Chapter Summaries

Nightless Sky Huo Le sought her mother's approval to strengthen security for Huo Xing's coming-of-age ceremony, and the Nightless Sky Family Head gave her the Heavenly Scroll and authority to act. After Huo Le left, the Family Head remained alone with Lin Yu and addressed him as A Luo.

• Nightless Sky Huo Le reported the prominent guests expected at Huo Xing's ceremony and requested permission to deploy family guards and Truth Company security forces.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head approved the security plan and said assassination commissions against nobles made caution necessary.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head gave Nightless Sky Huo Le the Heavenly Scroll, naming her its keeper and urging her to establish herself amid the city's turmoil.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le asked for Lin Yu to attend as a Distinguished Guest, and the Nightless Sky Family Head approved his status as equal to that of the other Royal Noble heirs.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le left after silently wishing Lin Yu luck, and the Nightless Sky Family Head told him she wanted time alone with him and called him A Luo.

Lin Yu, disguised as Fu Luo, spoke with the Nightless Sky Family Head about Huo Le’s prospects and the ruthless measures she had used to secure power. The Family Head then asked him to continue recounting his investigation at Steels Manor and explain why he had stopped working with Watson.

• Lin Yu assured the Nightless Sky Family Head that he supported Huo Le and mocked Huo Shu’s attempt to recruit him.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head revealed that she expected Huo Le to build power and eliminate obstacles, though she agreed to give her more time.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head asked Lin Yu to please her by continuing his account of Emily’s locked-room poisoning at Steels Manor.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head also pressed Lin Yu to explain why he had stopped working with Watson and suggested Hastings was less capable.

Lin Yu entertained the Nightless Sky Family Head with stories about Poirot, then discussed why he wanted to attend Huo Xing's Birthday Banquet. The Family Head revealed that she was the Chosen of God of Wisdom and exposed Lin Yu as an impostor posing as A Luo.

• Lin Yu told the Nightless Sky Family Head the plots of The Mysterious Affair at Styles and The ABC Murders, and she enjoyed the second story.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head asked Lin Yu why he wanted to attend Huo Xing's Birthday Banquet, and he said he wanted to improve Huo Le's chances and visit her.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head revealed that she was the Chosen of God of Wisdom.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head made books float around the room and told Lin Yu that he was not A Luo.
• Lin Yu acknowledged that the Nightless Sky Family Head had seen through his disguise and remained calm.

Lin Yu explained how he had impersonated Fu Luo and Sherlock, and the Nightless Sky Family Head accepted that he was Fu Luo’s close partner. After she blocked a bracelet that forced Lin Yu’s hand to reveal secrets, he admitted that he had come to carry out an assassination commission.

• The Nightless Sky Family Head revealed that Lin Yu’s lack of a detectable soul made her suspicious, but his failure to boast about himself while recounting Fu Luo’s cases convinced her he was an impostor.
• Lin Yu identified himself as the doctor and explained that he had used his doctor and soldier classes to impersonate Watson, Hastings, and Sherlock.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head accepted Lin Yu’s explanation and agreed not to pursue his impersonation of Fu Luo.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head asked which god stood behind Lin Yu and why he had come, but Lin Yu said he could not answer.
• A line of symbols triggered the Universal Trade Association’s Banishment Bracelet, and the Nightless Sky Family Head blocked it by making Lin Yu’s right hand an independent life-form.
• Lin Yu told the Nightless Sky Family Head that he had come to carry out an assassination commission.

Lin Yu told the Nightless Sky Family Head that he had to assassinate a Royal Noble, and she offered to help in exchange for learning the target. When Lin Yu named Alter Mercury, she pretended to object because of his ties to her family, then admitted she had been testing him.

• Lin Yu explained that he had obtained commission information by posing as a mercenary and that completing the assassination was required of him as a Player.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head deduced that Lin Yu’s target was not a member of her family and offered him help in exchange for the target’s identity.
• The Nightless Sky Family Head said she wanted to befriend Lin Yu rather than offend the deity who favored him.
• Lin Yu named Alter Mercury as his target, and the Nightless Sky Family Head claimed he was a respected elder and important ally.
• Lin Yu caught the Nightless Sky Family Head’s poor acting, and she admitted she had been testing him before jokingly calling Alter Mercury “Old B Lamp.”

Lin Yu learned that a leaked secret from fifty years ago had made Arter Mercury the target of many would-be assassins: his death could free the vacant Chosen position of God of Life. Nightless Sky Family Head explained why Arter had left Mercury Family and condemned both Arter and Arlan Mercury as unfit nobles.

• Nightless Sky Family Head warned Lin Yu that killing Arter Mercury would strain relations between Nightless Sky Family and Mercury Family.
• Nightless Sky Family Head revealed that a recently leaked secret had given at least thirty powerful people a motive to kill Arter Mercury.
• Nightless Sky Family Head explained that Arter was still the Chosen of God of Life, though he had lost the Chosen's power after Arlan Mercury borrowed it through a Secret Technique.
• Lin Yu asked why Arter had left Mercury Family, and Nightless Sky Family Head said Arlan needed to become the Chosen to establish his legitimacy as family head.
• Nightless Sky Family Head criticized Arter and Arlan as failures and said she expected her descendants to eventually swallow Mercury Family.

Lin Yu negotiated with the Nightless Sky Family Head over the commission and proposed a solution that could benefit her without damaging the family’s dignity. Nightless Sky Huo Le then took Lin Yu to prepare a gift and formal clothes for Huo Xing’s coming-of-age ceremony.

• The Nightless Sky Family Head criticized the other Royal Nobility families and said she would not help Lin Yu, though she might turn a blind eye to his plan.
• Lin Yu suggested a better solution, and the Nightless Sky Family Head invited him to explain it.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le waited for Lin Yu outside the tower and said she had worried her mother might object to his attending Huo Xing’s ceremony.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le took Lin Yu to the Wanjin Heavenly Seat to eat and buy a gift for Huo Xing, telling him not to ask Paris for one.
• Lin Yu asked Nightless Sky Huo Le to prepare a formal suit and give him a makeover, and she agreed to use her pocket money.

Nightless Sky Huo Le took Lin Yu to the Wanjin Heavenly Seat, where her status drew fawning greetings from nobles and executives. She explained that the public outing was meant to build curiosity about Lin Yu before Huo Xing’s coming-of-age ceremony and admitted that others’ awe helped her relieve stress.

• Lin Yu arrived at the Wanjin Heavenly Seat with Nightless Sky Huo Le and observed how even its wealthy visitors behaved politely.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le entered with Lin Yu, dismissed nobles and executives who came to greet her, and left the shopping destination open to other customers.
• Lin Yu asked Nightless Sky Huo Le why she had not cleared the Wanjin Heavenly Seat.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le explained that the outing would build interest in Lin Yu before Huo Xing’s coming-of-age ceremony and that she also enjoyed the attention as a way to relieve stress.

Lin Yu and Nightless Sky Huo Le dined at Wanjin Heavenly Seat, where he reflected on her immense status and the hierarchy of the City That Never Sleeps. Nightless Sky Huo Le misunderstood why Lin Yu planned to attend Huo Xing’s coming-of-age ceremony, believing he intended to marry Huo Xing, and warned that she and her mother might not be able to protect him.

• The Wanjin Heavenly Seat manager and a crowd gave Nightless Sky Huo Le an elaborate welcome, which she dismissed before continuing to the restaurant with Lin Yu.
• Lin Yu considered Nightless Sky Huo Le’s powerful status and wondered how his fellow commission-takers would gain entry to Huo Xing’s coming-of-age ceremony.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le brought Lin Yu to the garden restaurant’s best table and explained that she had chosen the city’s most expensive restaurant based on Fu Luo’s preference.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le said she had guessed Lin Yu’s agreement with her mother and his reason for attending Huo Xing’s ceremony, then offered her support.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le warned Lin Yu that marrying Huo Xing would be dangerous and that she and her mother might not be able to protect him, leaving Lin Yu bewildered by her misunderstanding.

Lin Yu let Nightless Sky Huo Le believe he might pursue Nightless Sky Fire Apricot, using the rumor to conceal his plan to assassinate someone at the banquet. Their conversation was interrupted by Saint Orchid Kui and Nightless Sky Huo Shu entering the restaurant, along with the captain tied to Lin Yu’s commission.

• Nightless Sky Huo Le reasoned that Lin Yu could gain standing in the Nightless Sky Family by marrying Nightless Sky Fire Apricot, and Lin Yu let her assumptions stand.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le warned that pursuing Fire Apricot could make influential people target Lin Yu, but Lin Yu said he had his own arrangements.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le questioned whether Lin Yu would betray her, and Lin Yu reassured her that he would not.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le said she would restore Lin Yu’s freedom if she became family head, then pointed out a commotion at the entrance.
• Saint Orchid Kui and Nightless Sky Huo Shu entered with their entourage, and Lin Yu recognized the captain connected to the C-77 commission.

Lin Yu recognized Saint Orchid Kui beneath his disguise and met him when Kui and Nightless Sky Huo Shu approached his table. Nightless Sky Huo Le defended Lin Yu from their taunts, then declared that he was about to marry into the Nightless Sky Family, shocking everyone—including herself.

• Lin Yu identified the disguised mercenary captain as Saint Orchid Kui and concluded that Kui might know who had commissioned the C-77 mission.
• Nightless Sky Huo Shu and Saint Orchid Kui approached Lin Yu and Nightless Sky Huo Le, and Kui recognized Lin Yu as the detective Sherlock.
• Saint Orchid Kui warned Sherlock against meddling in noble affairs and suggested Nightless Sky Huo Le might use and discard him.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le rebuked Kui and Huo Shu, then declared that Sherlock would soon marry into the Nightless Sky Family.
• Nightless Sky Huo Shu reacted in disbelief, while Nightless Sky Huo Le was stunned by her own declaration.

At a restaurant, Saint Orchid Kui confronted Lin Yu over Nightless Sky Huo Le's plan for Sherlock to pursue Nightless Sky Fire Apricot, then threatened to kill him. When the lights suddenly went out, Lin Yu suspected the attack might be aimed at Saint Orchid Kui rather than himself.

• Nightless Sky Huo Le revealed that she planned for Sherlock to pursue Nightless Sky Fire Apricot, enraging Saint Orchid Kui, who wanted to marry her.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le explained that Saint Orchid Kui genuinely liked Nightless Sky Fire Apricot, though the Nightless Sky Family Head had never approved his request.
• Saint Orchid Kui accused Lin Yu of pursuing Nightless Sky Fire Apricot without knowing her, challenged him to a Duel, and threatened to kill him when Nightless Sky Huo Le reminded him dueling was illegal.
• The restaurant plunged into darkness, and the bodyguards activated searchlights and moved to protect the three Royal Nobles.
• Lin Yu asked which son Saint Orchid Kui was, and Nightless Sky Huo Le realized the blackout might be an attack aimed at Saint Orchid Kui or his family head.

During a blackout at the garden restaurant, Lin Yu realized the Saint Orchid Family’s butler Ba was a likely assassination target and tried to keep him safe. Lin Yu vanished using a shadow-like device or ability, leaving Nightless Sky Huo Le wondering what he intended to do.

• Lin Yu connected the blackout and the threat to Ba with the A-06 Commission to protect the butler during the Saint Orchid Family’s family council.
• Nightless Sky Huo Le explained that Saint Orchid Lai wanted Ba alive until the council ended, and that a third party might be behind the assassination attempt.
• Lin Yu noted that no one had attacked or been hurt, and suspected a patient assassin was waiting for the right moment.
• Lin Yu left Nightless Sky Huo Le and headed toward Nightless Sky Huo Shu and Saint Orchid Kui despite her warning.
• Two bodyguards reported that Sherlock had disappeared, and Nightless Sky Huo Le saw him vanish amid shadows.

Lin Yu used Old Zheng’s keen senses to identify two assassins disguised as Saint Orchid Kui’s bodyguards and locate the hidden butler, Ba. As the noble families prepared to evacuate Wanjin Heavenly Seat, Lin Yu realized the assassins were waiting for Ba to emerge during the escape.

• Lin Yu brought Old Zheng and Hannah out of [Item Space] and explained the suspected assassination at the restaurant.
• Old Zheng found no obvious attackers among the diners, so Lin Yu directed him to inspect Saint Orchid Kui’s bodyguards and servants.
• Old Zheng identified two suspicious bodyguards who were scanning for a target rather than protecting their charges.
• Old Zheng located Ba hiding in the ceiling above Nightless Sky Huo Shu and predicted he would have to emerge during the evacuation.
• The restaurant reported that a military-grade jammer had cut power and communications throughout Wanjin Heavenly Seat, and that an escape route was ready.
• Lin Yu deduced that the assassins planned to strike Ba when the bodyguards escorted their nobles out.

Lin Yu waited in hiding as two assassins attacked Butler Ba during a coordinated sonic strike. The chapter ended with Ba blocking both lethal blades with his iron-sheened arms.

• Saint Orchid Kui and Nightless Sky Huo Shu refused to leave before Ba appeared, while Nightless Sky Huo Le trusted Sherlock to act.
• Ba descended from the ceiling and rejoined Saint Orchid Kui, who ordered the group to leave.
• As the bodyguards shifted formation, two hidden assassins used a piercing sound attack and rushed Ba from opposite sides.
• The bodyguards focused on shielding the Royal Nobles, leaving too few to stop the assassins, and a force-field device knocked their pursuers back.
• Lin Yu stayed hidden until the assassins struck, and Ba caught their blades on his iron-sheened arms.

Lin Yu watched as two assassins attacked Ba Li, the Saint Orchid heir’s modified butler, while a hidden third attacker disrupted the fight and revealed himself. Ba Li transformed his body into metal to withstand the assault, but Lin Yu judged he could not hold out and prepared to act before the true killer could escape.

• Lin Yu explained that Ba Li’s calmness and strength made him confident the butler could handle the two assassins, who Ba Li identified as former Pioneer Team captains.
• Ba Li revealed that a Universal Trade Association Fusion Implantation had given him extreme durability, and he blocked the assassins’ rapid blade attacks with his arms.
• A buzzing sound disrupted the bodyguards and Ba Li, exposing the presence of a hidden third assassin beyond Old Zheng’s perception range.
• The third assassin appeared on the ceiling as cracks spread across the glass, and Ba Li transformed his body into metal to repel attacks to his vital points.
• The third assassin shattered the glass and descended through the falling shards while the bodyguards protected the Saint Orchid heirs.
• Lin Yu told Old Zheng that Ba Li probably could not hold out and said they needed to prepare to intervene, explaining that he had waited so the assassin would not escape.

Lin Yu, fighting as Sherlock, intervened when a masked assassin attacked the Royal Nobles’ party and discovered that the attacker was a Player. He left the assassin stunned by his strength, while Butler Ba survived but was badly wounded.

• The Shadow shattered the restaurant’s windows, wounded guests, and sent Butler Ba flying with a powerful blow.
• Nightless Sky Huo Shu and Nightless Sky Huo Le warned the Shadow about the families he would offend, but he continued toward Ba.
• Lin Yu fired an arrow at the Shadow, then emerged from hiding and attacked him with his Saber-toothed Bone Twin Blades.
• Lin Yu and the Shadow recognized each other as Players, and the attacker identified Lin Yu as Sherlock.
• The Shadow mocked Sherlock’s Tier 1 Detective rank and kicked him, but Lin Yu blocked the blow with his arm and revealed his surprising toughness.

Lin Yu fought Azhu while trying to hold him until reinforcements arrived, but Azhu unleashed his Tier 2 Farmer abilities and flooded the classroom with attacking crops. Lin Yu kept Ba hidden, and Hannah confirmed that Ba had received healing and was disguised.

• Lin Yu blocked Azhu’s scythe attacks and tried to persuade him to surrender, reasoning that he only needed to stall for time.
• Azhu scattered soil that Old Zheng identified as the [Fertile Land] Advancement Item, warning Lin Yu that Azhu was a Tier 2 Farmer wielding a dangerous combination of items.
• Azhu’s crops rapidly filled half the classroom and attacked Lin Yu while Azhu used them as cover for scythe strikes.
• Azhu threatened to kill Ba, but Lin Yu told him to find Ba first.
• Hannah told Lin Yu that she had given Ba a [Reusable Universal Healing Potion] and disguised him so Azhu would not discover him.

Lin Yu fought the mysterious player in [Fertile Land], trading wounds while both used their abilities to recover. As the crops thinned, Lin Yu stopped taking hits and began eating them to heal, evading his opponent’s attacks.

• Lin Yu tried to persuade the mysterious player to abandon the assassination mission, but the player refused and attacked, hoping to find Ba after killing Lin Yu.
• Lin Yu and the mysterious player repeatedly exchanged injuries, each recovering through their own abilities as the crops also damaged Lin Yu.
• The fight drained much of [Fertile Land], and Lin Yu pointed out that the crops could not grow without limit.
• Lin Yu dodged the mysterious player, cut down crops, and ate wheat, corn, and sweet potatoes to heal with the effects of the [Carnival Pendant].
• The mysterious player sent plants after Lin Yu and pursued him, but Lin Yu evaded every attack.

Lin Yu used the crops in [Fertile Land] as supplies and outmaneuvered his opponent, who then unleashed a fire-based trap. Lin Yu countered it with the [Water Prayer Necklace] and flooded the enclosed battlefield.

• Lin Yu cleared crops while dodging his opponent, using the [Carnival Pendant] to turn food into supplies as Old Zheng praised his strategy.
• The opponent harvested the remaining crops with his sickle to heal himself, then raised a metal fence around [Fertile Land].
• The opponent ignited the withered crops with [Warm Talismans], turning the enclosed land into a raging fire.
• Lin Yu activated the [Water Prayer Necklace] and summoned a downpour that smothered the flames, then used Water Style: Great Exploding Water Shockwave.