Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Rui awakens in the world of Arknights as a bodiless “simulator system,” controlled by an unresponsive higher-level system.
• He is assigned to assist a host and becomes linked with Ingrid, a young Wolper assassin from the Venice Family of Wolseini, also known as Vulpisfoglia.
• During a Lineage meeting, Ingrid initially treats Su Rui as an irritating voice in her head. He insists that she can communicate with him mentally and promises to help her with missions.
• Su Rui demonstrates his abilities by activating an advanced scanning system. It maps the room in three dimensions, identifies hidden weapons, detects surveillance, and highlights suspicious individuals—capabilities that impress Ingrid and make her take him seriously.
• When Mr. Venice asks Ingrid for her opinion on dealing with Midal, a rival Lineage leader, Su Rui feeds her information and advice. Ingrid presents a confident response and volunteers to handle the matter.
• Little Venice challenges Ingrid, accusing her of making empty boasts. Su Rui immediately suggests assassinating him and provides numerous methods, but Ingrid refuses because he is Mr. Venice’s son and their conflict has not reached that point.
• Ingrid and Su Rui begin developing a teasing, argumentative dynamic. She regards his eagerness to kill people as childish, while he defends himself as decisive and highly capable.
• After the meeting, Mr. Venice privately shows concern for Ingrid’s safety, reinforcing her affection and loyalty toward him.
• Ingrid prepares to infiltrate Midal’s Lineage. She plans to act at night, but Su Rui objects because he dislikes using infrared vision and finds its appearance unpleasant. He eventually reveals that his discomfort comes from a deeper uneasiness with darkness and not being able to see clearly.

Character Developments

• Su Rui: Moves from confusion and resentment over his forced reincarnation toward actively participating in Ingrid’s life. He proves useful through scanning, intelligence gathering, tactical support, and medical capabilities. Despite his powerful tools, he behaves immaturely and impulsively, especially regarding assassination. His dislike of nighttime and infrared vision hints at vulnerability beneath his bravado.
• Ingrid/Vulpisfoglia: Initially sees Su Rui as an unwanted nuisance but gradually recognizes his value as an intelligence and tactical partner. She becomes comfortable teasing him and begins enjoying his presence, suggesting the start of trust and companionship. Her restraint and judgment contrast with Su Rui’s reckless suggestions.
• Mr. Venice: Is portrayed as a supportive family leader who raised Ingrid like a daughter and genuinely prioritizes her safety.
• Little Venice: Acts as an arrogant rival within the family, challenging Ingrid despite lacking a practical solution himself.

Significant Themes

• Forced partnership and adaptation: Both Su Rui and Ingrid are placed in an unwanted situation but gradually learn to cooperate.
• Power versus maturity: Su Rui possesses extraordinary technological abilities but lacks emotional maturity and practical judgment; Ingrid’s experience and restraint help temper him.
• Trust and companionship: Their constant banter evolves into mutual familiarity, with Ingrid beginning to see Su Rui as more than an annoyance.
• Identity and embodiment: Su Rui’s lack of a physical body defines his role and creates distance from the world, while his discomfort with visual limitations suggests that he still retains human fears and preferences.
• Family loyalty and responsibility: Ingrid’s loyalty to the Venice Family—and especially Mr. Venice—shapes her decisions and prevents her from treating every conflict as a simple assassination target.

Character Interactions

• Su Rui repeatedly provokes Ingrid, while she responds with irritation, amusement, and increasingly affectionate teasing.
• He calls her “Vulpisfoglia” despite her preference for “Ingrid,” establishing a playful power struggle over names and identity.
• Ingrid relies on Su Rui’s prompts during the Lineage meeting but adapts his blunt recommendations into more diplomatic language.
• Su Rui advocates killing opponents immediately, whereas Ingrid insists on considering relationships, consequences, and family politics.
• Their disagreement over the timing of the assassination reveals their contrasting personalities: Ingrid is cautious and methodical, while Su Rui is confident, impulsive, and easily unsettled by things he dislikes.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vulpisfoglia and the system, Su Rui, agree to begin their mission against Midal the following morning.
• Vulpisfoglia notices a mysterious [System Materialization Progress: 0%] indicator and cautiously asks Su Rui whether he can see it. He claims he cannot, increasing her suspicion that the system may have hidden functions or an unseen operator.
• They travel to the Midal Mansion, where Vulpisfoglia parks away from the property and infiltrates on foot.
• Using Scanning Vision, Su Rui maps the mansion’s patrols and cameras, allowing Vulpisfoglia to enter undetected and move through the estate without harming anyone.
• Su Rui repeatedly suggests game-like tactics—running instead of driving, killing every guard, using bananas or raw fish as weapons, and eating pastries during the mission. Vulpisfoglia rejects most of these ideas but humors him by taking a banana and two pastries.
• Vulpisfoglia studies three clues concerning Midal:
  1. Disguising herself as an opera singer’s assistant.
  2. Exploiting Midal’s habit of privately visiting his beloved Little Feather Beasts at noon.
  3. Seeking help from someone who wants to replace Midal.
• Su Rui favors the third option, but Vulpisfoglia chooses the second. She reasons that a politically ambitious rival could be more dangerous and useful to the Venice Family than Midal himself.
• Vulpisfoglia reaches the garden and hides in the grass, waiting patiently for Midal to appear. During the wait, she and Su Rui chat about boredom, school, childhood, and their differing attitudes toward missions.
• At noon, Midal enters the garden alone to visit his birds. Su Rui encourages Vulpisfoglia to make a dramatic entrance while eating a pastry, believing the act will make her seem confident and intimidating.
• Vulpisfoglia follows his suggestion. Midal notices her standing casually by the birdcage, eating and staring at him with an unreadable expression. The chapter ends as Midal cautiously asks who she is.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia remains disciplined, practical, and cautious. She prioritizes stealth, minimizing casualties, and protecting the Venice Family’s reputation over Su Rui’s reckless, game-inspired plans.
• She becomes increasingly comfortable interacting with Su Rui, openly questioning his motives and even enjoying their conversations.
• Vulpisfoglia shows a playful side by deliberately asking Su Rui which clue he would choose, then selecting another option for her own strategic reasons.
• She also begins to understand Su Rui’s personality: childish, easily bored, imaginative, and strongly influenced by video-game logic.
• Su Rui continues to act like a human-like gaming companion rather than a conventional system. He proposes impractical tactics, worries about Vulpisfoglia’s hunger, and expresses boredom during the stakeout.
• His praise of Vulpisfoglia as a “righteous champion” briefly touches her, revealing that she is affected by his uncomplicated loyalty despite recognizing his naïve worldview.
• Su Rui demonstrates useful abilities through Scanning Vision and clue selection, suggesting that he is not merely comic relief but an important operational partner.

Significant Themes

• Reality versus game logic: Su Rui interprets assassination like a video game, while Vulpisfoglia understands the political, logistical, and moral consequences of real violence.
• Trust and uncertainty: Vulpisfoglia relies on Su Rui’s assistance but remains wary of the mysterious Upper System and the hidden meaning of the materialization progress bar.
• Professionalism versus childishness: Vulpisfoglia’s careful planning contrasts with Su Rui’s impulsive suggestions, though their differences ultimately complement each other.
• Nonviolent restraint: Vulpisfoglia deliberately avoids knocking out guards or killing bystanders because uncertain variables could endanger the mission and the family’s reputation.
• Emotional connection: Their long wait reveals growing companionship. What begins as a system-user relationship gradually becomes a genuine partnership marked by teasing, conversation, and mutual accommodation.
• Intimidation through composure: The final scene emphasizes that calm, unreadable behavior can be more threatening than overt hostility.

Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia tests Su Rui’s awareness by asking about the progress bar, while Su Rui unknowingly reveals that he cannot see it.
• They argue humorously over transportation, assassination methods, bananas, raw fish, pastries, and whether a mission should resemble a game.
• Vulpisfoglia challenges Su Rui’s choice of target strategy, demonstrating that she values her own judgment rather than blindly following his guidance.
• During the stakeout, their conversation shifts from mission planning to personal topics, strengthening their bond.
• At Su Rui’s urging, Vulpisfoglia adopts an intentionally relaxed and intimidating posture before Midal, setting up the next confrontation.

Chapter 3 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vulpisfoglia completes her mission at the Midal Lineage’s manor. She identifies herself as a representative of the Venice Family and warns Midal that his actions have gone too far.
• Her calm behavior—eating a pastry, petting Midal’s bird, and casually requesting reconciliation—terrifies Midal more than open violence would have. He agrees to reconcile and orders his guards not to interfere when she leaves.
• Vulpisfoglia escapes the manor without being detected, despite the guards becoming alert after her departure.
• Su Rui later reveals that he had imagined a much more violent version of the mission, in which Vulpisfoglia murders everyone in the manor and kills Midal. Vulpisfoglia criticizes this fantasy as reckless and senseless, emphasizing that assassinations should serve practical goals rather than create unnecessary chaos.
• Instead of immediately reporting the mission, Vulpisfoglia stops for lunch at a pizza restaurant. During the meal, she and Su Rui argue playfully about food, especially pineapple pizza and bizarre dishes.
• Their conversation also reveals more about Su Rui. He claims to have grown up in a culture similar to Yan’s, though not on Terra, and Vulpisfoglia begins to suspect he may be connected to the Eastern Kingdom. His physical-form materialization is currently at 3%, and she can faintly perceive that he resembles a nine-tailed Wolper.
• Vulpisfoglia jokes about retiring and marrying someday, even imagining Su Rui as a “child husband.” Su Rui reacts possessively, insisting that she should remain a killer with him and help conquer the world.
• After lunch, Vulpisfoglia drives back to the Venice Family manor to report the mission. Su Rui notices that “little Venice” has arranged for someone to monitor her and has come to intercept her return, suggesting internal divisions within the Venice Family.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia demonstrates exceptional composure, intimidation, and professional discipline. She prefers controlled threats and strategic restraint over unnecessary bloodshed.
• She acts as a stabilizing influence on Su Rui, repeatedly teaching him that killing should be purposeful and that reckless violence could damage the Lineage’s long-term interests.
• Vulpisfoglia becomes increasingly comfortable teasing Su Rui and thinking of him as someone emotionally close to her. She also shows pride in the Venice Family and confidence in its superiority to the Midal Lineage.
• Su Rui remains playful, impulsive, and fascinated by extreme violence in the manner of a video game. He enjoys imagining chaotic scenarios and “playing” even during serious missions.
• Despite his immature attitude, Su Rui shows clear concern for Vulpisfoglia’s safety. He insists that he is reliable when serious and offers to help her deal with enemies, though he is willing to kill them far more readily than she is.
• Su Rui’s growing materialization and possible connection to the Eastern Kingdom introduce a mystery about his origins and future physical form.

Significant Themes

• Restraint versus reckless violence: Vulpisfoglia believes killing must have a purpose, while Su Rui initially treats violence as entertainment.
• Reality versus games: Su Rui views dangerous situations through the lens of games and simulations, whereas Vulpisfoglia understands the real human and political consequences of death.
• Emotional attachment: Their banter reveals that Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui are becoming emotionally dependent on one another, even though he still lacks a physical body.
• Power through calmness: Vulpisfoglia’s relaxed behavior proves more intimidating than overt aggression, allowing her to control the situation without fighting.
• Family loyalty and internal conflict: Vulpisfoglia prioritizes the Venice Family’s overall stability despite personal disputes, while signs of surveillance and rivalry show that the Lineage is not completely united.
• Identity and embodiment: Su Rui’s gradual materialization raises questions about what he is, where he came from, and how their relationship may change once he gains a physical form.

Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia and Midal: She delivers a polite but unmistakable threat, frightening Midal into accepting reconciliation.
• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui: Their relationship is marked by constant teasing, disagreement, and growing affection. Vulpisfoglia corrects his violent impulses, while Su Rui expresses possessiveness and concern for her.
• Vulpisfoglia and the Venice Family: She returns dutifully to report her success, showing loyalty to the organization even while dealing with internal surveillance and political tension.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Rui scans Little Venice and his spies, allowing Vulpisfoglia to avoid their planned interception and lead them directly to Old Venice’s study.
• Vulpisfoglia reports completing her mission against Midal. Rather than killing him, she threatened him while he was with his birds, believing that keeping him alive and fearful would make him more cooperative with the Venice Family.
• Little Venice criticizes her for showing mercy and argues that Midal should have been killed to demonstrate the family’s power. Vulpisfoglia calmly explains the strategic advantages of sparing him, leaving Little Venice unable to respond.
• Impressed by Vulpisfoglia’s judgment, Old Venice offers her greater responsibility within the Lineage and permits her to select assistants.
• After leaving the study, Little Venice threatens to defeat Vulpisfoglia in the future, reinforcing their rivalry.
• Back in her room, Vulpisfoglia discusses building her own force with Su Rui. His advice is mostly unserious: he suggests choosing female assistants because he prefers female characters and views assistants as unnecessary “laborers.”
• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui discuss their unusual bond. She realizes she is becoming possessive of him, especially after thinking about his attraction to other women.
• Su Rui reveals that he can rest, access Terra’s network, and analyze hidden or encrypted files. He successfully decrypts a file in about ten seconds.
• The chapter ends when Su Rui discovers a classified Syracuse development plan—including plans for future mobile cities—signed by someone called “Mrs. Sicilian,” whose identity shocks Vulpisfoglia.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia demonstrates intelligence, restraint, and political judgment. Her decision to intimidate rather than kill Midal earns Old Venice’s trust and increases her status within the Venice Family.
• She begins seriously considering the creation of her own faction, though she remains uncertain about how to organize and lead it.
• Vulpisfoglia’s feelings toward Su Rui become more personal and possessive. She acknowledges that, despite his interest in women generally, he is ultimately “hers.”
• Su Rui remains impulsive, combative, and immature in his attitude toward Little Venice, frequently suggesting violence. However, he also proves increasingly useful by accessing networks and decrypting confidential information.
• Little Venice is portrayed as arrogant and frustrated. He loses the argument with Vulpisfoglia but responds with threats rather than reason, deepening their rivalry.
• Old Venice recognizes Vulpisfoglia’s competence and begins entrusting her with more authority.

Significant Themes

• Strategic mercy versus brute force: Vulpisfoglia argues that controlled intimidation can be more effective than killing an enemy.
• Power and political legitimacy: Her promotion shows that competence and careful judgment can increase influence within the Lineage.
• Cooperation versus individual strength: Vulpisfoglia values teamwork and assistants, while Su Rui believes his abilities make collective effort unnecessary.
• Humanizing the system: Su Rui’s need for rest, personal preferences, and emotional reactions blur the boundary between a “system” and a person.
• Secrecy and hidden power: Su Rui’s network access introduces the possibility of uncovering secrets capable of reshaping Vulpisfoglia’s understanding of Syracuse.

Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia and Little Venice clash over how to handle Midal, with Old Venice acting as judge and ultimately favoring Vulpisfoglia’s reasoning.
• Su Rui repeatedly encourages Vulpisfoglia to confront or eliminate Little Venice, while she restrains him and seeks to avoid worsening the conflict.
• Vulpisfoglia teases and questions Su Rui about his preferences, revealing growing intimacy and jealousy.
• Their final exchange shifts from playful banter to serious intrigue when Su Rui uncovers the mysterious development plan signed by Mrs. Sicilian.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui discuss an encrypted document found online containing long-term development plans, possibly including the construction of a Mobile City.
• Although Su Rui believes the document is likely a hacker’s prank, Vulpisfoglia becomes suspicious after noticing Mrs. Sicilian’s signature. She decides to keep the information secret for now, reasoning that the project would take years and offer her no immediate advantage.
• Su Rui reveals that, despite being able to observe secrets across the internet, he mainly uses his abilities to watch livestreams and game streams.
• He shows Vulpisfoglia a livestream by Eureka, a pink-haired Zalak university student in Columbia. During the stream, a student-built rocket project malfunctions, leaks fuel, and explodes. Eureka’s phone is damaged, but her fate remains unknown.
• Su Rui becomes fascinated by Eureka and says he would continue following her if she survived and kept streaming, especially if her broadcasts continued to involve dangerous spectacles.
• Vulpisfoglia invites several women she has selected as assistants to her bedroom for an informal tea-party-like gathering. She avoids revealing sensitive information and begins thinking of them as ordinary subordinates rather than workers who might be involved in dangerous or secretive tasks.
• The women discuss appearance, marriage, and romantic preferences. Vulpisfoglia, speaking as “Ingrid,” says she would like a cute, slender Wolper with nine tails—an indirect description of the mysterious figure in Su Rui’s System Materialization Progress panel. The others assume she is joking because nine-tailed Wolpers are revered figures from the Eastern Kingdom.
• The gathering lasts until evening, after which Vulpisfoglia prepares dinner. She also prepares an extra portion for Su Rui, allowing him to experience food indirectly through her.
• Before bed, Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui have a humorous conversation about drinking ice water, boiling water, bacteria, and Syracuse’s preference for alcohol.
• Su Rui notices that someone has hurried back to the estate in Venice and predicts that the next day may bring an important incident. Vulpisfoglia goes to sleep, but she remains preoccupied with Eureka and compares herself favorably to the younger streamer.
• The next morning, Vulpisfoglia is still fixated on a question: whether Su Rui knows that he himself is a Wolper God’s People.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia/Ingrid: Becomes more cautious and secretive after discovering the possible Mobile City plans. She also grows more confident in her role as a leader, planning to use her assistants without exposing them to dangerous secrets. Her attraction to Su Rui becomes more apparent through her jealousy and comparison of herself with Eureka.
• Su Rui: His immense access to information contrasts with his childish, entertainment-focused personality. He shows a disturbing enthusiasm for accidents and bloodshed, but also displays concern about health and children drinking alcohol. He remains bodiless and mysterious, especially regarding his identity and possible Wolper heritage.
• Eureka: Introduced as an energetic new streamer. Her debut is interrupted by a rocket explosion, making her memorable to both Su Rui and Vulpisfoglia despite her brief appearance.
• Vulpisfoglia’s assistants: Become more familiar and comfortable with her during the informal gathering, though they remain unaware of her supernatural circumstances and secret plans.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge versus belief: Vulpisfoglia struggles with whether to trust an apparently impossible encrypted document, while Su Rui’s ability to access information challenges ordinary ideas of secrecy.
• Power and secrecy: Vulpisfoglia chooses to conceal what she knows and carefully limits what her assistants can learn.
• Entertainment and voyeurism: Su Rui treats real-world danger as entertainment, highlighting his alien perspective and morally unsettling fascination with spectacle.
• Identity and desire: Vulpisfoglia’s comments about wanting a nine-tailed Wolper reflect her growing emotional interest in Su Rui and her uncertainty about his true nature.
• Human connection and domestic intimacy: Cooking, tea, casual conversation, and bedtime discussions gradually deepen the bond between Vulpisfoglia and the bodiless Su Rui.
• Foreshadowing: The returning figure at the estate and Vulpisfoglia’s unanswered question about Su Rui’s race suggest that future events will reveal more about the estate, Su Rui, and the wider political or supernatural world.

Important Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia repeatedly challenges Su Rui’s dismissive interpretation of the encrypted document, while he tries to convince her it is probably fake.
• Su Rui shares online content with Vulpisfoglia, exposing her to Eureka’s disastrous livestream and revealing his taste for dramatic incidents.
• Vulpisfoglia tests Su Rui’s reactions by joking about dressing her assistants attractively, showing her curiosity about his interest in women and her emerging jealousy.
• During the tea party, Vulpisfoglia uses her conversation about romantic preferences to indirectly describe Su Rui’s possible true form.
• Vulpisfoglia cooks for Su Rui and takes pleasure in treating him almost like a dependent companion or pet, while Su Rui responds with impatient but familiar banter.
• Their final conversation about water and health demonstrates their contrasting cultural assumptions but also their increasing comfort with mundane, affectionate exchanges.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vulpisfoglia begins her day by wondering whether Su Rui, who exists within her mind, needs sleep. He eventually wakes and resumes their mental conversation.
• She meets her assistant and begins handling the Venice Family’s administrative work. Su Rui helps analyze the documents, allowing Vulpisfoglia to complete an entire day’s work in under half an hour.
• Vulpisfoglia explains that, although she is an assassin, members of the family may also serve as administrators. However, she does not intend to inherit or control the family permanently. She hopes to leave someday and pursue a different life with Su Rui.
• Vulpisfoglia asks Su Rui about his race and appearance. He claims to be a “true human,” describing himself as physically weaker than Terra people but intellectually superior. When he tries to create a model of himself for her, the Upper System blocks the attempt because it violates the rules against bypassing the materialization process.
• Vulpisfoglia accepts a minor commission involving hooligans who vandalized a merchant’s shop. She chooses to handle it personally to test whether Su Rui’s materialization progress depends on completing missions or on his opinion of her.
• Su Rui initially suggests violent punishments, including killing or maiming the offenders. Vulpisfoglia rejects these ideas, explaining that the Venice Family must protect its reputation and avoid unnecessary harm.
• Su Rui proposes a nonlethal but intimidating alternative: expose the hooligans’ other misdeeds to their parents and threaten to publicize them if they cause further trouble. He plans to use printed information to force their parents to discipline them.
• Vulpisfoglia agrees to the plan, though she remains concerned about Su Rui’s excessive enthusiasm for violence. The chapter ends as they consider how to lure the hooligans to the meeting.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia demonstrates increasing competence as an administrator, efficiently handling family affairs with Su Rui’s assistance.
• She reveals that she does not want the burdens and sacrifices associated with leading the Venice Family, especially the possibility of being forced into a political marriage. Her long-term goal is to leave the family and live freely.
• Vulpisfoglia continues adapting to Su Rui’s personality rather than trying to change him directly. However, she recognizes that she must teach him about the laws, social expectations, and moral limits of her world.
• Su Rui remains boastful, mischievous, and fascinated by violent or dramatic solutions. Nevertheless, he shows intelligence and flexibility by devising a socially effective punishment when Vulpisfoglia rejects physical violence.
• Su Rui’s identity becomes slightly clearer: he considers himself human, without animal ears or a tail, and claims superior mental abilities compared with Terra people. His true appearance, however, remains hidden by the Upper System.

Significant Themes

• Freedom versus duty: Vulpisfoglia’s administrative responsibilities and possible succession conflict with her desire to leave the family and choose her own life.
• Violence and restraint: The chapter contrasts Su Rui’s simplistic preference for violent solutions with Vulpisfoglia’s more cautious understanding of political, legal, and reputational consequences.
• Family and social control: The proposed punishment relies on parents, shame, and public reputation rather than physical force.
• System limitations and forbidden knowledge: The Upper System prevents Vulpisfoglia from seeing Su Rui’s true appearance before the proper materialization stage, reinforcing the limits imposed on their relationship.
• Mutual influence: Vulpisfoglia moderates Su Rui’s violent impulses, while Su Rui improves her efficiency and introduces unconventional problem-solving methods.

Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui maintain a constant mental dialogue, mixing practical cooperation with teasing and disagreement.
• Her assistant notices Vulpisfoglia’s unusual expressions and behavior but does not understand that she is communicating with Su Rui.
• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui debate how to punish the hooligans. She insists on avoiding killing or serious injury, while Su Rui pushes for harsher methods before proposing public exposure.
• Their interaction shows a developing partnership: Vulpisfoglia provides judgment and restraint, while Su Rui supplies information, analysis, and creative strategies.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Rui and Vulpisfoglia finalize a plan to deal with the youths who damaged a neighboring print shop.
• Su Rui arranges a small, secluded park as the meeting place and summons the youths’ parents under the authority of the Venice Family.
• To lure the youths there, he sends them a deliberately suggestive message implying that he can provide profitable contraband.
• Vulpisfoglia visits the print shop, reassures the frightened owner that justice and compensation are coming, and borrows the shop’s printer. With Su Rui’s assistance, she secretly prints documents exposing the youths’ crimes without leaving evidence of her involvement.
• Su Rui warns Vulpisfoglia that the Venice Family may not honor her retirement plans and suggests disappearing rather than trusting them. He even proposes killing anyone who pursues her. Vulpisfoglia dismisses his paranoia, insisting that Mr. Venice and Little Venice will allow her to leave peacefully.
• At the park, the youths wait for the supposed deal while their parents secretly observe from nearby. Vulpisfoglia approaches them, and Su Rui delays revealing the parents so he can enjoy watching the youths make fools of themselves.
• Vulpisfoglia eventually signals the parents to step forward. The youths immediately lose their arrogance, while their parents apologize humbly to Vulpisfoglia.
• She distributes the printed evidence and orders the parents to make their children confront the consequences of their actions. The parents and youths become pale and ashamed.
• Su Rui humorously edits the youths’ changing expressions into a mocking montage, causing Vulpisfoglia to retreat to the car so she can laugh without being seen.
• By the end of the chapter, the System Materialization Progress has risen to seven percent, suggesting that Su Rui’s impression of Vulpisfoglia is directly connected to the progress of his physical manifestation.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia demonstrates authority, restraint, and strategic intelligence. Rather than using violence, she handles the situation through intimidation, evidence, and social pressure.
• She continues presenting herself as a “graceful and composed” mafioso, even paying the printing fee instead of exploiting the shop’s employees. This earns Su Rui’s surprised approval.
• Vulpisfoglia becomes increasingly aware of Su Rui’s personality and preferences. She manipulates his desire to watch entertaining situations by promising to play games for him later.
• She also becomes more emotionally open around Su Rui, secretly enjoying his jokes and feeling pleased when he views her positively.
• Su Rui remains mischievous, bloodthirsty, and theatrically entertained by other people’s misfortune. However, his violent suggestions are motivated by genuine concern for Vulpisfoglia’s safety and independence.
• Su Rui’s influence subtly affects Vulpisfoglia’s attitude toward the youths, making her more judgmental and eager to punish them.
• The youths, initially arrogant and disorderly, become frightened and obedient as soon as their parents and the Venice Family’s authority enter the situation.
• The parents are terrified of offending the family and immediately accept responsibility, even before learning the full details of their children’s actions.

Significant Themes

• Power and social hierarchy: The Venice Family’s reputation is enough to make shopkeepers, parents, and ordinary citizens comply without resistance.
• Violence versus controlled authority: Su Rui favors assassination and slaughter, while Vulpisfoglia achieves the same result through composure, evidence, and psychological pressure.
• Appearance and identity: Vulpisfoglia deliberately cultivates the image of a refined, dignified mafioso, contrasting with the family’s more forceful reputation and Su Rui’s crude expectations.
• Trust and retirement: The discussion of Vulpisfoglia’s planned retirement raises questions about whether criminal organizations can truly release their agents peacefully.
• Emotional influence and manifestation: Su Rui’s opinion of Vulpisfoglia appears to fuel the System Materialization Progress. Her ability to shape his impression of her may therefore be essential to bringing him into physical form.
• Humor amid danger: The chapter repeatedly contrasts serious criminal matters with Su Rui’s childish amusement, turning the youths’ humiliation into a private comedy between him and Vulpisfoglia.

Character Interactions

• Su Rui and Vulpisfoglia continue their playful but argumentative partnership. He offers violent solutions, while she responds with skepticism and restraint.
• Vulpisfoglia’s concern for Su Rui’s opinion leads her to emphasize her dignity and morality, especially when she pays for the printing.
• Su Rui secretly guides Vulpisfoglia’s actions, controls the parents’ positioning, and helps her expose the youths without leaving evidence.
• Vulpisfoglia and the print-shop owner interact through a mixture of reassurance and intimidation; her promise of justice calms him, while her presence clearly frightens him.
• The youths attempt to speak arrogantly to Vulpisfoglia but are quickly silenced by both their more sensible companion and their parents.
• The parents humble themselves before Vulpisfoglia and force their children to acknowledge their wrongdoing.
• Vulpisfoglia and her assistant briefly interact after the confrontation, with the assistant becoming concerned by Vulpisfoglia’s hidden laughter and agreeing not to reveal it.

Chapter 8 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vulpisfoglia resolves the incident involving the delinquent children by ordering their parents to:
  • Keep the children from causing further trouble.
  • Compensate the people they harmed.
  • Prevent another offense, or risk having the incident exposed in the newspapers.
• At Su Rui’s insistence, she adds the threat of public exposure, making the parents even more anxious. They hurriedly take their children away.
• On the drive back to the Venice Family, Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui discuss whether the children will genuinely change. They conclude that the punishment will at least discourage them from openly acting like bullies.
• Their conversation turns to raising children. Vulpisfoglia criticizes Su Rui’s violent ideas about training children to eliminate bad people, while Su Rui admits he might be too protective to force his own children through such harsh training.
• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui jokingly discuss marriage and whether Su Rui might someday gain a physical body. Vulpisfoglia privately hopes this could happen, since the system’s materialization progress has already reached ten percent.
• Vulpisfoglia notices her assistant repeatedly watching her through the rearview mirror. Her naturally intimidating gaze frightens the assistant, nearly causing her to lose control of the car.
• Su Rui advises Vulpisfoglia to soften her expression and tone. She reassures the assistant, stabilizing the situation.
• Su Rui refuses to remember or use the assistant’s name, instead calling her “Miss Driver.” He explains that he can see people’s full names but regards remembering minor characters as unnecessary.
• The driver asks whether Vulpisfoglia has an “imaginary friend.” Vulpisfoglia realizes that Su Rui technically fits the description, though she insists he is real rather than a product of her imagination.
• The driver enthusiastically describes her own imaginary friend, which Su Rui finds amusing and praises as evidence of her rich inner life.
• Su Rui’s momentary wistfulness makes Vulpisfoglia suspect that he may envy the driver’s happiness, though he denies it.
• Vulpisfoglia follows Su Rui’s suggestion and tells the driver that her own imaginary friend helps her with missions. However, Su Rui has suppressed the use of personal names through a memetic effect, preventing Vulpisfoglia or the driver from properly hearing or remembering them.
• Vulpisfoglia returns to the Venice Family. Several uneventful days pass before Su Rui suddenly wakes her, calling her “Assassin Vulpisfoglia.”

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia: Demonstrates authority and practical judgment by forcing the parents to take responsibility, but also shows concern for proper moral education. She becomes increasingly attached to Su Rui and secretly hopes his physical materialization will become possible. She is also learning to handle ordinary social interactions, including reassuring her frightened assistant.
• Su Rui: Remains domineering, violent, and obsessed with bloodshed, but shows unexpected protectiveness and emotional sensitivity. He cares about Vulpisfoglia’s safety, advises her on social situations, and admits he might be unable to raise children as harshly as he claims.
• The assistant/driver: Initially nervous around Vulpisfoglia, she becomes more comfortable and reveals herself to be cheerful, imaginative, and talkative. Her belief in an imaginary friend provides a humorous parallel to Vulpisfoglia’s relationship with Su Rui.

Significant Themes

• Discipline versus proper guidance: The chapter questions whether fear and punishment are enough to reform children, contrasting Su Rui’s violent approach with Vulpisfoglia’s belief in manners, interests, and balanced education.
• The meaning of companionship: Su Rui is invisible and untouchable, yet he provides advice, comfort, and companionship, making him functionally similar to an imaginary friend.
• Emotional contrast: Su Rui’s violent mindset contrasts with the driver’s innocent imagination and Vulpisfoglia’s restrained, increasingly compassionate outlook.
• Physicality and longing: The possibility of Su Rui gaining a body becomes an important underlying hope for Vulpisfoglia, suggesting her growing emotional investment in him.
• Power and intimidation: Vulpisfoglia’s authority easily frightens others, even when she has no intention of threatening them, highlighting the gap between her intentions and how others perceive her.

Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia and the delinquent children’s parents interact through a tense negotiation in which she demands restitution and obedience.
• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui maintain a constant private dialogue, mixing strategic advice, teasing, disagreement, and flirtatious jokes.
• Vulpisfoglia tries to moderate Su Rui’s violent ideas about child-rearing, while Su Rui pushes her to be more assertive.
• Vulpisfoglia’s intimidating presence clashes humorously with the assistant’s nervous but friendly personality.
• The driver’s question about imaginary friends causes Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui to reflect on the unusual nature of their own bond.

Chapter 9 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Rui wakes Vulpisfoglia after showing her a newspaper article criticizing the Venice Family. The article praises one female member for resolving a conflict peacefully while condemning a male member for causing harm through rude and reckless behavior.
• Vulpisfoglia realizes the article could be part of an attack against the family. She suspects the anonymous writer may be killed as a scapegoat by whoever commissioned the piece.
• Su Rui traces the writer to a poor shack near a dump. Vulpisfoglia decides to save him—not out of pure justice, but because proving he was coerced could give the Venice Family grounds to retaliate against its enemies.
• She skips an important family meeting and rushes to the writer’s location. En route, she dramatically jumps from the moving car, surprising both the driver and Su Rui.
• Vulpisfoglia finds several assassins preparing to kill the writer and intervenes. Guided by Su Rui’s tactical instructions, she kills most of the attackers, captures their apparent leader, and prevents him from committing suicide with concealed poison.
• She takes the assassin prisoner and brings the writer back with her. She also recovers the suitcase of money intended as payment for the writer’s assassination, along with evidence that the assassins were professionally prepared.
• Vulpisfoglia notices that her System Materialization Progress has risen to 26%. She suspects her reckless leap from the vehicle—and Su Rui’s resulting surprise and attention—may have contributed to the increase.
• Returning to the Venice Family, Vulpisfoglia enters the conference room with the rescued writer and captured assassin. Little Venice accuses her of possibly being involved in the newspaper incident, but Mr. Venice allows her to explain.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia shows increasing initiative and strategic thinking. She acts independently, skips the family meeting, rescues the writer, and turns a dangerous situation into an opportunity to protect the family.
• Although capable of extreme violence, Vulpisfoglia deliberately restrains herself. Instead of breaking all the assassin’s limbs as Su Rui suggests, she merely dislocates them, recognizing that Su Rui’s game-like attitude toward violence could make her crueler than she wants to become.
• She reveals that she still dreams of retiring, having children with Su Rui, and maintaining enough morality to avoid harming her future family.
• Su Rui continues to serve as Vulpisfoglia’s unseen tactical guide, locating people, identifying threats, and directing her movements during combat. His casual, humorous attitude contrasts sharply with the seriousness of the violence around them.
• Su Rui also displays oddly domestic concerns, such as preventing blood and dirt from dirtying the car, suggesting compulsive or highly particular habits.
• The impoverished writer changes from a helpless potential victim into an important witness and possible proof that the newspaper article was commissioned under coercion.
• The driver lady is frightened by Vulpisfoglia’s sudden orders and reckless behavior, but remains loyal and assists her in transporting the prisoners.

Significant Themes

• Power and retaliation: The newspaper’s criticism of the Venice Family is treated as a possible political maneuver by a rival faction. Vulpisfoglia seeks evidence that will allow the family to retaliate legitimately.
• Morality versus violence: Vulpisfoglia is comfortable with killing but worries about becoming excessively cruel under Su Rui’s influence. Her decision to spare the assassin from unnecessary mutilation reflects her effort to preserve moral control.
• Trust and partnership: Vulpisfoglia relies heavily on Su Rui’s information and battlefield guidance, while he increasingly understands her thoughts and anticipates her needs.
• Performance and influence: Vulpisfoglia’s reckless behavior unexpectedly increases her materialization progress, implying that attracting Su Rui’s attention or emotional reaction may help him gain a physical form.
• Family politics: The rescue is not merely compassionate; Vulpisfoglia intends to use the writer and captured assassin to strengthen her position within the Venice Family.

Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui trade sarcastic comments throughout the crisis. She criticizes his bloodthirsty suggestions, while he jokes about the writer’s dirty clothes and gives her precise combat instructions.
• Vulpisfoglia reassures the driver lady only through firm commands, intimidating her but also demonstrating authority.
• She treats the writer sternly, causing him to fear her, though she is actually saving his life.
• At the conference, Little Venice immediately challenges Vulpisfoglia, while Mr. Venice shows more patience and asks her to explain the prisoners she brought back. The chapter ends as Vulpisfoglia prepares to present her evidence and claim credit for uncovering the conspiracy.

Chapter 10 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vulpisfoglia brings the captured assassin and the coerced, down-and-out author before Mr. Venice and the Venice Family’s senior members.
• She proposes using the author to publish a second article admitting that he was forced by another family to frame the Venice Family. This would restore the family’s reputation while exposing their enemy.
• Vulpisfoglia plans to interrogate the assassin to identify the hostile family and then turn him over to Syracuse’s court, allowing the Venice Family to retaliate legally and politically.
• Mr. Venice approves the plan and praises Vulpisfoglia for resolving the crisis almost single-handedly, embarrassing the other members of the meeting.
• Su Rui reveals that he has already investigated the hostile family, though he initially pretends otherwise because he wants Vulpisfoglia to carry out an interrogation and fulfill her promise to let him direct her while she plays a game.
• Instead of torturing the assassin, Vulpisfoglia offers the author money and protection in exchange for writing a corrective article. The author eagerly agrees after seeing the suitcase full of cash.
• Vulpisfoglia begins playing a difficult adventure game under Su Rui’s guidance while waiting for the article to be completed. Her assassin training makes her unusually skilled at avoiding traps and controlling combat distance.
• The young driver is surprised and uneasy that Vulpisfoglia is gaming during a family crisis, but decides to cover for her.
• The author finishes the article and proudly presents it. Vulpisfoglia reviews it, while Su Rui judges it merely “average,” though adequate for their revenge.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia demonstrates strategic intelligence, initiative, and political awareness. She resolves the family crisis through persuasion and public relations rather than relying solely on violence.
• She also shows growing familiarity with Su Rui, becoming able to anticipate his thoughts and negotiate with him despite his troublesome personality.
• Su Rui remains cynical, bloodthirsty, greedy, and mischievous, repeatedly suggesting torture and violence. However, he contributes crucial intelligence and technological assistance, including instantly preparing the information Vulpisfoglia needs and installing the game on her computer.
• Mr. Venice reveals his authority and intimidating presence. His approval of Vulpisfoglia contrasts with the weakness and embarrassment of the other family members.
• The author changes from a frightened, impoverished victim into a willing participant once offered money and protection. His greed and desperation make him easy to control.
• The young driver becomes more loyal and protective toward Vulpisfoglia. Although she thinks Vulpisfoglia’s gaming is inappropriate, she chooses to conceal it and even prepares to obstruct anyone who might discover her.

Significant Themes

• Strategy over brute force: Vulpisfoglia wins the situation through planning, reputation management, and incentives rather than immediate violence.
• Power and manipulation: Money, fear, protection, and political legitimacy are all used to control others.
• Public reputation as a weapon: The corrective article is intended not only to clear the Venice Family’s name but also to turn the scandal against their enemy.
• The contrast between seriousness and absurdity: A dangerous family crisis unfolds alongside Vulpisfoglia’s attempt to play a video game, creating comic tension.
• Human–AI companionship: Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui increasingly understand one another, with their internal conversations becoming familiar and instinctive despite their frequent arguments.
• Violence versus restraint: Su Rui favors torture and bloodshed, while Vulpisfoglia prefers a controlled solution that produces better political results.

Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia respectfully presents her plan to Mr. Venice, while Su Rui mocks the formal meeting and calls him “Old Venice.”
• Vulpisfoglia repeatedly restrains Su Rui’s disrespectful and violent impulses, though she also relies on his information and accepts his demands.
• She manipulates the author through a combination of threats, financial reward, and promises of protection.
• Su Rui directs Vulpisfoglia during the game, teasing her skills and commenting on the similarities between the rogue character and her real-life assassin training.
• The young driver observes Vulpisfoglia’s unusual behavior, silently judges it, but ultimately supports and protects her.
• The chapter ends with Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui casually debating the quality of the finished article, showing how their cooperation has become almost routine.

Chapter 11 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vulpisfoglia orders her assistants to publish the manuscript exposing the Midal Lineage’s crimes through newspapers connected to the Venice Family. She also orders the captured assassin imprisoned until the Lineage decides his fate and arranges protection and lodging for the destitute man whose plight prompted the investigation.
• After reviewing the intelligence Su Rui produced, Vulpisfoglia learns that another Lineage—not the Midal Lineage—was responsible for the attack. She and Su Rui discuss Syracuse’s political structure, recognizing that the Lineages constantly compete for limited territory and influence.
• Vulpisfoglia reports her findings to Mr. Venice. He praises her abilities and suggests that she take on greater responsibilities within the Lineage.
• Vulpisfoglia reveals that she intends to leave the Venice Family after completing a few remaining obligations. Mr. Venice reacts with sadness but accepts her decision, telling her that she will always have a home with the Venice Family and urging her to remain safe.
• Su Rui suspects Mr. Venice’s warning may have been threatening, but Vulpisfoglia insists that he regards her as a daughter and would not pursue her if she left.
• Su Rui reminds Vulpisfoglia that she promised to finish the video game under his direction. She returns to the office and continues playing, increasing the system’s materialization progress to 29%.
• Vulpisfoglia initially believes she has nearly completed the game, but Su Rui explains that although she has finished about two-thirds of the main story, side quests and downloadable content reduce her overall completion to roughly one-third.
• At lunchtime, Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui continue their playful conversations. While she eats, Su Rui watches livestreams, leading Vulpisfoglia to think about Eureka, a streamer whose broadcasts frequently end in disasters.
• Vulpisfoglia becomes subtly jealous and worries that Su Rui might be interested in Eureka. She pretends to ask casually about the streamer, but Su Rui responds that Eureka simply has not died yet and invites Vulpisfoglia to watch.
• Eureka’s latest livestream takes place at a crowded train-station exhibition. As Vulpisfoglia feared, armed robbers attack the venue, seize the crowd, and threaten to kill hostages at regular intervals unless their demands are met.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia demonstrates authority and compassion by handling the assassin, protecting the destitute victim, and managing the Lineage’s public response. She remains committed to leaving the criminal organization despite Mr. Venice’s offer of advancement.
• Her relationship with Mr. Venice is clarified as quasi-familial. She sees him as a foster father, while he views her as a daughter whose independence he reluctantly accepts.
• Vulpisfoglia becomes increasingly comfortable with Su Rui. She keeps her promises to him, accepts his guidance, and enjoys their banter, even while occasionally resenting his willfulness.
• Vulpisfoglia also shows signs of possessiveness and romantic jealousy when she worries that Su Rui may be interested in Eureka, though she conceals these feelings behind casual questions.
• Su Rui continues acting as Vulpisfoglia’s guide and companion. He encourages her to complete the game, supports her emotionally, and appears increasingly attentive to her personality and discomfort with violence.
• Mr. Venice reveals a wistful but supportive side, prioritizing Vulpisfoglia’s future over the Lineage’s interests.

Significant Themes

• Freedom versus loyalty: Vulpisfoglia’s decision to leave the Venice Family reflects her desire to pursue an independent life, despite her gratitude and emotional ties to the Lineage.
• Family and belonging: The conversation between Vulpisfoglia and Mr. Venice presents the Venice Family as both a criminal organization and a surrogate family.
• Political rivalry and scarcity: Syracuse’s Lineages operate within a zero-sum system, competing for territory and resources while maintaining a relatively stable society for ordinary citizens.
• Violence as entertainment versus trauma: Su Rui enjoys chaotic and violent livestreams, whereas Vulpisfoglia—despite being an assassin—has grown tired of violence and seeks distance from it.
• Emotional attachment and jealousy: Vulpisfoglia’s concern over Su Rui’s interest in Eureka suggests that her feelings for him are deepening, even though he lacks a physical form.
• Technology and materialization: Gameplay is not merely recreation; it directly advances Su Rui’s ability to materialize, giving Vulpisfoglia a practical reason to continue playing.

Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia commands her assistants efficiently while protecting both the investigation and the vulnerable victim.
• She and Su Rui debate Syracuse’s society, exchange teasing remarks, and negotiate the terms of their gaming agreement.
• Mr. Venice and Vulpisfoglia share an intimate, father-daughter-like conversation about her future and departure from the Lineage.
• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui’s playful lunch conversation highlights their growing familiarity, mutual dependence, and underlying emotional tension.
• The chapter ends by shifting from their domestic interaction to Eureka’s livestream hostage crisis, setting up the next major incident.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui watch a livestream of a bank hostage crisis involving Eureka. Although Su Rui initially makes inappropriate comments about the possibility of bloodshed, he agrees to remain quiet.
• Eureka is selected as the first hostage, but the bank’s power suddenly fails, allowing her to escape while continuing her livestream. Her footage helps law enforcement plan their response, and she emerges unharmed.
• Afterward, Vulpisfoglia explains that the Venice Family’s larger problem—being framed by a rival Lineage—has not yet been fully resolved. Their prepared newspaper article will expose the scheme, but retaliation and managing the captured assassin still remain.
• Su Rui wants immediate violence against the rival Lineage, while Vulpisfoglia emphasizes that the rival’s attack crossed the Venice Family’s limits and requires a serious response. She plans to use “blades and gunpowder” rather than merely spreading information online.
• The captured assassin is handed over to Lavinia, a gray-haired Lupo judge, and her two armed bailiffs. Vulpisfoglia insists that the Venice Family has already obtained what it needs and that the court should handle the assassin.
• Su Rui reveals that his Scanning Vision can monitor the entire mobile city and confirms that no assassins have infiltrated the Venice Family so far. He also detects Lavinia’s arrival before she reaches the Lineage.
• Vulpisfoglia and Lavinia discuss crime, the influence of Lineages, and the limits of the legal system. Vulpisfoglia acknowledges that judges have often been intimidated or manipulated by the Lineages.
• She recounts how a judge was once murdered in an obviously staged assassination, yet the perpetrators were given minimal punishment, demonstrating the Lineages’ power and the judiciary’s helplessness.
• Vulpisfoglia prepares to launch an attack on the opposing Lineage before the newspaper article is published, intending to catch them off guard. Su Rui points out that waiting until the article appears would make the attack seem like a publicly announced act of revenge, then suggests that they may still need to wait until the next day.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia remains pragmatic and politically aware. She prioritizes the Venice Family’s reputation, long-term strategy, and legal positioning over impulsive violence, though she is now determined to retaliate decisively.
• Su Rui continues to be reckless, bloodthirsty, and entertained by conflict. However, he also demonstrates unwavering confidence in Eureka’s survival and provides valuable surveillance and tactical support through his extraordinary abilities.
• Eureka is portrayed as absurdly fearless—or dangerously dedicated—as she continues livestreaming during a hostage crisis. Her recklessness ultimately benefits law enforcement and enhances her reputation.
• Lavinia is introduced as a courageous and unusually confident judge who openly criticizes the Lineages. Her composure suggests that she has powerful backing or an exceptional personal history.
• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui’s partnership becomes clearer: Vulpisfoglia controls strategy and diplomacy, while Su Rui supplies surveillance, combat enthusiasm, and unpredictable ideas.

Significant Themes

• Law versus organized power: The chapter questions whether the law can truly function when Lineages possess enough influence to intimidate judges and manipulate investigations.
• Reputation and deterrence: Vulpisfoglia stresses that a Lineage’s reputation is more important than temporary business losses. Any attack on that reputation demands a visible and forceful response.
• Justice and corruption: The staged murder of the judge illustrates how justice can be publicly undermined while preserving the appearance of legality.
• Violence as political communication: Retaliation is not merely revenge; it is a message intended to warn rival Lineages and reinforce the Venice Family’s authority.
• Surveillance and safety: Su Rui’s ability to monitor an entire city raises questions about the dangers and benefits of omnipresent observation, even when used for protection.
• Comedy amid danger: Eureka’s livestreaming and Su Rui’s inappropriate jokes create a humorous contrast with hostage-taking, assassinations, and looming Mafia conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui: They repeatedly debate violence, timing, and responsibility. Vulpisfoglia restrains Su Rui’s destructive impulses, while he challenges her cautious approach and provides supernatural surveillance.
• Vulpisfoglia and Eureka: Though they do not meet directly, Vulpisfoglia observes Eureka’s hostage crisis and is astonished by her continued livestreaming.
• Vulpisfoglia and Lavinia: Their polite conversation contains mutual criticism. Lavinia condemns the Lineages’ hidden schemes, while Vulpisfoglia openly admits that such behavior is unlikely to stop.
• Su Rui and Lavinia: Su Rui mocks her confidence by comparing her to someone protected by powerful backing, but he also recognizes that her role as a judge makes her unusually significant.
• The Venice Family and the rival Lineage: Their conflict escalates from framing and assassination to an impending retaliatory attack, with both sides apparently preparing for open violence.
  The chapter ends with Su Rui suggesting that Vulpisfoglia may have to wait until the next day before beginning the attack, leaving the reason—and the next stage of the confrontation—unrevealed.

Chapter 13 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Rui’s Scanning Vision detects two armed intruders entering the Venice Family’s territory: Lappland of the Saluzzo Family and Texas of the Texas Lineage.
• Vulpisfoglia concludes that the Saluzzo Family is exploiting the situation to provoke the Venice Family and expand its influence, despite not previously targeting them.
• Su Rui activates the family alarm and guides Vulpisfoglia toward Lappland. Vulpisfoglia confronts her, but Lappland attacks before negotiations can take place.
• Using Su Rui’s predictive analysis and tactical instructions, Vulpisfoglia effortlessly counters Lappland’s movements. She deliberately stops each attack just short of killing her, humiliating rather than defeating her outright.
• Lappland accuses Vulpisfoglia of mocking her. Following Su Rui’s prompting, Vulpisfoglia arrogantly orders her to flee, provoking Lappland into promising revenge.
• Vulpisfoglia then intercepts Lappland and Texas together as they attempt to escape. She challenges them to fight both at once and, with Su Rui’s precise guidance, blocks Lappland and kicks away Texas’s attempted sneak attack.
• The two intruders retreat over the wall. Vulpisfoglia gives them an exaggerated taunt, which makes both women suspect that she is behaving unusually. They ultimately leave without further conflict.
• Afterward, Vulpisfoglia’s subordinates clean up the scene. Her growing prestige within the Venice Family allows her driver to organize the response efficiently.
• Lappland and Texas separately message Vulpisfoglia to ask whether she is in trouble. Su Rui creates a group chat and reveals himself as “Vulpisfoglia’s Guardian Spirit,” openly teasing both women and calling them “trash.”
• Lappland becomes curious about Su Rui and challenges him to meet her in person.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia: Demonstrates overwhelming combat ability when supported by Su Rui’s scanning and predictions. Although she outwardly acts arrogant and merciless, she is embarrassed by Su Rui’s taunts and remains more restrained and courteous by nature. Her growing attachment to Su Rui becomes clear when she feels jealous and possessive upon seeing him interact with Lappland and Texas.
• Su Rui: Acts as Vulpisfoglia’s unseen strategist, analyzing opponents’ movements, emotions, and breathing to make her nearly unbeatable. He enjoys provoking enemies and turns the fight into a performance, displaying his playful, arrogant, and mischievous personality.
• Lappland: Shows her impulsive, aggressive nature by attacking immediately. Despite being humiliated, she remains interested in Vulpisfoglia’s strange behavior and appears genuinely concerned about her afterward.
• Texas: Remains quiet and composed during most of the confrontation, but is surprised by Vulpisfoglia’s speed and eventually joins Lappland in questioning her unusual conduct. She also checks on Vulpisfoglia after the fight.
• The Venice Family: Increasingly trusts Vulpisfoglia, and her status gives her subordinates greater authority and influence.

Significant Themes

• Power and humiliation: Vulpisfoglia chooses not to kill Lappland and Texas, instead using overwhelming superiority to drive them away and send a political warning to their families.
• Identity and performance: Vulpisfoglia’s exaggerated arrogance is largely Su Rui’s influence rather than her true personality, causing Lappland and Texas to recognize that something is different about her.
• Growing intimacy and possessiveness: Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui’s partnership has developed into a close bond. Her jealousy reveals that she now sees him as someone uniquely connected to her.
• Trust and hidden influence: Su Rui’s invisible presence gives Vulpisfoglia immense tactical power while remaining unknown to most people, though his public interaction in the group chat risks exposing how deeply involved he is.
• Unexpected alliances: Although Lappland and Texas entered as opponents, their concern for Vulpisfoglia suggests that their relationships are more complicated than simple family rivalry.

Important Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia and Lappland clash as familiar rivals, with Lappland recognizing that Vulpisfoglia’s behavior is unusually arrogant.
• Vulpisfoglia and Texas fight together, but Su Rui’s instructions allow Vulpisfoglia to counter both of them.
• Lappland and Texas privately check whether Vulpisfoglia is suffering from some problem, implying concern beneath their antagonism.
• Su Rui interacts directly with them through the group chat, teasing and provoking them while Vulpisfoglia becomes increasingly uncomfortable and jealous.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vulpisfoglia apologizes for the earlier confrontation, while Su Rui’s ghost continues provoking Lappland and Texas through Vulpisfoglia’s earpiece. Lappland realizes Su Rui is connected to the network and threatens to find him, but Su Rui remains confident because he has no physical body.
• Su Rui’s materialization progress has reached 42%, though he is still incorporeal and dependent on Vulpisfoglia’s mind and network access.
• Vulpisfoglia learns that a rival Syracuse family has recently increased its transactions, suggesting it may be preparing for something. The family is also holding a large banquet, possibly to disguise its activities or lure out enemies.
• Su Rui suggests increasingly excessive methods of assassination, including firearms, explosives, a railgun, and a giant combat mech. Vulpisfoglia rejects these ideas because they would endanger civilians, destabilize Terra, and draw unwanted attention.
• Using a forged invitation, Vulpisfoglia infiltrates the banquet disguised as a famous fashion model. Su Rui hacks into local systems, monitors cameras, identifies people who might recognize her, and guides her through the estate.
• At the banquet, Su Rui scans the food for poison and directs Vulpisfoglia toward the kitchen before helping her locate the opposing family head. The target is not giving a public speech but is moving through the family’s private grounds with several guards.
• Vulpisfoglia decides to kill the family head and his bodyguards together, treating the operation as an open declaration of war rather than a discreet assassination.
• Su Rui interferes with the estate’s cameras, allowing Vulpisfoglia to move unseen. She prepares to launch a “killing spree,” while the chapter closes by emphasizing that this family is far more prepared and dangerous than the previously targeted Midal Lineage.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia remains disciplined, cautious, and mission-focused. She weighs civilian safety and political consequences before accepting any plan, refusing to use weapons that could cause indiscriminate destruction.
• She becomes increasingly comfortable relying on Su Rui’s guidance and technology, while still maintaining control over their operations. Her trust in him grows, though she is privately irritated by his violent jokes and plans to confront him once he materializes.
• Su Rui displays a playful, reckless, and imaginative personality. He treats infiltration and assassination partly as entertainment, constantly proposing absurdly powerful weapons.
• Despite his joking attitude, Su Rui demonstrates genuine concern for Vulpisfoglia’s safety. He improves her chances of survival by marking threats, hacking surveillance, scanning food, and disabling camera coverage.
• Su Rui’s growing attachment to Vulpisfoglia is implied through his willingness to bend the “rules” of their game and provide more extensive support than before.

Significant Themes

• Power versus restraint: Su Rui possesses—or claims to possess—technology capable of overwhelming cities, but Vulpisfoglia recognizes that such power would cause chaos and make ordinary methods of conflict meaningless.
• Assassination as politics: The planned killing is not merely personal or tactical; it represents a declaration of war between Syracuse families.
• Trust and dependence: Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui rely on one another’s contrasting abilities—her combat and infiltration skills, and his technological surveillance and network control.
• Surface order beneath organized violence: Syracuse maintains social stability even though its families routinely threaten and assassinate one another. Mrs. Sicilian’s influence helps prevent this violence from completely disrupting civilian life.
• Entertainment versus morality: Su Rui views violence as exciting and fun, while Vulpisfoglia approaches it pragmatically and seriously, creating tension between their perspectives.

Character Interactions

• Su Rui taunts Lappland through Vulpisfoglia’s communication system, provoking her while confidently challenging her ability to find him.
• Vulpisfoglia repeatedly reins in Su Rui’s exaggerated weapon proposals, especially when they risk harming banquet guests or destabilizing Syracuse.
• The two banter throughout the infiltration, with Su Rui joking about food, fashion, technology, and assassination while Vulpisfoglia responds with dry skepticism.
• Vulpisfoglia interprets Su Rui’s apparent enthusiasm for slaughter as teasing and convinces herself that he is primarily motivated by concern for her safety.
• Their partnership deepens as Su Rui actively protects her from surveillance and helps her approach the target, but his flippant attitude also creates unresolved tension between them.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Rui and Vulpisfoglia infiltrate the Family’s heavily guarded estate. Su Rui maps the guards’ positions and identifies weak points, while Vulpisfoglia silently eliminates them and hides their bodies in cabinets.
• Su Rui uses his technological abilities to spoof communications and prevent the guards from noticing that their colleagues have disappeared. He also guides Vulpisfoglia’s movements, allowing her to kill with precise strikes and thrown daggers.
• As they move toward the estate’s central rooftop, they discuss the Family’s primitive security system and the rigid social structure that keeps workers and outsiders away from the inner areas.
• On the rooftop, the Family head is surrounded by assassins and bodyguards. Rather than immediately attacking, Vulpisfoglia uses Su Rui’s holographic camouflage to approach unseen.
• Vulpisfoglia poisons the Family head’s wine, killing him silently. She then deliberately reveals herself, dispels the camouflage, and engages the surrounding bodyguards in direct combat.
• Su Rui warns her of incoming attacks and calculates the ideal movements and trajectories, allowing them to defeat the guards without injury. Vulpisfoglia also kills a fleeing bodyguard with a thrown knife.
• With the Family leadership and inner guards eliminated, the mission is complete. Vulpisfoglia leaves openly through the estate while the remaining guests and outer Family members flee in confusion.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia demonstrates that she is not merely a stealthy assassin. Although she initially plans a silent operation, she reveals a strong bloodlust and a desire to fight openly once the target has been neutralized.
• She becomes more confident in her partnership with Su Rui, testing his abilities through teasing and provocation while trusting his calculations completely in combat.
• Su Rui displays extensive control over communications, electronics, holographic camouflage, targeting, and tactical analysis. He is initially enthusiastic about watching Vulpisfoglia create chaos but becomes more rational and protective during the battle.
• Su Rui’s protective attitude becomes clearer: he insists that the guards are no threat while also emphasizing that he will not allow Vulpisfoglia to be hurt.
• Vulpisfoglia learns that the simulation system has advanced functions locked behind Materialization Progress. She chooses not to unlock them, believing their current abilities are already sufficient and not wanting to create additional burdens.

Significant Themes

• Stealth versus spectacle: The operation begins as a carefully concealed assassination mission, but Vulpisfoglia ultimately chooses a dramatic, bloody confrontation.
• Partnership and trust: Su Rui’s calculations and Vulpisfoglia’s physical skill complement each other perfectly. Their success depends on mutual reliance and communication.
• Power and technological imbalance: Su Rui’s abilities make the Family’s traditional security methods nearly meaningless, highlighting the contrast between advanced simulation technology and Syracuse’s deliberately stagnant society.
• Violence as release: Vulpisfoglia’s battle serves as an outlet for impulses she normally suppresses. The massacre is not only strategic but emotionally satisfying for her.
• Control versus freedom: The Family preserves an oppressive status quo, while Vulpisfoglia’s attack symbolically destroys that controlled order.

Character Interactions

• Su Rui directs Vulpisfoglia’s attacks mentally, marking targets, calculating force, and guiding her thrown knives.
• Vulpisfoglia repeatedly teases Su Rui about his hidden abilities, especially the camouflage function and his apparent desire to watch her create a bloody spectacle.
• Su Rui complains about her excessive violence but ultimately supports her, warning her of attacks and helping her defeat every opponent.
• Their playful banter continues even during the assassination, creating a contrast between the deadly events and their increasingly familiar, affectionate relationship.
• After the mission, Vulpisfoglia offers to stay with Su Rui and play games the next day as a reward, ending the chapter on a lighthearted note after the massacre.

Summary

After Vulpisfoglia successfully completes the assassination mission, Wolseini becomes unusually lively, and the Venice Family immediately begins treating her as the likely successor to the family head. Important figures visit her office to flatter her and establish connections, while the driver turns them away, claiming Vulpisfoglia is resting and handling remaining mission details. A possible celebration banquet is even proposed in her honor.
In reality, Vulpisfoglia has submitted her report and is spending the day playing a video game with Su Rui. She and Su Rui finish the game they had started earlier, with Su Rui using a walkthrough to guide her through hidden paths, ambushes, and the final boss. Vulpisfoglia repeatedly rejects the idea of inheriting the family-head position, insisting that she has already made her decision and asking Su Rui to support her when the time comes.
The driver becomes increasingly concerned about Vulpisfoglia’s behavior. Vulpisfoglia now casually calls her “Driver” instead of using her name, spends work hours gaming, and openly talks to Su Rui as though he were physically present. The driver assumes Vulpisfoglia has developed a serious imaginary friend or mental illness, though she is too intimidated to suggest medical help. Vulpisfoglia’s conversations with Su Rui become so open that she sometimes mistakes the driver’s uncertain responses for Su Rui’s advice, further convincing the driver that something is wrong.
After finally defeating the game’s boss, Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui decide to go for a walk rather than immediately start another game. Su Rui recommends that she wander through Wolseini in the rain without choosing a destination. Vulpisfoglia leaves with an umbrella, instructing the driver not to arrange anything and to contact her only if necessary. The driver worries that people from the Lineage are watching for Vulpisfoglia and will attempt to approach her, but Vulpisfoglia has already slipped away.
Su Rui helps Vulpisfoglia evade surveillance using camouflage and tracks the people monitoring her. He even imitates Vulpisfoglia’s voice to order the gate guards to open the estate gates, allowing her to leave without being detected. Vulpisfoglia is amused but mildly puzzled by Su Rui’s methods. Their growing ease in communicating aloud is noticeable: Vulpisfoglia explains that she prefers speaking directly to him rather than only communicating inside her head, though she secretly hopes to continue speaking with him once his physical-form progress reaches completion. His manifestation progress has reached 52%, and the image of his nine-tailed fox form is becoming increasingly lifelike.
Outside the estate, Vulpisfoglia encounters a few people, including Texas and Lappland, whom Su Rui identifies nearby. Before this, Su Rui jokingly suggests that Vulpisfoglia “strike hard” against Little Venice for supposedly defying her, but Vulpisfoglia finds the joke strange and does not understand its appeal.

Character developments and interactions

• Vulpisfoglia: Gains immense political influence after the successful assassination but shows little interest in exploiting it or becoming family head. She becomes more relaxed, unconventional, and openly dependent on Su Rui’s guidance. Her bond with him deepens, and she is increasingly willing to acknowledge their relationship in public.
• Su Rui: Continues acting as Vulpisfoglia’s guide, strategist, and companion. He provides gaming advice, detects surveillance, uses camouflage, manipulates the gate guards, and jokes about Vulpisfoglia’s political situation. His physical-form progress reaches 52%.
• The driver: Remains loyal and protective, shielding Vulpisfoglia from visitors and helping conceal her gaming. However, she is increasingly alarmed by Vulpisfoglia’s apparent conversations with an imaginary companion and her changing personality.
• Little Venice: Is positioned as Vulpisfoglia’s political rival and appears resentful and intimidated by Vulpisfoglia’s sudden dominance. She avoids directly confronting her.
• The Venice Family’s Lineage: Its influential members quickly shift toward supporting Vulpisfoglia, hoping to benefit if she becomes family head.

Major themes

• Power and political opportunism: The Lineage immediately seeks Vulpisfoglia’s favor after her success, showing how quickly alliances change around power.
• Independence versus succession: Despite being treated as the next family head, Vulpisfoglia refuses the role, emphasizing her desire to make her own choices.
• Reality and perception: The driver interprets Su Rui as an imaginary friend, while the reader understands that he is a real system capable of interacting with Vulpisfoglia.
• Growing intimacy and trust: Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui’s increasingly natural conversations suggest a deepening partnership, especially as Su Rui approaches physical manifestation.
• Secrecy and surveillance: Vulpisfoglia must evade both political observers and the expectations imposed on her, while Su Rui quietly helps her preserve her freedom.

Chapter 17 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Vulpisfoglia encounters Lappland and Texas while walking with Su Rui. Although Lappland is interested in meeting and possibly fighting the mysterious “ghost,” neither she nor Texas intends to attack.
• Lappland learns Su Rui’s name and teases Vulpisfoglia about their unusually close relationship. Vulpisfoglia openly states that she and Su Rui are inseparable, though she refuses to introduce him directly.
• Texas asks for Su Rui’s assistance, identifying him as an exceptionally skilled hacker. She offers to pay any price for his help.
• After consulting Su Rui, Vulpisfoglia agrees to help Texas in exchange for one favor owed by Texas and another owed jointly to Su Rui. Su Rui will contact Texas through her phone.
• Once Texas and Lappland leave, Su Rui reveals that the Texas Lineage is collapsing because of internal conflict. The new family head has refused to show respect to Mrs. Sicilian, making a violent response likely.
• Su Rui predicts that Mrs. Sicilian may destroy the Texas Lineage to reinforce her authority. Vulpisfoglia becomes uncertain about helping Texas, fearing the consequences of opposing Mrs. Sicilian.
• Su Rui lays out three possible choices:
  1. Betray Texas and side with the Venice Family.
  2. Remain uninvolved while secretly helping Texas escape.
  3. Withdraw from the Venice Family, help Texas flee Syracuse, and create a major disturbance before escaping.
• The Upper System reveals that Su Rui’s materialization can occur at a shrine in the Eastern Kingdom and provides a method to protect Vulpisfoglia, Texas, and Su Rui.
• Encouraged by the possibility of Su Rui gaining a physical form, Vulpisfoglia immediately chooses the third option. She returns to prepare, while Su Rui sends Texas a secure message and uses her phone’s camera to check whether she is safe.

Character Developments

• Vulpisfoglia grows increasingly attached to Su Rui and treats him as her true partner. She enjoys displaying their connection, even while becoming protective and cautious around potential enemies.
• She also becomes more decisive. Despite recognizing the danger of confronting Mrs. Sicilian, she chooses the most ambitious and dangerous plan because it offers Su Rui a path toward materialization and gives them greater freedom from the Venice Family.
• Su Rui demonstrates advanced intelligence-gathering, hacking, surveillance, and strategic analysis. He respects Vulpisfoglia’s authority as the “player” and initially refuses to dictate her decision, though he clearly favors the third plan.
• Su Rui’s playful and reckless personality appears in his enthusiasm for creating chaos and causing “blood to flow like rivers,” but he also shows concern for Vulpisfoglia’s safety.
• Texas is established as someone facing a serious crisis involving her family and possibly seeking escape from Syracuse.
• Lappland remains curious, provocative, and suspicious of Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui’s relationship, while Texas acts more seriously and directly.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus self-interest: Vulpisfoglia rejects the possibility of betraying Texas for political advantage, valuing her relationship with Su Rui and their own principles more highly.
• Freedom and independence: Leaving the Venice Family represents Vulpisfoglia’s attempt to escape her old obligations and establish a new path.
• Trust and partnership: Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui make decisions together, with their bond becoming central to both strategy and emotional development.
• Risk and transformation: The plan to help Texas is extremely dangerous, but it may also allow Su Rui to gain a physical body and change the nature of their relationship.
• Power and political violence: The Texas Lineage’s internal conflict and Mrs. Sicilian’s expected retaliation illustrate the brutal hierarchy governing Syracuse.

Character Interactions

• Lappland flirts with and provokes Vulpisfoglia, attempting to learn more about Su Rui and possibly challenge him.
• Texas approaches Vulpisfoglia respectfully and requests help, leading to a formal bargain involving future favors.
• Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui communicate privately throughout the encounters, effectively functioning as a two-person decision-making unit.
• Their discussion about Texas’s fate reveals both their trust and their contrasting tendencies: Su Rui is drawn to chaos, while Vulpisfoglia worries about consequences but ultimately chooses bold action.
• The chapter ends with Su Rui beginning covert contact with Texas, setting up the escape plan and the coming conflict with Mrs. Sicilian.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Texas receives a warning from Su Rui that the Texas Lineage is on the verge of collapse. Its new leader has refused to show proper respect to Mrs. Sicilian, provoking a potentially fatal conflict.
• Su Rui advises Texas to prepare to flee, offering help from himself and Vulpisfoglia. He sends her confidential files detailing the leadership change and the danger facing her family.
• Texas secures her room, keeps her weapon nearby, and agrees to act normally until the escape plan is ready. She assures Su Rui that Lappland will not interfere.
• Su Rui and Vulpisfoglia begin organizing vehicles, supplies, and an escape route. Su Rui reveals that his storage space is effectively unlimited, allowing Vulpisfoglia to purchase and conceal far more supplies than a vehicle could hold.
• Vulpisfoglia considers informing Old Venice, the head of the Venice Family, but Su Rui warns that he might betray them. She ultimately decides to tell him.
• Vulpisfoglia visits Old Venice and announces that she is leaving the Venice Family to pursue her own goals. He accepts her decision and assures her that the family will always support her, unaware that she plans to confront or destroy Wolseini and provoke Mrs. Sicilian.
• The driver gathers a massive quantity of supplies, which Su Rui stores away. With the vehicle emptied and the preparations complete, Su Rui plans to collect Texas and escape toward the Eastern Kingdom.
• The chapter ends with Vulpisfoglia asking whether Texas should be notified before they leave.

Character Developments

• Texas shifts from shock and uncertainty to cautious cooperation. She recognizes the seriousness of the threat and prepares herself for escape while maintaining a calm outward appearance.
• Su Rui takes the role of strategist and protector. He is confident in his hacking, navigation, storage abilities, and escape planning, though he remains aware that he will eventually have to leave Vulpisfoglia.
• Vulpisfoglia becomes increasingly committed to Su Rui and their shared plans. She interprets his concern over the storage space as evidence that he trusts and values her, while secretly believing that his eventual departure may never happen.
• Old Venice is shown to care deeply for Vulpisfoglia as an adopted daughter. He respects her independence and offers unconditional support, even though he does not know the dangerous nature of her plans.
• Lappland remains an off-screen complication. Texas trusts that she will not interfere, while Su Rui views her potential involvement with suspicion.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and trust: Texas relies on Su Rui and Vulpisfoglia despite barely knowing them, while Vulpisfoglia’s loyalty to Su Rui grows stronger.
• Family versus personal ambition: Vulpisfoglia leaves the Venice Family to pursue her own objectives, yet her farewell to Old Venice reveals the genuine familial bond between them.
• Hidden identities and incomplete information: Su Rui’s lack of a physical body, Vulpisfoglia’s communication with him, and the concealed plans against Mrs. Sicilian all create layers of secrecy.
• Fate and impermanence: Su Rui knows he will eventually leave because of the Upper System, while Vulpisfoglia hopes his connection to her will become permanent.
• Humor amid danger: Serious threats are repeatedly undercut by Su Rui’s jokes, Vulpisfoglia’s amusement, and the absurdity of treating an invisible system entity as a massive portable warehouse.

Important Character Interactions

• Texas and Su Rui: Their messages establish a cooperative escape plan. Texas questions his motives, but accepts his help after he explains that he and Vulpisfoglia are assisting partly because it is entertaining.
• Su Rui and Vulpisfoglia: Their private conversations reveal growing emotional intimacy. Vulpisfoglia is sensitive to whether Su Rui trusts her, while Su Rui worries about protecting her and ensuring she survives after his departure.
• Vulpisfoglia and Old Venice: Their farewell resembles a daughter leaving her father. Old Venice accepts her decision with affection and promises continued support.
• Vulpisfoglia and her driver: The driver manages the practical preparations but remains confused by Vulpisfoglia’s apparent conversations with an imaginary friend. Vulpisfoglia directs her to purchase extensive supplies.
• Texas and Lappland: Though Lappland is absent, Texas’s confidence that she will not disrupt the operation suggests a significant, possibly complicated relationship between them.

Chapter 19 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Su Rui contacts Texas through Vulpisfoglia’s mind and arranges for her to escape Wolseini with Vulpisfoglia.
• Texas prepares her weapons and luggage. Su Rui stores her suitcase in his personal space, astonishing her when it disappears and reappears.
• Vulpisfoglia drives them out of Wolseini before Mrs. Sicilian can block the city’s exits.
• Shortly after their departure, Mrs. Sicilian begins hunting Texas and issues orders to eradicate the entire Texas Lineage. Texas is also officially wanted as the daughter of its new leader.
• Su Rui monitors the pursuing mafia vehicles, provides maps and routes, and guides the women toward a remote wasteland with concealed locations.
• They evade the initial pursuit and hide overnight in a shallow wilderness pit. Su Rui helps them establish a comfortable camp by storing and retrieving cooking equipment.
• Around the campfire, Texas questions how Su Rui can communicate and track vehicles without a network. He explains that he is following Vulpisfoglia and can control electronic devices within range, though he still conceals the full nature of his existence.
• Vulpisfoglia reveals that Su Rui helped her defeat Texas and Lappland during their earlier two-on-one battle by predicting their movements.
• Su Rui reports that news of the Texas Lineage’s persecution has not yet spread widely, but other cities—especially Syracuse—will likely learn of it soon.
• He promises to keep watch while Texas and Vulpisfoglia sleep, though Vulpisfoglia understands that Su Rui’s capabilities make ordinary rest unnecessary.

Character Developments

• Texas: Moves from guarded suspicion to cautious trust. She is impressed by Su Rui’s abilities and grateful for Vulpisfoglia’s protection, though she feels guilty and melancholy about the destruction being directed at her lineage. Her curiosity and admiration toward Vulpisfoglia also grow.
• Vulpisfoglia: Acts as Texas’s protector and travel companion, calmly managing the escape and openly acknowledging Su Rui’s assistance. Her relationship with Su Rui is shown to be close and well-established.
• Su Rui: Demonstrates extensive powers, including spatial storage, remote surveillance, electronic control, communication without a network, and tactical prediction. He continues withholding the true nature of his existence while casually guiding the others.

Significant Themes

• Trust and partnership: Texas gradually accepts Vulpisfoglia and Su Rui as allies, recognizing that trust must develop through shared experiences.
• Hidden identities and extraordinary abilities: Su Rui’s lack of a physical body and seemingly limitless capabilities remain mysterious, reinforcing the chapter’s central question about what he truly is.
• Pursuit and survival: The group’s escape highlights the danger of Mrs. Sicilian’s authority and the need for constant vigilance.
• Guilt versus responsibility: Texas worries that her departure triggered the extermination of her lineage, while Su Rui encourages her to see that Mrs. Sicilian’s actions are not her fault.
• Companionship in isolation: The shared meal and campfire create a sense of comfort and camaraderie despite the harsh wilderness and looming danger.

Character Interactions

• Su Rui reassures Texas about storing her belongings and repeatedly provides her with practical assistance.
• Vulpisfoglia reassures Texas that Su Rui is trustworthy and has no interest in material possessions.
• Texas questions Su Rui about his powers and his role in Vulpisfoglia’s earlier victory, leading to greater openness within the group.
• Vulpisfoglia prepares dinner and treats Texas as part of the group, while Texas appreciates the care despite their difficult circumstances.
• Su Rui takes on the role of guide, strategist, and unseen guardian, while Texas and Vulpisfoglia increasingly rely on him for safety.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• During the night watch, Vulpisfoglia asks Su Rui whether he needs sleep. Texas realizes Su Rui may be more human-like than a normal machine or system.
• Su Rui explains that his detection program can operate automatically, marking suspicious targets and waking Texas or Vulpisfoglia when danger approaches. He communicates openly through Texas’s phone and the vehicle’s speakers, while speaking privately with Vulpisfoglia through her thoughts.
• Vulpisfoglia becomes jealous and uncomfortable because Su Rui appears to be “staying beside” Texas by using her phone. Su Rui reassures her and agrees to adjust how he communicates.
• The next morning, Vulpisfoglia and Texas resume their journey toward the Eastern Kingdom. Su Rui provides navigation, marks hiding places and destinations, and tracks their pursuers, though he goes back to sleep after giving them instructions.
• When an enemy vehicle approaches, Su Rui is awakened by a loud alarm. He warns them that the pursuers possess explosives and explosive crossbow bolts.
• Vulpisfoglia reveals that their own group has stored explosives in the vehicle. Su Rui searches through them from within the System Space, explaining that he can take on a physical form there, though it is only an artificial sensory experience and cannot truly be harmed.
• Su Rui devises an ambush: Vulpisfoglia follows his driving directions while Texas lights long-fused explosives and drops them from the vehicle at precisely calculated points.
• The bombs successfully confuse and devastate the pursuing forces. Su Rui uses communications and enemy radio channels to mislead them, while Texas continues dropping explosives without seeing the targets directly.
• Texas becomes unexpectedly absorbed in this remote style of combat, watching the explosions on her phone. The experience relieves some of the emotional strain caused by being hunted.
• After most pursuers are eliminated or frightened away, the group continues toward the Eastern Kingdom.
• Su Rui explains that the Eastern Kingdom is divided among competing factions, but he has reportedly been assigned the identity of one of “God’s People,” meaning both sides may respect or avoid them. Texas cannot clearly hear the reference to the Upper System, though she does not press Su Rui about his secrets.

Character Developments

• Su Rui: Becomes increasingly humanized. He sleeps, feels tired, dislikes loud alarms, and displays personal preferences and humor. Although he lacks a true physical body, he can simulate physical existence within the System Space. He also proves highly capable at tactical planning, surveillance, misinformation, and combat coordination.
• Vulpisfoglia: Shows possessiveness and jealousy over Su Rui’s connection with Texas, revealing how emotionally attached she is to him. She remains confident and playful, trusting Su Rui enough to pursue a risky bombing strategy. Her interest in the Eastern Kingdom also shows her growing concern for their future there.
• Texas: Begins to view Su Rui as a genuine person rather than a system. She quietly envies the close understanding between Su Rui and Vulpisfoglia but hides her feelings. During the ambush, she becomes more comfortable with combat and discovers that remote, calculated fighting can be strangely exhilarating.
• Texas and Vulpisfoglia: Their partnership grows more relaxed as they share observations, converse during the journey, and coordinate silently while protecting Su Rui’s rest.

Significant Themes

• Humanity and artificial existence: Su Rui’s sleep, emotions, sensory experiences, and individual will blur the boundary between person, machine, and system.
• Jealousy and emotional attachment: Vulpisfoglia’s discomfort with Texas’s connection to Su Rui reveals the emotional complexity of their relationship.
• Trust and cooperation: The trio relies on one another—Su Rui’s intelligence, Vulpisfoglia’s driving and initiative, and Texas’s execution—to survive.
• Remote violence and moral distance: Texas kills enemies without directly seeing them, causing her to reflect on the strange excitement and emotional detachment of technological warfare.
• Identity and destiny: Su Rui’s mysterious designation as one of “God’s People” suggests that their arrival in the Eastern Kingdom is part of a larger plan.
• Freedom versus control: Su Rui can control the System Space and manipulate communications, but his lack of a true physical body emphasizes both his power and his limitations.

Important Character Interactions

• Vulpisfoglia privately reassures and teases Su Rui while also accusing him of favoring Texas.
• Texas cautiously questions Vulpisfoglia about Su Rui, showing her growing curiosity about his nature.
• Su Rui coordinates the group’s movements during the ambush, giving Texas exact instructions and guiding Vulpisfoglia’s route.
• Texas and Vulpisfoglia silently exchange looks when Su Rui displays human-like behavior, such as sleeping and moving beneath blankets.
• Su Rui’s tactical guidance creates a strong sense of trust and synchronization with both women, while Texas notices and quietly envies his especially close understanding with Vulpisfoglia.