Chapter Summaries

Franz inspected his gambling house after a debtor died by jumping onto his car, then denied responsibility when constables arrived. William fled before the authorities could question him, leaving Franz under suspicion as the investigation began.

• Franz arrived at the gambling house and a debtor fell from the building onto his car, dying in front of him.
• William admitted that he and his men had pressured the debtor over a loan, but Franz refused to protect him and threatened to send him to the authorities.
• William realized his own illegal dealings could not be blamed on anyone else, gathered cash, and fled.
• Franz toured the gambling house before Old Tom arrived with constables and asked where William was.
• Franz claimed he had not seen William and told Old Tom to search for him, while Old Tom suspected the death was connected to William.

Old Tom was promoted to Deputy Director and ordered to arrest Franz Perez amid a major investigation into William’s criminal network. Franz realized Minister Little Jefferies was involved and suspected the arrest stemmed from an old family feud.

• Old Tom uncovered evidence linking William and several gambling dens to crimes including murder, trafficking, and unlawful imprisonment, then passed the case up the chain.
• Minister Little Jefferies announced a special task force, took command, and promoted Old Tom to Deputy Director, ordering him to arrest Franz Perez.
• After learning Franz was the Empress’s nephew and a Perez Family descendant, Old Tom accepted the mission and led his subordinates to bring him in.
• Old Tom arrested Franz, who suspected someone was using the case to target him and had arranged for his people to notify his cousin.
• When Franz saw Little Jefferies in the interrogation room, he recognized the situation as an old family feud and believed Jefferies had come to frame him.

Franz resisted Count Little Jefferies’s interrogation, refusing to confess or betray his side after Little Jefferies unsettled him with a claim about the Emperor’s illegitimate sons. After the interrogation, Little Jefferies revealed to Qin and Claire that the claim was only a ruse and told them to wait before visiting Franz.

• Franz abruptly offered to confess, but Count Little Jefferies saw through his attempt to clear himself and ordered him restrained.
• Count Little Jefferies tried to pressure Franz into naming someone behind the plot, but Franz mocked his threats and refused to cooperate.
• Count Little Jefferies whispered that the Emperor had illegitimate sons, making Franz fear that his cousins’ position and the Perez Family were in danger.
• Franz warned Count Little Jefferies that the First Imperial Prince would punish him, and Little Jefferies angrily threatened to drag the Perez Family down with him.
• Count Little Jefferies ordered the guards to subject Franz to intense light, then met Qin and Claire outside the interrogation room.
• Count Little Jefferies told Qin that Franz could hold out for a few more days and admitted that the story about illegitimate sons was a ruse.

Qin and Claire left the Public Security Bureau after Qin arranged for Old Tom to earn another chance by getting the detained suspects to talk without torture. Claire encouraged Qin to pursue reforms, and he proposed a newspaper that would educate citizens about the law; meanwhile, Old Tom began using the detention center to pressure Franz.

• Qin angrily judged Franz's failure to see through the street schemers, but decided to let him endure the staged ordeal longer.
• Old Tom approached Qin and Claire, and Qin told him to make the suspects talk without torture if he wanted another chance.
• Claire explained how much the Empire had improved since the dark age and urged Qin to continue his father's work.
• Qin proposed a newspaper that would teach legal knowledge through analyzed cases, and Claire agreed to find a team to start it.
• Old Tom arranged for Franz to be sent to the grim Cell One, let him sleep for a few hours, and began working in the adjoining interrogation room.

Franz endured harsh conditions in prison while Old Tom tried to make him talk, and Frank prepared Times Magazine’s new law-focused newspaper. After Qin approved the sample issue, he sent a copy to Old Tom, who read it anxiously and wondered what it meant.

• Franz ignored the filth and screams in his cell, then unsettled a disguised guard by pointing out that his uniform did not fit.
• Frank took charge of Times Magazine’s new office and organized a team to produce a rigorous newspaper about the law.
• Frank secured Justice Ministry press passes and recruited law-trained schoolmates as consultants before beginning the paper’s articles.
• Qin praised the sample issue and approved publishing Times Legal Newspaper once a week.
• Qin sent Old Tom the newspaper, and Old Tom read its first issue again, trying to understand its deeper meaning.

Franz interpreted the newspaper Qin sent as a warning to hold firm and reveal no evidence, while Qin decided to keep him imprisoned a little longer for his own good. Qin then learned that Count Simon had returned from the former Griffin territory and joined Derek to wait for him.

• Old Tom sent Franz a copy of the Times Legal Newspaper, and Franz concluded that Qin was telling him to stay silent without evidence.
• Qin told Claire that he had sent the newspaper to encourage Franz to study the law, and he refused to have him released early.
• Qin returned to the palace with little Gwen and learned that Derek was waiting for Count Simon.
• Qin changed plans, joined Derek, and asked why Simon had returned.

Simon returned to the Imperial Capital and met with Derek, bringing his eldest son Albert to enter the Crown Prince’s service. The next morning, Simon and Albert attended the grand court assembly, where Count Little Jefferies recognized them and welcomed Albert with a jade pendant.

• Derek agreed with Qin’s suggestion to modify an Air Force transport aircraft for passenger travel to Griffin Peninsula.
• Simon arrived at the palace alone, explaining that he had left Albert to receive a few days of training from the palace Eunuch Officials before meeting Derek.
• Derek welcomed Simon and told him to bring Albert to pay his respects the next day.
• Simon brought Albert to wait at the palace gates before the grand court assembly, drawing the attention of officials unfamiliar with them.
• Count Little Jefferies recognized Simon, greeted Albert, and gave him a jade pendant, which Simon permitted him to accept.

Qin attended the grand court assembly for the first time as Count Augusta stepped back onto the political stage. The Emperor rewarded Simon’s eldest son Albert with a noble title and military post, then ordered Qin to establish the Imperial Ministry of Air Force and take an official position.

• Count Little Jefferies told Smith that Simon’s return with Qin signaled House Augusta’s political rise, and explained why many officials feared Simon.
• Count Virut greeted Simon and warmly welcomed Albert before they entered the council hall.
• The Emperor entered with Qin, who sat beside him and faced his father-in-law, Smith, while Albert stood behind Simon until Derek arranged a stool for him.
• Derek granted Albert the title of Imperial Baron and appointed him Chiliarch of the Royal Guard.
• Derek ordered Count Augusta to establish the Imperial Ministry of Air Force and formally take office.

After the Grand Council, Derek told Virut and Simon that Qin had chosen Claire, the daughter of the Minister of Electricity, as his future wife. Virut remained concerned about Claire’s background and arranged to meet her himself, with Simon joining him.

• Derek kept Virut and Simon behind after the Grand Council and discussed Qin’s marriage with them over a meal.
• Derek showed them Times Entertainment Magazine and revealed that Qin’s marriage to Claire was practically settled.
• Virut questioned whether Claire, the daughter of Smith, could adapt to court life and manage the household.
• Derek explained that Qin had chosen Claire himself and assured Virut that she was dependable.
• Virut insisted on meeting Claire, and Derek agreed; Simon offered to go with him.

After the elders settled Albert’s assignment as Qin’s assistant, Virut investigated Claire and went with Simon to meet her at Times Magazine. Virut tested Claire by threatening to shut down the magazine, but she saw through his act, and he asked how she knew he had not come to cause trouble.

• At the meal, Derek and Virut finalized Albert’s assignment to stay with Qin as a guard and assistant, while Virut’s son would have to wait.
• Virut investigated Claire and learned that she had founded the Relief Society and built Times Magazine into a successful publication.
• Virut and Simon visited Park Avenue, where Simon spotted a surveillance agent disguised as a pancake vendor and criticized his tradecraft.
• At Times Magazine, Virut accused Claire of slandering the Imperial military and demanded an apology, but Claire defended the magazine’s truthful reporting.
• Claire recognized that Virut was pretending to be angry and asked what he had really come for; Virut asked how she had seen through him.

Minister Virut visited Claire at Times Magazine to assess her and seek help improving the military ministry’s publications. Impressed by her advice and her recommendation of Frank, he arranged for the magazine to assist, with payment left unmentioned.

• Claire recognized Virut and invited him and Simon upstairs for tea after he admitted he had come to visit Times Magazine and ask for help.
• Virut explained that the military ministry’s internal periodicals were unpopular, and Claire recommended separate publications tailored to senior officers, other officers, and ordinary soldiers.
• Claire proposed adding practical and entertaining content that could also convey messages about loyalty and discipline, impressing Virut with her expertise.
• Claire recommended Frank as an experienced media expert, and Virut agreed to have him lead the work.
• Frank said he could solve the problem within a month, and Claire told Virut she needed no payment because his favor was enough.

Frank reorganized the military newspaper office, and the new papers won Virut's approval. Qin realized he had forgotten his cousin Franz in prison for half a month and rushed there with Claire, only to find Old Tom eager to torture him.

• Virut and Simon praised Claire as a suitable match for Qin after Virut forgot to handle his original business.
• Frank overhauled the military newspaper office, formed three newspaper teams, and made the staff publish three papers in a week.
• After two weeks, the office leaders saw that Frank's teams could run the work without them and went to make peace.
• Virut admired Frank's reorganization, and Qin told Claire about Frank's success during their date.
• Qin remembered that Franz was still in prison and hurried there with Claire and Albert.
• Qin found Franz still holding out after half a month, while Old Tom asked for permission to torture him.

Qin arranged for Franz to be treated comfortably while keeping him imprisoned, then left with Claire and had to postpone discussing his identity with her family. A Lionheart Kingdom delegation disrupted Qin’s plans, and he traveled to Digen Port to receive it, where Customs Director Yanes awaited him.

• Qin stopped Old Tom from questioning Franz further and ordered him moved to a luxurious cell with clean clothes, a bath, food, and newspapers.
• Franz assumed his cousin had won the struggle and settled into the new cell while looking for clues about events outside.
• Qin took Claire home, but Smith stayed out of sight, and Qin postponed discussing a formal visit with her family.
• Derek assigned Qin to receive a high-level delegation from the Lionheart Kingdom, and the Royal Air Force prevented Qin from flying to Digen Port.
• Qin and Albert traveled by special train to Digen Port, where Customs Director Yanes greeted Qin while the mayor hoped to attract his attention.

Qin received the Lionheart Kingdom delegation as Great Xia’s representative and established a cordial relationship with Prince Charlie. The delegation arrived in a harbor protected for Qin, while Qin concealed his support for Haman and considered the competing claimants to the Lionheart throne.

• Yanes rushed to welcome Qin and hosted him at a restaurant, where Qin introduced Baron Albert Simon as his personal guard officer and good brother.
• Yanes asked whether the Empire’s policy toward Western nations had changed, and Qin told him to proceed as usual because his assignment was mainly to gain experience.
• After days of waiting, Prince Charlie’s delegation approached Great Xia, and Charlie reflected on the Empire’s strength and the limited attention his mission had received.
• At the harbor, Prince Charlie recognized the royal banner and learned that Qin, the Crown Prince and Minister of Air Force, would receive the delegation.
• Qin and Prince Charlie exchanged polite greetings and chatted, while Qin concealed his backing of Haman and considered building ties with Charlie and other potential claimants.

Prince Charlie toured Great Xia’s Royal Shipyard and city, and the technological gulf left him despairing about the Lionheart Kingdom’s chances of catching up. Princess Mary Dajia, by contrast, delighted in Great Xia and accepted Count Little Jefferies’s offer of lavish assistance, ending with a request to go out for a walk.

• Great Xia arranged for Prince Charlie and Princess Mary Dajia to be received as potential political allies and future contingencies against Haman’s ambitions.
• Qin’s delegation took Prince Charlie to the Royal Shipyard, where its massive facilities and advanced machinery overwhelmed him.
• Prince Charlie saw Great Xia’s towering buildings, neon lights, and busy roads, and wondered whether the Lionheart Kingdom could ever catch up.
• Count Little Jefferies sent his personal butler, Harrington, to serve Princess Mary Dajia during her stay.
• Princess Mary Dajia asked Harrington to take her out for a walk, and he agreed without hesitation.

Princess Mary Dajia enjoyed a night tour of Digen Port under the Jefferies Family’s protection, while Prince Charlie objected to her involvement with Count Little Jefferies. After their argument, Charlie resolved to keep watch over his sister, but she disappeared the next morning.

• Harrington arranged a guarded car for Princess Mary Dajia, who toured Digen Port and marveled at its comforts and modern conveniences.
• Princess Mary Dajia returned to her Jefferies Family residence, where Prince Charlie was initially stopped by her bodyguards before being admitted.
• Prince Charlie questioned his sister about going out without informing him, and Mary Dajia defended her choice to become Count Jefferies's mistress.
• Prince Charlie raised his hand to slap Mary Dajia but stopped himself, then left determined to prevent her from becoming a mistress.
• The next morning, Prince Charlie discovered that Princess Mary Dajia was gone.

Prince Charlie arrived in Pulan and was shaken by the Great Xia Empire’s modern city, while Qin hoped the experience would make him more open to Great Xia’s influence. At the Lionheart Embassy, Charlie learned that Baronet Franz Perez had allegedly smuggled weapons to Haman’s Rebel Army, but Franz had disappeared.

• Prince Charlie learned that his sister had chosen to travel to the Imperial Capital alone and reluctantly accepted her decision.
• Qin brought Prince Charlie to Pulan New Station, where the modern new district left him stunned.
• Qin settled Prince Charlie at the Lionheart Embassy and said he would arrange activities while they awaited an audience with the Emperor.
• Prince Charlie met Ambassador Old Jack and asked whether he had found clues about Great Xia’s support for Haman.
• Old Jack revealed that Baronet Franz Perez had ties to Haman and allegedly smuggled the weapons now held by Haman’s Rebel Army.
• Prince Charlie asked to meet Franz, but Old Jack said Franz had gone into hiding after learning he was under investigation.

After Franz Baronet was released, Qin steered his anger toward Count Little Jefferies and planned to ruin his deal with Princess Mary Dajia. Little Jefferies gave Mary documents about weapons and production lines to help the Lionheart Kingdom, and Prince Charlie discovered that Franz had sold the kingdom heavy-artillery production capabilities to Haman.

• Franz Baronet left the Public Security Bureau and told Qin that Little Jefferies was one of the masterminds behind his arrest.
• Qin explained that Old Tom had protected Franz during questioning and proposed sabotaging Little Jefferies’s plans with Princess Mary Dajia.
• Count Little Jefferies offered Princess Mary Dajia documents about weapons and production lines, seeking the Lionheart Royal Family’s friendship and opposing the Perez Family.
• Princess Mary Dajia brought the documents to the embassy and handed them to Prince Charlie.
• Prince Charlie saw that Franz had sold Haman firearm designs and production lines, including a heavy-artillery production line, and found the location of the equipment in the Lionheart Kingdom.

Prince Charlie sent Lionheart Kingdom intelligence about the Heavy Artillery Production Line plot and grew alarmed that Great Xia might have advanced its airplanes. Qin then assigned Franz to oversee the weapons-production line in Lionheart Kingdom, leaving him responsible for a dangerous operation that needed a scapegoat.

• Prince Charlie read the documents, sent the intelligence to Lionheart Kingdom, and asked Princess Mary Dajia to arrange a meeting with Count Little Jefferies.
• Qin told Prince Charlie that his audience with the Emperor was scheduled in seven days and arranged visits to Great Xia's Ministry of Air Force, prompting Charlie and Old Jack to worry about new aircraft.
• Franz dismissed some of his hired thugs but kept his casinos, then met Qin, Claire, and Albert at Times Magazine.
• Qin handed Franz documents about his support for Haman and ordered him to take charge of recouping the investment in the production lines delivered to Lionheart Kingdom.
• Franz saw that the documents listed three Firearms Production Lines and one Heavy Artillery Production Line, including 105-millimeter artillery.

Haman celebrated Great Xia’s delivery of a heavy artillery production line, strengthening the Study-Abroad Faction and the Revolutionary Army. The Lionheart Queen ordered an assault on the factory, and the Royal Assault Battalion blew up the production line.

• Qin entrusted Franz with delivering the heavy artillery production line to the Western Continent in exchange for the Revolutionary Army’s trust.
• Haman inspected the first assembled artillery piece and praised Franz and Great Xia, prompting officers to rally behind the Study-Abroad Faction.
• Haman sent the first heavy artillery piece to the front for testing and arranged defenses around the factory.
• After Prince Charlie’s intelligence revealed the production line’s existence, the Lionheart Queen ordered a battalion to attack it.
• The Royal Assault Battalion caught the factory’s defenders off guard, planted explosives beneath the production line, and detonated them as the Revolutionary Army reacted too late.