Chapter Summaries

Wei Yenwu sent Ch'en to collect Lungmen’s enormous war-expense bill from Hoshino, who used Father as a shrine donation collector. Ch'en tore up the bill and let Hoshino off the debt, but Hoshino scolded her for being untrustworthy with money.

• Hoshino flew Father to the mountain behind the shrine and set up an offertory box to collect offerings.
• Wei Yenwu’s staff calculated Lungmen’s war expenses, and he urged Ch'en not to surrender the debt too quickly.
• Ch'en questioned why she had to collect the money, while Swire and Hoshiguma explained Wei Yenwu’s hopes for the matter.
• Ch'en went to the shrine, showed Hoshino the bill, and told her she did not have to repay it.
• Ch'en tore up the bill, and Hoshino called her untrustworthy with money.

Wei Yenwu and Madam Fumizuki shared a melancholy afternoon tea and wine, while Ch'en returned from the shrine without collecting the money. Back at the Guard Department, Swire tried to teach Ch'en how to understand why the shrine maiden was angry, but Hoshiguma doubted her advice.

• Ch'en left the shrine empty-handed after the shrine maiden rejected her collection notice.
• Wei Yenwu lamented that he loved his niece more than she loved him, and Madam Fumizuki comforted him over warmed rice wine.
• Ch'en told Swire she had failed to collect the money, and Swire criticized her for negotiating without her usual tactics.
• Swire warned Ch'en not to send the collection notice again and gave her romance novels to study.
• Hoshiguma mocked Swire's idea that romance novels could teach Ch'en how to deal with people.

Hoshino drew crowds to Father at the shrine and collected offerings while Exusiai dreamed of piloting it and Texas met A, the doctor from Lee's Detective Agency. A planned to offer free medical care to anyone injured around the Gundam, and Texas revealed that his supposed promise to donate his profits was a trick because he never planned to charge patients.

• Hoshino watched Ch'en remain inside the office reading while Hoshiguma and Swire discussed how easily Ch'en had believed Swire's lie.
• Hoshino collected Lungmen Dollars from visitors admiring Father at the shrine.
• Exusiai asked Hoshino to let her pilot Father, and Hoshino told her to obtain licenses for other vehicles first.
• Texas called A a quack and learned he planned to set up nearby to treat anyone hurt trying to pilot Father.
• A offered to put his stall's profits into the offering box, but Texas told Hoshino he had already intended to provide free care.

Texas left the shrine with Exusiai, while Hoshino and Ch'en spent the day around Father’s crowded shrine. Ch’en later questioned Aak about his stall and concluded that Hoshino might be looking for someone to pilot Father.

• Texas dismissed Aak’s claims about his medicine and drove away from the shrine with Exusiai, who listed the licenses she wanted to get.
• Hoshino told Aak that he should charge money, then continued managing the orderly line of visitors.
• Ch’en filled seventeen pages with reading notes, sealed them in a marked top-secret document bag, and left work to check on Father’s shrine.
• Ch’en found Aak at his stall and questioned him about practicing medicine without a license; Aak said he was seeking future patients among people who wanted to pilot mechs.
• After Aak explained why he was at the shrine, Ch’en thought Hoshino had approved him because she wanted to find a pilot for Father.

Ch'en secretly climbed into Father's cockpit to pilot it, but the Gundam would not move because its repair level was only 90%. When Exusiai arrived to try piloting Father, she and Ch'en clashed briefly, and Hoshino then received a mission to find a suitable candidate for Father.

• Ch'en sneaked into Father's cockpit after nightfall and learned that its repair level was 90%.
• Exusiai returned with more than thirty driver's licenses and asked Hoshino for permission to pilot the Gundam.
• Hoshino told Exusiai to try the cockpit, prompting Ch'en to prepare for her arrival.
• Exusiai opened the cockpit hatch and fired at the shadow inside, but Ch'en sliced the bullets apart with Chi Xiao and escaped after a theatrical exchange.
• Exusiai checked Father's repair level and concluded that someone had stolen the missing ten percent, while Hoshino agreed.
• Hoshino received a mission to find a suitable candidate for Father and complete its transformation into life using the Fourth Herrscher Core.

Hoshino tricked Exusiai into believing she had to defeat the thief to earn the chance to pilot a Gundam, while Ch'en tried to hide that she was the thief. After Ch'en returned to her dormitory, she found Wendy asleep in her bed.

• Hoshino told Exusiai that Father's missing energy supply unit was stolen and made recovering it a trial to become a Gundam pilot.
• Exusiai and Texas drove to the Lungmen Guard Department to report the theft, while Ch'en watched their arrival on surveillance.
• Ch'en accepted Exusiai's report and promised to open a case, concealing her own involvement from her subordinate.
• Ch'en worked late, returned to her dormitory after midnight, and found Wendy asleep in her bed.

Wendy appeared in Ch'en’s room, subdued her attack, and fell asleep in her arms while Hoshino planned a fabricated backstory for her. Meanwhile, Exusiai pursued a lead on the phantom thief and heard about a Victorian legend that seemed to match her suspect.

• Wendy thanked Ch'en, claimed she had eaten Hiyumaru, and effortlessly stopped Ch'en’s sword attack with her wind.
• Wendy knocked Ch'en off balance, clung to her, and fell asleep against her chest, leaving Ch'en trapped beneath her wings.
• Hoshino watched Wendy and Ch'en from the shrine and planned a tragic backstory to make Wendy’s ending convincing.
• Exusiai drove around Lungmen asking about the phantom thief while Texas reluctantly accompanied her.
• Exusiai questioned a theater owner, who described a Victorian phantom thief known for elegant, flirtatious speech, and she suspected the thief might be the same person she was pursuing.

Ch'en restrained the mysterious girl Wendy and learned from Hoshino that Wendy was the missing energy system of Father, imprisoned since birth. Hoshino entrusted Ch'en with keeping Wendy safe and gave her a trial to face.

• Ch'en tied the sleeping Wendy to the bed and left to seek answers at the shrine.
• Wendy woke briefly, revealed she could break free, and went back to sleep.
• Ch'en told Hoshino about the girl and her recent encounter with Exusiai.
• Hoshino explained that Wendy had been imprisoned inside Father and asked Ch'en to keep her safe.
• Ch'en accepted the task, and Hoshino said she had arranged opponents for Ch'en as a trial.

Chen was assigned to care for Wendy and tried to free her gently, but Wendy reacted by snapping her restraints and accusing Chen of smelling like Yae Sakura. Meanwhile, Exusiai and Texas investigated the Iris Phantom Thief, and Hoshino and Kallen said they had never heard of Sixth Serenade.

• Hoshino reassured Chen that Hiyumaru would return on her own and told her that Wendy’s captivity was not her fault.
• Chen returned to Wendy’s room, secretly untied her, and was caught by the waking girl.
• Wendy snapped her ropes and told Chen that she smelled like Yae Sakura, leaving Chen to wonder how to defend her teacher.
• Exusiai and Texas discussed the Victoria phantom thief after watching a musical, and Texas identified Swire as Beatrix Swire, a Victorian noblewoman.
• Exusiai and Texas went to the Shrine to ask about the phantom thief, where Hoshino and Kallen denied knowing Sixth Serenade.

Hoshino left Ch'en to take Wendy out and help her experience the warmth of everyday life, while secretly planning Phantom Thief Kallen’s nighttime appearance. As Ch'en praised Yae Sakura, Wendy questioned her about the shrine maiden, and Hoshino grew eager to hear more.

• After Exusiai left, Hoshino decided Phantom Thief Kallen should appear at night and left Ch'en to spend the day with Wendy.
• Ch'en awkwardly explained why she had tied Wendy up, and Wendy hugged her to cover her in her own scent.
• Ch'en disguised Wendy in a wheelchair and took her to a breakfast shop for satay noodles.
• Over breakfast, Ch'en told Wendy not to fear Yae Sakura and praised the shrine maiden as the best person in the world.
• Wendy kept asking Ch'en about Yae Sakura as they traveled through the city, while Hoshino listened from the shrine and eagerly awaited more.

Hoshino, acting as the Sixth Serenade, ambushed Ch'en and Wendy after their late-night snack, and Ch'en fought back while shielding Wendy. Wendy then revealed her power as a great wind swept through the street.

• Hoshino put on her mask and took the stage above Lungmen as the Sixth Serenade.
• Ch'en pushed Wendy through Lungmen and took her for osmanthus rice wine tangyuan and wontons.
• After their snack, Wendy sensed Hoshino's arrival and warned Ch'en that she was there.
• Hoshino appeared amid purple iris petals and icy wind, and Ch'en drew Chi Xiao to attack her.
• Hoshino dodged Ch'en's strike and spoke about fate and the need to set the world right.
• Wendy floated out of her wheelchair and unleashed a powerful wind across the street.

Ch'en fought Hoshino, who left after placing a purple iris on her shoulder and promising to return for Wendy. Ch'en brought Wendy to a theater crowd and then encountered Exusiai and Texas, while Exusiai wrongly concluded that Ch'en had faced the phantom thief in a secret case.

• Wendy attacked with wind blades as Ch'en fought Hoshino, who dodged while teaching Ch'en that an object's power was unimportant.
• Hoshino placed a purple iris on Ch'en's shoulder, told her to wait, and departed without taking Wendy.
• Ch'en found a theater billboard identifying the performance as Great Detective Fu Holmes: Phantom Thief Sixth Serenade and recognized the phantom thief as Kallen.
• Wendy told Ch'en she had feared accidentally killing Hoshino, then sat quietly as Ch'en pushed her through the theater crowd.
• Ch'en met Exusiai and Texas, and Exusiai mistook the iris and Ch'en's excuse about a top-secret case as proof she had fought the phantom thief.
• Ch'en went to the shrine for help after encountering a problem she could not understand.

Ch'en learned that Wendy was the Herrscher of Wind and accepted the task of helping her resist the consciousness within her. Ch'en gathered allies to protect Wendy from Phantom Thief Sixth Night, while Swire’s interest in the phantom thief complicated the preparations.

• Kallen stopped Ch'en from entering the shrine and told her that she had to complete the task Yae Sakura entrusted to her.
• Kallen told Ch'en that Wendy was the fourth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Wind, and warned that another consciousness could erode her body.
• Ch'en returned to Wendy and promised to help her, though Wendy insisted that her situation was her own business.
• Ch'en decided to unite allies against Phantom Thief Sixth Night and mobilized the Lungmen Guard Department, Exusiai, and Texas.
• Swire asked Ch'en about meeting the phantom thief and regretted that she had thrown away the purple iris clue.
• Wendy watched Swire from her wheelchair as Ch'en’s effort to protect her created an unexpected complication.

Sixth Night visited the safe house, where she confronted Swire and urged her not to chase illusions. Swire declared she would fight for what she wanted herself, while Ch'en remained with Wendy as the commotion continued outside.

• Hoshiguma asked Ch'en whether she was protecting Wendy because someone had entrusted her to do so, and Ch'en admitted it was not the only reason.
• Ch'en returned to the safe house and kept watch over Wendy as night fell.
• Hoshino transformed into Sixth Serenade and appeared behind Swire, then evaded Swire's whip and took it from her.
• Sixth Night teased Swire about visiting her estate and stealing her heart, while Swire said she would fight for what she wanted herself.
• Sixth Night vanished without breaching the bolted door, as citizens and elite operatives watched the spectacle and Ch'en continued guarding Wendy.

Hoshino escaped Swire and the Lungmen Guard Department’s attempt to capture her, then defeated Exusiai, Texas, and Swire. Ch’en recruited Penguin Logistics to protect the safe house and intercept the phantom thief.

• Swire ordered the Guard Department to use Heavy Bunny’s advanced capture equipment against Hoshino, but Hoshino evaded it and escaped.
• Swire promised Ch’en she would suppress news of the phantom thief to keep Victoria’s nobles from coming to Lungmen.
• Exusiai fired at Hoshino, but Hoshino defeated her, Texas, and Swire, then left them purple irises.
• Ch’en reprimanded Swire and the Guard Department, confiscated their equipment, and decided to form her own team.
• Ch’en summoned Emperor and Penguin Logistics, who agreed to provide security and planned to relocate around Lungmen while intercepting Hoshino.

Penguin Logistics escorted Wendy through Lungmen while the phantom thief Sixth Serenade repeatedly blocked their route. Hoshino used her superhuman strength to lift their van, and Croissant got out to confront her as the others drove on.

• Texas asked Ch'en where Yae Sakura was and learned that Yae Sakura would only watch the test from nearby.
• Penguin Logistics took Wendy under protection and drove through Lungmen, changing routes to evade Sixth Serenade.
• Sixth Serenade appeared at three intersections, and Exusiai fired on her with Originium Arts while Texas drove the van away.
• Hoshino lifted the van by its rear end, prompting Croissant to get out and face her.
• Hoshino fought Croissant, defeated her, and set off on her hunt once more.

Phantom Thief Sixth Night stopped Penguin Logistics by luring its members away one by one and giving them dramatic makeovers. Texas returned to the End of the Earth bar in a solemn new outfit, leaving Croissant so intimidated that she used an honorific instead of calling her Ade.

• Texas drove away in a foul mood after Croissant was left behind, while Wendy reflected on the supposed sacrifice.
• Croissant returned to the End of the Earth bar with bread-roll curls, and Sora later left the van and came back in new clothes.
• Exusiai entered the bar with her hair braided, joining Croissant and Sora in their makeover confusion.
• Wendy stayed in the van while Texas got out to face Phantom Thief Sixth Night, and Ch'en took the wheel.
• Hoshino defeated Texas and changed her outfit; Texas returned to the bar, where Croissant asked why she would not call her Ade.

Hoshino captured Penguin Logistics and brought them to the End of the Earth bar, where Texas and the others waited in changed outfits. Ch'en and Wendy continued driving, but Hoshino caught up with their van and Ch'en prepared to face her alone.

• Exusiai photographed Texas in her new outfit while Croissant served her sherry at the bar.
• Hoshino lifted the van, captured Emperor, and questioned him before he somehow returned to the bar.
• Emperor found Penguin Logistics gathered at the bar, and Exusiai's boldness prompted him to consider disciplining his employees.
• Ch'en reassured Wendy that Penguin Logistics' sacrifice had meaning as they sped away in the van.
• Hoshino tapped on the van's roof, and Ch'en braked and told Wendy to escape while she confronted the pursuer.

Ch'en fought Hoshino with Chi Xiao but could not land a hit, and her relentless attacks left her exhausted and bleeding. As Ch'en collapsed, Wendy caught her and called her an idiot.

• Wendy flew away after looking back at Ch'en, leaving Ch'en to face Hoshino.
• Hoshino teased Ch'en and dodged her attacks while commenting on her figure and outfit.
• Ch'en unleashed Chi Xiao, tearing apart the alley and splitting an abandoned building in two, but still could not harm Hoshino.
• Hoshino asked Ch'en whether she had any regrets, and Ch'en continued fighting until exhaustion overwhelmed her.
• Wendy swooped down and caught Ch'en as she fell, calling her an idiot.

After Ch'en defeated the final opponent, Hoshino considered what to do with the Fourth Herrscher Core and brought the unconscious Ch'en back to the shrine. Ch'en woke from a peaceful sleep on Wendy's lap and found Hoshino teasing her about the feel of other women's thighs.

• Ch'en pushed herself too hard in the final battle and knocked herself unconscious, while Hoshino picked up Chi Xiao and inspected the ruined surroundings.
• The system announced that Ch'en would receive a verbal evaluation after waking, with the Fourth Herrscher Core as the reward; Hoshino wondered how she could use it.
• Wendy wrapped her foot bandages around Ch'en's bleeding wrist, then carried her gently through a breeze that eased her troubled sleep.
• Hoshino transformed back into the shrine maiden and waited at the shrine while Ch'en slept for a long time.
• Wendy woke Ch'en with a cool breath, and Ch'en realized she had been resting on Wendy's thighs.
• Hoshino teased Ch'en by asking whether other women's thighs were soft.