.
• Pu Yunchuan reassured his shabby-looking soldiers that their surgical enhancements made them powerful and urged them to earn better equipment through the expedition.
• Isabelle reviewed the market records and found that prepared food accounted for a third of sales, though she expected demand for Military Ration Pills to grow as exploration moved farther from resupply points.
• Isabelle concluded that Little Cabbage Faction had planned ahead and summoned Lady Xiao Juan and the alchemists for a meeting.

Isabelle reviewed the shopping center’s market data with Ran Xiaojuan and the developers, arguing that Zaun Technology Civilization should specialize rather than spread its research across every product. They agreed to focus on biological medicine and explore leatherworking partnerships, leaving Isabelle to recruit specialists at the Main Base.

• Isabelle gathered the developers to review project progress and proposed canceling research that did not fit Zaun Technology Civilization’s strengths.
• Isabelle argued that they should abandon the Military Ration Pill and food markets because other civilizations had advantages in energy shaping and agriculture.
• Isabelle reviewed the shopping center’s sales and proposed focusing on traditional biological medicine, especially antibiotics and vaccines.
• Ran Xiaojuan explained that high-quality leatherworking required specialized skills, and the Old Judge suggested training hunters and recruiting life-profession players.
• Isabelle agreed to visit the Main Base to look for leatherworking specialists.

Isabelle promoted Gene Surgery to players struggling with infections and expedition costs, then visited Wei Lin to ask about her slow development and find Grandpa Lu. She learned that one of her relatives had arrived to see him, leaving her worried that someone had beaten her to it again.

• Isabelle overheard players complain about their soldiers suffering from viruses, poisonous insects, and high supply costs, and suggested Gene Surgery as a way to give them basic antibodies.
• Isabelle planned to publicize the procedures and combine them with vaccines or serums to attract customers.
• Isabelle visited Wei Lin at the Elf Base and asked why she had not begun changing form like newer Elf Players.
• Wei Lin reassured Isabelle that her progress was good, though she could not yet tell what form Isabelle would take.
• Isabelle asked for Grandpa Lu and learned that he was meeting with one of her relatives.

Isabelle met Alice at the Elf Base, then went to Little Cabbage’s base to discuss plans and found the chieftain unusually prone to falling asleep. Alice went to investigate and was stunned by the state of the Elf District.

• Isabelle overheard Grandpa Lu agreeing to promote equipment and enchantments in his guide, then told him she had serious business to discuss.
• Alice cuddled Isabelle and explained that she had chosen the Dark Elf body because it suited her undead nature and looked good.
• Alice returned to Little Cabbage’s base, where Isabelle asked after the chieftain and learned she had gone to sleep during lunch.
• Little Deer told Alice that Little Cabbage had recently been falling asleep unexpectedly, and Alice went to check on the high-level elves.
• Alice saw the state of the Elf District and stood rooted to the spot in shock.

After returning to the Main Base, Alice discovered that Little Cabbage had cultivated powerful Great Elves resembling an Azure Dragon and a Black Tortoise. At the Council Hall, developers explained their potential and the work needed to build a magic network, before Alice began discussing plans for the coming period.

• Alice returned to the Main Base and found two immense Great Elves and two other Elemental Spirits above the breeding grounds.
• The Old Shaman told Alice that Little Cabbage had created the Great Elves, and Alice found Little Cabbage asleep in her tent without waking her.
• Alice went to the Council Hall and asked the developers to explain the Great Elves and their unusual power.
• A developer explained that Little Cabbage had cultivated advanced Elemental Spirits using the High Elf flower-spirit system, and that Great Elves could eventually support a magic network and empower soldiers.
• Alice agreed that they should prepare for a magic network when conditions allowed, then called the group’s attention to plans for the coming period.

Alice reviewed the faction’s research and business plans, prioritizing products that could earn points while postponing construction projects. She assigned Liver Emperor and Gou Dan to gather leather materials and planned to use Grandpa Lu’s guide to promote the faction’s weapons and potions.

• Madeline reported that her team was struggling to reverse-engineer the Mugu Tree and Erlante Wisteria for communications, while Alice said she could not spare more assistants.
• Maya Anono reported that her team had developed several effective Alchemy Potions capable of treating Tier 3 Lifeforms, and Alice approved her request for more manpower.
• Bill Els said the faction’s refined metals surpassed those of surrounding players, and Alice concluded that its resources should prioritize profitable product projects over construction.
• Alice assigned Liver Emperor to hunt in the Northern Grassland for low-grade leather and Gou Dan to explore toward Meslin and hunt high-level beasts for premium leather.
• Alice explained that players would eventually value the faction’s potions and weapons, and said she had asked Grandpa Lu to promote them in his guide.

Grandpa Lu published advice for lord players struggling to establish businesses, recruit researchers, and explore the New World. His final suggestion soon sent C City's campus recruitment market into turmoil.

• Grandpa Lu gathered information about the lord players' difficulties and posted a guide that quickly drew over one hundred thousand clicks.
• Grandpa Lu advised players to choose products suited to their civilization systems and persist in establishing shops at Gondolin's market.
• Grandpa Lu urged factions to build education systems for the long term and seek urgently needed research assistants among mages, shamans, and witch doctors.
• Grandpa Lu proposed that players organize expeditions to the Western Islands, which he believed had more human mages than the Steel Empire.
• Grandpa Lu shared a suggestion for recruiting developer players, and it sparked an upheaval at C City's campus recruitment market.

Xie Donglin’s first job interview ended with an offer of six months of unpaid training and a costly suit he would have to repay if dismissed, leaving him distraught about burdening his family. As Zheng Jie introduced him to a stranger who wanted to hire him, the man offered him a job playing games.

• Xie Donglin impressed an Anshuo Information interviewer with his skills and preparation, then learned the position required six months of unpaid training and a potentially repayable five-thousand-yuan suit.
• Xie Donglin left the recruitment fair upset, worrying that his family could not afford to support him through unpaid training or cover the suit’s cost.
• Zheng Jie called out to Xie Donglin and introduced him to a square-faced man, praising Xie’s technical skills and academic work.
• The man criticized Anshuo Information’s working conditions and asked Xie Donglin to work for him instead.
• Xie Donglin asked what the job involved, and the man said it was playing games.