Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ran feels a hostile gaze during the Secret Market auction.
• The gaze comes from Norbien, a beta player with leather armor and a ruby-embedded sword.
• Norbien bids an unusually high price for Qin Ran's [W-22] light machine gun.
• After the auction, Norbien approaches Qin Ran and Lawless, asking about powerful weapons.

Character Developments

• Qin Ran: Shows vigilance and caution when dealing with Norbien.
• Norbien: Reveals he's in a difficult situation and needs powerful weapons.
• Lawless: Shares information about Norbien, including his strength and history.

Significant Themes

• Trust and suspicion: Qin Ran is wary of Norbien due to his initial hostile gaze.
• Power dynamics: Norbien seeks powerful weapons to improve his chances in instances.
• Information exchange: Lawless shares information about Norbien with Qin Ran.

Character Interactions

• Qin Ran and Norbien: Qin Ran is cautious, while Norbien appears friendly but is hiding something.
• Qin Ran and Lawless: Qin Ran asks Lawless about Norbien, and Lawless shares information about him.
• Norbien and Lawless: They know each other from the beta phase and the Witch's Rebellion instance.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ran learns about the importance of basic skill levels for advanced skills in dungeons from Lawless.
• Qin Ran successfully bids on another [W-22] light machine gun for 4,000 Points and 2 Skill Points.
• Qin Ran asks Lawless about Mental Attribute skills, and Lawless reveals that no such skills have ever appeared, and those born with high Mental Attributes are called "Chosen Ones."

Character Developments

• Qin Ran: Shows gratitude towards Artisan for his advice and becomes more determined to improve his strength after learning about the challenges ahead.
• Lawless: Reveals his experience and wisdom about skill selection and the challenges of being a Lone Wolf. Shows melancholy when discussing the risks of dungeons.

Significant Themes

• The importance of basic skill levels for advanced skills in dungeons.
• The challenges and risks faced by Lone Wolves in dungeons.
• The significance of Mental Attribute and the term "Chosen Ones" for those born with high Mental Attributes.

Character Interactions

• Qin Ran and Lawless: Qin Ran seeks Lawless's advice on skill selection, and Lawless shares his experiences and insights. They bond over their shared challenges and determination to improve their strength.
• Qin Ran and Artisan: Qin Ran feels grateful towards Artisan for his earlier advice, which helps him navigate his conversation with Lawless.
• Qin Ran and the Broker, Mo Nian, and Norbien: Qin Ran becomes wary of these mysterious and potentially dangerous individuals who have shown interest in him.

Chapter Summary: “Time”

Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ran and Lawless spend the entire day in the Secret Market. Lawless avoids discussing the Chosen Ones in detail, instead sharing various game secrets and anecdotes.
• Qin Ran learns that there is no known source for upgrade blueprints for the basic medical station; Lawless’s blueprint was obtained purely by luck.
• Qin sells four Fragmented-grade [Soul Crystals] and two [W-22] light machine guns, but fails to find any items he wants at the auction. A magical dagger becomes too expensive, exceeding 8,000 Points and 5 Skill Points.
• Qin returns alone to 13 Walvey Street and reviews the day’s gains. He concludes that Mental Attribute abilities are currently rare, meaning [Half-Dead Man’s Gaze] should remain effective against most players except the Chosen Ones.
• He seriously practices [Dawn Knight Body-Tempering Art] through its sitting, lying, and walking postures. After several hours, he discovers that practice has reduced the skill’s upgrade cost from 10,000 Points to 9,500 Points.
• Qin realizes that time and repeated practice may reduce the cost of Gold Skill Points as well as ordinary Points. He also understands that the game’s requirement to enter a dungeon every three months is likely intended to force players to spend time progressing.
• Because curing his illness remains his immediate priority, Qin decides not to pursue the game’s time limit aggressively yet.
• Qin upgrades [Hand-to-Hand Combat] and [Tracking] from Expert to Master, spending 20,000 Points and 12 Skill Points.
• He then begins examining the cost of upgrading [Mysterious Knowledge], only to be shocked by the requirements for its next major advancement.

Character Development

• Qin Ran becomes more analytical and strategic. He weighs whether to use his Gold Attribute Point immediately on Mental or preserve it as a contingency.
• His confidence in [Dawn Knight Body-Tempering Art] increases greatly; he now suspects it may surpass the legendary level.
• Qin confirms that disciplined practice can improve skills and reduce their upgrade costs, giving him a new method of progression beyond simply spending Points.
• His focus remains firmly on curing his illness before committing fully to the Underground Game’s long-term demands.
• Lawless continues to act as Qin’s knowledgeable contact within the game. His teasing attitude and willingness to share information strengthen their friendly relationship.

Skill and Attribute Progression

Hand-to-Hand Combat → Master

• Destructive power increases by 50%.
• Gains Leg Combat Master, granting +2 levels to Strength and Agility when attacking with the legs.
• Strength rises from D to D+, Agility from D- to D, and Constitution from D- to D.

Tracking → Master

• Qin can now follow targets through virtually any clues they leave behind.
• Gains Trace Inspection Master, allowing him to detect special existences clearly.
• Perception rises from D+ to C-.

Dawn Knight Body-Tempering Art

• Practice lowers its next upgrade cost, proving that the skill can advance through training.

Mysterious Knowledge

• Its upgrade costs are unusually high, hinting at its importance or exceptional nature.

Character Interactions

• Lawless casually mocks Qin by reminding him that he sold the medical-station blueprint only because he obtained it through luck.
• Qin responds with irritation but remains on good terms with him.
• Lawless invites Qin for a drink after leaving the Secret Market, but Qin declines and returns home to train and plan.
• Qin’s memories of Gonglansen’s instructions guide his practice of the body-tempering art, showing Gonglansen’s continuing influence despite his absence.

Significant Themes

• Time as a resource: The chapter emphasizes that time is as valuable as Points and Skill Points. Patient practice can produce benefits that money alone cannot buy.
• Preparation versus immediate gain: Qin struggles over whether to spend his Gold Attribute Point or save it, reflecting the importance of flexibility and long-term planning.
• Hidden potential: [Dawn Knight Body-Tempering Art] appears to be far more powerful than initially believed, suggesting that its true value lies beyond its visible level and stated rating.
• Knowledge and adaptation: Understanding the game’s systems—rare Mental abilities, skill requirements, dungeon deadlines, and practice mechanics—is becoming as important as raw combat strength.
• Personal priorities: Although Qin is increasingly immersed in the Underground Game, curing his illness remains his central objective and limits how much he is willing to invest in the game’s schedule.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ran attempts to upgrade [Mysterious Knowledge] from Mastery to Expert, but discovers that the upgrade requires four prerequisite skills: Alchemy, Potion-making, Astrology, and Magical Creature Studies, all at Basic level.
• He realizes that Mastery is likely his practical limit for now, especially after learning that Alchemy and Potion-making skill books cost roughly 30,000 Points and 10 Skill Points each, while the other two skills are unavailable on the market.
• Even at Mastery, Qin Ran still cannot decipher the altered Demon Big Dipper image from Kilfen Hetch’s prison cell, suggesting that higher-level knowledge—or the missing prerequisite skills—is necessary.
• He decides to focus on improving his combat abilities instead. He plans to upgrade Dodge, Stealth, and Gunpowder Weapons: Light Firearms to Master level.
• To enhance his leg-combat style, Qin Ran contacts Lawless and trades [Lockpicking Tools] plus 2,000 Points for the excellent-quality boots [Flame-Steel Feet], which provide weak attack power, flame damage, and a Leg Combat mastery effect.
• With Lawless’s help, Qin Ran exchanges Points for Skill Points and successfully raises:

Dodge → Master

Stealth → Master

Gunpowder Weapons: Light Firearms → Master

• The upgrades improve Qin Ran’s evasion, concealment, and firearm damage, though his related attributes reach their current skill-specific limits.
• Qin Ran spends the following week intensely practicing his abilities and the Dawn Knight Body-Tempering Art, while studying the requirements for future upgrades.
• He discovers that the next rank, Peerless, requires dramatically higher costs, including up to 20,000 Points and 12 Skill Points for Hand-to-Hand Combat, and 30,000 Points plus a Gold Skill Point for Tracking.
• His training yields minimal progress, and he repeatedly fails to re-enter the unusual state that previously allowed him to make major gains with the body-tempering technique.
• The chapter ends when the Solo Instance cooldown finishes, signaling that Qin Ran can enter another dungeon.

Character Development

• Qin Ran becomes more realistic and disciplined about his progression. He abandons the impractical goal of immediately advancing Mysterious Knowledge and redirects his resources toward combat skills.
• He demonstrates growing financial awareness, carefully calculating Points, Skill Points, equipment costs, and the long-term burden of upgrading advanced abilities.
• He develops a stronger commitment to active practice rather than relying entirely on the system’s automatic skill enhancements.
• His repeated failures do not discourage him; instead, he analyzes his mistakes and continues practicing, showing persistence and self-discipline.
• Qin Ran’s gratitude toward Stanbeck deepens when he realizes the enormous value of the Blessed Bullets and equipment Stanbeck provided.

Significant Themes

• The cost of advancement: Power becomes increasingly expensive, forcing Qin Ran to prioritize among many desirable abilities.
• Limits of knowledge: Mastering a broad support skill does not equal truly understanding specialized disciplines, emphasizing the difference between familiarity and expertise.
• Self-reliance and preparation: Qin Ran improves not only through system upgrades but also through deliberate physical practice and adaptation.
• Unequal resources and generosity: The contrast between Qin Ran’s financial limitations and Stanbeck’s generosity highlights both social inequality and the importance of benefactors.
• Persistence through failure: Qin Ran’s repeated unsuccessful attempts reinforce the value of reflection, patience, and continued effort.

Character Interactions

• Qin Ran and Lawless: Their messages combine practical business with Lawless’s teasing humor. Lawless helps locate the Flame-Steel Feet, advises Qin Ran about expensive and rare skills, and offers information about Blessed Bullets.
• Qin Ran and Stanbeck: Though Stanbeck does not appear directly, his generosity remains important. Qin Ran compares the cost of the Blessed Bullets with the magazines Stanbeck casually gave him, strengthening Qin Ran’s appreciation and emotional response.
• Qin Ran and himself: Much of the chapter focuses on his internal calculations, strategic decisions, and self-reflection as he balances ambition against limited resources.

Chapter Summary: “The Beginning”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ran enters his third official solo instance, set in a city plagued by horrifying beast-eating incidents. His main quest is to uncover the truth within two weeks.
• His temporary identity is that of a relatively well-known reporter investigating the incidents, though his editor-in-chief doubts his theory and abilities.
• Qin inspects his new surroundings, equipment, and altered appearance. His original supplies, ammunition, grenades, and item attributes remain intact, while a camera—particularly its expensive long lens—has been added to his belongings.
• Qin recognizes that each instance contains an important “trigger point,” usually a native who can advance the main quest. In this instance, he identifies an unexpected phone call as that trigger.
• The caller is Riley, Qin’s informant and an underground information broker who operates out of a suspicious laundromat. Riley claims to have obtained major information about the beast-eating cases.
• Qin visits Riley and negotiates the price of the information. Riley demands ten thousand in local currency, which Qin agrees to pay using the bank card found in his wallet.
• Riley reveals that one of his people found and questioned a witness near the scene of the latest incident. The witness supposedly knows a great deal about the beasts.
• Riley provides Qin with the witness’s name and the location of a hidden safehouse, warning that the witness had provoked dangerous enemies.
• As Qin leaves the laundromat, a car races into the alley. Two gun barrels emerge from its lowered windows, abruptly signaling an armed attack or an attempt to silence Riley and possibly the witness.

Character Developments

• Qin Ran: Demonstrates increasing familiarity with instance mechanics, quickly identifies the likely quest trigger, adapts to his reporter identity, and approaches the investigation pragmatically. He remains calm, observant, and willing to spend money when the information appears valuable.
• Riley: Is established as Qin’s long-term informant and a shrewd, morally dubious businessman. He maintains a reputation for reliable information while charging heavily and exploiting dangerous situations for profit.
• The Witness: Though not yet introduced directly, he is presented as a key source of information about the beasts and as someone who has attracted the attention of powerful enemies.
• Riley’s Bodyguard/Laundromat Owner: Introduced as an intimidating Black man who helps protect Riley’s illicit operation and contributes to the laundromat’s cover.

Significant Themes

• Investigation and uncovering hidden truth: Qin must use journalism, informants, and evidence to solve a mystery that official authorities have failed to explain.
• Information as power and commerce: Riley’s knowledge is treated as a commodity, with trust and reputation determining its value.
• Deception and hidden identities: The laundromat appears to be an ordinary, struggling business but secretly serves as the base of an information network.
• Danger beneath the ordinary: Seemingly mundane locations and professions conceal criminal activity, conspiracies, and imminent violence.
• Adaptation and strategic thinking: Qin relies on past experience with instances to interpret events and make efficient decisions.

Character Interactions

• Qin and the unknown caller/Riley: Riley contacts Qin with a confident sales pitch, then insists on a high price. Qin responds bluntly, confirms the information’s value, and pays without unnecessary argument.
• Qin and Riley: Their relationship is familiar but transactional. Riley treats Qin as a regular customer, while Qin understands Riley’s methods and does not trust his theatrics.
• Qin and the laundromat staff: Qin ignores the intimidating frontman/bodyguard and moves through the laundromat’s hidden passage as someone familiar with Riley’s secret setup.
• Qin and the approaching attackers: No direct confrontation occurs yet, but the arriving vehicle and drawn weapons create an immediate threat and suggest that Riley’s information has already placed him—or Qin—in danger.

Chapter Summary: “Continuous”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Armed attackers ambate Riley’s laundry with submachine guns and grenades, killing his bodyguards and nearly destroying the building.
• Qin Ran, who notices the attackers’ weapons through his enhanced perception, returns to intervene. He kills two attackers and incapacitates the third.
• Riley emerges injured but alive. He identifies the attackers as the Molok Brothers and suspects someone hired them to assassinate him.
• Riley asks Qin Ran to transport him and the surviving captive to a hidden safe house. This triggers the side quest “The Informant’s Request.”
• Qin Ran drives Riley and the unconscious attacker to an abandoned factory more than twenty kilometers away. Beneath the factory, Riley reveals a well-stocked underground bunker containing food, medicine, weapons, and specialized communications equipment.
• Qin Ran leaves after delivering the captive, completing the side quest and earning Riley’s gratitude and a future ten-percent discount on information.
• As Qin Ran begins to climb out of the bunker, he senses imminent danger and retreats just before a sniper’s attack blasts a crater into the concrete beside the manhole.

Character Developments

• Qin Ran: Demonstrates sharp perception, combat skill, tactical awareness, and a willingness to help when it may benefit him. He remains emotionally detached, treating the rescue primarily as a way to complete a side quest, but he still protects Riley effectively. His poor driving contrasts humorously with his exceptional fighting abilities.
• Riley: Reveals greater vulnerability and paranoia after the attack, but also confirms that he is resourceful and heavily prepared. His hidden arsenal and secure bunker expose his claim of being uninvolved in criminal activity as largely false. He begins treating Qin Ran as a genuine ally, though Qin Ran remains skeptical.
• The attackers: Their coordinated assault shows that they were professionals familiar with Riley’s location and defenses. The surviving attacker is captured alive for interrogation.

Significant Themes

• Trust and deception: Riley calls Qin Ran a friend but hides the extent of his criminal connections and preparations. Qin Ran helps him while continuing to distrust him.
• Pragmatic heroism: Qin Ran’s actions are motivated less by loyalty than by practical benefit, yet he still saves Riley and prevents further deaths.
• Hidden identities and secrets: Qin Ran’s abilities and Riley’s weapons network both suggest that appearances conceal deeper realities.
• Survival and preparedness: Riley’s underground safe house demonstrates the importance of planning in the lawless, dangerous setting.
• Escalating danger: The chapter moves from a violent attack to a seemingly completed mission, only to end with the sudden sniper ambush, maintaining suspense.

Character Interactions

• Qin Ran confronts and captures the final attacker, establishing his dominance through threats and swift violence.
• Riley suspiciously questions whether Qin Ran arranged the attack, while Qin Ran dismisses the accusation and mocks Riley’s lack of importance.
• Riley pleads for Qin Ran’s help, using their previous dealings to persuade him.
• During the drive, Riley jokes about Qin Ran’s terrible driving and probes his background, but stops when Qin Ran’s cold reaction warns him not to continue.
• At the safe house, Riley thanks Qin Ran and promises discounted information, while Qin Ran makes clear that he wants no further involvement.
• The final sniper attack interrupts their apparent resolution and leaves Qin Ran facing a new, unidentified threat.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ran and Riley are targeted by a sniper after they reach Riley's underground safehouse.
• Qin Ran deduces that the sniper was not lying in wait but was sent after Riley's previous attackers failed.
• Riley is shocked and unable to identify who sent the sniper.
• Qin Ran lures the sniper into firing and then kills him using his sniper rifle, [Viper-M1].
• A convoy of three SUVs approaches with hostile intent.

Character Developments

• Qin Ran demonstrates his analytical skills, combat prowess, and resourcefulness.
• Riley reveals his cowardly and self-preserving nature, seeking Qin Ran's help and emphasizing their friendship when in trouble.

Significant Themes

• The unknown enemy's influence and resources.
• Qin Ran's adaptability and problem-solving skills.
• Riley's cowardice and self-interest.

Character Interactions

• Qin Ran and Riley's partnership deepens as they face a shared threat.
• Qin Ran's actions and decisions reflect his growing confidence and capability.
• Riley's reactions highlight his self-centered nature and lack of initiative.

Chapter Summary: “One Shot”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ran spots three SUVs approaching the factory. The occupants wear bulletproof vests, masks, and carry submachine guns, matching the equipment of the sniper he recently killed.
• Suspecting another assassination attempt, Qin Ran takes the high ground on the warehouse roof and fires a single shot at the middle SUV’s front tire.
• His expert firearm skill and the [Viper-M1]’s armor-piercing and long-range abilities allow him to hit the wheel’s axle precisely. The SUV loses control, crashes into the vehicle ahead, and is then struck by the rear SUV.
• The collision ruptures the middle vehicle’s fuel tank. Sparks ignite the leaking gasoline, causing a chain of explosions that destroys all three SUVs and kills all twelve attackers.
• Riley emerges from the cellar after confirming the area is safe. Astonished, he asks how Qin Ran achieved the destruction. Qin Ran simply says he fired one shot, concealing the role of his system-granted abilities and specialized rifle.
• Riley reveals that the attackers were likely sent by Clido, a powerful criminal involved in weapons, drugs, and human trafficking. Riley explains that Clido also hired the Molok Brothers and is pursuing a witness Riley helped.
• Qin Ran searches the sniper’s rooftop position and discovers a high-quality [Hunting Tiger-X1] sniper rifle with Armor Piercing Lv2. He takes the weapon.
• Searching the sniper’s body, Qin Ran finds a completely blank white keycard. When he brings it back, Riley reacts with alarm, suggesting the card is important.

Character Developments

• Qin Ran: Demonstrates exceptional tactical judgment, marksmanship, and composure under pressure. His ability to combine skill mastery with specialized equipment makes the “single shot” possible. He continues gathering weapons and clues rather than simply fleeing after the battle.
• Riley: Remains nervous and easily frightened, even copying Qin Ran’s method of testing whether the area is safe. However, he provides valuable information about Clido and the criminal underworld. His dramatic reaction to the keycard hints that he knows more than he has revealed.
• Clido: Though absent, he is established as a major criminal figure who may be coordinating the attacks. His influence and willingness to violate underworld rules make him a serious threat.

Significant Themes

• Skill versus appearance: Qin Ran’s effortless-looking victory actually depends on rare expertise, precise timing, and specialized equipment.
• Information and hidden significance: The blank keycard appears meaningless but provokes Riley’s alarm, emphasizing that important clues may be concealed beneath ordinary appearances.
• Survival through preparation: Qin Ran survives by exploiting terrain, understanding weapons, and making calculated decisions rather than relying on brute force.
• Criminal power structures: Riley explains that even criminal organizations maintain rules and cooperate against figures like Clido who break them.

Character Interactions

• Qin Ran and Riley contrast sharply: Qin Ran is calm, analytical, and decisive, while Riley is frightened, talkative, and prone to self-important commentary.
• Riley questions Qin Ran about the attack, but Qin Ran gives only a vague explanation of his shooting ability.
• Their conversation identifies Clido as the likely force behind the assault and reveals that Riley became involved by protecting a witness.
• Riley’s immediate change in expression upon seeing the blank keycard creates suspense and suggests a new mystery for Qin Ran to investigate.

Key plot points and events

• Riley recognizes a white magnetic card as belonging to the Sphendic Conglomerate, a powerful corporation involved in medical equipment and military manufacturing.
• Riley realizes the witness, Lena, had been fired by Sphendic Medical and must have known a secret about the conglomerate. The attackers likely targeted Riley because they assumed he knew it too.
• Qin Ran urges Riley to act quickly, and they drive to the house where Lena was being protected. Qin Ran’s reckless-looking driving terrifies Riley, though his maneuvers are carefully calculated.
• At the house, they find Riley’s three guards dead and Lena brutally murdered. The rooms have been searched, and signs indicate something had been hidden beneath the bed.
• Qin Ran finds old newspapers that appear to have wrapped the missing object. As he is about to leave, one paper unfolds and catches his attention.

Character developments

• Riley shifts from panic and despair to anger when he understands why the conglomerate is after him. His confidence as a gang member is undercut by his fear during Qin Ran’s high-speed driving.
• Qin Ran remains composed and analytical. He quickly connects the clues, assesses the danger, and uses his heightened perception and tracking ability to investigate the crime scene. He avoids dwelling on what he could not have prevented.

Significant themes

• Corporate power and corruption: Sphendic’s reach is so vast that even police protection may be compromised.
• Secrets and danger: Lena’s hidden knowledge—and whatever he concealed—has made him a target.
• Pragmatism under pressure: Qin Ran focuses on what the evidence can reveal rather than on regret or speculation.

Character interactions

• Qin Ran steadies Riley and pushes him to pursue Lena before the conglomerate can close in further.
• Riley directs Qin Ran to the safe house, then suffers through the frightening drive.
• At the scene, Qin Ran investigates largely on his own, using the traces left by Lena’s attackers to reconstruct what happened.

Plot points and events

• Qin Ran examines newspapers Lena used to wrap a missing item and notices that Lena had underlined reports about several “beast” attacks.
• The marked stories convince Qin Ran that Lena knew something genuine about the attacks, rather than inventing his story to deceive Riley. Qin Ran wonders whether the newspapers—or their connection to the missing item—hold a further secret.
• Riley calls Qin Ran downstairs to watch a broadcast: a shootout at the former Said Factory has left more than ten people dead or injured, and police name Qin Ran and Riley as suspects.
• The Sphendic Conglomerate offers a $500,000 reward for their capture and announces that its elite “security consultant” will join the hunt. Their photos are shown on television, making it dangerous for them to go out in public.
• Convinced that Lena’s death has left them without their best chance, Riley despairs and suggests fleeing the city. Qin Ran argues that escape will not protect them from the conglomerate’s reach.
• Qin Ran decides they must find someone who knows Lena’s secret, accepting that the search will expose them to greater danger but may give them a way to fight back.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran shifts from suspecting Lena of lying to believing he had real knowledge of the beast attacks. He remains calm under pressure and takes the lead in choosing their next move.
• Riley becomes overwhelmed by the bounty and the loss of Lena, briefly losing hope and proposing flight. Qin Ran steadies him by challenging the idea that escape would help.
• Their exchange highlights contrasting reactions: Riley is fearful and desperate, while Qin Ran is pragmatic and willing to pursue a dangerous lead.

Significant themes

• Power and impunity: The conglomerate uses money and influence to mobilize the city and pursue its goals without apparent concern for fairness.
• Truth and concealed knowledge: Lena’s marked newspapers suggest that his story—and the missing item—are tied to a larger mystery.
• Desperation and resistance: With few safe options, Qin Ran chooses investigation and potential confrontation over endless flight.

Plot and events

• Before a citywide search intensifies, Qin Ran and Riley wait in a secluded alley to intercept men connected to their search for Lena. Qin Ran believes finding them may reveal why both Clido and the Sphendic Conglomerate are pursuing her.
• Riley repeatedly questions the plan, fearing that Clido—or ruthless bounty hunters—will find them first. Qin Ran teases him for his caution; Riley insists that being a coward helps him keep his promises as an information broker.
• Qin Ran asks about the “terrifying man” Riley mentioned. Riley identifies him as Kerouac the “Executioner,” a reputed killer who decapitates victims and keeps their heads. Kerouac now serves as the Sphendic Conglomerate’s security consultant, and his reputation helps deter the company’s opponents. Qin Ran remains skeptical that Kerouac personally committed the murders.
• A gang team arrives to retrieve hidden “goods.” When they cannot find them, their leader investigates the trash can. Qin Ran drives into the alley, knocks the leader unconscious, and quickly takes down his three subordinates.
• Riley celebrates the apparent victory, but Qin Ran stays alert. A figure appears at the far end of the alley, leaving the encounter unresolved.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran is impatient with Riley’s repeated doubts but takes his fear seriously enough to let him explain. He stays focused and controlled, questioning Riley about Kerouac while reserving judgment.
• Riley is fearful yet loyal, using humor and earnestness to defend his cautious nature. His admiration for Qin Ran’s fighting turns to alarm when he notices Qin Ran’s warning.
• Qin Ran and Riley work as a team: Riley supplies information and follows Qin Ran’s cues, while Qin Ran handles the physical danger.

Significant themes

• Reputation and intimidation: Kerouac’s legend strengthens the Sphendic Conglomerate’s power, whether or not every story about him is true.
• Caution versus action: Riley’s wariness contrasts with Qin Ran’s decisiveness, but both contribute to their partnership.
• Uncertainty and escalating danger: The truth behind Kerouac’s killings and the Conglomerate’s pursuit remains unclear, while the newcomer signals that the danger is far from over.

• Key Plot Points and Events: This chapter is a meta-narrative, not part of the story's main plot. It announces the completion of five updates on the release day, as promised by the author, Decadent. It also mentions the book's original publication on Taiwan Novel Network and Decadent's writing process, including their slow typing habit and revision process.
• Character Developments: The author, Decadent, is the main "character" in this chapter. They show determination, dedication, and appreciation for their readers' support. Decadent also expresses their need for financial support to continue writing.
• Significant Themes: The theme of dedication and hard work is prominent, as Decadent describes their efforts to meet the update promise. The importance of reader support, both emotionally and financially, is also emphasized.
• Character Interactions: While there are no interactions between characters in the story, Decadent interacts with their readers, expressing gratitude for their support and encouraging them to continue voting, rewarding, and subscribing to their work.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ran and Riley are ambushed by "Executioner" Kerouac in an alley.
• Qin Ran engages in a battle with Kerouac, proving to be his equal.
• Qin Ran kills Kerouac and loots his weapons: a pistol (MI-02) and a longsword (Alloy Longsword).
• Qin Ran discovers a number (Ⅲ) on Kerouac's neck, indicating a potential connection to the Numbers organization.

Character Developments

• Qin Ran demonstrates exceptional combat skills, matching "Executioner" Kerouac.
• Riley, hidden in the car, realizes Qin Ran's true identity as "Shadow's Sting," a legendary figure in the city.

Significant Themes

• The theme of hidden identities continues as Qin Ran's true nature is revealed to Riley.
• The theme of power dynamics is shown through Qin Ran's ease in handling Kerouac, who was previously thought to be much more formidable.

Character Interactions

• Qin Ran and Riley's dynamic changes as Riley learns Qin Ran's true identity.
• Qin Ran and Kerouac's battle highlights Qin Ran's superior skills and perception.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Ran finds a Ⅲ tattoo on the dead “Executioner” Kerouac and wonders whether the number indicates a series of assassins. He suspects the Sphendic Conglomerate tracked Clido through Riley and is eliminating everyone connected to Lena.
• Riley confirms the corpse is the Executioner. Having seen Qin Ran defeat him, Riley mistakenly believes Qin is the legendary Shadow’s Sting and repeatedly tries to pry into his supposed past.
• Qin and Riley take the unconscious Clido to a hidden basement. Riley ties him up and beats him, accusing him of hiring the Molok Brothers and trying to kill him.
• Under torture, Clido claims he did not order the attacks on Riley or Lena. Riley presses him for the identity of the person giving him orders.
• Clido breaks and agrees to reveal what he knows. Riley reports that the orders came from Komde, the underworld king known as “Mr. Big.”

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran remains cautious and observant, considering the possibility of multiple Executioners and keeping watch while Riley interrogates Clido. He lets Riley take the lead but does not rely blindly on his assurances.
• Riley shifts from admiring Qin as Shadow’s Sting and teasing him with questions to acting as a vengeful, forceful interrogator. His anger stems from Clido’s attempt on his life and the damage done to his livelihood.
• Clido begins defiant and frightened, then becomes increasingly desperate under Riley’s beating and torture. He insists he was not responsible for the attacks and finally names his superior.
• Riley and Qin work together pragmatically: Riley uses his knowledge of Clido to extract information, while Qin stays in the background and guards against danger.

Significant themes

• Hidden power structures: The numbered tattoo raises the possibility that the Executioner is part of a larger organization, while Clido’s revelation points toward Komde’s control of events.
• Mistrust and survival: Qin’s vigilance contrasts with Riley’s confidence in the hideout, underscoring how dangerous the Sphendic Conglomerate’s reach may be.
• Revenge and moral compromise: Riley’s interrogation is driven by personal vengeance and desperation, blurring the line between seeking truth and inflicting punishment.
• Mistaken identity: Riley’s belief that Qin is Shadow’s Sting adds humor and shows how appearances and reputation can shape others’ perceptions.

Plot points

• Riley despairs after learning that both the Sphendic Conglomerate and Mr. Big are pursuing them. Qin Ran argues they still have an escape route: the two powerful groups are rivals, and both are interested in whatever Lena was carrying.
• Riley considers provoking a war by assassinating leaders on one side, but Qin Ran rejects the plan as too dangerous and time-consuming. He also cannot abandon his main quest for a risky scheme that might cost him substantial progress.
• Qin Ran rules out killing either organization’s top leader: leaving the other alive would let the survivor seize control of the city and target them.
• Instead, Qin Ran proposes turning to Mr. Big—not as fugitives seeking protection, but as potential partners who possess something he wants. Mr. Big does not know that they lack Lena’s valuable item, and is unlikely to trust the Conglomerate’s account.

Character developments and interactions

• Riley shifts from panic and self-pity to cautious hope once Qin Ran explains the rivalry. He briefly proposes assassination, then abandons the idea and looks to Qin Ran for direction. He worries that bargaining with Mr. Big will cost him everything.
• Qin Ran stays composed and strategic, steering Riley away from desperate plans. He conceals his deeper thoughts about how widespread assassinations could destabilize both factions, prioritizing his main quest and his own advancement instead. He then reveals a more practical deception: presenting himself and Riley as valuable partners.
• Their dynamic is one of contrast: Riley reacts emotionally and relies on Qin Ran to find a way forward, while Qin Ran provides blunt reassurance and tactical leadership.

Significant themes

• Rivalry as opportunity: The conflict between two powerful factions may offer leverage to people caught between them.
• Pragmatism over revenge: Qin Ran rejects dramatic violence in favor of a plan with better odds and fewer costs.
• Deception and bargaining: Survival may depend on exploiting what an opponent believes, even when that belief is false.
• The cost of failure: Qin Ran’s focus on the main quest reflects how setbacks become more costly as he grows stronger.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Ran and Riley evade an overnight search by patrol officers and bounty hunters. Qin Ran’s Perception helps them avoid danger, while Riley’s knowledge of the city’s streets and secrets guides them.
• Riley leads Qin Ran to a seemingly ordinary barbershop, where the underworld king Mr. Big is disguised as the barber. The surrounding businesses and apparent customers are part of his heavily guarded headquarters.
• Riley asks Mr. Big for help, but Mr. Big intimidates him with a supernatural-seeming display. Qin Ran resists the effect and steps in to protect Riley.
• Mr. Big demands their offering and their loyalty, making clear he expects obedience rather than partnership. Qin Ran calmly insists they want to work together.
• Mr. Big dismisses Qin Ran’s accomplishments and reveals he already knows the beast attacks are connected to the Sphendick Conglomerate. He also claims Lena is one of his people, then has his armed men reveal themselves.
• Qin Ran suspects Mr. Big has an informant with access to the conglomerate’s upper ranks. He doubts Lena is that informant, but the revelation undermines his planned bargaining strategy and leaves him scrambling for a response.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran remains composed under pressure, protects Riley, and tries to negotiate as an equal. His confidence is tested when Mr. Big knows more than he expected.
• Riley is shown as an invaluable guide and source of information, but his fear of Mr. Big makes him vulnerable; Qin Ran’s support helps him stay on his feet.
• Mr. Big presents a genial public face but quickly reveals a domineering, ruthless personality. He controls the meeting through intimidation, superior information, and armed force.
• The chapter’s central interaction is a power struggle: Mr. Big tries to force Qin Ran and Riley into submission, while Qin Ran resists and insists on mutual cooperation.

Significant themes

• Power and control: Mr. Big uses fear, surveillance, and force to maintain the upper hand.
• Information as leverage: Riley’s knowledge helps Qin Ran reach Mr. Big, while Mr. Big’s intelligence network disrupts Qin Ran’s plans.
• Appearance versus reality: The ordinary barbershop conceals a fortified criminal headquarters, and the friendly barber conceals a ruthless kingpin.
• Adaptability under pressure: Qin Ran must rethink his approach when his assumptions about what Mr. Big knows prove wrong.

Key plot points

• Mr. Big confronts Qin Ran and Riley in the barbershop, revealing that he has a spy inside the Sphendic Conglomerate. Riley realizes their cover may be exposed and fears they are about to be killed.
• Qin Ran assesses the room: gunmen, numerous snipers outside, and Mr. Big’s many reinforcements leave little chance of escape. He considers using Mr. Big as a hostage, relying on the protective skill from his legendary bracer.
• Before Qin Ran acts, a subordinate brings Mr. Big news of another “Beast-Eating” murder and marks the victims’ locations on a city map: Sydney, Conti, Paul, and the newly reported Reddick.
• Qin Ran recognizes that the locations form an inverted pentagram, suggesting a magical ritual. He concludes the victims were chosen at random—not for any personal connection to Sphendic.
• Mr. Big demands proof and threatens Qin Ran. Qin Ran points to an unmarked location on the map, claiming it holds both the evidence and the trump card Mr. Big wants.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Ran stays composed under threat, rapidly weighs his options, and shifts from planning a desperate fight to using his insight into the murder pattern to gain leverage.
• Riley moves from panic toward confidence after seeing Qin Ran remain calm, trusting him to find a way out.
• Mr. Big is shown to be powerful and intimidating, but impatient: he values results over evidence and gives Qin Ran a final chance to prove his usefulness.
• Mr. Big’s thin subordinate presents the murder reports and map, unintentionally giving Qin Ran the information needed to spot the pattern.

Significant themes

• Composure under pressure: Qin Ran’s clear thinking contrasts with Riley’s fear and the armed men’s hostility.
• Pattern-seeking and hidden truths: The map transforms apparently unrelated killings into evidence of a possible magical ritual.
• Power and leverage: With force stacked against him, Qin Ran must make his knowledge—and the location he identifies—his protection.

Chapter Summary: “Discovery”

• Qin Ran investigates the fifth “Beast Eats People” victim. He travels in a business van with Kent, Mr. Big’s thin right-hand man, and two armed guards. Qin Ran is being forced to identify whether a newly discovered corpse is genuine, while Kent warns that any deception will result in his death.
• Qin Ran is confident the victim will be found because the Sphendic Conglomerate has already killed four people—Sydney, Conti, Paul, and Reddick—to create the conditions for a large-scale magical ritual. The delay in discovering Reddick’s body occurred because Lena had stolen an item necessary for the ritual, but the item has now been recovered.
• Qin Ran analyzes the Conglomerate’s magic. He concludes that the murders generate pain, fear, and despair to power an enormous Inverted Pentagram, the foundation of a magic array. A second structure, the Conversion Magic Array, would transform that negative energy and channel it through runes to produce the desired effect. He suspects the scorpion symbol associated with the ritual may amplify or accelerate the process, though he cannot confirm this.
• The sheer scale of the ritual alarms Qin Ran. Since an entire city appears to be involved, the completed array could have catastrophic consequences. He also becomes uneasy about the dungeon’s unexpectedly high difficulty and wonders whether he has overlooked an important clue.
• The group receives word that another body has been found in a back alley. When Qin Ran and Kent arrive with Mr. Big’s men, police and bounty hunters withdraw rather than risk being caught between the Sphendic Conglomerate and Mr. Big. Kent’s identity and reputation demonstrate Mr. Big’s influence over the city.
• The corpse has been brutally mutilated, with much of the body eaten and half the head missing. Kent confirms that the scene appears genuine and is surprised that Qin Ran predicted it. Under the terms of Mr. Big’s orders, the men are to cooperate with Qin Ran if the victim is real, but kill him if the case proves false.
• Qin Ran examines the remains calmly and identifies the victim as a woman. During his inspection, he notices something unusual, setting up a new discovery at the chapter’s conclusion.

Character Development and Interactions

• Qin Ran remains analytical, composed, and fearless despite the threat of armed men and the gruesome corpse. His knowledge of magic allows him to understand the Conglomerate’s larger plan, though he admits the limits of his expertise.
• Kent shifts from threatening captor to cautious collaborator. Qin Ran’s accurate prediction earns his respect and curiosity, while Kent continues to follow Mr. Big’s instructions.
• Mr. Big’s organization is shown to possess enormous authority. Even police and bounty hunters abandon the scene rather than interfere with Kent and his men.
• The Sphendic Conglomerate is portrayed as methodical and ruthless, using a series of murders to build magical power rather than acting out of conscience or simple violence.

Significant Themes

• Power through suffering: Pain, fear, and despair are treated as literal sources of magical energy, emphasizing the Conglomerate’s exploitation of human misery.
• Hidden warfare and political influence: The confrontation between the Conglomerate and Mr. Big takes place indirectly, with law enforcement and bounty hunters retreating to avoid becoming casualties.
• Knowledge versus uncertainty: Qin Ran’s magical expertise gives him insight into the ritual, but not enough to locate or fully understand every component.
• Escalating danger: The fifth victim signals that the ritual is nearing completion, while Qin Ran’s final observation suggests the corpse may contain a crucial clue.

Chapter Summary: “Realization”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qin Ran examines a mutilated corpse and notices that nearly all of its bones are missing, despite the beast having left behind flesh, organs, and part of the skull.
• He concludes that the bones were removed before the beast consumed the bodies, suggesting that Sphendick may need them for a magic circle or another mysterious purpose.
• Qin Ran studies the third victim, Paul, whose remains consist only of an arm, reinforcing the idea that the victims’ bones were deliberately taken.
• Using his [Tracking] ability, Qin Ran follows the beast’s bloodied paw prints. He determines that the creature was likely controlled by a handler who fed it the corpses and waited nearby.
• The tracks lead to a busy street, where the beast and handler apparently entered a waiting vehicle. Qin Ran asks .g’s men for a car and driver so he can continue following the trail.
• When Qin Ran insists on riding in the front passenger seat and demands to speak directly with .g, Kent—the gaunt man and one of .g’s top subordinates—becomes enraged.
• Kent attacks Qin Ran, but Qin Ran remains calm and prepares to use the ruby ring containing [Half-Dead Man’s Gaze].

Character Developments

• Qin Ran: Demonstrates strong analytical ability, using physical evidence and tracking skills to uncover details others missed. He realizes that .g and his organization are valuable allies in this dungeon, but refuses to become a subordinate who simply follows .g’s plan. Qin Ran wants to prove that he is strong enough to stand beside .g as an equal and maximize his rewards from the dungeon.
• Kent: Revealed as a powerful, ruthless, and highly loyal subordinate of .g. His pride is offended by Qin Ran’s insistence on being treated as a partner, prompting him to attack.
• .g: Although absent from the immediate confrontation, he is established as a dominant figure who takes serious threats such as Sphendick seriously. Qin Ran recognizes that .g may respect capable individuals rather than dismissing them outright.
• .g’s Subordinates: They distrust and resent Qin Ran, viewing him as arrogant and undeserving of special treatment. They eagerly anticipate Kent punishing him.

Significant Themes

• Reason versus speculation: Qin Ran distinguishes between what the evidence proves and what remains uncertain, especially concerning the stolen bones and their possible connection to magic.
• Power and recognition: Qin Ran refuses to accept an inferior position and seeks respect through demonstrated strength rather than empty claims.
• Strategic independence: While cooperating with .g offers an easy path through the main quest, Qin Ran deliberately pursues a more difficult route to gain greater long-term advantages.
• Preparation for future challenges: Qin Ran believes that merely surviving or completing the current dungeon would leave him unprepared for increasingly difficult future dungeons.
• Hidden supernatural mechanisms: The missing bones, the beast, its handler, and the inverted pentagram all point toward a larger ritual or mystery involving Sphendick.

Character Interactions

• Qin Ran’s deductions contrast with the gaunt man’s earlier unsuccessful attempts to track the beast, creating tension between Qin Ran and .g’s subordinates.
• Qin Ran challenges Kent’s authority by calling himself .g’s “partner” and refusing to accept subordinate treatment.
• Kent responds with anger and violence, while the surrounding men encourage the confrontation and expect Qin Ran to be badly injured.
• The chapter ends as Qin Ran calmly prepares [Half-Dead Man’s Gaze], signaling that the attack may become his opportunity to demonstrate his true strength.

Plot points and events

• Qin Ran uses the Half-Dead Man’s Gaze to incapacitate Mr. Big’s men, injuring several and terrifying the rest without physical contact. He orders them to find a competent driver and warns them against trying anything.
• He follows the vehicle’s tire tracks to the Sphendic Conglomerate headquarters, confirming that the trail leads there, then returns to the barbershop.
• At the shop, Mr. Big is shaving Riley with a razor held near his throat. Mr. Big admits Qin Ran has given him valuable leverage, but says the information is difficult to accept—and reveals he intends to kill Qin Ran.
• Mr. Big asks how Qin Ran knew where to find the bodies and what was happening to Sphendick, who had supposedly been dying of an incurable disease. Qin Ran replies that someone like him is at Sphendick’s side, then raises his hand as electricity flashes. Mr. Big reacts in alarm.

Character developments

• Qin Ran shows that his supernatural ability can strike multiple opponents at once. He remains controlled and calculating, using fear to establish authority and anticipating Mr. Big’s response.
• Mr. Big is revealed to be both threatened by Qin Ran and deeply curious about his knowledge. Though he plans to kill Qin Ran, uncertainty about Sphendick’s apparent transformation brings him to confront him directly.
• Riley is helpless and frightened under Mr. Big’s razor, and visibly hopes Qin Ran will rescue him.

Significant themes

• Power and intimidation: Qin Ran’s gaze turns ordinary gang members’ apparent toughness into panic and helplessness.
• Fear of the unknown: Mr. Big’s confidence is shaken by Qin Ran’s unexplained abilities and Sphendick’s unnatural condition.
• Leverage and control: Qin Ran uses information and demonstrations of strength to shape the choices of both Mr. Big and his men.
• Life, death, and transformation: Sphendick’s survival and changed behavior raise questions about a possible reversal of death.

Character interactions

• Qin Ran warns Mr. Big’s subordinate, then directs a deferential driver to take him to Sphendick’s headquarters.
• At the barbershop, Qin Ran faces Mr. Big while Riley remains trapped under the razor. Mr. Big challenges Qin Ran to explain his knowledge; Qin Ran answers with a provocative claim and a display of electricity.