Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Qin Ran reviews Hundredfold Kick and Modi’s Boots, offered by the Broker. The boots reduce stamina use and allow a limited double jump, but lack the elemental attack Qin Ran needs against Intangible Wraiths. Hundredfold Kick can be powerful at its highest level, but requires a major investment and leaves its user temporarily unable to move.
• After consulting Lawless about the drawbacks, Qin Ran negotiates hard. He trades Rose’s Thorn and Stone Armor for Hundredfold Kick, Modi’s Boots, and 10,000 Points.
• Zor departs after completing the deal. The veteran players are displeased that Qin Ran traded with the Broker, whom they distrust, but respect his freedom to choose.
• Qin Ran wonders why the Broker seems to be antagonizing the veterans. He asks Lawless about the Broker’s intentions regarding the Killer Players and Cole. Lawless says the Broker may be lying—or setting a trap—but is certain the Broker knows where Cole is.
• Qin Ran realizes Lawless intends to rescue Cole despite the danger. Knowing Lawless will not go alone, Qin Ran prepares to join him and decides he needs to become stronger. With a Solo Instance available, he wonders whether one run will be enough.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran shows his usual caution and bargaining skill, refusing to be swayed by the Broker’s flattery. His concern for Lawless is clear: he feels obligated to accompany him into danger.
• Lawless gives Qin Ran a candid assessment of the trade and recognizes that the Broker is exploiting both men’s concern for Cole and for each other. Despite suspecting a trap, he appears committed to rescuing Cole.
• The Broker remains unreadable. He pitches the items, needles Qin Ran with praise, and may be using Cole’s location to draw Lawless—and Qin Ran—into a dangerous situation.
• Zor handles the exchange and leaves politely, though the veterans’ cold reception highlights the Broker’s strained relationship with them.

Significant themes

• Trust and manipulation: The Broker’s motives are uncertain, and even useful information may be bait.
• Loyalty and obligation: Qin Ran plans to stand by Lawless, while Lawless’s concern for Cole leaves him vulnerable.
• Pragmatism and risk: Qin Ran weighs equipment benefits against combat needs and carefully protects his interests in the trade.
• Preparation under pressure: With only about seven hours before the looming danger, Qin Ran seeks to strengthen himself.

Key plot points and events

• After Broker’s warning that the Killer Players might have informants inside the Harvest Tavern, Qin Ran grows wary of the veteran players gathered there. Lawless says they can be trusted, though he admits that any who became informants may have been forced.
• Qin Ran asks Lawless what Transcendent skills offer. Lawless explains the options for Hand-to-Hand Combat, Dodge, and Light Firearms, including stronger leg attacks, improved reactions, confusing opponents, greater range, and better bullet penetration.
• Struggling to choose among these upgrades, Qin Ran receives Lawless’s advice: prioritize a basic-level skill, since reaching Transcendent guarantees an attribute increase only if that attribute is below B. Otherwise, the benefit is wasted.
• Qin Ran and Lawless inspect Shadow Assault’s belongings but find little of value; the weapons and equipment are worth only a little over 12,000 Points. Shadow Assault’s ghostlike transformation was apparently a skill, not loot.
• Preparing for his next instance, Qin Ran asks Lawless to obtain basic-level Polearms and Archery skill books, a durable spear and bow, Holy Water VIII, and potions. He also asks him to sell the Flame-Steel Feet.
• Qin Ran returns home without being followed or attacked, but assumes the Killer Players’ next assault will be worse. He opens the upgrade option for a basic-level skill.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran remains cautious about whom he trusts, focused on survival, and unwilling to let disappointment over lost loot distract him from preparing for the next instance. He appreciates Lawless’s advice and relies on him to trade equipment.
• Lawless supports Qin Ran as a friend, offers practical guidance, and hints that he is hiding personal matters. He promises to explain once the current crisis is over.
• Their conversation mixes trust and humor, but the prospect of informants and the looming threat from the Killer Players keeps both men alert.

Significant themes

• Trust and secrecy: The possibility of informants makes even a friendly gathering feel uncertain; Lawless’s undisclosed personal business adds another layer of secrecy.
• Preparation over greed: Qin Ran lets go of the disappointing loot and prioritizes supplies and skills needed to survive.
• Strategic growth: The chapter emphasizes choosing upgrades carefully, especially when attribute caps can make valuable opportunities go to waste.
• Friendship under pressure: Lawless’s advice and help show a bond that offers support amid danger.

Plot and key events

• Qin Ran uses his remaining resources to upgrade Hand-to-Hand Combat to Transcendent. The upgrade strengthens his body and gives his leg attacks major bonuses; a test kick leaves a deep crack in the ground.
• He then upgrades Gunpowder Weapons: Light Firearms, choosing armor-piercing bullets over greater range. The skill boosts his Strength, Constitution, and Perception.
• Lawless returns the proceeds from selling Qin Ran’s items, along with the requested supplies and weapons: potions, a spear, a longbow, arrows, and two basic weapon-skill books.
• Qin Ran learns Melee Weapons: Polearms, Melee Weapons: Bows and Crossbows, and the Rare skill Hundredfold Kick. The latter is powerful but expensive to improve, so he can only raise it to Proficient for now.
• Prioritizing his ranged-combat weakness, Qin Ran raises Bows and Crossbows to Master, then spends his remaining resources to improve Polearms to Expert. He rests briefly and begins a solo instance.

Character development and interactions

• Qin Ran carefully weighs the cost of each upgrade, balancing immediate power against future skill and attribute requirements. He treats advancement as a connected system rather than spending indiscriminately.
• His Transcendent leg skill prompts him to wonder whether skill breakthroughs create physical, possibly magical changes—and whether those changes depend on how well a skill suits him.
• He and Lawless maintain a practical, trusting partnership: Lawless sells Qin Ran’s equipment, buys requested goods, itemizes the expenses, and returns the remaining Points and Skill Point.
• Qin Ran’s build becomes more rounded. He is exceptionally capable in close combat, while investments in bows and spears prepare him for situations where firearms may be unavailable.

Significant themes

• Resource management and trade-offs: Every upgrade competes for limited Points and Skill Points.
• Preparation and adaptability: Qin Ran strengthens ranged alternatives to avoid relying entirely on firearms or close combat.
• Growth through skill and bodily transformation: Transcendent abilities alter both performance and the body itself, suggesting deeper, not-yet-understood effects.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Decadent, the author, acknowledges that the previous month's updates were unsatisfactory.
• They announce their intention to improve and provide more frequent updates in the following month.
• Decadent requests guaranteed monthly votes from readers to show support and encourage this improvement.

Character Developments

• Decadent shows self-awareness by recognizing the previous month's shortcomings.
• They display determination to improve and commitment to their work.

Significant Themes

• Self-Improvement: Decadent's commitment to enhancing their work.
• Reader Engagement: The importance of reader support and feedback.
• Accountability: Decadent's acknowledgment of their responsibilities towards their readers.

Character Interactions

• The chapter is a direct address to the readers, fostering a sense of community and interaction.
• Decadent is essentially asking for the readers' support and engagement, implying a mutual relationship.

Plot points and events

• Qin Ran enters a solo instance set in Boer City in 1891. His main quest is to explore at least 20% of Aesop Ancient City within four weeks.
• He learns from the newspaper that renewed interest in gold has drawn people to the ancient city, and that scholar Herbert is assembling an expedition and hiring guards.
• Qin Ran’s Reputation 10 explains why Herbert invited him directly, sparing him a competitive application process. Joining the scholar’s team should also make the difficult exploration quest more manageable.
• Suspecting that Aesop Ancient City may contain Mysterious Knowledge, Qin Ran heads downstairs to find books and gather information.
• In Herbert’s study, he overhears Herbert rejecting several thuggish applicants. They threaten him and try to tempt him with the prospect of gold, but Herbert refuses to compromise.
• Concerned that the men might hurt Herbert and endanger the expedition, Qin Ran knocks and enters the study.

Character development

• Qin Ran is practical and observant: he studies the newspaper, assesses how Reputation affects his chances, and considers how best to complete the quest. His curiosity about Mysterious Knowledge also motivates him to seek out Herbert’s books.
• Herbert emerges as principled and courageous. He values the expedition’s purpose over gold and stands firm despite intimidation and threats.

Character interactions

• Herbert’s argument with the applicants reveals a sharp contrast between his integrity and their greed and violence.
• Qin Ran has not yet spoken to Herbert or confronted the thugs, but enters at a potentially critical moment to protect the scholar and safeguard the expedition.

Significant themes

• Integrity versus corruption: Herbert refuses to hire criminals, even under pressure.
• Reputation and opportunity: Qin Ran’s standing gives him an advantage in the instance.
• Knowledge versus wealth: Herbert insists that Aesop Ancient City matters for reasons beyond its gold, while the thugs focus on profit.
• Preparation and resourcefulness: Qin Ran uses available clues and seeks information rather than rushing into the quest unprepared.

Plot points and events

• Qin Ran arrives at Herbert’s study and finds the scholar confronting three threatening men. When the men attack, Qin Ran knocks all three unconscious with a swift, controlled move.
• He returns fallen books to the shelf, then identifies himself as Herbert’s newly hired guard for the planned expedition to Aesop Ancient City.
• Herbert explains that his dependable attendant, Pierre, has gone to collect a government grant needed to fund equipment and guards. Qin Ran suspects the three men knew Pierre’s schedule in advance, since they appeared soon after Pierre left and likely could not have learned of the newspaper notice.
• Herbert agrees that Qin Ran can question the men before the police are summoned and use his library while they wait. Qin Ran ties the attackers up in the basement and wakes them with water. They refuse to identify who sent them.
• Just as Qin Ran prepares to interrogate them, a powerful explosion shakes the building. He immediately fears Herbert is in danger.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran shows confidence, quick judgment, and formidable fighting ability. He is careful not to damage Herbert’s books, while also thinking strategically about the attackers’ timing and possible connection to Pierre.
• Herbert is scholarly but approachable and good-humored. Grateful for Qin Ran’s intervention, he provides information freely and shares Qin Ran’s suspicions about the suspicious visit.
• The three attackers begin as bullies but fall silent once confronted with Qin Ran’s strength. Their reaction strengthens his belief that they were sent by someone with advance knowledge of Pierre’s movements.
• Qin Ran and Herbert quickly establish a cooperative rapport: Herbert welcomes him as a guard and grants him access to the library, while Qin Ran protects him and investigates the threat.

Significant themes

• Appearances versus reality: The men look imposing but prove amateurish, while Herbert’s casual manner belies his intelligence.
• Suspicion and hidden schemes: The attackers’ timing suggests a planned attempt rather than a chance encounter.
• Duty and loyalty: Qin Ran begins protecting Herbert before the expedition formally starts, and Pierre’s reliability is emphasized through his many roles in Herbert’s life.
• Knowledge and force: The chapter contrasts Herbert’s scholarship with Qin Ran’s physical skill, hinting that both may be needed for the journey ahead.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ran captures the three extortionists and rescues Herbert from the burning house.
• Herbert reveals that the explosion and fire were caused by "Guardians" who protect Aesop Ancient City's secret.
• Qin Ran realizes there are at least two groups who don't want Herbert to go to Aesop Ancient City.
• Qin Ran interrogates the three men again, and their leader reveals their employer's identity.

Character Developments

• Qin Ran demonstrates his strength and cunning, outsmarting the three men and rescuing Herbert.
• Herbert shows resilience and excitement about the "Guardians," revealing his fanaticism for Aesop Ancient City's secret.
• The three men display fear and panic, realizing the danger they're in and considering Qin Ran's offer to testify against their employer.

Significant Themes

• Persistence: Herbert's obsession with Aesop Ancient City's secret and Qin Ran's determination to uncover the truth.
• Consequences: The three men face the reality of their employer's ruthlessness and the potential consequences of their actions.
• Trust and Betrayal: The employer's betrayal of the three men and Qin Ran's manipulation of their fear to gain information.

Character Interactions

• Qin Ran and Herbert: Qin Ran rescues Herbert, and they discuss the "Guardians" and Aesop Ancient City's secret.
• Qin Ran and the three men: Qin Ran captures and interrogates them, using their fear to make them consider testifying against their employer.
• Herbert and the three men: Herbert's calm demeanor and lack of injury surprise the three men, leading them to believe he was the target of the explosion and fire.

Key plot points and events

• Three captured attackers confess that Hook hired them to harass Herbert. Herbert explains that Hook is a gang leader and smuggler, not a police officer, and may be seeking revenge after Herbert’s associate Pierre once beat him.
• Qin Ran suspects the attack may also be connected to the planned expedition to Aesop Ancient City, since other forces appear determined to stop Herbert from going.
• Herbert says he was knocked unconscious while organizing his research and never saw his attackers. Qin Ran investigates the burned house, finding evidence of a powerful blast and an accelerant.
• Using his Tracking ability, Qin Ran follows faint, tiptoe-like footprints for about a hundred meters before they abruptly disappear. He reasons that the attackers likely used an unusual form of transport, perhaps a magical creature. Herbert adds that legend says the Guardians of Aesop Ancient City can fly.
• Herbert’s students—Harold, Coffin, and Jonna—arrive with Sheriff Kalkin. They are relieved to see their teacher safe, while Harold angrily demands an explanation from the sheriff.
• Kalkin claims he has only just arrived and cannot explain what happened yet. Herbert asks Qin Ran to speak with him instead. A side quest appears, tasking Qin Ran with questioning Kalkin and learning more.
• Qin Ran opens by asking the sheriff whether he knows Hook, while his ring, the Half-Dead Man’s Gaze, briefly glimmers.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran is observant and methodical: he protects Herbert, investigates the scene, and draws deductions from the missing footprints. He also takes charge of questioning the sheriff.
• Herbert remains focused on the Aesop expedition despite the attack. He trusts Qin Ran to investigate and handle uncomfortable conversations.
• Sheriff Kalkin appears evasive and unhelpful, deflecting the students’ demand for answers by saying he needs to hear Herbert’s account first.
• Harold, Coffin, and Jonna show concern for Herbert. Harold is especially confrontational toward Kalkin.
• Hook is identified as a criminal gang leader with a possible grudge against Herbert, though the attack may have a larger motive.

Significant themes

• Mystery and supernatural danger: The vanished trail suggests the attackers may have used magical means.
• Conflicting motives and hidden opposition: Hook’s involvement may be only one part of a broader effort to prevent the expedition.
• Trust and responsibility: Herbert relies on Qin Ran to protect him, investigate, and speak on his behalf.

Plot points and events

• Kalkin, a corrupt sheriff with ties to Hook and several other criminals, tries to deny knowing Hook.
• Qin Ran uses Dead Gaze to trap Kalkin in a terrifying illusion of a gigantic black snake. The experience leaves Kalkin in severe pain and makes him afraid to resist.
• Qin Ran pressures Kalkin to acknowledge his connection to Hook and act against him. Kalkin agrees to bring Hook before Herbert, not Qin Ran.
• Qin Ran lets Kalkin go, reasoning that fear and uncertainty may prompt him—or others—to reveal their plans.
• Herbert praises Qin Ran. Herbert’s students, Harold, Jonna, and Coffin, introduce themselves and react with curiosity to Qin Ran’s reputation and abilities.
• Herbert organizes preparations for their departure, assigning tasks to his students. He then asks Qin Ran to help assess applicants for guard positions.
• A new side quest, “Guard Selection,” appears, warning that some applicants may have ulterior motives.

Character development and interactions

• Qin Ran shows his skill at intimidation and psychological tactics, using Kalkin’s fear rather than forcing a confession outright. He also recognizes that the sheriff is stronger and more capable than he first appears.
• Kalkin shifts from attempted denial to frightened cooperation after experiencing Qin Ran’s illusion.
• Herbert demonstrates trust in Qin Ran by giving him greater responsibility.
• Harold, Jonna, and Coffin reveal their differing temperaments: Coffin is openly excitable and inquisitive, while Harold and Jonna are more restrained, though all are curious about Qin Ran.

Significant themes

• Fear as leverage: Qin Ran believes people’s fear of the unknown can make them act and expose themselves.
• Corruption and power: Kalkin has abused his position for personal gain, illustrating how authority can shelter criminal dealings.
• Trust and responsibility: Herbert’s request marks a growing professional trust between him and Qin Ran, while the new quest hints that this trust may soon be tested.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The author has completed the three promised updates.
• They are encouraging readers to vote for the novel using their monthly tickets to show support.

Character Developments

• Decadent, the author, shows appreciation for reader support, bowing in thanks.

Significant Themes

• Reader engagement and support.
• Author-reader interaction.

Character Interactions

• The author (Decadent) interacts with the readers, expressing gratitude for their votes and encouraging further support.

Summary

Key events

• After the afternoon’s trouble, preparations for Herbert’s journey to Aesop Ancient City become more serious. Qin Ran suspects the group will need weapons as well as basic supplies.
• The household gathers around two bonfires for dinner. Qin Ran praises the cook’s food and notices that Herbert’s students, Jonna and Harold, willingly help with chores.
• Herbert is so absorbed in writing and sketching that he forgets to eat. Jonna tells Qin Ran how much she admires her teacher’s dedication.
• Jonna asks whether ghosts retain memories of loved ones. Qin Ran bluntly explains that the ghosts he has encountered are hostile monsters and gives her practical survival advice, spoiling her romantic notion of them.
• Harold explains that Aesop Ancient City is rumored to have been built by the Nick Dynasty, a supposedly world-conquering empire that vanished about fifteen hundred years ago. Herbert hopes to find evidence that it existed.
• The police carriage returns, and Kalkin reports that Hook is dead.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran continues to show practical judgment, anticipating the need for weapons, and takes an interest in the expedition’s purpose.
• Herbert’s dedication to his research and strong moral character are reinforced. His students’ willingness to work alongside household staff reflects his influence.
• Jonna grows more comfortable talking with Qin Ran, but his blunt answer about ghosts disappoints her, and she withdraws to work on her assignment.
• Harold acts as an intermediary, explaining both Jonna’s feelings and Herbert’s reason for the expedition.
• Kalkin arrives visibly shaken, ending the chapter with a troubling revelation.

Significant themes

• Dedication and learning: Herbert’s complete commitment to scholarship inspires those around him.
• Practicality versus romantic idealism: Qin Ran’s survival-minded view of ghosts clashes with Jonna’s sentimental hopes.
• History and evidence: The journey is driven by uncertainty about whether the vanished Nick Dynasty ever existed.
• Moral integrity and preparedness: Herbert’s principles remain central, while recent events force the group to prepare for danger.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Ran learns that Hook has been killed. Since Hook knew more than the other Pawns, Qin suspects he was silenced.
• Police Chief Kalkin denies killing Hook and insists he found Hook already dead. Qin remains wary but agrees to investigate the scene.
• Qin leaves Herbert, Harold, and Jonna behind. Harold and Jonna’s coachmen reveal themselves as armed bodyguards, and Qin tells them to protect the group.
• On the carriage ride, Kalkin offers Qin a lavish carriage and all his wealth in hopes of being spared. Qin refuses and asks how Hook died.
• Kalkin says he went to Hook’s hideout, found him gone, and traced his likely escape route to a secret contact’s room. There, he claims, both Hook and the contact were dead, their bodies resembling “flowers in bloom.”
• The carriage reaches a secluded alley in Boer City. When the coachman opens the door, Kalkin recognizes him and screams: the man’s face is horribly burned and mutilated, though his eyes remain intact. The coachman tells Kalkin and Qin to get out.

Character developments

• Qin Ran remains analytical and guarded, weighing Kalkin’s claims rather than trusting his panic or offers of wealth. He takes practical precautions for Herbert and the others before departing.
• Kalkin appears frightened and increasingly desperate. His account suggests he may not have killed Hook, but his corruption and hidden dealings leave his innocence uncertain.
• Harold and Jonna are shown to have planned for danger by bringing armed bodyguards, while Herbert stays composed and encourages Qin to investigate.

Character interactions

• Qin interrogates Kalkin, first challenging his denial and then asking how he discovered Hook’s body.
• Herbert supports Qin’s investigation but accepts protection from Harold and Jonna.
• Harold and Jonna cooperate with Qin by arming their coachmen.
• Kalkin tries to bargain with Qin, who refuses to be distracted from the case.
• The mutilated coachman’s chilling appearance and words abruptly turn the investigation into a new immediate threat.

Significant themes

• Trust and deception: Qin cannot tell whether Kalkin is truthful, and appearances—such as Kalkin’s fear—may be misleading.
• Power and corruption: Kalkin’s extravagant carriage suggests wealth beyond his official salary, hinting at illicit privilege.
• Silencing and hidden danger: Hook’s death, the dead secret contact, and the coachman’s transformation point to a larger force or conspiracy.
• Prudence and preparedness: Qin’s precautions and the bodyguards’ weapons underscore the danger of acting without protection.

Plot points and events

• Qin Ran realizes the coachman’s sudden transformation is suspicious: he showed no signs of distress during the journey, suggesting the change happened before arriving at Herbert’s residence.
• Worried that Kalkin may also be transformed, Qin Ran bursts through the carriage wall. Kalkin’s face rapidly rots, confirming his suspicion.
• Qin Ran shoots and kills Kalkin, then kills the coachman as he flees. The two bodies are warm and have unusually tough skin, indicating they were recently alive.
• The corpses quickly dissolve into green fluid and melting bones before Qin Ran can investigate further. Patrol officers arrive after hearing the gunshots, so he slips away.
• Rather than return to Herbert’s residence, Qin Ran heads toward the address Kalkin gave for his informant. On the way, he considers whether the Black Hand or Hook’s killer might have caused the transformations. He spots someone entering the informant’s house.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran demonstrates quick judgment and a cautious, decisive approach to danger. He kills the transformed men without hesitation, believing it safer to investigate afterward than risk being caught off guard.
• Kalkin initially hides behind Qin Ran in fear, then reveals himself as a transformed creature and attacks.
• The coachman lunges at Qin Ran, freezes after Kalkin is shot, and attempts to flee before being killed.
• Qin Ran has no meaningful conversation with the patrol officers; he avoids them and continues his investigation.

Significant themes

• Suspicion and hidden threats: The transformations may have occurred before the men reached the carriage, making their apparent normality deceptive.
• Pragmatism under uncertainty: Qin Ran prioritizes survival over gathering evidence or sparing possible enemies.
• Unanswered mystery: The cause of the transformations, the men’s degree of control, and the identity of the informant remain unknown.

Key plot points

• Qin Ran follows a mysterious, unusually tall and bulky figure into Kalkin’s informant’s house, where he finds a powerful smell of blood and another sharp, irritating odor.
• As the bulky figure leaves carrying a bundle, a masked, agile attacker crashes through the roof and knocks them down. Qin Ran takes the bundle first.
• Qin Ran checks it and finds only money and jewelry, then tosses it back to the attacker. Their careful catch and slight pause reveal that they expected a different, familiar object and could recognize it by its weight.
• A glimpse into the room reveals a grisly scene: roughly a dozen bodies have been dismembered and hung from meat hooks.
• The attacker recognizes that Qin Ran is not the person they came to confront and initially tries to avoid a fight. Qin Ran presses for answers, however, and the two prepare to battle—Qin Ran with a pistol and crossbow, the attacker with a longsword.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran shows caution, quick reflexes, and sharp powers of observation. Rather than fight immediately, he uses the bundle to test the attacker and draws conclusions from their reactions.
• The masked attacker is highly agile and powerful, but guarded: they disguise their voice and face, keep their distance, and appear to be searching for a specific object.
• The bulky figure reacts with brute force, charging the attacker without noticing Qin Ran. Their fate after being buried under rubble is unknown.
• The chapter’s central interaction is a tense three-way encounter. Qin Ran briefly takes control of the bundle, then turns a cautious exchange into a confrontation by refusing to let the attacker leave.

Significant themes

• Deception and inference: Disguises conceal identity, but small physical reactions still reveal information.
• Violence and horror: The slaughtered bodies establish the informant’s house as a scene of extreme brutality.
• Caution versus confrontation: Qin Ran gathers clues methodically, but his pursuit of answers pushes the encounter toward violence.
• Unresolved mystery: The identity of the attacker, the object they seek, and who carried out the killings remain unknown.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Decadent, the author, announces that the next chapter will be delayed until afternoon or evening due to a hospital visit the following morning.
• A potential delay is hinted at for the second chapter as well.
• No major plot developments are mentioned as the focus is on the author's personal schedule and a request.

Character Developments

• Decadent, the author, shows consideration for their health and responsibilities outside of writing, indicating a level of maturity and prioritization.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility and Priorities: Decadent prioritizes their health and other responsibilities over writing, showing that they understand the importance of balance.
• Communication: Decadent keeps their readers informed about the delay, fostering a sense of community and trust.

Character Interactions

• Decadent interacts with their readers, asking for their understanding and support in the form of monthly votes. This interaction is timid and humble, reflecting a sense of vulnerability.

Key plot points and events

• A black sword wielded by Qin Ran’s opponent begins to glow green, igniting the blood-soaked room. The man throws the sword down, warns Qin Ran to run, and escapes through the roof.
• The room explodes moments later, apparently as a trap aimed at the fleeing man. Qin Ran escapes the blast using Prus’s Carapace and Crow’s Agility, but is caught in the flying debris.
• Qin Ran finds the large man unconscious beneath the rubble. The wreckage shielded him from the explosion, and he appears remarkably unharmed. Qin Ran carries him away before the patrol arrives.
• Back at Herbert’s residence, Qin Ran recounts the incident and describes Kalkin and his coachman, whose faces had rotted while their minds and bodies remained unusually resilient. Herbert recognizes the description as possibly connected to an old legend but cannot yet identify it.
• After a tense night, morning brings a new threat: armed people approach the residence, with many more visible behind them.

Character developments

• Qin Ran shows quick judgment and resourcefulness, escaping the blast, investigating the rubble, and rescuing the unconscious man. He grows increasingly suspicious that the strange sword, the explosion, and Kalkin’s apparent “mutation” are connected.
• Herbert is intrigued by Qin Ran’s account and begins searching his knowledge for an explanation.
• The large man is revealed to possess extraordinary durability, leading Qin Ran to wonder whether he has undergone the same kind of transformation as Kalkin and the coachman.
• Harold has volunteered for watch but falls asleep at his post.

Character interactions

• The mysterious swordsman unexpectedly warns Qin Ran to flee before escaping, hinting at familiarity with the trap and its danger.
• Qin Ran consults Herbert, sharing what he knows rather than waiting for the unconscious man to wake.
• Qin Ran and Herbert settle in for the night while keeping watch over the unconscious stranger; Jonna discovers the approaching armed group at dawn.

Significant themes

• Collateral danger: Qin Ran is caught in a conflict and trap meant for someone else.
• Uncertain transformation: The green flames and the unusually resilient bodies suggest a link between the sword, the explosion, and the altered people.
• Survival and vigilance: Escape, rescue, and continued caution are essential as danger follows Qin Ran back to the residence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ran is awoken by a young girl's cry and finds applicants for Herbert's guard position.
• Qin Ran decides to handle the selection process, aiming to complete it quickly and efficiently.
• He uses his strength and the [Dead Gaze] effect to intimidate and control the applicants.

Character Developments

• Qin Ran demonstrates his combat skills and uses his [Hand-to-Hand Combat] Transcendent-level ability to subdue a troublesome applicant.
• He also uses his [Half-Dead Man's Gaze] to instill fear in the applicants, showing his ability to manipulate emotions and maintain control.

Significant Themes

• Strength and power are used to establish dominance and control over others.
• Qin Ran's ability to adapt and use his skills to achieve his goals efficiently is highlighted.

Character Interactions

• Qin Ran interacts with the applicants, using his strength and abilities to assert his authority and maintain order.
• He also interacts with Herbert's coachman, who helps him up after he falls due to stiffness from sleeping in one position for too long.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Ran surveys the guard applicants and notices a red-haired figure carrying an enormous, likely heavy case. He also identifies several applicants who seem suspiciously connected.
• He reasserts his authority, warning that the selection will follow his rules and that disobedience will have severe consequences.
• Qin Ran delegates weapons registration and basic tests to Bill and Case, separating applicants into groups based on whether they favor cold weapons or firearms.
• Watching the applicants prompts Qin Ran to reflect on the transition from swords to guns and on Gonglansen, who seems to have been left behind by his changing era.
• Qin Ran becomes absorbed in a troubling personal choice: whether to pursue a glorious death or hold on to life.
• Jonna’s cry interrupts him when the chained captive wakes and struggles. Qin Ran steps between the captive and Jonna, tells Case to stay at his post, and begins manifesting electricity in his hand.

Character developments

• Qin Ran displays command, tactical awareness, and confidence in his strength, while also revealing deep unease about purpose, survival, and being left behind.
• Jonna is startled by the captive’s awakening but is protected by Qin Ran.
• Bill and Case readily assist Qin Ran, trusting his authority and strength.
• The red-haired applicant stands out as a potentially formidable candidate, while several others draw Qin Ran’s suspicion.

Significant themes

• Change and obsolescence: The rise of firearms threatens older traditions and those who cannot adapt.
• Life, death, and purpose: Qin Ran struggles between dying for a goal and continuing to live.
• Authority and vigilance: Qin Ran establishes firm rules while quietly monitoring possible conspirators.
• Protection and responsibility: He acts quickly to shield Jonna from danger.

Character interactions

• Qin Ran warns the applicants and assigns Bill and Case to manage their tests.
• He observes suspicious applicants exchanging meaningful glances but keeps his suspicions to himself.
• When the captive wakes, Qin Ran stops Case from abandoning his task, moves in front of Jonna, and thanks her before confronting the threat.

Plot points

• Qin Ran discovers that the huge captive can understand him, though his speech comes out as whimpers. Herbert calms him, learns he has no name and no memory of his origins, and releases him from his chains. Qin Ran suspects the man has limited intelligence but remains wary.
• Qin Ran realizes the captive—whom they call Big Guy—was likely planted as bait in the trap at Anzi’s room. The trap was designed to keep a target occupied until its green flames could strike, but Big Guy’s recklessness disrupted the plan.
• Since Big Guy is distinctive and may help identify the planner, Qin Ran asks Coffin to make inquiries around the city. Coffin eagerly agrees, encouraged by Qin Ran’s offer to teach him basic fighting skills.
• Jonna asks why Qin Ran thanked her. He says her scream pulled him out of unproductive thoughts; she doubts his explanation, but later thanks him in turn.
• Qin Ran asks Herbert about Kalkin and the coachman’s transformations. Herbert identifies them as resembling the legendary Nightspawn of the Nick Dynasty: intelligent monsters able to disguise themselves as people and turn into thick green fluid when killed. However, their transformations and inability to remain in human form when injured do not fit the legends. Qin Ran wonders whether the Nightspawn are returning and targeting Kalkin.
• Qin Ran heads back to the guard-screening process, where several suspicious applicants react to his arrival by reaching for their weapons.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran remains cautious and focused on the main mission, choosing to stay near Herbert rather than pursue Big Guy’s trail himself. He also devises a new stage for screening the guards.
• Herbert shows patience and kindness toward Big Guy, whose behavior around him is calm and trusting. He shares his knowledge of the Nightspawn while admitting its limits.
• Big Guy appears docile and simple-minded, communicating through whimpers and readily following Herbert; his true origins remain unknown.
• Coffin eagerly takes on Qin Ran’s request, showing how much he admires him.
• Jonna remains hard for Qin Ran to read: she questions his explanation, then offers a quiet thank-you of her own.

Significant themes

• Deception and suspicion: The trap and the disguised Nightspawn suggest that appearances can conceal deliberate threats.
• Knowledge and uncertainty: Herbert’s legends provide useful clues, but important details do not match, leaving the threat unresolved.
• Trust and kindness: Herbert’s gentle treatment earns Big Guy’s cooperation, while Qin Ran’s support inspires Coffin and affects Jonna.
• Priorities and vigilance: Qin Ran weighs a promising lead against protecting Herbert and continues to watch for danger among the applicants.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Ran senses hostility in the crowd outside Herbert’s residence and approaches cautiously. Before he can suggest an extra condition for Herbert’s test, someone orders an attack.
• Three attackers strike at once: two fire bullets at Qin Ran while a third dives at him with a spiked club. The crowd scatters, expecting him to be killed.
• Qin Ran’s armor absorbs the bullets without harm. He kills the airborne attacker with an energy blade from his leg, then overwhelms the other two with rapid kicks. Their bodies reveal them to be Nightspawn: their faces are burned-looking, and their corpses melt into green fluid.
• Qin Ran checks the combat readouts and recognizes that his Transcendent hand-to-hand combat ability, enhanced by Extraordinary Legs, has raised his attacks by a full level.
• He suspects the Nightspawn targeted Herbert because of his research into the Nick Dynasty. Since that ancient dynasty supposedly destroyed the Nightspawn using a weapon effective against them, Qin Ran reasons that the weapon may be hidden in Aesop Ancient City. He picks up the attackers’ green-glowing club.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran remains composed under attack, demonstrating both powerful defenses and lethal fighting ability. He also uses the encounter to refine his theory about the Nightspawn and the ancient weapon.
• Bill and Case warn Qin Ran, while other onlookers initially mistake his stillness for fear. Their shock at his survival and counterattack underscores how dramatically he outclasses the crowd.
• The Nightspawn attackers reveal their strength, resilience, and exceptional hearing, as well as their willingness to infiltrate and ambush people connected to Herbert.
• A quiet, red-haired applicant watches Qin Ran closely and stays calm, distinguishing himself from the startled crowd.

Significant themes

• Appearances and hidden identities: The attackers hide among ordinary people, and the Nightspawn have previously impersonated humans.
• Power and vulnerability: Qin Ran’s defense and skill make him nearly untouchable in this fight, while even formidable Nightspawn may be vulnerable to a purpose-built weapon.
• Historical mystery: The Nightspawn’s presence lends credibility to the vanished Nick Dynasty and suggests its fall may conceal a weapon or other unresolved secret.
• Observation and strategy: Qin Ran survives not only through strength but by anticipating the threat and drawing conclusions from the attackers’ behavior.