Chapter Summaries

Lajos Assad traveled to Eagle Ridge to verify Thor Dressrosa’s promises and found the territory far more developed than expected. After seeing its prosperous farmland, orderly settlement, and many Formal Knights, he welcomed the prospect of building his trade there.

• Lajos Assad questioned whether Thor Dressrosa could provide the support he had promised, so he decided to visit Eagle Ridge and assess its potential.
• Lajos and his caravan reached the Maine River Valley and were astonished by Eagle Ridge’s farmland, buildings, and imposing castle.
• Thor welcomed Lajos warmly and invited him and his party to a lavish dinner.
• As Thor led Lajos through the clean, hopeful settlement, Lajos saw its thriving people and numerous Formal Knights.
• Lajos’s doubts disappeared, and he became eager to develop his trade with Thor’s growing territory.

Thor offered Lajos a hundred sets of fine Black Iron Armor and one set of Silver Armor to help him establish a trade route through Northern Province. Lajos accepted Thor’s discounted prices, and Thor looked toward building a steady, long-term trade partnership.

• At a banquet, Lajos told Thor that the valuable food would have been better sold for gold to support Eagle Ridge.
• Thor had Ryan bring out crates containing a hundred sets of fine Black Iron Armor and a set of Silver Armor.
• Thor offered the armor to Lajos, explaining that it would help him persuade Northern Province’s lords to buy goods through his trade route.
• Lajos offered fifty silver coins per set of Black Iron Armor and five hundred gold coins for the Silver Armor.
• Thor set the prices at thirty silver coins per Black Iron Armor set and three hundred gold coins for the Silver Armor, and Lajos gratefully accepted.

Thor and Lajos Assad agreed to establish a merchant guild to open trade routes across the Northern Province, using Thor’s armor, goods, and knights. Lajos accepted the plan and looked forward to building the trade network and gaining recognition from his family.

• Lajos Assad reacted with excitement when Thor offered Black Iron Armor and Silver Armor for trade, including a monthly supply of Black Iron Armor.
• Thor proposed that they create trade routes throughout the Northern Province to supply Eagle Ridge and bypass the Habs Merchant Guild.
• Thor offered to form a merchant guild with Lajos, initially suggesting they each hold fifty percent.
• Lajos asked for only a thirty percent share and required knights to protect the guild.
• Thor agreed to provide ten Formal Knights, thirty Apprentice Knights, and one hundred Reserve Knights as the guild’s initial security force.
• Lajos accepted Thor’s terms and anticipated expanding the market and earning the Assad Family’s attention.

Thor oversaw Eagle Ridge’s expansion while Lajos established new trade routes, then learned that Loren City’s upcoming auction would offer a Thunder Stone and a talented breeder who could help him acquire Unicorn Horses. The chapter ended with Thor considering how to use the new intelligence to strengthen his territory.

• Lajos left Eagle Ridge with knights and armor to establish trade routes, and soon opened routes to three Pioneer Knight territories.
• Eagle Ridge doubled in size as its basic construction was completed, while Ryan’s rapid cultivation progress impressed both Thor and Neil Morton.
• Neil Morton concluded that Ryan was almost certain to become a Saint Domain Knight, but chose to remain at Eagle Ridge rather than take him to the Empire.
• Thor’s Daily Intelligence revealed a Thunder Stone and a youth named Allen with Affinity with All Things would be available in Loren City in seven days.
• Thor realized Allen could help him breed the Unicorn Horses near his territory and saw the Thunder Stone as the key material for crafting a Magic Crystal Cannon.

Thor traveled to Loren City with Neil Morton, Ryan, and a large retinue to attend an auction featuring the Stone of Thunder and a boy named Allen. He arrived safely and found the city crowded and thriving ahead of the auction, which began the following afternoon.

• Thor gathered knights and supplies, then set out for Loren City with Neil Morton and Ryan.
• The group reached Loren City after four days of travel without encountering danger.
• Neil Morton criticized the state of Loren City, while Thor refrained from commenting on its rulers.
• Thor noticed a large procession bearing the Dorton banner among the crowds outside the city.
• Thor led his group through the noble passage into Loren City and observed its increased population, bustling trade, and titled Northern Province nobles.

Thor attended the Habs Merchant Guild auction in Loren City, where he bought five hundred farming serfs for three hundred gold coins and watched valuable armor sell for high prices. The auction continued, with the Stone of Thunder still awaiting its turn.

• Thor entered the auction hall with Ryan and Neil Morton and reviewed a catalog listing the serfs and the Stone of Thunder.
• Thor watched the early lots pass without bidding, then heard Ryan offer three hundred gold coins for five hundred skilled serfs.
• The auctioneer sold the serfs to Thor's party, and Ryan handed the gold coins to the attendant.
• Thor saw Black Iron Armor and Silver Armor sell for ten gold coins and one thousand gold coins respectively.

Thor tried to buy the Stone of Thunder at auction, but an enemy from the Emerson Family provoked a bidding war and won it for eight thousand gold coins. Thor ordered Ryan to investigate the young man's territory and forces, while the buyer realized he could not afford his winning bid.

• The auction sold three lots of Low-Grade Life Potions for prices far above Thor's expectations.
• Ryan bid twelve hundred gold coins for the Stone of Thunder, and a young man from the Emerson Family outbid him.
• Thor raised the bid to five thousand gold coins, but the young man angrily won the stone for eight thousand.
• Thor recognized the Emerson Family's badge and told Ryan to find out the young man's territory and how many men he had.
• The young man realized he had less than six thousand gold coins and had accidentally bought the stone for eight thousand as someone knocked on his door.

Thor secured the Stone of Thunder for three thousand gold coins after Corin Emerson failed to pay his bid and was punished by the Habs Merchant Guild. Thor learned that Corin’s nearby Fallen Leaf Territory had substantial forces, and both men began considering the other a threat.

• Corin Emerson tried to reduce his eight-thousand-gold-coin bid for the Stone of Thunder, but an elder of the Habs Merchant Guild confiscated his deposit and fined him three thousand gold coins.
• The Habs Merchant Guild delivered the Stone of Thunder to Thor, who paid three thousand gold coins and received a platinum discount card.
• Thor left the auction with Ryan and Neil Morton, having little money left for other purchases.
• Corin ordered his knights to find Thor’s territory and learned it was in Maine River Valley.
• Ryan told Thor that Corin’s Fallen Leaf Territory was only about one hundred and thirty miles away and had two Great Knights, twenty Formal Knights, and one hundred Apprentice Knights.

Thor recruited Allen, whose rare affinity could help living creatures advance, and promised to free him and his parents if he raised the Unicorn Horses well. After buying supplies in Loren City, Thor returned to Eagle Ridge and began preparing to raise the herd and forge Magic Crystal Cannons.

• Thor offered Allen freedom for him and his parents, and the chance to learn the Knight's Breathing Technique if he helped raise and advance the Unicorn Horses.
• Allen accepted Thor's offer and pledged to serve him.
• Thor spent nearly two days buying food, supplies, and materials in Loren City, then departed with his group on the third day.
• Thor returned to Eagle Ridge around the ninth day and settled five hundred serfs before handling accumulated administrative work.
• Thor arranged to transport the Stone of Thunder to the iron mine so Magic Crystal Cannons could be forged for Eagle Ridge and the mine.
• Thor turned his attention to raising the Unicorn Horses with Allen's help and considered Corin Emerson's death a matter for later.

Thor led a large force to capture a herd of Unicorn Horses using Blazing Oil fires to block their escape. The knights caught all twenty-three horses, including a Peak Second-Tier Unicorn Leader, and began extinguishing the flames.

• Thor gathered Steve, Ryan, and most of Eagle Ridge’s knights and led them to the Maine River Valley.
• Thor ordered Ryan to surround the grazing Unicorn Horses with Blazing Oil and told Steve to seize the Unicorn Leader.
• The knights ignited the oil, trapping the frightened horses as they charged in with lassos.
• Steve restrained the Unicorn Leader while the knights bound the other Unicorn Horses one by one.
• After the Unicorn Leader collapsed, Steve bound it, and Thor’s forces had captured all twenty-three horses.
• Thor ordered the knights to extinguish the fire and celebrated the valuable haul.

Thor rewarded the knights for capturing Unicorn Horses and entrusted their care to Allen, then realized Eagle Ridge needed administrators and asked his father for help. The chapter ended with new intelligence about a Boar Beast leader nearing Third-Tier and a discovery that could increase Fire Spirit Tree yields.

• Thor awarded Merit Points to the knights and Steve for capturing twenty-three Unicorn Horses.
• Thor assigned Allen to care for the horses and promised extra Merit Points for breeding more or helping them advance in rank.
• Thor asked Ryan to arrange workers and guards for the stables.
• Thor decided Eagle Ridge needed administrators and wrote to his father asking for assistance.
• Thor received new intelligence about a group of Boar Beasts north of his territory and a serf's discovery in the Barony of Wells that Fern Root grafted onto a Fire Spirit Tree could increase its yield.

Thor tested the newly forged Magic Crystal Cannon and prepared Eagle Ridge for threats from rival lords. After considering the territories around the Maine River Valley, he focused on the weaker Lawrence Family.

• Asachi demonstrated that the Magic Crystal Cannon could destroy an earthen slope with a single blast, and Thor learned the Stone of Thunder could produce at most four more cannons.
• Thor rewarded Asachi with Merit Points and ordered Ryan to load the cannon for Eagle Ridge’s defense.
• Thor anticipated that Eagle Ridge’s iron mine, goblins, and alchemists would attract rivals, and considered using the Emerson Family as a stepping stone before deciding against acting yet.
• Thor studied his detailed map of the Maine River Valley and focused on the Lawrence Family, a nearby baronial territory with only one Early Earth Knight.

Thor chose the Lawrence Family as his next target and arranged for Lajos Assad to reveal his mine and goblins to Baron Lawrence. Lajos brought three sets of Silver Armor to Pape Lawrence, who welcomed the chance to buy the equipment he needed.

• Thor selected the Lawrence Family because its territory was near his mine and its forces were strong enough to be useful but weak enough to subdue.
• Thor had Ryan prepare a larger shipment of armor, including two hundred sets of Black Iron Armor and three sets of Silver Armor.
• Thor told Lajos Assad to reveal to Baron Lawrence that Thor owned a Large Iron Mine and had acquired goblins.
• Lajos traveled among the lords, selling one hundred sets of Black Iron Armor while keeping the remaining goods in reserve.
• Lajos arrived at Lawrence Baronial Territory and presented Pape Lawrence with three sets of Silver Armor, which delighted him.

At a banquet, Pape Lawrence learned that Lajos Assad had bought armor from a friend with goblins and an iron mine, then connected the clues to Thor Dressrosa’s Eagle Ridge. Convinced Eagle Ridge held valuable resources, Pape sent his son to investigate and began to hope he could seize the opportunity for himself.

• Pape Lawrence questioned the drunken Lajos Assad about how he had brought Black Iron Armor and Silver Armor through the Habs Merchant Guild’s blockade, and Lajos claimed he had bought them from a friend with goblins and an iron mine.
• After Lajos fell asleep, Pape asked Lawrence Lawrence about his investigation, and Lawrence reported that Lajos had visited Eagle Ridge and sold Black Iron Armor after leaving Green Territory.
• Lawrence told Pape that Eagle Ridge had occupied the nearby Timid Goblin territory, prompting Pape to connect the goblins, the armor, and the iron mine to Thor Dressrosa.
• Pape ordered Lawrence to take knights to the goblin territory and investigate what Eagle Ridge was doing.
• Pape reflected that the mine and goblins could give him enough wealth to pursue a Viscount title through the Kingdom War.

Baron Pape Lawrence learned that Eagle Ridge had a large force and suspected it guarded a Large Iron Mine, so he prepared to seize it. Thor’s intelligence system warned him of the attack, and Thor moved most of his strength to the mine, where both sides began preparing for a confrontation.

• Lajos Assad completed his armor sale to Baron Pape Lawrence and left, worried about the plan to provoke him.
• Lawrence reported to Pape Lawrence that Eagle Ridge had more than a hundred knights, including at least ten Formal Knights, and Pape Lawrence ordered preparations to attack in seven days.
• Thor’s Daily Intelligence System revealed that Pape Lawrence would move against him over the leaked information about the Large Iron Mine.
• Thor sent nearly all his forces to the mine and left Ryan in charge of Eagle Ridge with a small garrison.
• Thor arrived at the mine with more than two thousand people, and Pape Lawrence learned of his arrival while considering how to take the site.

Baron Pape Lawrence marched nearly his entire force toward Thor’s mine, confident he could defeat the young lord and capture him. Thor prepared to meet the attack with a larger force and hidden Magic Crystal Cannons, ordering that every enemy be captured so the weapons’ existence remained secret.

• Baron Pape Lawrence ordered Lawrence to gather their men and planned to defeat Thor, then seize Eagle Ridge and possibly ransom the Dressrosa descendant.
• Baron Pape Lawrence set out for the mine with more than three thousand men, including one Great Knight, over twenty Formal Knights, and one hundred Apprentice Knights.
• Thor learned the enemy force was approaching and judged that Baron Pape Lawrence had committed nearly all his strength.
• Thor noted that the mine held more than three thousand people, including thirty Formal Knights, one hundred Apprentice Knights, two hundred Reserve Knights, and three Magic Crystal Cannons.
• Steve reported that preparations were complete, and Thor ordered him to use the Magic Crystal Cannons after the Cheval de Frise stopped the enemy, then capture every survivor.

Steve used three Magic Crystal Cannons to ambush Baron Pape Lawrence’s force near the mine, then led Eagle Territory’s troops in capturing the survivors. Thor received news of the swift victory while remaining at the mine.

• Baron Pape Lawrence sent Rosen to scout ahead, and Rosen found mining traces but no enemy troops.
• Baron Pape Lawrence advanced toward the mine with more than three thousand people, believing the Eagle Territory forces had withdrawn.
• Steve fired three Magic Crystal Cannons at the approaching force, killing most of its members and severely wounding Baron Pape Lawrence and Lawrence.
• Steve led Eagle Territory’s troops downhill and captured every survivor, with no one escaping.
• Thor stayed at the mine and received Steve’s report of the victory.

Thor celebrated his capture of Baron Pape Lawrence and Lawrence, then weighed whether to hide the Large Iron Mine or subdue the other lords in the Maine River Valley. Baron Pape Lawrence awoke to his defeat as Thor’s forces processed the prisoners, leaving him to face the likely loss of his territory.

• Thor praised Steve, awarded him fifty merit points, and ordered treatment for Baron Pape Lawrence and Lawrence.
• Thor considered concealing the Large Iron Mine or subduing every noble and Pioneer Lord in the Maine River Valley.
• Baron Pape Lawrence regained consciousness, recognized that he and Lawrence were prisoners, and regretted attacking Eagle Territory with most of his forces.
• Thor’s forces cleared the battlefield, imprisoned the knights, and claimed the captured slaves as his property.

Thor read intelligence that Auper Lawrence would join other lords in attacking Eagle Territory, so he decided to prepare for war and demand enormous compensation from the Lawrence family. He returned to Eagle Territory to seek Neil Morton’s help, while news of Pape Lawrence’s defeat and capture threw the Lawrence Territory into panic.

• Thor learned that Auper Lawrence planned to frame Eagle Territory and join other lords in an attack, and decided to settle the matter by force.
• Thor found the Earth Mice and obtained their fading Life Fruit before ordering Steve to move two Magic Crystal Cannons and deliver his compensation demand to the Lawrence Territory.
• Thor set the compensation so high that he expected the Lawrence family to refuse, hoping to provoke them into joining forces with other lords.
• Thor returned to Eagle Territory to ask Neil Morton for help while the Lawrence Territory received Steve’s letter.
• News of Pape Lawrence’s defeat and capture spread through the Lawrence Territory, unsettling Renee Black and its residents.

After Eagle Territory demanded a huge ransom for Baron Pape Lawrence and his captured knights, Renee Black and her son Auper considered refusing payment to secure Auper's inheritance. They decided to hire mercenaries and spread a rumor about Eagle Territory's mineral wealth, leaving Pape and his elder son in danger.

• A knight from Eagle Territory delivered a ransom demand for Baron Pape Lawrence, his son Lawrence, the captured knights, serfs, and war reparations.
• Auper Lawrence saw his father's capture as a chance to inherit Lawrence Territory, while Renee Black worried the territory could not defend itself without Pape.
• Auper proposed hiring a Great Knight from the Habs Merchant Guild instead of paying the ransom, and Renee began to consider the plan.
• Auper suggested falsely claiming Eagle Territory had a large iron mine so other forces would target it, and Renee agreed despite realizing Pape might never return.
• Auper set out for Loren City to hire a Great Knight and several Formal Knights from the Habs Merchant Guild.