Chapter Summaries

Qin discussed his brothers’ status and his work on aviation with Derek, while the Ministry of Air Force expanded rapidly. In the Overseas Colony, Governor Logue watched the first aircraft approach the newly built Silver Airport.

• Davide agreed to approach List for Hans, while Hans trusted his uncle to take the blame for him.
• Derek told Qin that his brothers could not receive formal status without gaining inheritance rights, then urged Qin to get Claire pregnant.
• Qin reported progress on transport aircraft and aerial escape equipment, and the Ministry of Air Force advanced quickly under his supervision.
• Governor Logue arranged for three airports to be built in the Overseas Colony, and an air force squadron arrived after Silver Airport passed inspection.
• Logue watched the airport command center receive radio contact with the Eighth Squadron as its aircraft approached.

The Eighth Air Squadron landed safely after a long-distance transfer, and Qin received news that Claire was pregnant. As the family celebrated at the palace, Tiona confronted Davide over his past deception, and Hans warned him about the pond.

• Governor Logue watched the Eighth Air Squadron arrive and land safely at the colonial airfield.
• Qin received a report confirming the squadron’s successful transfer, then learned that Claire was pregnant.
• Qin hurried to the palace, where his family gathered to congratulate him and court physicians confirmed Claire’s pregnancy.
• Tiona scolded Davide for deceiving her and told Hans to look after their uncle.
• Hans warned Davide that someone had once fallen into the palace pond and drowned.

Tiona celebrated Claire’s pregnancy with the Smiths, and Minister Smith received a court title that raised his family’s standing. Smith then arranged industrial electricity for Count Little Jefferies, who planned to support Prince Charlie’s expanding operation as Charlie committed himself to the Great Xia Empire.

• Tiona and Mrs. Smith excitedly discussed the unborn child’s future, while Gwen was put off by their ambitious study plan.
• The Smiths returned home with imperial titles for Minister Smith and Mrs. Smith, and news of their elevation spread among influential people.
• Smith attended Count Little Jefferies’s banquet, where Jefferies asked him to arrange industrial electricity for Benjamin’s operation.
• Smith agreed to use flexible electricity quotas, and Jefferies told Sanger to have Benjamin expand the business.
• Sanger reported that Prince Charlie had set off and warned Jefferies to keep watch on Benjamin as he prepared to escort the next batch of weapons back.

Sanger prepared to return to the Lionheart Kingdom and directed Benjamin to seek help expanding the secret weapons-smuggling operation. Benjamin, eager to rise in the operation, went alone to meet the owner of an imposing residence in the Imperial Capital's old district.

• Sanger visited Benjamin's processing plant, where weapons were being stored in secret, and told him to keep the smuggling route safe.
• Benjamin said the growing operation needed more workers, but Sanger refused to involve Count Little Jefferies's people and warned that the count must not be implicated.
• Sanger gave Benjamin an address and told him the owner there would help, while warning him not to betray the count.
• Benjamin celebrated after Sanger left, believing he had finally entered the circle of powerful figures behind the operation.
• The next day, Benjamin traveled alone to the residence in the old district and knocked on its gate.

Benjamin obtained fifty discreetly trained slaves from Duster Gide for work at his factory, while Duster’s family investigated the factory and then withdrew to avoid a suspected political trap. Davide screened noble families for potential allies in a rebellion, crossed the cautious Gide Family off his list, and continued searching for those who might support or betray the cause.

• Benjamin presented a noble’s token to Duster Gide and requested discreet workers, and Duster gave him fifty household slaves.
• Benjamin brought the slaves to his factory and found them obedient and well trained.
• Duster sent a spy to investigate the factory, but Viscount Gide ordered him to withdraw the spy and avoid involvement.
• Duster received an appointment to the Ministry of Justice, and Viscount Gide warned him not to join anyone’s cause.
• Davide watched Duster keep his distance and crossed the Gide Family off his list while continuing to screen potential allies and informers.

Davide used a large medicine order and a secret club invitation to draw Richard toward Second Imperial Prince Hans, while Sanger brought Benjamin to the elite club. Richard recognized the club’s half-dragon emblem as Hans’s and decided to investigate, as Benjamin entered the hidden estate.

• Davide asked Richard to supply a thousand crates of Anti-inflammatory Powder each month and gave him a confidential membership card to a new club.
• Richard matched the card’s emblem to the Two-Headed Dragon banner and concluded that Second Imperial Prince Hans was behind the club.
• Sanger took Benjamin to a secluded estate, where they showed their membership cards, surrendered their weapons, and were led to a villa.
• Sanger told Benjamin to change clothes before taking him to enjoy the club, and Benjamin was thrilled by the hidden world of the upper class.

Richard explored Davide’s secret club, confirmed Davide was involved in overseas trade in Anti-inflammatory Powder, and attended a small nobles’ banquet. There, Davide revealed to List that the club belonged to Hans, while List questioned whether Hans intended to use him as bait or kill him.

• Davide led Richard through the club to a private hot spring, where Richard promised a production line that could supply Davide with a thousand crates of Anti-inflammatory Powder each month.
• Richard attended the club’s banquet and noticed Baron List, whose royal parentage made the other nobles wary of approaching him.
• Davide approached List, and List called him Uncle before asking whether Hans planned to use him as bait or kill him.
• Davide told List that Hans owned the club, but List doubted that running it matched Hans’s style.
• Davide warned List not to underestimate Hans or any of his brothers.

List asked Davide to arrange a meeting with Hans, while Davide offered Benjamin work through Sanger and appealed to Benjamin’s belief in his noble blood. Sanger then left for a military harbor to inspect two refurbished cruisers provided as part of Great Xia’s support for Prince Charlie.

• List asked Davide to arrange a meeting with Hans, then left to enjoy the club’s services.
• Sanger warned Benjamin to treat Baron List with the respect due an Imperial Prince and introduced him to Davide Perez.
• Davide offered Benjamin a chance to take over Sanger’s domestic line, and Benjamin eagerly accepted.
• After Benjamin threw himself into his new work, Sanger made his final visits and departed with Count Little Jefferies’s instructions.
• Sanger traveled to a military harbor and inspected two refurbished cruisers with the major general, checking their weapons, supplies, and condition.

Sanger accepted two warships and military instructors from the Great Xia Empire to support Prince Charlie, while Baron List began building influence and preparing a future beyond Great Xia. At a suburban club, List’s martial skill and resemblance to the Emperor attracted the attention of Richard and other nobles.

• Sanger signed the acceptance documents for the warships and instructors, then sailed home with his men and smuggled goods under Imperial Navy escort.
• Baron List began taking control of his businesses, gathering Knight Apprentices and students, and shifting some factories to military production.
• Richard arrived at the suburban club and watched Baron List display his skill with a lance.
• Richard recognized List’s resemblance to the Emperor and considered getting to know him, while List drew a warmer reception from the nobles around him.

Davide watched List work the nobles before Hans asked him to prepare Knight Armor and invite List over. List accepted the challenge and brought Richard along as an observer, leaving Davide worried about the brothers’ impending confrontation.

• Davide watched List skillfully navigate the gathering and reflected on the growing influence of House Augusta’s second generation.
• Hans appeared beside Davide, watched List, and asked him to prepare Knight Armor and invite List over.
• Richard Rosenblatt approached List and offered to discuss cooperation involving his family’s medicine business and Anti-inflammatory Powder.
• List noticed Hans leaving and agreed to speak with Richard later, then invited him to observe the encounter with his younger brother.
• Davide led List and Richard to Hans, urging List to avoid hurting their brotherly harmony while List asked where his little brother was.

Hans and List fought brutally at the Training Ground, then spoke privately after Hans acknowledged List as a worthy brother. List asked whether the trap involving Qin had been arranged to test him and draw out other conspirators, and Hans admitted that it had.

• Davide brought Hans and List to a private Training Ground, where they put on iron armor and prepared to fight bare-handed.
• Hans and List battered each other and damaged a training dummy, the floor, and a corridor pillar before Hans admitted defeat.
• List ordered the attendants to remove their armor, and Hans invited him to talk privately, recognizing him as worthy of the Augusta Family.
• List asked whether Hans and Qin had set the trap to test him and lure out conspirators, and Hans confirmed that they had.

After spending a day with Hans and List, Richard discussed with Baron Rosenblatt whether List was worth following and recognized the growing rivalry as a Game of Young Dragons. He saw his family as both participants and potential prey in the conflict to come.

• Hans invited List to dinner, and List accepted, while Richard and Davide felt awkward around the brothers.
• Richard told Baron Rosenblatt about his day with Hans and List, and his father advised him to seek power and a lasting legacy.
• Richard said he could not risk the family by following List without considering the consequences, and Baron Rosenblatt praised his independent judgment.
• Richard described the political upheaval as a Game of Young Dragons, with its vassals serving as both claws and fangs and as prey.

Richard warned Baron Rosenblatt that Hans’s remark suggested the eldest Imperial Prince and Hans might be working together, and his father urged him to remain loyal to the Emperor and his bloodline. List received a letter from his father telling him to look after two unfamiliar younger siblings, who were already approaching Pulan City.

• Richard used Hans’s warning to Baron List as evidence that Count Augusta might be behind the plot and that Hans and the eldest Imperial Prince could be cooperating.
• Baron Rosenblatt cautioned Richard that the Emperor’s bloodline was beyond ordinary people and named eternal loyalty to His Majesty as his ultimate technique.
• List returned to his home and received an envelope from his father through one of his knights.
• List found a photograph of Michel Saint Ferreira and Elf Saint Ferreira and learned they were his younger siblings, who would soon arrive in Pulan City.
• List decided to receive and look after Michel and Elf, while the siblings hurried toward the city with Church Knights.

Elf and Michel arrived in the Imperial Capital on an official Church mission and were met by List, their older half-brother. List took them home with him, where their reunion began with an argument.

• Elf raced ahead of the Church convoy until Michel stopped her and insisted they clean up before meeting their brothers.
• Elf and Michel changed into formal clothes, and their convoy traveled unhindered through the Imperial Capital.
• The Church delegation arrived to find officials, Church personnel, and Baron List waiting to greet them.
• List called Elf and Michel over and took them with him, while the Religious Affairs Department let the siblings leave together.
• Three Guardian Knights rode with the siblings and recognized one another as former colleagues as Elf and Michel began arguing.

List brought Elf and Michel to his home in the Imperial Capital, where they confronted Qin and Hans over their absence. Qin took charge of the reunion, explained that he had arranged for them not to be collected, and asserted his authority as eldest son.

• List introduced himself to Elf and Michel as their second brother, promised to demand an explanation, and invited them to stay at his home.
• List found Albert and other men in black occupying the house, and Elf challenged Albert when he tried to inspect their belongings.
• Elf and Albert exchanged blows, and List moved to help Elf before Qin stopped Hans and ordered everyone inside.
• Qin told Elf he had arranged the failed welcome, declared that the eldest son inherited, and demanded that she hand over her Ivory Pistol.
• Qin explained that his pregnant wife had stayed away and said the siblings should meet and get to know one another.

Qin welcomed his younger siblings and urged them to trust House Augusta, while Hans stayed to help them get acquainted. As the siblings planned to spar at Hans’s club, they began to suspect that their family’s extraordinary abilities came from an unusual bloodline.

• Qin reassured his younger siblings that he would listen to their grievances and encouraged them to stay in the Imperial Capital and learn about House Augusta.
• After Qin left, Hans stayed overnight at House List and spent the evening talking with his siblings.
• Hans invited List to spar again, and Elf volunteered to fight him as well.
• List remarked that several of the siblings seemed unusually intelligent and powerful, prompting Michel to wonder whether their bloodline was sacred.
• Elf insisted her strength came from hard training, while the others considered House Augusta’s abnormal bloodline plausible.
• Hans invited his siblings to his club the next day to see what they could do.

Duster Gide attended Hans’s club and weighed whether the Second Imperial Prince’s apparent friendliness offered an opportunity. Meanwhile, Hans’s siblings gathered to train, where Elf challenged him and overwhelmed him in their sparring match.

• Duster Gide visited Hans’s club, observed Hans socializing with List, Elf, and Michel, and decided to cautiously pursue the opportunity Hans might represent.
• Elf sensed something suspicious about Duster, and Hans explained that he had used bait to test the cunning nobleman.
• The group went to a private training ground, where Elf kicked a wooden dummy hard enough to damage the wall.
• Elf challenged Hans to spar, and Hans stepped into the ring determined to prove their sibling affection.
• Elf launched a powerful assault that left Hans struggling to defend himself, while Michel told List she had broken his ribs four times.

Elf, Michel, List, and Hans roughhoused until Little Gwen joined the fight, and Hans revealed that the Empress and his sister-in-law were present. The illegitimate siblings panicked at the prospect of meeting the Empress.

• Elf beat Hans while List watched and felt sorry for Michel, and Tiona observed from upstairs with Claire and Little Gwen.
• Tiona told Little Gwen to go downstairs and greet her siblings, but Gwen rushed into the fight instead.
• Elf caught Gwen's sneak attack, subdued her, and stopped her punch before it struck Gwen's head.
• Hans introduced Elf, Michel, and List to Gwen, then asked why she was there before Gwen explained she had come with Tiona and Claire.
• The siblings realized the Empress was nearby, and Elf asked whether they should avoid meeting her.

Tiona unexpectedly visited Hans and met with him and his siblings, inviting them to gather as family alongside Claire. After easing their tension, Tiona asked List to speak about the pressures they had faced, and he began by recounting his life from the year he was born.

• Hans was startled by Tiona’s arrival and tried to reassure List and the others that he had not known she was coming.
• Gwen told them Tiona had come specifically to see them, and Tiona invited them home, emphasizing family harmony and Claire’s pregnancy.
• List tactfully wished Claire’s unborn child a safe future and possible succession to the throne, easing the tense atmosphere.
• Tiona invited the siblings to lunch and asked Hans to find a private place where they could get to know Claire and each other.
• Hans led the family to a secure area of his club, where Tiona asked them to relax and invited the eldest, List, to talk about his life and pressures.

List recalled his childhood with Tiona and the others, finding a sense of familial affection as they shared memories. Meanwhile, Sanger returned to the Overseas Colony with Great Xia weapons, strengthening Prince Charlie and Councilor Joey’s preparations to seize control.

• List recalled that the wooden horse from his childhood had been sent by Tiona, and Tiona remembered giving it to him alongside an identical one for Qin.
• Hans, Elf, Michel, Tiona, and List shared childhood memories over a meal, and the atmosphere grew warmer.
• Sanger returned to the Overseas Colony, where Prince Charlie and Councilor Joey welcomed him and celebrated the arrival of two capital ships.
• Sanger declared his support for Prince Charlie’s bid to reclaim power, and Councilor Joey grew more confident in their cause.
• Sanger ordered the fleet to unload the weapons and supplies Qin had arranged from Great Xia.