Chapter Summaries

Raven captured Archduke Evol VIII and forced him to order the Evol army to surrender, ending the battle outside Blue Castle. As the soldiers laid down their weapons, Raven discovered that someone had hung a banner welcoming him as Emperor Raven.

• After Aetheriel died, Archduke Evol VIII released Hoaz and Hu Xia and offered to submit to Raven, who arrived and ordered the archduke to put on shackles and surrender his army.
• Raven left Hoaz, Hu Xia, and Margaret to guard the Palace of Swirling Flowers, then rode toward the battlefield with Archduke Evol VIII in chains.
• As Banks led the exhausted Wind King Troops toward Quentin's command flag, Weston rallied the Eagle Army's First Legion to charge again.
• Raven emerged from Blue Castle with the Heavy Cavalry and announced that he had captured Archduke Evol VIII, but Quentin claimed the archduke was safe and urged his army to attack.
• Archduke Evol VIII stripped Quentin of command and ordered the Evol troops to surrender, prompting soldiers across the battlefield to drop their weapons.
• When a banner appeared welcoming Raven as emperor, Raven seized Archduke Evol VIII by the throat and demanded to know what was happening.

Raven’s Eagle Army conquered Bluecastle and entered the Palace of Swirling Flowers, where the Evol Duchy’s remaining leaders confronted their defeat. Cuiqi welcomed Raven with conspicuous submission and invited him to sample wines in private.

• Raven ordered the surrendered Evol soldiers disarmed and had Count Jonah’s Highland Army monitor them as they scattered across the plains.
• The Eagle Army entered Bluecastle with Archduke Evol VIII in chains, but Prime Minister Gatugen attempted to assassinate him and was captured.
• Gatugen refused to surrender and Hyena killed him, while Quentin wept and shouted, “Long live Emperor Raven!”
• Raven entered the ruined Palace of Swirling Flowers and found Cuiqi seated in the archduke’s chair; she curtsied, kissed Raven’s boot, and arranged a banquet.
• At the banquet, Cuiqi praised Raven and offered to take him to taste hidden wines from Phidon and Insa.

Raven captured Blue Castle and took control of the Palace of Swirling Flowers, where Cuiqi asked him to let her govern the Evol Duchy. News of his victory spread across the continent, drawing armies and diplomats to Blue Castle as a ceremony was prepared at the palace.

• Cuiqi revealed that she wanted Raven to grant her power over the Evol Duchy, offering a contract and a child in exchange.
• Raven spent the night with Cuiqi while Evol VIII watched from outside the bedchamber, and Evol VIII yielded to Raven the next morning.
• Count Talon read reports describing Raven's risky victory, then ordered his army to march to Blue Castle.
• Marquis Anthony ordered his troops to the palace and sent a letter to Viscount Gunther, whom he called Little Flayer.
• The Phidon City-States sent aid toward Makik City, the Insar Empire reinforced Langqing Province, and the Church of Light called for a Continental Conference.
• Count Talon and Marquis Anthony arrived at Blue Castle and the Palace of Swirling Flowers, and a grand ceremony was held there on June 20.

Raven secured the Evol Duchy’s submission to the Cairns Empire through a humiliating twenty-article treaty, while gaining wealth, magical resources, and influence over Cuiqi. As nobles celebrated his victory, Anthony revealed that Raven’s wife, Lady Nancy, had been bedridden for half a year.

• Archduke Evol VIII publicly read a treaty that placed Evol’s defenses, territories, military, succession, and currency under Cairns control and imposed executions and reparations.
• Raven counted his gains from the war, including 1.54 million Gold Coins, rare magical materials, an enchanted rapier, and a Reincarnated Angel inheritance ritual.
• Raven revealed that he controlled Cuiqi through a master-servant contract and planned to use her position to influence Evol’s government.
• After the treaty was read, nobles gathered around Raven and praised him, while Archduke Evol VIII collapsed unnoticed.
• Anthony approached Raven and told him that Lady Nancy had been bedridden for half a year.

Raven returned to Eagle City and stayed beside Nancy as her magical power failed; she died on her birthday after asking whether he had ever loved her. Three months later, Raven buried her with a grand funeral, placed Guldane’s sword in her hand, and left the tomb as a commotion erupted outside.

• Raven rode back to Eagle City and learned that Nancy’s exhausted magical power left her with little time to live.
• Nancy asked Raven to celebrate her birthday, then gave final instructions to her household before asking if he had ever loved her; Raven said no, and she died in his arms.
• After Nancy’s death, Old Gordon’s grief left him confused and unable to care for himself, while Raven wrote her funeral notices.
• Raven’s notices reached more than two hundred noble families, and events in Evol and across the continent changed during the three-month wait for Nancy’s funeral.
• Raven held a grand funeral for Nancy on October 5 and buried her in the Griffith ancestral tomb with Guldane’s sword in her hand.
• Raven left the tomb after closing Nancy’s coffin, then heard a chaotic commotion outside.

At Lady Nancy’s funeral, Raven received the king’s summons to the capital for investiture as a count, while Lady Doreen forced Viscount Little Flayer to apologize for insulting Nancy. After a thirteen-month journey through a troubled empire, Raven reached Mingnaijial City, where he expected strong resistance to his ennoblement.

• Lady Doreen beat Viscount Little Flayer for insulting Nancy, and Baron Raven demanded that he apologize to her.
• Minsk backed Doreen, and Little Flayer knelt and apologized to Nancy after Doreen kicked him down.
• Ezio arrived with King Cairns XVI’s decree summoning Raven to Mingnaijial City for investiture as a count.
• Raven spent nearly two months preparing his entourage, then left Eagle City on December 7, 1200, and traveled across the empire for thirteen months.
• Weston worried that the capital’s nobles would target Raven, but Raven insisted on entering the city to receive his title.
• Raven’s party reached the outskirts of Mingnaijial City, where Raven anticipated heavy resistance to his ennoblement.

Raven arrived in Mingnaijial, sold Piler an Angel's Radiance mirror, and settled into the Emerald Palace while his guards explored the royal capital. After Weston and the others fought men from the Quesseran Family at a tavern, Raven heard their account, and Piler arrived to take him out the next day.

• Piler escorted Raven into Mingnaijial, where Raven revealed his goods and sold him an Angel's Radiance mirror for 9,999 Gold Coins.
• Raven checked into the Emerald Palace and received an invitation from Domi Shiva Farrell to a drinking party five days later.
• Weston, Hyena, Julia, and Thor visited the Dragon's Maw tavern, where they ordered expensive food and drinks, including a Gold Coin Burger.
• Three drunken men from the Quesseran Family harassed Julia, and Julia and Weston knocked them down before the group fled back to the Emerald Palace.
• Weston told Raven about the fight, and Raven said he understood; then Piler arrived and invited Raven to go out with him.

Raven visited Kingmaker's Square with Piler, where the First Dynasty obelisk revealed the Griffith Family as one of the empire's founding families. The discovery boosted demand for Raven's goods, and the chapter ended as the royal capital's high-noble banquet began with attention focused on him.

• Raven asked Piler for advice about a banquet invitation from the Farrell Family, then visited Kingmaker's Square and learned that its obelisks recorded the empire's meritorious families.
• Geoffrey of the Gustav Family tried to belittle Raven and make him bow to the obelisks, but Raven's presence awakened the First Dynasty obelisk, which inscribed Griffith upon it.
• Raven bowed to honor his ancestors and challenged Geoffrey to show the same respect; Geoffrey left in anger.
• Raven and Piler returned to Emerald Palace to find crowds demanding Angel's Radiance, and Raven offered Piler five mirrors at the base price to sell later.
• Julia apologized to Raven and urged him to look beyond his grief, while Raven misunderstood her reference to his diary before sending her away.
• Raven toured the capital with Piler as Angel's Radiance rose above 33,000 Gold Coins, and on December 2 the high nobles' banquet began with the capital watching Raven.

Raven attended Count Domi’s banquet, where he navigated rival noble factions without pledging himself to either and impressed Duke Ferdinand with his military analysis. After Raven profited from selling Angel’s Radiance, Duke Weitus arrested him under orders from the Noble Council, and Weston’s attempts to find help left his companions waiting anxiously for news of Raven’s impending Supreme Judgment.

• Count Domi introduced Raven as the banquet’s guest of honor, and Raven kept Marquis Anthony at a distance rather than lending him political prestige.
• Duke Seraphinus tried to recruit Raven by criticizing rival noble families, but Raven responded cautiously and made no commitment.
• Raven praised Duke Ferdinand’s decisions in the war against Insa, winning Ferdinand’s goodwill while maintaining friendly ties with both noble factions.
• Raven and Piler oversaw the sale of the remaining Angel’s Radiance, and Raven earned a large profit before Duke Weitus arrived with Black Feather Guards and arrested him.
• Julia stopped the Hyena from attempting an armed rescue, while Weston tried to seek help from Piler and other nobles but found no support.
• A cabinet announcement dated December 14, 1201, accused Raven of grave crimes and declared that he would face the Supreme Judgment.

Ferdinand visited Raven in Deep Prison and offered him a way out in exchange for joining his faction, but Raven refused. After 114 days of imprisonment, Raven was brought to Samuil Palace for trial, where Anthony accused him of five grave crimes and demanded his execution.

• Ferdinand explained that the Church of Light and the new faction of nobles had arranged Raven's imprisonment, then asked him to join their cause and promised to help clear his name.
• Raven refused Ferdinand's offer, unwilling to incur a life-saving debt or become involved in the capital's political conflict.
• Five days later, Ferdinand did not return, and Raven remained imprisoned through the New Year until March 31, 1202.
• Guards took Raven to Samuil Palace, where Duke Weitus led him into the crowded courtroom and Raven saw Weston, the Hyena, and Julia among the attendees.
• Chief Justice Dunlop opened Raven's trial, and Raven chose to defend himself rather than request an attorney.
• Anthony Vanya Edwards charged Raven with depravity, kin-slaying, treason, brutality, and blasphemy, then demanded that Raven be stripped of his title, his fief confiscated, and he beheaded.

Raven faced a trial in Samuil Palace as Anthony and several witnesses accused him of crimes, but Cairns XVI and Laxus overturned the charges. Laxus swore that her testimony defending Raven was sincere, leaving the court poised to deliver its verdict.

• Anthony accused Raven of treason and wartime atrocities, while Quentin testified against him about Evol's suffering.
• Piller claimed Raven had sexually abused him, and Judra accused Raven of murdering Baron Donald; a priest also raised a blasphemy charge.
• Raven denounced the trial as a murder and rejected Dunlop's offer of leniency, while Hamilton supported the harshest punishment.
• Cairns XVI revealed that he had secretly ordered Raven's attack on Evol and exposed Piller's accusation as a staged trick.
• Morrenzo called Laxus to accuse Raven of murder and collusion with the Hand of Death Cult, but Laxus instead defended Raven and explained the events she had witnessed.
• Laxus denied all the charges and swore that her testimony was truthful when Dunlop asked her to affirm it before the Lord of Light.

Raven was acquitted, and Cairns XVI announced that he would be made a count in ten days. After returning to the Emerald Palace, Raven forced Judra to surrender his title and territory to Mark and serve as a soldier, then prepared for his investiture ceremony.

• Cairns XVI declared Raven not guilty and announced that he would ennoble him as a count at the Royal Court in ten days.
• Raven left Samuil Palace with his companions, rode through the celebrating crowd in Biller's carriage, and returned to the Emerald Palace exhausted and shaken by his imprisonment.
• After learning that Knight Simon had disappeared, Raven ordered Hyena to bring Prisoner No. 1, then confronted Judra about accusing him in court.
• Raven revealed that Prisoner No. 1 was Mark, Judra's brother and a witness to their father's murder, and made Judra transfer Iron Furnace Territory to Mark in exchange for sparing Judra's son.
• Raven spent the following weeks recovering and searching for news of Laxus while tightening communications with Eagle Territory.
• On April 10, Raven's investiture ceremony was held at the Royal Court.

Raven was formally elevated to imperial count and received extensive rewards, including the right to develop the Bloody Highlands. After discussing the Empire’s condition with Cairns XVI, Raven prepared to return to Nord Province, leaving Weston in the capital to attend the Royal University.

• Raven placed the Griffith Family shield before Cairns I’s statue and was ceremonially conferred the title of imperial count by Cairns XVI.
• Raven received sovereignty over Eagle Territory, Snow Maple Territory, and Holo Territory, the right to develop the Bloody Highlands, and substantial gifts from the king.
• Raven discussed conquering the Bloody Highlands with Duke Ferdinand and gained his advice on imposing order there.
• Cairns XVI privately asked Raven to assess the Empire, then entrusted him with stabilizing Nord Province and discussed his battles with him late into the night.
• Raven ordered preparations to depart and required Weston to remain in the capital and enroll at the Royal University.
• After organizing their accounts and rewards, Raven left the capital with the Eagle Army and set out for home.

Raven returned through the provinces and learned that Cairns XVI had staged the unrest he witnessed as a test of his loyalty. In Eagle River City, he reunited with Denise, Eric, Mancini, and Link, then scolded them for preparing to rescue him before punishing Thor in Eric’s place.

• Raven questioned residents on his journey and discovered that the bandits, rioters, and fleeing serfs had been part of a scheme arranged by Seraphinus under Cairns XVI’s orders.
• Raven refused Duke Seraphinus’s invitation and continued through Mangtai'en Province toward Eagle River City.
• The Mercenary Guild president told Raven that a powerful, wealthy mercenary had been investigating him, so Raven went to the mercenary’s hideout.
• Raven found Denise, Eric, Mancini, and Link at the hideout and learned that Denise had organized a rescue force after hearing he had been arrested.
• Raven rebuked the group for risking the Eagle Army and the Griffith Family to rescue him, but Eric said the family had no meaning without Raven.
• Raven canceled Thor’s planned knighthood and declared that he would pay for his father Eric’s offense.

Raven visited Xiongchuan City and discovered that Dane treasured a seventh-tier Hydra Lizard demon core, which Raven secretly stole after failing to buy it. The chapter ended with Dane finding the chest empty and blaming Raven, who had already departed for Shanpulongs Province.

• Raven ordered the Eagle Army troops still traveling through Shanpulongs Province to return by their planned route and accepted an invitation from the Hainholtz Family.
• Dane welcomed Raven to Craggy Peak Fortress and entertained him with a banquet and a collection of unusual wines.
• Dane showed Raven a protected Secret Chamber containing a seventh-tier life-aspected demon core, and Raven recognized its extraordinary value.
• Raven tried to obtain the demon core, but Dane refused to sell it and spread rumors to promote the Hainholtz Family's planned auction.
• Raven left for Shanpulongs Province after his supplies were ready, while Dane prepared to send the demon core to the capital.
• Dane opened the chest and found the demon core missing, then accused Raven and cursed him in rage.

Raven crossed the desert into western Shanpulongs, where he bought the potato harvests of three counties to turn into Potato Chips. After leaving the hot-spring estate with potato samples, he set out toward North Sea Province and then Nord.

• Raven and his group endured the desert crossing before reaching the hot springs at Embrace of Dawn, where Raven and Denise shared an intimate bath interrupted by Xikereit delivering Sir Dane's seventh-tier Demon Core.
• Adi Ota Baiheng explained that his estate and the surrounding area struggled with bandit-defense costs, poor soil, and potatoes that were hard to sell or store.
• Raven invited the nobles of three counties to negotiate and agreed to buy unlimited potatoes from them for five years at 0.37 per pound, leaving a 300,000 Gold Coin down payment.
• Denise asked Raven why he had bought so many potatoes, and he said he intended to make Potato Chips and a fortune.
• Raven departed with his group and potato samples, heading for North Sea Province before continuing to Nord.

Raven returned to his territory in November 1202 after a long journey, accepting the Church of Light’s gifts and paying his respects to the late Viscount John along the way. Welcomed home as a count, Raven ended the chapter by summoning Fiona to discuss the territory and Simon.

• Raven crossed North Sea Province, stopped at North Sea Lake, and returned to Nord Province, where local nobles hosted him at banquets.
• Archbishop Thomas offered Raven one hundred Second-tier God-Given Potions and assured him that Laxus would not lose her life.
• Raven visited Viscount John’s tomb, heard Jonathan deliver John’s final words, and promised to help the Luke Family.
• Raven returned to Eagle City on November 3, 1202, and his subjects welcomed him as their count.
• Old Gordon mistook Raven for Baron Raven, and Raven reassured him that Baron Raven was doing well.
• The next morning, Raven summoned Fiona to ask about the territory’s changes and Simon.

Raven reviewed Fiona’s reports on Griffith territory’s growing economy and army, then learned that Little Flayer had imprisoned Simon. Jenny urged Raven to act as though Simon were dead rather than risk the family’s standing, and Raven ordered preparations for the celebration banquet to proceed.

• Fiona presented Raven with her new charts and reported that Griffith territory earned up to 430,000 Gold Coins annually and had about 17,000 soldiers.
• Raven heard that Simon had endured ten months of torture in Little Flayer’s prison, while Little Flayer and Nofen argued over what to do about Raven’s return.
• After hearing Fiona, Jenny, and the Wind King Troops’ information, Raven concluded that Little Flayer had taken Simon.
• Jenny told Raven to treat Simon as dead and avoid negotiating with Little Flayer for the sake of the Griffith Family’s reputation.
• Raven agreed with Jenny and told Fiona to prepare for the celebration banquet in ten days.

Raven left Eagle City with eighteen companions and arrived at Firstborn Fortress, where Little Flayer had been waiting under martial law. After Eric ripped the fortress gates from their mounts, Raven entered and faced Little Flayer, who ordered his guards to kill them.

• Guests gathered at Raven's banquet in Eagle City, where local subjects celebrated, merchants considered business opportunities, and nobles discussed Raven's rise to count.
• Eagle Army officials and soldiers waited for Raven to arrive, but Raven, Eric, Hyena, and Link were absent, spreading unease through the hall.
• Raven assembled eighteen companions, including Eric, Hyena, Link, and Moas, then led them from Eagle City on flying mounts.
• A watchman spotted the flying mounts approaching Firstborn Fortress and raised the alarm; Little Flayer learned that Raven had arrived with eighteen others.
• Eric used Steel Qi to tear the fortress's steel gates from the tower, and Raven entered with his companions before Little Flayer ordered Dalton to kill them.

Raven and his elite guards stormed Firstborn Fortress, routing Dalton’s defenders while Julia defeated Dalton in single combat. As Raven’s group reached the main castle, Little Flayer revealed a Tier 4 wolf-headed warrior from the Wild Hunt Mercenary Group, who challenged Raven to withdraw or face his forces.

• Dalton ordered crossbowmen to fire on Raven’s group, but Raven’s eighteen guards blocked or dodged the bolts and advanced.
• Dalton led eighty personal guards into a charge, but Moas and Beta broke their formation, allowing Raven’s fighters to rout them.
• Julia stopped Dalton’s attack on Raven and defeated him by breaking his Queen’s Wrath technique with a spinning series of sword strikes.
• Little Flayer dismissed the defeated Dalton and summoned a wolf-headed Tier 4 Bloody Warrior from the Wild Hunt Mercenary Group.
• The wolf-headed warrior offered Raven a chance to withdraw, then threatened him as red-armored soldiers poured from the castle entrance.