Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Executive Officer at Death”

Key plot points and events

• Topaz confronts Belobog’s leadership over the enormous debt the Interastral Peace Corporation claims the planet owes for its past assistance.
• Yan Huan, unexpectedly sitting in the Supreme Guardian’s seat, dismisses the company’s interest demands as absurd and aggressively questions Topaz about the IPC’s military strength, Emanators, Aeon, and headquarters.
• He bluntly declares that Belobog should “start a war” with the corporation, accusing the IPC of exploiting a devastated planet and comparing its conduct to the Antimatter Legion.
• Cocolia arrives and reveals that Yan Huan is not the Supreme Guardian. He is Belobog’s Executive Officer and a Nameless of the Astral Express.
• Topaz recognizes Yan Huan as the powerful hero who saved Jarilo-VI and the Xianzhou Luofu and nearly defeated the Great-Eradicator Huanlong. His willingness to threaten the IPC deeply unsettles her.
• Topaz repeats the IPC’s proposal to Cocolia, warning that Belobog’s future access to the galactic economy depends on its credit record. Cocolia remains calm and asks for time to consider.
• Topaz attempts to announce that her colleagues will begin conducting operations in Belobog, but Cocolia does not respond.
• March 7th and Dan Heng return to the castle. Topaz claims the negotiations are finished and hurriedly leaves.
• Yan Huan is later found unconscious—or possibly dead—from exhaustion on the floor. March mistakes the situation for a corpse and asks why “this guy” died there.

Character developments

• Yan Huan is shown as powerful, irreverent, and politically reckless. He treats the Supreme Guardian’s office casually, provokes Topaz, and immediately considers military action against the IPC. His comedic behavior contrasts with his intimidating reputation.
• Topaz shifts from confident corporate negotiator to visibly alarmed and overwhelmed visitor. Learning Yan Huan’s identity makes the possibility of Belobog resisting the IPC seem far more credible and dangerous.
• Cocolia demonstrates composure and authority. Unlike Yan Huan’s aggressive approach, she responds to the debt dispute cautiously, refusing to be pressured into an immediate decision.
• March 7th and Dan Heng return at the chapter’s end, bringing a lighter tone and exposing the absurdity of Yan Huan’s behavior.

Significant themes

• Exploitation versus survival: The IPC demands repayment from a society that has only just survived catastrophe, raising questions about whether its “assistance” was humanitarian or financially predatory.
• Power and intimidation: Yan Huan’s reputation alone unsettles Topaz and changes the balance of the negotiations.
• Political strategy versus impulsive confrontation: Cocolia favors patience and deliberation, while Yan Huan advocates openly threatening war.
• The absurdity of authority: Yan Huan casually occupies the Supreme Guardian’s seat, drinks Cocolia’s tea, and makes war declarations, emphasizing the chapter’s comedic and chaotic tone.
• Corporate ideology: Yan Huan sarcastically questions whether the IPC truly serves Preservation or merely worships profit and “Credits.”

Character interactions

• Yan Huan and Topaz clash over the IPC’s debt demands, with Yan Huan turning a financial negotiation into a military confrontation.
• Cocolia corrects Topaz’s misunderstanding of Yan Huan’s position and calmly takes over the discussion.
• Topaz appeals to Cocolia’s responsibility as Supreme Guardian, warning that Belobog’s galactic future depends on cooperation with the IPC.
• March and Dan Heng’s arrival ends the tense negotiation, while March’s confusion over Yan Huan’s condition provides the chapter’s final comic beat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Topaz, an agent of the Interastral Peace Corporation, arrives to collect a centuries-old debt from Belobog.
• The debt, including interest, is astronomically high and unaffordable for Belobog.
• Topaz warns that failure to pay will result in "forceful measures."
• Yan Huan suggests starting a war to imprison Topaz as a war criminal.
• Dan Heng and Cocolia discuss the situation, with Dan Heng suggesting negotiation due to The Company's preservation faction affiliation.
• Meanwhile, Bronya and March 7th try to wake Yan Huan to feed him cake.

Character Developments

• Yan Huan: Shows exhaustion and stubbornness, refusing to eat cake despite being forced to by March 7th and Bronya.
• Dan Heng: Demonstrates diplomatic thinking, suggesting negotiation with The Company.
• Cocolia: Remains calm and collected, providing historical context and explaining the debt situation.
• Sampo: Shows cowardice and evasiveness, hiding under a table to avoid Gepard, and suggests starting a war.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of past actions and debts.
• The power dynamics between Belobog and The Company.
• The struggle between diplomacy and force in conflict resolution.

Character Interactions

• Dan Heng and Cocolia: Discuss the debt and potential solutions, showing mutual respect and understanding.
• Bronya and March 7th: Try to wake and feed Yan Huan, displaying friendship and care.
• Yan Huan and March 7th/Bronya: Yan Huan expresses irritation towards their efforts to feed him, while March 7th and Bronya show determination to make him eat the cake.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Belobog faces a massive debt of 700 years of interest to the Interastral Peace Corporation.
• Sampo returns to Kliperburg, and Gepard arrives looking for the Supreme Guardian.
• Bronya, March 7th, and Dan Heng discuss the debt situation and decide to negotiate with Topaz again.
• Topaz is found at the History Museum, and March 7th approaches her to discuss the debt's flexibility.

Character Developments

• Bronya shows concern for Belobog's situation and worries about the potential conflict with the Corporation.
• March 7th demonstrates her resourcefulness and determination to help Belobog by seeking negotiation with Topaz.
• Topaz reveals her sincere desire to make amends with Yan Huan and the Nameless, showing a more personal side.

Significant Themes

• Debt and its consequences: The debt weighs heavily on Belobog, causing worry and stress among its inhabitants.
• Negotiation and diplomacy: March 7th and Dan Heng attempt to resolve the debt issue through negotiation, highlighting the importance of communication and understanding.
• Personal relationships: Topaz's desire to apologize to Yan Huan and the Nameless emphasizes the significance of personal connections and maintaining good relationships.

Character Interactions

• Bronya and March 7th: Bronya confides in March 7th about her concerns, and March 7th reassures her and takes the initiative to help.
• March 7th and Topaz: March 7th approaches Topaz to discuss the debt, showing a friendly and open attitude.
• Dan Heng and March 7th: Dan Heng supports March 7th's decision to negotiate with Topaz, showing their shared commitment to resolving the debt issue.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Topaz discusses a painting with March 7th and Dan Heng, analyzing its historical and emotional significance.
• Topaz reveals that the Company's demands are reasonable from her perspective, as she has seen worse cases.
• March 7th and Dan Heng express their concerns about Belobog's debt issues to Topaz.
• Topaz shows interest in Belobog's native animals, particularly a preserved bear cub.
• March 7th asks Topaz about the Company's plans for Belobog and Yan Huan's proposal for direct combat.
• Topaz asserts that the Company will consider Belobog's people's well-being and that nothing March 7th or Dan Heng do will stop the project.

Character Developments

• Topaz demonstrates her knowledge of art and history, showing empathy for the suffering of Belobog's people.
• March 7th grows more assertive in her conversation with Topaz, expressing her concerns about Belobog's fate.
• Dan Heng remains calm and collected throughout the conversation, trying to find a solution to the debt issue.
• Yan Huan is mentioned as having proposed direct combat and abducting Topaz, but Topaz dismisses this as exhaustion.

Significant Themes

• The theme of preservation is emphasized, with Topaz comparing the Company's work to that of the City Builders on Belobog.
• The tension between the Company's demands and Belobog's people's well-being is explored.
• The power dynamics between the Company, the Legion, and Belobog's people are highlighted.

Character Interactions

• Topaz interacts with March 7th and Dan Heng, discussing art, Belobog's debt, and the Company's plans.
• March 7th and Dan Heng work together to try and find a solution to Belobog's debt issue, with March 7th growing more assertive in her conversation with Topaz.
• Topaz dismisses Yan Huan's proposal for direct combat, suggesting he was exhausted at the time.

Chapter Summary: “Already at War”

Key Plot Points and Events

• March 7th proves to Topaz that she has been isolated from the wider galaxy: messages to colleagues on Jarilo-VI go through, but communications with people outside the planet consistently fail.
• Topaz realizes she has effectively been taken hostage and may be treated as a war criminal if the conflict between Belobog and the IPC escalates.
• March explains that Yan Huan significantly improved Jarilo-VI’s climate, transforming it from a world of constant blizzards into one with occasional snow and regular sunlight. Because of this, Belobog views the company’s proposal and enormous accumulated interest with deep suspicion.
• Topaz believes the situation has not yet reached open war because she was allowed to enter the museum freely. She asks March and Dan Heng to keep her detention secret so that relations between Belobog and the IPC might still improve.
• Topaz continues to insist that her proposal is reasonable and that Cocolia or Bronya may eventually accept it, despite having no confirmation that either leader supports her position.
• March reveals that Bronya is occupied with Yan Huan, who is apparently accompanying a friend at a street performance, while Yan Huan is also said to be sleeping heavily. This surprises Topaz, who expected Belobog’s leaders to be urgently dealing with the IPC crisis.
• Dan Heng clarifies that he and March approached Topaz independently because they found the interest demanded by the IPC excessive, not because Belobog ordered them to negotiate.
• Topaz receives a message and leaves the museum, still confident in her position.
• Immediately afterward, March receives an urgent message from Seele: unknown forces have occupied the Great Mine in the Underworld. Despite Bronya’s instructions to avoid confrontation, Wildfire and the Silvermane Guards have already clashed with them, indicating that hostilities may have begun in practice.

Character Developments

• Topaz: Her confidence briefly cracks when she discovers she is cut off from outside support and understands the seriousness of her situation. Nevertheless, she quickly regains her professional composure and remains committed to the IPC’s demands, trusting her proposal and assuming Belobog may eventually accept it.
• March 7th: She acts as both a mediator and a practical investigator, demonstrating the communications blockade to Topaz and trying to persuade her to reduce the interest. She also responds responsibly to Seele’s warning by urging restraint.
• Dan Heng: He remains calm and analytical, identifying the enormous debt interest and the lack of interest from Cocolia as the true obstacles to negotiation. He emphasizes that the Express crew’s intervention is motivated by concern for Belobog’s future, not official orders.
• Bronya and Yan Huan: Though absent from the scene, their apparent lack of immediate involvement frustrates Topaz and highlights how differently Belobog’s leaders view the crisis compared with the IPC.
• Seele: Her urgent report shifts the chapter from tense negotiation to an immediate military crisis in the Underworld.

Significant Themes

• Negotiation versus coercion: The discussion exposes how an ostensibly economic agreement can become indistinguishable from political pressure and hostage-taking.
• Conflicting definitions of justice: Topaz focuses on contractual obligations and accumulated interest, while March and Dan Heng focus on Belobog’s survival and the fairness of the company’s demands.
• Confidence and denial: Topaz recognizes the danger but continues rationalizing that her plan will ultimately be accepted, revealing both professional conviction and unwillingness to confront its rejection.
• The consequences of exploitation: The seven-hundred-year interest burden is portrayed as so overwhelming that it threatens to destroy any possibility of cooperation.
• The approach of war: Although neither side has formally declared war, the communications blockade, Topaz’s detention, and the fighting in the Great Mine show that the conflict is already escalating into open confrontation.
• Different priorities: The IPC treats the matter as a major financial and political dispute, while Belobog’s leaders and the Express crew appear less focused on immediate corporate pressure and more concerned with daily life, relationships, and protecting the planet.

Character Interactions

• March and Topaz engage in a tense but relatively civil argument, with March attempting to make Topaz understand Belobog’s perspective.
• Topaz seeks reassurance from March and Dan Heng about whether she will be arrested, while also asking them to conceal her detention.
• March and Dan Heng explain that they intervened voluntarily, creating a contrast between their concern for Belobog and Topaz’s strict loyalty to IPC policy.
• Topaz’s conversation with them ends without compromise: she remains convinced that her proposal will succeed, while they conclude that the financial burden and Belobog’s lack of interest make agreement unlikely.
• The final exchange between March and Seele introduces the next crisis, as news of clashes in the Great Mine confirms that the dispute has moved beyond negotiation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Company's employees start causing trouble in the Lower District, taking over the Great Mine.
• Seele messages March 7th for help, and she and Dan Heng rush to the scene.
• They find the mine entrance guarded by Company employees in advanced armor and weapons.
• Seele, March 7th, and Dan Heng confront the guards, defeating them and entering the mine.

Character Developments

• Seele: Becomes more confident and assertive with March 7th and Dan Heng's support.
• March 7th: Shows annoyance and impatience with the Company employees' silence and lack of respect.
• Dan Heng: Remains calm and collected, focusing on the situation at hand.

Significant Themes

• Power Imbalance: The Company's advanced technology and weapons give them an unfair advantage over the Lower District residents.
• Corruption and Exploitation: The Company's actions reflect their disregard for the well-being of the people in the Lower District, prioritizing assets over lives.

Character Interactions

• Seele, March 7th, and Dan Heng: They work together, combining their strengths to overcome the Company's forces.
• March 7th and the Company Employee: March 7th's interactions with the Company employee highlight the employee's lack of respect and the Company's disregard for the Lower District residents.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Huan is unconscious after playing Genshin Impact, but Dan Heng is still conscious.
• Topaz visits Svarog and Clara in the Lower District, revealing her intention to take over Jarilo-VI for the Interastral Peace Corporation.
• Topaz shows Svarog a source code that controls all of Belobog's mechanical units and offers to help the humans on the condition they accept the Company's rule peacefully.
• In the Great Mine, March 7th, Dan Heng, and Seele find miners gathered and encounter Zhang Zhang, Topaz's Puffball. They follow it to investigate.

Character Developments

• Topaz: Shows ambition and cunning in her plans for Jarilo-VI, willing to use the weapons arsenal as a bargaining chip.
• Svarog: Agrees to assist Topaz, showing a level of understanding and acceptance of the situation, prioritizing the survival of civilization.
• Clara: Shows concern for Svarog and is obedient, following his instructions to return to the mansion.

Significant Themes

• Power Dynamics: Topaz's arrival and her plans highlight the power imbalance between the Company and the local inhabitants of Jarilo-VI.
• Acceptance of Fate: Topaz's mention of helping humans accept their future bought out by the Company raises questions about free will and resignation.
• Loyalty and Trust: Svarog's decision to assist Topaz, despite his reservations, suggests a level of trust in her intentions, or at least a recognition of the inevitable.

Character Interactions

• Topaz and Svarog: Their interaction shows Topaz's persuasive skills and Svarog's rational, calculating nature.
• March 7th, Dan Heng, and Seele: Their teamwork and shared curiosity drive them to follow Zhang Zhang and investigate the miners' situation.
• March 7th and Zhang Zhang: March 7th's attempt to interact with Zhang Zhang shows her playful side, while Zhang Zhang's evasive behavior hints at its loyalty to Topaz.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group encounters company employees harassing miners.
• They chase after Zhang Zhang, who leads them to a large robot (the Company's squad leader) and its army.
• A fight ensues between the group and the Company's forces.
• Dan Heng reveals his true power, turning the tide of the battle.

Character Developments

• Seele shows anger and determination to protect the miners.
• March 7th demonstrates her courage and defiance against the Company.
• Dan Heng reveals his hidden strength, showcasing his power and control over water.

Significant Themes

• The struggle against corporate greed and exploitation.
• The power dynamics between the Company and the locals.
• The importance of unity and standing up against injustice.

Character Interactions

• Seele, March 7th, and Dan Heng work together to protect the miners and fight against the Company.
• The Company's squad leader displays arrogance and disregard for the locals' well-being.
• Zhang Zhang's actions remain mysterious, as it leads the group to the Company's forces and then disappears.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Company's squad leader and his team, battered and out of ammo, are confronted by March 7th and Seele.
• The Company's Director, Topaz, sends a message threatening to dock 60% of the team's annual bonuses if they disrupt local lives, causing the squad to withdraw.
• March 7th, Seele, and Dan Heng decide to return to Kliperburg.
• In Rivet Town, Topaz is blocked by Gepard and his forces. She attempts to control the Automatons but fails due to two unknown, floating mechs (Shamans).

Character Developments

• March 7th: Shows leadership and concern for her team, willing to negotiate with Topaz to reduce interest rates.
• Seele: Demonstrates strategic thinking and concern for the miners' well-being, choosing to stay behind to handle follow-up work.
• Topaz: Shows determination to proceed with her plans despite obstacles, but is surprised and confused when her control over Automatons fails.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: Topaz's attempt to control Automatons is thwarted, highlighting the theme of power dynamics and the limits of control.
• Consequences of Actions: The Company's squad faces penalties for disrupting local lives, emphasizing the consequences of one's actions.

Character Interactions

• March 7th and Seele: They work together to drive out The Company, then decide to return to Kliperburg together.
• Topaz and Gepard: Topaz tries to bypass Gepard's blockade, but her attempt to control Automatons fails due to unknown forces.
• Dan Heng and March 7th: Dan Heng's presence is acknowledged as a significant factor in driving out The Company, but he remains calm and unassuming.

Key Plot Points and Events

• March 7th and Dan Heng return to find only Bronya waiting in the hall.
• Bronya reveals that Cocolia had urgent matters to attend to and left, asking Bronya to wait for them.
• Belobog is now filled with Company personnel conducting asset assessments, treating citizens like debtors.
• Cocolia receives a contract and a personal letter from Topaz, which she leaves behind for Bronya to handle.

Character Developments

• March 7th shows concern for Belobog's citizens and their plight.
• Dan Heng remains analytical and cautious, seeing through Topaz's persuasive language.
• Bronya displays maturity and responsibility, taking charge of the situation in her mother's absence.
• Topaz, through her letter, reveals her background and motivations, attempting to sway Cocolia and Belobog's leadership.

Significant Themes

• Choice and Responsibility: The characters grapple with difficult decisions that impact not just themselves but their entire planet.
• Sincerity vs. Manipulation: Topaz's letter explores the fine line between genuine concern and manipulation.
• Freedom vs. Survival: The letter also raises the question of whether freedom is more important than survival.

Character Interactions

• March 7th and Dan Heng work together to understand the situation and discuss their thoughts on Topaz's letter.
• Bronya shares her mother's decision to leave the contract with her, showing trust in her daughter's capabilities.
• Cocolia's absence and decision to leave the contract with Bronya hint at her confidence in her daughter's judgment.

Key Plot Points & Events

• March 7th and Bronya find a contract left by Topaz, which could save Belobog but has hidden conditions.
• Dan Heng, March 7th, and Bronya discuss the contract's implications and the Company's true intentions.
• In Rivet Town, Cocolia confronts Topaz, refusing to sign the contract due to its uncertainties and the Company's past failures.
• Svarog invites Topaz and Cocolia to see the weapons that could potentially save Belobog.

Character Developments

• March 7th: Becomes more perceptive and analytical, understanding the Company's true nature.
• Dan Heng: Shows empathy and concern for the people of Belobog, questioning the Company's practices.
• Bronya: Reveals that the Executive Officer and Mother had similar reservations about the Company's methods.
• Cocolia: Demonstrates her protective nature and unwillingness to gamble with her people's lives, prioritizing their autonomy and conviction.
• Topaz: Struggles with her desire to save Belobog and her growing awareness of the Company's true intentions.

Significant Themes

• The Company's True Nature: The Company is revealed to be exploitative and manipulative, prioritizing profit over the well-being of its 'employees' and the planets it 'saves.'
• Autonomy vs. Dependence: Cocolia values Belobog's autonomy and self-reliance, while Topaz initially seeks to rely on the Company's power.
• Gambling with Lives: The contract is seen as a gamble with uncertain outcomes, with Cocolia unwilling to risk her people's lives on it.

Character Interactions

• March 7th, Dan Heng, and Bronya: They discuss the contract, leading to a deeper understanding of the Company's true nature and the potential consequences of signing it.
• Cocolia and Topaz: Cocolia confronts Topaz, expressing her concerns and refusal to sign the contract, while Topaz struggles with her desire to save Belobog and her growing awareness of the Company's true intentions.
• Svarog, Cocolia, and Topaz: Svarog invites them to see the weapons, potentially bridging the gap between Cocolia's skepticism and Topaz's desire to save Belobog.

Chapter Summary: “You Can Only Come with Us”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens with a surreal interview in which Yan Huan asks Luocha why he ate his husband. Luocha answers that it was because he loved him too much, leading to an absurd exchange about why he did not eat the man’s clothes. The scene abruptly ends when Yan Huan is dragged across concrete by Svarog.
• Svarog leads Topaz, Cocolia, Gepard, Dan Heng, and the others to a hidden armory concealed inside a massive rock wall.
• He explains that the weapons are mechanical soldiers built by the Interastral Peace Corporation more than seven hundred years earlier. They were never used because the Corporation left Jarilo-VI, and later generations no longer knew how to activate them.
• The City Builders instead created imitation machines based on Corporation blueprints, while Alisa Rand’s resistance relied primarily on human soldiers.
• Svarog questions Topaz’s belief that Jarilo-VI will inevitably perish without Corporation intervention. Topaz maintains that every Stellaron-afflicted world eventually faces extinction, even if temporary improvements occur.
• Topaz argues that joining the Corporation is the only way for Belobog to receive lasting protection. She points to continuing dangers such as the Crack Realm and its creatures as evidence that the Stellaron crisis is not truly over.
• She praises the Nameless of the Star Rail Express for sealing Stellarons and risking themselves to save unfamiliar worlds, but Dan Heng rejects her implication that this justifies imposing an unequal contract on Jarilo-VI.
• Cocolia reveals that Topaz’s colleagues have already been defeated and put to sleep, preventing them from reinforcing her.
• Rather than imprison Topaz, Cocolia says she wants her to evaluate Belobog’s achievements and seeks a peaceful resolution based on mutual understanding.

Character Developments

• Topaz remains convinced that the Corporation is essential for Jarilo-VI’s survival. Her stance is presented as sincere rather than purely self-serving, shaped by her own childhood experience with a destroyed homeland.
• Svarog demonstrates increasing independence in thought. Although he claims to be only a tool and not a decision-maker, he openly acknowledges that he disagrees with Topaz’s conclusions about Belobog’s future.
• Cocolia appears calm, strategic, and empathetic. She understands Topaz’s motives and personal history but remains firm in defending Belobog’s sovereignty.
• Dan Heng takes a direct moral and political stance against the unequal Corporation contract, defending Jarilo-VI’s right to choose its own future.
• Gepard remains silent and observant, supporting Cocolia’s confrontation with Topaz.
• Luocha and Yan Huan appear in a deliberately comedic, surreal opening that contrasts sharply with the serious political discussion that follows.

Significant Themes

• Preservation versus dependence: The chapter questions whether accepting Corporation protection is genuine salvation or submission to an unequal power.
• Free will and agency: Svarog’s distinction between being a tool and being a decision-maker reflects the larger issue of whether Belobog should determine its own destiny.
• History and forgotten technology: The abandoned mechanical army shows how knowledge can be lost and how later generations may misunderstand or mythologize their past.
• Sincere disagreement: Topaz is not portrayed as malicious; she genuinely believes the Corporation is necessary, emphasizing the conflict between opposing perspectives rather than simple good and evil.
• Peaceful negotiation backed by force: Cocolia calls for dialogue, but only after neutralizing Topaz’s allies, raising questions about whether their meeting can truly be considered peaceful.
• Hope versus fear of inevitable destruction: Topaz focuses on long-term catastrophe, while Cocolia and the Nameless represent the possibility that Belobog can overcome its crisis through its own efforts.

Character Interactions

• Svarog and Topaz: Their exchange forms the chapter’s central ideological debate. Svarog challenges the certainty of Topaz’s assumptions, while Topaz defends the Corporation’s interventionist philosophy.
• Topaz and Dan Heng: Dan Heng courteously acknowledges her praise of the Nameless but firmly rejects using their heroism as justification for an exploitative contract.
• Cocolia and Topaz: Cocolia confronts Topaz with confidence, acknowledges her past, and attempts to turn their confrontation into a negotiation rather than a straightforward arrest.
• Cocolia and Dan Heng: Their coordinated defeat of Topaz’s colleagues demonstrates their cooperation and gives Cocolia leverage in the discussion.
• Topaz and her colleagues: Their defeat isolates Topaz, leaving her to face Cocolia and the Nameless alone and forcing her to reconsider the situation.

Chapter Summary: “Why Are You Looking at Me?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Topaz meets Madam Cocolia and agrees to visit a restricted area of Belobog, though she warns that reversing the Interastral Peace Corporation’s decision to acquire the planet will be difficult.
• Cocolia leads Topaz, Bronya, Yan Huan, and the Express crew through the ruined Upper District and into a hidden facility.
• They discover the shattered Creation Engine, the enormous mech used by Belobog in its past battles.
• Bronya explains that the Creation Engine was built entirely by Belobog’s people under the leadership of the first Supreme Guardian, Alisa Rand. Although initially used as a weapon against the Legion, its true purpose was long-term planetary reconstruction.
• The facility is still active, with engineers, young people, and children learning to maintain and continue the project across future generations.
• Topaz recognizes that Belobog is not a helpless or hopeless planet. Its people remain determined to rebuild their world and preserve their independence.
• She admits that she wrongly judged Belobog based on the collapse of her own homeworld and says she will fight for Belobog to receive another chance.
• However, Topaz cannot simply cancel the acquisition, since the decision was made by the corporation’s upper management. She then looks toward Yan Huan, implying that he may be connected to the “unless” that could change the situation.

Character Developments

• Topaz shifts from viewing Belobog primarily as a financially unviable investment to recognizing its resilience, self-reliance, and potential for recovery. She acknowledges that her personal history distorted her judgment.
• Bronya confidently presents Belobog’s history and achievements, defending the planet’s ability to determine its own future. Her explanation reinforces her growth as a leader willing to be honest with her people, even when the truth is painful.
• Cocolia remains composed and purposeful, guiding Topaz to evidence of Belobog’s strength rather than relying only on argument.
• Yan Huan remains largely uninvolved in the discussion until Topaz singles him out, creating an unresolved mystery about his importance.
• March 7th and the Express crew react with surprise upon seeing the Creation Engine again, providing a connection to their earlier experiences in Belobog.

Significant Themes

• Self-determination and independence: Belobog’s people choose to rebuild their world themselves rather than surrender control to an outside corporation.
• Hope and resilience: The Creation Engine symbolizes Belobog’s ability to survive centuries of disaster and continue working toward a better future.
• The danger of judging through personal experience: Topaz realizes that she projected the failure of her own homeworld onto Belobog and misread its circumstances.
• Generational continuity: Engineers pass their knowledge to children and future workers, showing that Belobog’s survival depends on sustained collective effort.
• Technology as both destruction and renewal: The Creation Engine was created for war but ultimately represents reconstruction and restoration.

Character Interactions

• Topaz and Cocolia: Their conversation establishes Topaz’s skepticism and Cocolia’s confidence that Belobog’s situation must be seen firsthand.
• Topaz and Bronya: Bronya explains Belobog’s history and current efforts, gradually persuading Topaz that the planet deserves consideration. Topaz openly admits her mistake to Bronya.
• Topaz and the people of Belobog: The engineers and children working around the Creation Engine demonstrate the planet’s continued determination, deeply affecting her.
• Topaz and Yan Huan: At the chapter’s end, Topaz turns her attention to Yan Huan after suggesting there may be one possible way to challenge the corporation’s decision. His confused response creates a cliffhanger.

Chapter Summary: “What’s Wrong with Me?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Huan writes a guarantee letter on behalf of the Nameless, with the Star Rail Express acting as guarantor. Topaz plans to use it during negotiations with the Interastral Peace Corporation to prevent Jarilo-VI from being forced into a merger.
• Topaz explains that the Star Rail Express carries significant influence because of the Stellaris Tracks it opens, making its guarantee valuable to the company.
• March 7th and Topaz collect the unconscious company employees, while Yan Huan, Bronya, Cocolia, and Dan Heng remain in Kliperburg.
• The group discusses the danger posed by the company and Topaz’s relatively merciful handling of Jarilo-VI’s situation. Yan Huan reveals that Topaz is considered a major threat on the Xianzhou’s list, comparable to a Great-Eradicator.
• Sampo emerges from beneath a table wearing a pink nightgown, claiming that he and Yan Huan slept together. The revelation causes confusion and embarrassment, though it is clarified that Sampo merely stayed in Yan Huan’s room after visiting him.
• Sampo dramatically predicts that Jarilo-VI could have been forced into war with the company, while Cocolia remains composed and insists that they can only do their best to survive and manage the crisis.
• Outside, Topaz secretly attends a company meeting. She is punished for failing to secure the Jarilo-VI project: her rank is reduced from P45 to P44, her salary is cut, and she temporarily loses access to bonuses and incentives.
• The company officially abandons its attempt to force Jarilo-VI into a merger.
• After the meeting, Aventurine contacts Topaz. He teases her about receiving relatively light punishment and questions her association with Yan Huan, noting that Yan Huan nearly killed a Great-Eradicator.

Character Developments

• Yan Huan shows growing awareness of political and corporate power structures. He understands the significance of Topaz’s position and the danger the company represents, while also remaining blunt, irreverent, and easily flustered by Sampo’s behavior.
• Topaz demonstrates loyalty and pragmatism by helping Jarilo-VI despite the professional consequences. She accepts her punishment without protest, suggesting both responsibility and confidence in her standing within the company.
• Bronya continues acting as a responsible leader, supporting Yan Huan and helping manage the situation. Her willingness to let Sampo remain in Kliperburg also reveals a surprisingly forgiving and practical side.
• Cocolia remains calm and emotionally restrained while dealing with the crisis. Her response reflects her long experience with hardship and her belief that survival depends on enduring difficult circumstances.
• Sampo provides comic relief but also voices the genuine danger Jarilo-VI faced. His exaggeration highlights how close the planet came to disaster.
• Aventurine is introduced or reemphasized as a sharp, mocking corporate figure who is interested in Yan Huan’s power and history. His comments suggest that Yan Huan is being watched by influential people.

Significant Themes

• Debt, power, and coercion: Jarilo-VI’s survival is threatened by the company’s financial and political influence, showing how economic agreements can function as a form of control.
• The value of alliances: The Nameless’s guarantee becomes powerful because of the Star Rail Express’s broader importance, demonstrating that reputation and connections can protect vulnerable worlds.
• Personal sacrifice: Topaz’s decision to abandon the merger project costs her rank, salary, and bonuses, emphasizing the price of acting according to her conscience or judgment.
• Survival amid overwhelming forces: Cocolia’s calm outlook reflects the chapter’s recurring idea that individuals and planets often cannot control larger powers; they can only endure and make the best choices available.
• Tension between humor and danger: Sampo’s absurd antics contrast with the serious threat of corporate domination, balancing the chapter’s political stakes with interpersonal comedy.

Character Interactions

• Yan Huan and Topaz cooperate closely over the guarantee letter, with Yan Huan questioning whether her plan will work and worrying about the consequences for her career.
• March 7th admires Topaz and enthusiastically treats her as an important ally, even joking about her wealth.
• Dan Heng and Yan Huan discuss the company’s reputation and Topaz’s status as a dangerous political figure.
• Sampo’s claims about sleeping with Yan Huan create an awkward exchange involving Yan Huan and Bronya, reinforcing their chaotic, familiar relationship.
• Sampo challenges Cocolia’s calmness, while Cocolia dismisses his panic and reminds him that Jarilo-VI has survived worse crises.
• Aventurine’s final conversation with Topaz establishes a more personal and competitive dynamic, while also raising concern about Yan Huan’s connection to the near-death of a Great-Eradicator.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sandstone informs Topaz about Diamond's success in winning over Talavan, a member of the Board of Directors of Seven, which benefits their department.
• Sandstone reveals a significant deal involving Penacony, offering Topaz a chance to manage it.
• Yan Huan, back on the Star Rail Express, discusses Jarilo-VI's events with March 7th, Himeko, and Welt. He expresses his frustration with Genshin Impact's gacha system.
• Verde, an employee of the Interastral Peace Corporation, contacts Yan Huan to recommend a game, which Topaz later confirms is worth playing.
• Topaz warns Yan Huan to be careful during his trip to Penacony.

Character Developments

• Topaz shows concern for Yan Huan's well-being and safety, hinting at a growing bond between them.
• Yan Huan's frustration with Genshin Impact's gacha system suggests a shift in his interests, potentially opening up to new games and experiences.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and Care: Topaz's concern for Yan Huan and the people of Belobog highlights her caring nature, which contrasts with her initial portrayal as a profit-driven corporate executive.
• Change and Adaptation: Yan Huan's willingness to consider a new game, despite his initial resistance, shows his ability to adapt and change his preferences.

Character Interactions

• Topaz and Yan Huan: Their interaction reveals a growing friendship, with Topaz showing concern for Yan Huan's well-being and Yan Huan seeking her advice on games.
• March 7th, Himeko, Welt, and Yan Huan: Their discussion about Jarilo-VI and games showcases their camaraderie and shared experiences.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yan Huan is invited to play "Aetherium Wars," a universe-level card trading and battling game, by Verde, a game salesman.
• The game features Aetherium Copying Technology, allowing players to record creatures they've seen into Aetherium Coins for battling.
• Yan Huan and March 7th attend the "Interstellar Decisive Celebration" for Aetherium Wars in Rivet Town on Jarilo-VI.

Character Developments

• Yan Huan shows interest in Aetherium Wars, despite initially having no interest in games.
• March 7th is skeptical about the game but willing to try it.
• Verde, the game salesman, is enthusiastic and dedicated to promoting Aetherium Wars.

Significant Themes

• The allure of new games and experiences.
• The dedication and passion of game enthusiasts.
• The potential for games to bring people together.

Character Interactions

• Yan Huan and Verde interact through chat, with Verde trying to convince Yan Huan to play Aetherium Wars.
• Yan Huan and March 7th discuss the game and decide to attend the fan festival together.
• Verde greets Yan Huan and March 7th at the fan festival, eager to explain the game to them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• March 7th receives a call from Himeko, who invites her and Yan Huan to have lunch back at the base.
• March 7th and Yan Huan are in Rivet Town, Belobog, attending an Etherium Wars fan festival.
• Verde, an Etherium Wars salesperson, approaches them and explains the game's concept and the ongoing Interstellar Decisive Celebration.
• Verde reveals that the celebration is held in a renovated weapons testing ground, now transformed into a vibrant event venue.
• Giovanni di Giorgio da Epsilon, the event's sponsor, is introduced as the "big boss."

Character Developments

• March 7th and Yan Huan are portrayed as casual gamers, new to Etherium Wars, and hesitant to participate in competitive events.
• Verde is enthusiastic about promoting Etherium Wars and the celebration, acting as a guide and salesperson.
• Giovanni is revealed to be a wealthy and influential figure, sponsoring the Interstellar Decisive Celebration.

Significant Themes

• The theme of gaming and competition is central to the chapter, with Verde and Giovanni emphasizing the excitement and potential of Etherium Wars and the celebration.
• The transformation of the old weapons testing ground into a vibrant event venue highlights the theme of renewal and change.

Character Interactions

• March 7th and Yan Huan interact with Verde, who tries to convince them to participate in the celebration.
• Verde and Giovanni recognize each other, with Giovanni expressing surprise at Verde's companions.
• March 7th and Yan Huan express their hesitation and concern about competing in the event, while Verde and Giovanni try to persuade them to join.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Giovanni, the event's sponsor, meets March 7th and Yan Huan, expressing his desire to befriend them.
• He reveals that the Interstellar Decisive Celebration is held on Belobog, with his company transforming the city into the competition venue.
• Yan Huan suspects Giovanni's motives, while March 7th is eager to play the game.
• A commotion occurs below the steps, where Company employees are harassing a young boy named Eric.

Character Developments

• Giovanni: Introduces himself as a powerful and influential figure, showing charisma and eloquence. He seems to have ulterior motives but denies any ill intentions.
• March 7th: Shows concern for the underdog, intervening when she sees Eric being bullied.
• Yan Huan: Remains suspicious of Giovanni, recalling a past encounter with Eric.

Significant Themes

• Power and Influence: Giovanni's presence and actions highlight the power dynamics at play in the game and the city.
• Suspicion vs. Trust: Yan Huan's suspicion contrasts with March 7th's eagerness to trust Giovanni, raising questions about the reliability of appearances.
• Bullying and Inequality: The scene with Eric and the Company employees underscores the theme of power imbalances and exploitation.

Character Interactions

• March 7th and Yan Huan: They work together to protect Eric from the Company employees, showing a united front against injustice.
• Giovanni and Yan Huan/March 7th: Giovanni tries to befriend them, but Yan Huan remains wary, while March 7th is more open to the idea.
• Company Employees and Eric: The employees' aggressive behavior towards Eric highlights the power dynamics between them and the young boy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Eric, a young boy, is harassed by two company employees for an Aetherium Coin he found.
• Giovanni, the arena manager, proposes a duel following Aetherium Wars rules to settle the dispute.
• March 7th and Yan Huan, two newcomers to the game, accept the challenge on Eric's behalf.
• March 7th summons a powerful Void creature and easily defeats the opponents. Yan Huan's creature, a small flying bird, is quickly defeated.
• The company employees flee, vowing to return.
• Eric reveals the employees mentioned 'Topaz' and her support group wanting powerful Etherium Spirits for consecutive championships.

Character Developments

• March 7th shows excitement and confidence in her gaming abilities.
• Yan Huan displays a mix of frustration at his creature's weakness and determination to prove himself.
• Eric shows courage in standing up to the company employees and recalling relevant information.
• Giovanni demonstrates knowledge of the game's rules and respect for its players.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics and competition within the Aetherium Wars game.
• The contrast between March 7th's and Yan Huan's gaming skills and confidence.
• The potential for misunderstandings and underhanded tactics in competitive environments, as hinted by the company employees' actions.

Character Interactions

• March 7th and Yan Huan have a friendly rivalry, with March 7th teasing Yan Huan about his weak creature.
• Eric shows gratitude towards March 7th for helping him.
• Giovanni acts as a mediator and mentor, guiding the newcomers and showing respect for the game's rules and players.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Eric hands over an Aetherium Coin to Yan Huan and March 7th, asking them to use it as they see fit.
• Yan Huan summons an Etherium Spirit from the coin, a Dimensional Puffball named Dan Heng.
• Dan Heng exhibits unusual behavior, showing signs of emotion and disobedience to commands.
• Giovanni suggests reporting Dan Heng's anomaly to the Aetherium Wars project team.
• Yan Huan and March 7th decide to keep Dan Heng and name it after much debate.

Character Developments

• Eric shows maturity and understanding by entrusting the Aetherium Coin to Yan Huan and March 7th.
• Yan Huan and March 7th display camaraderie and sympathy towards Dan Heng, deciding to keep it despite its anomalies.
• Giovanni shows concern for the game's integrity and the well-being of the Etherium Spirits.

Significant Themes

• The theme of friendship and camaraderie is reinforced as Yan Huan and March 7th work together to care for Dan Heng.
• The theme of the unusual and potentially special nature of Dan Heng is introduced, hinting at future developments.

Character Interactions

• Eric entrusts the Aetherium Coin to Yan Huan and March 7th, showing trust in their abilities.
• Yan Huan and March 7th interact playfully while trying to name Dan Heng, showcasing their bond.
• Giovanni's interactions with Yan Huan and March 7th reveal his professionalism and concern for the game's rules and the well-being of the Etherium Spirits.