Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Another Sensation (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Romon and Lightning return home late at night after Romon successfully advances to the Seventeenth Level. Romon instructs Lightning to land quietly so they will not wake Eileen, Bell, or the children.
• Romon discovers that Eileen and Bell have stayed awake waiting for him. They reveal that Desika and two other Archdruids sent word that they would visit the next morning to congratulate him.
• Romon announces his advancement, delighting both wives. They prepare a celebratory feast, and Romon enjoys the family celebration before going to sleep.
• The following morning, Desika, Mohande, Xuni, and more than a dozen Archdruids arrive at Romon’s villa bearing gifts and offering congratulations.
• After praising Romon’s achievement and recognizing his influence, Desika proposes establishing a new organization: a Druid Ecological Agriculture Research Guild centered on Romon.
• The Archdruids explain that Romon’s agricultural innovations have challenged old traditions and helped weaken the long-standing Druidic curse. A guild would allow his ideas to spread throughout the Druid Realm.
• Romon accepts the proposal and suggests using Giant Eagle Academy as the guild’s foundation. The visiting Archdruids agree to assume positions within the institution.
• The chapter ends with the formal establishment of the continent’s second Druid Guild, with Romon positioned as its leader.

Character Development

• Romon is shown as increasingly influential and politically perceptive. He recognizes that Desika’s praise is leading toward a proposal and understands the broader importance of forming a guild. He accepts leadership without arrogance, viewing it as a way to expand his reforms.
• Eileen and Bell demonstrate their devotion and pride in Romon. Their concern keeps them awake, and their enthusiasm leads them to organize a family celebration. Bell’s admiration for Romon is particularly open and emotional.
• Lightning continues to develop a quirky, mixed personality by imitating the speech and mannerisms of Romon’s acquaintances, especially Fafier. Romon humorously tries to preserve Lightning’s “simple, lovable eagle” identity.
• Desika, Mohande, Xuni, and the other Archdruids shift from observers and supporters to active collaborators in Romon’s reform movement. Their willingness to join the new guild indicates their growing trust in his ideas and leadership.

Significant Themes

• Achievement and recognition: Romon’s advancement brings both personal joy and public respect from the wider Druid community.
• Family support: His wives’ concern, pride, and celebration emphasize the emotional foundation behind Romon’s accomplishments.
• Reform and innovation: Romon’s agricultural ideas are portrayed as revolutionary forces capable of breaking old patterns and transforming Druid society.
• Institutional change: The new guild represents the transition from individual innovation to organized, large-scale reform.
• Leadership and responsibility: Romon’s appointment is framed not merely as an honor but as a duty to help all Druids benefit from his knowledge.
• Unity and cooperation: The Archdruids’ collective decision to participate shows the Druid community beginning to unite around a common future.

Important Character Interactions

• Romon affectionately but humorously corrects Lightning for imitating Fafier.
• Eileen and Bell reassure Romon that they waited awake because they were worried about him, then celebrate his advancement through a shared meal.
• Romon warmly receives the visiting Archdruids and responds graciously to their gifts and congratulations.
• Desika carefully leads the conversation from praise of Romon’s advancement to the proposal for a new guild.
• Romon and the Archdruids reach an agreement to make Giant Eagle Academy the guild’s core, establishing a cooperative leadership structure.

Chapter Summary: “Establishment (Part 1)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A powerful supernatural phenomenon appears over the original Druid Guild’s forest. A dense green aura forms an enraged bear, which rises into the sky as a distant tree-like presence manifests elsewhere. The bear seems desperate to communicate before dissolving back into the earth.
• The original Druid Guild’s guildmaster identifies the event as a divine revelation and realizes that the forest’s powerful Forest Spirit has awakened. Since the spirit is the foundation supporting the guild, its agitation suggests that the guild faces a serious crisis.
• The guildmaster also senses another powerful Druid aura in the distance, indicating that the balance and established order of the continent have been disturbed.
• In Tatshaw Territory, the membership of Romon’s new organization is formally finalized. The Druid Ecological Agriculture Research Guild, centered on the Giant Eagle Druid School, becomes the continent’s second Druid Guild in all but its official ceremonial founding.
• Romon, now a Seventeenth-Level Druid, is appointed president. Desika becomes vice president, while Mohande and Xuni—both Sixteenth-Level Druids—take major positions. Fifteen Archdruids are recorded as the guild’s founders, and more than a thousand Druids begin joining.
• Romon understands that the simultaneous existence of two similar, Faith-powered institutions will naturally create opposition, based on knowledge he acquired from the vampires. He conceals this information and presents the phenomenon as unimportant.
• News of Romon’s advancement and the new guild spreads quickly. On Blue Soil Island, Prince Xiusenya learns of the development and orders an investigation into Romon’s unusually rapid advancement from Sixteenth to Seventeenth Level.
• Xiusenya sends the news to the Aisk Kingdom’s Royal Capital, recognizing that the kingdom must eventually decide how to respond but should not act prematurely.

Character Developments

• The original guildmaster remains calm and controlled despite the ominous events, relying on his long experience. However, he correctly recognizes that the Forest Spirit’s awakening represents a threat to the Druid Guild.
• Romon demonstrates growing authority and ambition. He has transformed the Giant Eagle Druid School into the foundation of a broad institutional network and confidently establishes a rival guild without consulting the original guild.
• Romon also shows strategic secrecy. Although he understands the possible conflict between the two guilds, he keeps this knowledge to himself to avoid revealing his unusual sources of information or alarming his followers.
• Desika continues to act as Romon’s trusted deputy, questioning Romon about the distant power but accepting his reassurance and joining the celebration.
• Mohande and Xuni commit themselves to Romon’s movement by remaining at the school and accepting important leadership roles.
• Prince Xiusenya shifts from viewing Romon as merely talented and fortunate to regarding him as an unpredictable and potentially formidable political force. He responds cautiously, choosing investigation and observation over immediate intervention.

Significant Themes

• The disruption of established order: The awakening Forest Spirit and the appearance of a second Druid Guild suggest that long-standing balances in the world are beginning to collapse.
• Institutional rivalry and opposition: The two guilds are similar in nature and power, making conflict or mutual resistance inevitable.
• Tradition versus innovation: The original guild represents an established system tied to ancient spiritual foundations, while Romon’s guild promotes new ideals centered on ecological agriculture, organized research, and institutional expansion.
• Power and legitimacy: Romon’s advancement to Seventeenth Level gives him the authority to establish a rival organization, while the original guild’s legitimacy is rooted in its relationship with the Forest Spirit.
• Networks and collective influence: Through shared ideals, teacher-student bonds, and connections among fellow Druids, Romon is building a powerful, far-reaching organization rather than merely founding a school.
• Political uncertainty: The Aisk Kingdom recognizes that the new guild could significantly alter the balance of power, but lacks enough information to determine whether to support, oppose, or merely monitor it.

Character Interactions

• The original guildmaster discusses the strange manifestation with a High-Level Druid and orders an investigation while directing the others to return to their duties.
• Desika notices Romon watching the sky and asks about the distant power. Romon gives him a reassuring explanation and leads him back to the guild celebration.
• Romon addresses the assembled Archdruids and senior Druids, formally outlining the guild’s founding work and assigning them historical status as its founders.
• Prince Xiusenya questions his adviser about Romon’s rapid advancement, considers whether Divine Grace was responsible, and orders continued investigation.
• Xiusenya also consults his officials about notifying the Royal Capital, ultimately deciding that the king must determine the kingdom’s position toward Romon’s new guild.

Chapter Summary: “Establishment (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The ailing old king of the Aisk Kingdom reflects beneath the moonlight on his ambitions for the kingdom and his fear that he may not live long enough to fulfill them.
• He expresses confidence in his second son, Crown Prince Xiusenya, whom he regards as filial and capable of helping govern the kingdom.
• A letter from Xiusenya arrives, startling the king with news that Count Teta Xiao—Romon—has reached the Seventeenth Level and established a new Druid Guild in Tatshaw Territory.
• The king summons Princess Qian Niya and instructs her to travel to Tatshaw Territory, representing the Royal House and offering Romon congratulations.
• Three days later, Qian Niya departs with gifts and attendants.
• News of Romon’s achievement spreads throughout the neighboring territories and shocks the surrounding political and religious powers.
• The Temple of the Goddess of Agriculture, impressed by the development, sends word to its headquarters. Its high priest ultimately decides to personally visit Tatshaw Territory and congratulate Romon, signaling strong religious support.
• In Far-Sail Port City, Nick struggles to organize the upcoming ceremony. More than two thousand guests—including local and neighboring nobles—are expected.
• Romon agrees to help manage the guest and gift lists. The event’s large attendance is expected to bring substantial economic benefits to the territory.
• Former political enemies, including an old viscount who once competed with Romon for power, now seek friendly relations because Romon’s influence has grown too great to challenge.
• Prince Xiusenya, Princess Qian Niya, and the high priest are all confirmed to be attending.
• Romon emphasizes the need for strong security and predicts that the ceremony will make the entire continent take notice.

Character Developments

• The old king: His declining health and awareness of mortality become clearer. Despite weakness, he remains ambitious and deeply concerned with the kingdom’s future. His trust in Xiusenya and recognition of Romon’s importance show his pragmatic leadership.
• Prince Xiusenya: Though absent, he is portrayed as reliable, filial, and politically important. His personal decision to attend strengthens the connection between Romon and the Royal House.
• Princess Qian Niya: She eagerly accepts her diplomatic assignment, demonstrating loyalty, confidence, and willingness to participate in major political affairs.
• Romon: His advancement to the Seventeenth Level and creation of the Druid Guild mark a dramatic rise in power and status. He has moved from being opposed by local nobles to becoming a figure they seek to appease and support.
• Nick: He remains hardworking and responsible, but his exhaustion is balanced by excitement over the economic opportunities created by the ceremony.
• The high priest: His decision to attend personally shows that Romon’s achievement has gained serious religious and institutional significance.

Significant Themes

• The passage of time and mortality: The king’s physical decline contrasts with his desire to continue improving and expanding the kingdom.
• Power transforming relationships: Former enemies abandon resistance when Romon’s strength and influence become overwhelmingly greater than theirs.
• Political and religious recognition: The Royal House and the Temple both respond to Romon’s rise, demonstrating that personal achievement can reshape broader power structures.
• Nation-building and economic growth: The ceremony is not merely symbolic; the influx of nobles and visitors is expected to stimulate Tatshaw Territory’s economy and increase tax revenue.
• Legitimacy through public acknowledgment: Official congratulations from the Crown Prince, princess, and high priest help establish Romon’s guild and advancement as events of continental importance.

Character Interactions

• The king’s attendants care for him and attempt to protect him from the cold, though he insists on enjoying the moonlight.
• The king privately discusses the significance of Xiusenya with his attendants and later entrusts Qian Niya with the diplomatic mission.
• Qian Niya receives the king’s letter and reacts with shock before confidently accepting the assignment.
• Nick asks Romon for help with the overwhelming preparations, while Romon reassures him that the event must be carefully organized and secured.
• Romon and Nick discuss maintaining good relations with the Royal House and local nobles.
• Romon’s final declaration that the ceremony will make the continent “tremble” reflects both his confidence and the growing scale of his political influence.

Chapter Summary: “President (Part 1)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Romon visits the newly completed Druid Academy to preside over a major assembly of more than one hundred Druids above the Eleventh Level.
• Master Xuni reads the new Druid Manifesto, formally redefining the Druid path:
  • Humanity is part of nature rather than its opposite or master.
  • All life belongs to nature.
  • Druids must guide agriculture, society, ecological cycles, and the healing of lands damaged by magic or other forces.
  • Higher-level Druids are tasked with restoring “nature’s wounds,” improving soil, and preserving biodiversity.
• The manifesto is unanimously approved by all 111 attendees, officially establishing the guild’s ideological foundation.
• Master Desika presents the guild’s organizational structure:
  • Inner Circle: The Elders Council and national branch presidents.
  • Middle Circle: County-level presidents and Druids above the Eleventh Level.
  • Outer Circle: Druids from the First through Tenth Levels who support the organization.
• The fifteen Archdruids are elected to the Elders Council. Romon becomes president, with Desika and Xuni serving as vice presidents.
• Five major resolutions are passed:
  1. Creation of the armed force Hand of Nature, commanded by Romon with Xiaocifa as deputy.
  2. Guild members will take assignments, while the Hand of Nature cooperates with territorial forces in patrols and security.
  3. Mohande becomes president of the Hassilu Kingdom branch, with half the Elders and other Druids sent to help establish it.
  4. A Personnel Department will manage recruitment, promotions, and membership verification.
  5. An educational system will be created, with Giant Eagle Academy as its headquarters and future branch schools in every nation.
• After the daylong meeting, Romon returns to Far-Sail Port with four Intermediate Druids serving as his first presidential guards.
• At his villa, he tells Eileen that the Druid Guild has been formally established and asks her to prepare accommodations and a small celebratory banquet.

Character Developments

• Romon reaches a major new stage of power and influence. At twenty-seven, he is a Seventeenth Level Druid, a Count, and now president of a powerful guild.
• He shifts from being merely a prominent noble and Druid leader to becoming the head of an organization capable of rivaling kingdoms, churches, and other major institutions.
• Romon experiences both pride and emotional distance as he reflects on the twelve years of struggle that brought him to this position. His achievement feels almost dreamlike.
• His establishment of the guild strengthens his access to lord-type Faith Power, which becomes denser through the reverence of thousands of Druids.
• Eileen reacts with surprise and pride upon seeing Romon’s new guards. Her response shows how dramatically his social status has risen.
• Desika, Xuni, and the other Archdruids become the foundational leadership of the new guild, helping transform Romon’s vision into a formal institution.
• Mohande and Xiaocifa receive important leadership responsibilities, demonstrating the guild’s reliance on its strongest members.

Significant Themes

• Institution-building: The chapter marks the transition from an informal movement to a structured, hierarchical guild with a manifesto, leadership council, military arm, personnel system, and educational network.
• A new philosophy of nature: The Druids reject both the idea that humanity is separate from nature and the idea that humans are nature’s masters. Civilization must exist within natural cycles.
• Restoration and preservation: The guild’s purpose expands beyond agriculture to healing damaged environments, enriching soil, protecting ecosystems, and preserving biodiversity.
• Power and legitimacy: Formal elections, ranks, branches, and a shared emblem give the Druids political and ideological legitimacy.
• Personal achievement versus responsibility: Romon recognizes his extraordinary success, but his new position also carries immense obligations and attracts wider attention.
• Growth through organization: The Druids’ collective strength allows them to stand on equal footing with kings and other dominant powers, showing that unity transforms individual ability into political influence.

Character Interactions

• Romon leads the assembly respectfully, inviting Xuni to read the manifesto and Desika to explain the organizational structure.
• The Archdruids unanimously support Romon’s plans, establishing a cooperative but clearly hierarchical relationship between him and the guild leadership.
• Romon appoints key allies to important positions, reinforcing trust and shared responsibility within the new organization.
• On returning home, Romon informs Eileen that the Druids behind him are now his official guards. Her astonishment and pride highlight the dramatic change in his status.
• Eileen welcomes the guards and immediately begins adapting the household to Romon’s new presidential role, while Romon asks her to organize a private celebration of the guild’s founding.

Fukangxi learned that Count Gao Hata had destroyed his family’s merchants’ association and rode through the night to reach his mother’s village. At dawn, his prayer to Romon God succeeded beyond the deity’s territory, revealing that Romon’s power could reach across the Mist World.

• Fukangxi learned from Halu and Tom that Count Gao Hata had attacked the merchants’ association and that his father had organized resistance.
• Fukangxi discovered that his mother and Tom’s family were in a village outside the city and set out to reach them before Count Gao Hata’s forces arrived.
• Knight Mogov provided Dazha and Weidi to accompany Fukangxi and Tom on their ride through the night.
• The riders reached the village before dawn, rested with the aid of holy water, and waited for daylight.
• Fukangxi prayed to Romon God and received divine power despite being outside Romon’s territory, then declared that Romon’s way could spread across the whole world.

Fukangxi escaped the Gohata Count Fief with his mother and Heklin’s family ahead of the count’s pursuing cavalry, then reported that he had received divine spells beyond his own fief’s borders. Bishop Kanrongpa and Viscount Salante arranged an expedition to verify the claim, which could change the balance of power across the Mist World.

• Fukangxi and Tom reached the village, warned Heklin that the count had moved against the trading company, and hurriedly evacuated Lady Daili and Heklin’s family.
• Fukangxi’s group crossed into the Salante Viscount Fief and continued toward his village, while the pursuing cavalry eventually withdrew near the city.
• Fukangxi went to Bishop Kanrongpa and reported that he had received divine spells while praying in the Gohata Count Fief.
• Bishop Kanrongpa believed the report was important enough to test and asked Fukangxi to join an expedition to another fief.
• Viscount Salante agreed to provide knights as Bishop Kanrongpa prepared to take priests across the border and pray at dawn.

Bishop Kanrongpa and his followers confirmed that their god Romon answered their prayers, then planned to expand their territory with the help of Elno. After a citywide Thanksgiving Festival gathered faith power, Elno agreed to campaign against a false god in exchange for double tribute.

• Bishop Kanrongpa's party prayed in the Gohata Count Fief and confirmed that Romon granted the priests their divine spells.
• Bishop Kanrongpa and Mage Haboba decided to keep the discovery secret and target the Dai Forest Fief, hoping to enlist Elno against its false god.
• Halu arrived in the city and learned that the viscount and Church had organized a Thanksgiving Festival with more than ten thousand believers.
• Bishop Kanrongpa led the festival prayers, and the believers' faith power flowed into Romon's statue, filling the Temple with holy light.
• Elno sensed the faith power and agreed to help Bishop Kanrongpa attack a false god if his tribute was doubled.

Chapter Summary: “Celebration (Part 1)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Princess Qian Niya and a large delegation of nobles arrive at Far-Sail Port to attend the celebration of Romon’s newly established Druid Guild.
• After patrol fleets verify their identities, the visitors receive an elaborate maritime welcome: ships clear a path for the princess’s fleet while musicians, singers, and dancers perform aboard nine escort vessels.
• Romon personally greets the delegation and escorts them into Far-Sail Port City.
• The visitors are impressed by the city’s cleanliness, prosperity, order, defenses, and rapid development. More than ten thousand nobles, attendants, and servants have gathered for the celebration.
• The influx of visitors greatly boosts the local economy, allowing merchants and businesses to earn substantial profits.
• Seeing the city’s strength firsthand, many older nobles who had previously resented Romon’s rise finally acknowledge him as a major noble and accept his place within the kingdom’s governing elite.
• Fireworks erupt above a newly opened shop, foreshadowing the grandeur of the Druid Guild’s upcoming founding ceremony.

Character Developments

• Romon demonstrates confidence, political awareness, and hospitality. He accepts praise without false modesty while remaining alert to the possibility that others may be probing for his secrets.
• Princess Qian Niya appears more mature and reflective than usual. Although she remains playful and occasionally frustrated by Romon’s achievements, she openly admires Far-Sail Port City and begins imagining herself living there.
• Qian Niya reveals dissatisfaction with court life, suggesting that her interest in the city stems from a deeper desire for freedom or escape from royal responsibilities.
• The visiting nobles shift in their attitudes toward Romon. Their skepticism and resentment give way to respect, as his accomplishments become impossible to dismiss.

Significant Themes

• Recognition and social advancement: Romon’s city and achievements earn him acceptance from the kingdom’s traditional aristocracy, marking his transition into the established ruling elite.
• Progress and prosperity: Far-Sail Port City symbolizes rapid development, effective governance, and the economic benefits of Romon’s leadership.
• Political responsibility: Princess Qian Niya warns the delegation not to damage the kingdom’s interests, emphasizing the importance of diplomacy and restraint.
• Freedom versus court life: Qian Niya’s longing to settle in the city contrasts with the pressures and confinement of royal life.
• Public celebration and historical significance: The welcoming ceremonies and fireworks reflect both communal pride and the sense that Romon’s guild founding may become a landmark event.

Important Character Interactions

• Qian Niya and Viscount Pride discuss Far-Sail Port’s potential and the kingdom’s reasons for supporting Romon.
• Qian Niya instructs the attending nobles to behave carefully and protect the kingdom’s interests.
• Romon and Qian Niya travel together through the city, exchanging praise, teasing remarks, and more personal reflections.
• Qian Niya compares herself unfavorably with Romon, frustrated that he seems to achieve greatness effortlessly; Romon responds by joking that the local environment produces exceptional people.
• Romon notices Qian Niya’s unusual melancholy but respects her privacy rather than pressing her to explain.
• Their conversation about the forthcoming fireworks and guild ceremony reinforces the importance of the event and Romon’s growing historical stature.

Romon’s seventeenth-level rank was certified, and the Druid Ecological Agriculture Research Guild was officially founded with him as president. After the ceremony, Nick reported that Far-Sail Port had received over a thousand settlement applications, including one from Princess Qian Niya.

• The Druid Guild president vowed that his struggle with Romon was not over and smashed a magic lamp as fireworks began over Far-Sail Port.
• Romon arrived at the ceremony, demonstrated Mass Cure Light Wounds, and received official recognition as a seventeenth-level archdruid.
• Desika announced the founding of the Druid Ecological Agriculture Research Guild, and Romon declared it officially established after more than two thousand druids joined.
• Prince Xiusenya cut the guild’s ribbon, and Princess Qian Niya placed the king’s laurel crown on Romon’s head.
• After the banquet, Nick told Romon that over a thousand people had applied to settle in Far-Sail Port and that Princess Qian Niya was among them.

Chapter Summary: “Settling Down (Part 1)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Romon learns that Princess Qian Niya has formally applied to settle in Far-Sail Port City. Her application bears her personal seal and is quickly approved, creating excitement among the territory’s officials.
• Nick and Romon recognize that the princess’s presence will greatly enhance Far-Sail Port’s reputation and attract more talented residents, nobles, and professionals.
• Romon speculates that Qian Niya is escaping political struggles in the Royal Capital. As a prominent princess, her status may have made her vulnerable to becoming involved in the Royal House’s internal power struggles.
• Romon instructs Nick to approve her application if she meets the territory’s requirements.
• With the New Year approaching, Romon and Nick discuss preparations for celebrations, including:
  • Hosting a relaxed banquet at Romon’s home for local nobles and officials.
  • Holding a separate celebration for the school’s scholars and staff, who dislike formal social gatherings.
  • Increasing officials’ salaries by ten percent for the New Year month.
  • Distributing bonuses and rewards to guards, soldiers, attendants, and other workers before the holiday.
  • Completing year-end evaluations, financial reports, gift arrangements, and plans for the coming year.
• After most guests leave Far-Sail Port, Qian Niya remains behind rather than returning to the Royal Capital for the New Year.
• Since her own villa is still under construction, she temporarily stays at Romon’s residence.
• Romon questions her decision to abandon the Royal Capital’s festivities. Qian Niya explains that she prefers Far-Sail Port’s peaceful, warm atmosphere to the political tensions surrounding the court.
• Romon begins to suspect that Qian Niya may also be observing or investigating him, especially because of his unusually rapid rise in power, though he ultimately dismisses the idea as excessive suspicion.

Character Developments

• Romon: Shows political insight by correctly interpreting Qian Niya’s settlement as a strategic retreat from royal power struggles. He also demonstrates strong leadership and concern for the territory’s people by emphasizing fair rewards, holiday bonuses, and inclusive celebrations. Despite sympathizing with Qian Niya’s loneliness, he remains cautious and emotionally guarded.
• Princess Qian Niya: Reveals herself to be intelligent, politically cautious, and independent-minded. Rather than risk being drawn into dangerous court politics, she chooses the relative safety and harmony of Far-Sail Port. Her calm exterior conceals possible loneliness and emotional exhaustion.
• Nick: Remains enthusiastic about Far-Sail Port’s development and its growing prestige. He is practical and diligent, having already prepared much of the New Year’s administrative work. His exchanges with Romon show mutual trust and familiarity.
• Far-Sail Port City: Gains prestige from attracting a royal princess and continues rapidly developing into a desirable settlement for skilled and influential people.

Significant Themes

• Political escape and survival: Qian Niya’s decision suggests that royal privilege can become a burden, forcing her to flee the center of power to protect herself.
• Growth and responsibility: Far-Sail Port’s rapid success brings not only recognition but also greater administrative burdens and obligations.
• Leadership through consideration: Romon’s plans for bonuses, rewards, and separate celebrations show that effective governance involves caring for both officials and ordinary workers.
• Appearance versus reality: Qian Niya appears composed and elegant, but Romon senses loneliness beneath her refined exterior. Likewise, the peaceful New Year preparations contrast with the unseen turmoil of the Royal Capital.
• Trust and suspicion: Romon sympathizes with Qian Niya but remains wary of her motives, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding their relationship.

Character Interactions

• Romon and Nick discuss Qian Niya’s settlement and the political implications of her arrival, revealing their shared concern for Far-Sail Port’s future.
• Their later conversation about the New Year demonstrates their close working relationship, mutual respect, and ability to balance official duties with personal comfort.
• Qian Niya and Romon share a quiet, restrained exchange in the snow. She lightly jokes about relying on the “greatest Druid in the world,” while Romon responds formally and cautiously.
• Their interaction carries an undercurrent of mutual curiosity: Qian Niya presents herself as seeking refuge, while Romon wonders whether she may have additional motives.

Chapter Summary: “Settling Down (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bell dresses nine-year-old Alice in an unusually delicate, “ladylike” outfit for the New Year banquet. Alice dislikes the dress and hairstyle, preferring her usual practical and “cool” clothing, but accepts them because she understands the importance of the occasion.
• Alice’s younger brother, Ruxiji, arrives dressed like a little gentleman and teases her about her appearance. The siblings then descend to the banquet with Bell.
• Eileen and Bell appear together in contrasting but complementary styles, while Alice and Ruxiji attract considerable attention because of their beauty, resemblance to their parents, and status as Romon’s children.
• Nobles jokingly discuss the children’s future marriages, recognizing that alliances with Romon’s family could be highly valuable.
• Alice and Ruxiji skillfully maintain charming public personas while secretly commenting on the guests. Their behavior wins them numerous gifts, amusing Romon, who recognizes their clever manipulation.
• Princess Qian Niya attends the grand New Year banquet and behaves with perfect royal etiquette, though she shows genuine affection toward Alice and Ruxiji.
• The banquet confirms Romon’s growing political prominence: he is now regarded as the foremost noble in the county, and the attending nobles show him considerable respect.
• At the Druid guild headquarters, young Lesser Druids attempt to secretly open and drink a bottle of prized fruit wine. They are caught by the senior Archdruids but are forgiven because it is New Year’s Day.
• The Druids confirm that gifts and blessings have been sent to Romon’s people in Far-Sail Port City. They also acknowledge that several members, including Mohande, will soon leave for new assignments, making future reunions more difficult.
• Romon’s returning Knights, led by Lulie and accompanied by Xiūsang, celebrate the New Year after receiving rewards. The eleven Knights who remain in Romon’s territory are satisfied with their treatment and decide to settle there permanently.

Character Developments

• Alice displays maturity and self-control. Although she dislikes being dressed up, she understands social expectations and performs the role of a charming noble child. She also shows leadership by directing Ruxiji to avoid speaking openly about their private opinions.
• Ruxiji continues to resemble Romon in appearance and demonstrates a playful, obedient, and socially adaptable personality. He follows Alice’s lead while participating in their subtle gift-gathering scheme.
• Bell is shown as an affectionate, indulgent mother who takes pride in Alice’s appearance, even when her daughter disagrees with her fashion choices.
• Eileen and Bell are presented as very different but harmonious wives of Romon. Their contrasting appearances and temperaments complement each other.
• Romon appears as a powerful yet warm father and lord. He recognizes his children’s cleverness with amusement and has gained substantial prestige among the region’s nobles.
• Princess Qian Niya maintains flawless royal composure but reveals sincere affection toward Romon’s children, suggesting a close personal bond.
• The Druids demonstrate a strong sense of community. Though they are respected elders, they retain humor and indulgence toward their mischievous students.
• The Knights develop a lasting sense of loyalty and belonging toward Romon’s territory, choosing to make it their permanent home.

Significant Themes

• Family affection and domestic harmony: The chapter emphasizes the warmth between Romon, his wives, and their children, presenting the family as stable and emotionally close.
• Growing status and influence: Romon’s political standing has risen considerably, reflected in the nobles’ respect, their interest in his children, and the prominence of his New Year banquet.
• Public image versus private identity: Alice and Ruxiji perform the behavior expected of charming noble children while privately finding the adults amusing and uninteresting.
• Belonging and settlement: The Knights’ decision to remain in Romon’s territory gives the chapter its central emotional direction. People connected to Romon are increasingly choosing to put down roots there.
• Tradition, celebration, and transition: New Year’s festivities unite the nobles, Druids, and Knights, while also marking impending separations as several Druids leave for new posts.
• Generational continuity: Attention to Alice and Ruxiji’s future marriages and qualities suggests that Romon’s influence will continue through his children.

Important Character Interactions

• Alice and Bell: Their disagreement over Alice’s clothing highlights their different ideas of beauty, but also their affectionate mother-daughter relationship.
• Alice and Ruxiji: The siblings tease each other but cooperate closely, especially in maintaining their public behavior at the banquet.
• Romon and his children: Romon observes their cleverness fondly, showing both paternal indulgence and awareness of their growing social intelligence.
• Princess Qian Niya and the children: Her formal behavior toward the nobles contrasts with the genuine affection she shows Alice and Ruxiji.
• The young Druids and their elders: The students’ attempted wine theft creates a humorous interaction that reveals the elders’ patience and good humor.
• The Knights and Romon: Their satisfaction with Romon’s rewards and their decision to remain demonstrate the strengthening loyalty between lord and retainers.

Romon expanded the Shennong Horn’s ecosystem, managed the Druid Guild and academy, and sent Lulie and Xiūsang to develop lands across the sea. After Princess Qian Niya revealed how little money she had, Romon offered her a place in his trading company.

• Romon instructed Luoli to scatter seeds throughout the Shennong Horn and planned to introduce animals to help spread them.
• Romon discussed the Guild’s expansion, its Druid Encyclopedia, Archdruid autobiographies, and the academy’s reopening with Desika.
• Romon gave Lulie authority over ten knight fiefs, a ship, soldiers, and three thousand gold coins, then watched Lulie and Xiūsang sail away.
• Princess Qian Niya questioned Romon about his loyal followers, and he told her he trusted them because he had the strength to command the wider situation.
• Princess Qian Niya explained that her annuity left her only eight hundred gold coins to spend freely, and Romon offered her business ventures through his trading company.

Summary of The Poor Princess (Part 2)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Princess Qian Niya rides through Far-Sail Port with Daisenni, a lady official and daughter of a marquis.
• Qian Niya defends her decision to associate herself with Romon’s business interests, arguing that the Royal House and most noble families lack the wealth and dignity portrayed in stories.
• She explains that only a few noble families can truly afford lavish lifestyles. Count Teta Xiao is one of them, largely because his Druid organization supports highly productive agriculture and luxury-goods cultivation.
• Qian Niya reveals that she is working with Romon both to increase her wealth and to cultivate a closer relationship with him. She values his generosity, especially the villa he has given her.
• She stops to inspect the villa, which is still under construction, and feels pleased and emotionally affected by the prospect of owning it. Her thoughts briefly turn to the Love Goddess’s archbishop and the potion he previously delivered.
• Meanwhile, Romon travels separately and reflects on how to strengthen and finance the Druid Guild.
• He develops a plan to turn the guild into a more organized, economically sustainable institution:
  • Lower-level Druids would manage experimental farms and large-scale agricultural production.
  • The guild would purchase and sell their products through a unified system.
  • Higher-level Druids would focus on research and ecological theory rather than routine economic work.
  • The strongest Druids would heal lands damaged by magic or divine power.
  • Guild profits would fund research into nature and Druidism.
• Romon begins imagining the Druid Guild evolving into a future Church built around his own doctrines and spiritual authority.
• He also recognizes the need for military strength, despite the deterrence provided by his growing reputation and political influence.
• He considers the potential of the distant Rose Knight Order, viewing it as another long-term investment and possible future source of power.
• The chapter ends when Romon arrives at his villa and is greeted by Bell, realizing that he has been lost in ambitious strategic thoughts.

Character Developments

• Princess Qian Niya emerges as pragmatic, ambitious, and financially realistic. She understands the weakness beneath aristocratic appearances and wants personal wealth rather than dependence on royal resources.
• She also shows increasing interest in Romon, though she approaches the relationship strategically, believing affection and trust must develop gradually.
• Daisenni acts as a cautious counterpoint, worrying that Qian Niya’s blunt comments may damage the Royal House’s dignity.
• Romon demonstrates a major expansion in vision. He is no longer thinking only as a noble or Druid, but as the potential founder of a powerful institution, economic system, and religion.
• Romon’s thinking also reveals both idealism and ambition: he wants to restore damaged nature, but he also intends to absorb the achievements of other Druids and turn the guild’s development into his own path toward divinity.

Significant Themes

• The difference between appearance and reality: Noble luxury is often inherited, staged, or maintained through accumulated resources rather than genuine current wealth.
• Money as the foundation of power: Both the Church and the Druid Guild require economic systems to survive, expand, and pursue their ideals.
• Tradition versus innovation: Older noble families rely on inherited structures, while Romon represents a wealthy and flexible first-generation power willing to create new systems.
• Institution-building and ambition: Romon seeks to transform a loose spiritual community into an organized economic, academic, ecological, and eventually religious institution.
• Nature and responsibility: The proposed mission of healing lands damaged by magic and divine power gives the Druid Guild a broader ecological purpose.
• Political and personal calculation: Qian Niya’s relationship with Romon combines genuine attraction, practical self-interest, and a desire for security.

Character Interactions

• Qian Niya and Daisenni discuss the Royal House’s limited wealth and the realities of aristocratic life, with Daisenni expressing concern and Qian Niya responding confidently and bluntly.
• Qian Niya’s connection with Romon is discussed even though he is absent; she sees his generosity and rising influence as reasons to remain close to him.
• Her inspection of the villa symbolizes her growing personal stake in Romon’s world.
• Romon does not think about Qian Niya during this section, instead concentrating on the guild’s future and his broader ambitions, creating a contrast between her personal interest and his institutional focus.
• Bell’s welcome at the end brings Romon back from his grand plans to the immediate reality of his household.

Chapter Summary: Developments (Part 1)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rekanon Banter, a polite young Second-Level Druid, applies to enroll at the Giant Eagle Druid School. A registrar explains that the academy is divided into three age- and advancement-appropriate divisions:
  • Initiation Division: for apprentices up to First-Level Druid.
  • Elementary Division: for First- through Fourth-Level Druids, combining study with possible guild work.
  • Intermediate Division: for Fifth-Level Druids and above, focused mainly on research.
• Rekanon learns that, as a Second-Level Druid, he will enter the Elementary Division rather than attend classes with children. Another applicant, Oupei Luomu, begins the registration process afterward.
• Romon tours the newly completed headquarters of the Druid Ecological Agriculture Guild with Master Desika and several Archdruids.
• The headquarters features a colorful, childlike Crystal Fruit-shaped entrance and a nature-themed interior designed by young Druids. Though initially embarrassed by the flashy gate, Romon accepts it and praises the children’s creativity.
• Romon confirms that the school and guild headquarters will serve different but connected purposes: the school will focus on education, while the new headquarters will handle guild administration and related work.
• The Giant Eagle Druid School officially becomes part of the Druid Ecological Agriculture Guild, marking the completion of its transformation.
• The guild rapidly gains influence. Within roughly a month, about 3,500 Druids apply to join—nearly one-fifth of the continent’s Druids.
• Romon secretly transfers thousands of collected plant seeds from the guild’s seed bank into the Shennong Horn Space, greatly expanding its agricultural resources while concealing his actions from the staff.
• When spring arrives, teams of Druids are assigned to nearly every village in Tatshaw Territory to guide agricultural work. The teams include Druids of different ages and experience levels, providing unprecedented support for local farmers.
• The territory’s people celebrate the expected harvests, and Tatshaw increasingly becomes viewed as a prosperous “paradise.”

Character Developments

• Rekanon Banter is established as courteous, curious, and mature. His concern about studying alongside children reveals both his self-awareness and desire for a suitable educational environment.
• Romon demonstrates practical leadership and a willingness to support youthful creativity. He also remains opportunistic and self-serving, secretly appropriating the guild’s seed collection for his private cultivation space.
• Master Desika appears as a capable administrator who respects Romon’s policies, especially his instruction not to suppress the young Druids’ creativity.
• The Archdruids accompanying Romon begin to recognize the value of the academy’s broader educational philosophy, particularly its emphasis on creativity rather than purely technical instruction.
• The residents of Tatshaw Territory develop greater loyalty and confidence in Romon and his Lineage as their living conditions and agricultural prospects improve.

Significant Themes

• Structured education and social mobility: The academy’s divisions provide Druids with a clear path from apprenticeship to research, guild employment, and eventual leadership.
• Innovation and youthful creativity: The young Druids’ designs are treated as valuable expressions of talent, showing the academy’s commitment to nurturing imagination.
• Institution-building: The transformation of the school into a guild headquarters reflects the consolidation and professionalization of Druid society.
• Agriculture as prosperity and power: By spreading Druid expertise throughout the villages, Romon turns agricultural development into the foundation of Tatshaw’s economic strength.
• Public good versus personal gain: Romon’s agricultural policies benefit the territory, but his secret removal of the seeds introduces a humorous conflict between public resources and private interests.
• Loyalty through benevolence: Better harvests, low taxes, and widespread Druid assistance strengthen the population’s trust in Romon’s rule.

Important Character Interactions

• The registrar reassures Rekanon that adult students will not be forced to study with children and explains the academy’s educational structure.
• Desika explains the headquarters’ design and organizational layout to Romon, while Romon evaluates the building and encourages the Archdruids to preserve the young designers’ enthusiasm.
• Romon praises the staff member responsible for the seed bank after secretly taking the seeds, maintaining the appearance of normal guild operations.
• Romon’s leadership, the academy’s educational system, and the guild’s agricultural support work together to strengthen both the organization and the entire Tatshaw Territory.

Chapter Summary: “Development (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• On Elves’ Hope Island, the Hope Barrier has grown stronger, enveloping the island, forest, and elemental layers in a vast, invisible structure. The Grand Elder explains that it is a powerful Mythal—a living magical entity created from energy and elements.
• The Mythal protects Elves and believers from magical harm, weakens hostile intruders over time, strengthens Elves through blessings, suppresses fire, and blocks detection and teleportation—even potentially shielding the island from divine observation.
• Luo Laike, newly transformed into an Elf and elevated to a Ninth Level mage, travels with the Grand Elder through the island’s serene natural environment. Although he admires the Elves’ connection to nature, he remains cautious about its ability to soften the will and erode vigilance.
• They visit an Elf magical research facility, where the Magic Crystal Cannon is tested. It fires a Light Orb roughly equivalent to a weaker Sunflare Explosion, but with an effective range of about eight hundred meters, far beyond ordinary spells.
• The weapon destroys a large boulder instantly. Its long range makes it especially devastating in naval warfare, where ships have few ways to evade incoming attacks.
• The cannon’s major limitation is its ammunition: each shot consumes and destroys a rare natural Magic Crystal worth more than a thousand gold coins. Magic Beast crystals are cheaper alternatives but are much weaker and have shorter range.
• The Grand Elder assigns Luo Laike to travel into the human world and secretly purchase as many natural Magic Crystals as possible. He is permitted to reveal limited information but must conceal their true military purpose.
• After Luo Laike leaves, the Grand Elder explains that the mission also serves as a test of Luo Laike’s loyalty. Because Luo Laike was redeemed by their lord, divine punishment will follow if he betrays the Elves.
• The Grand Elder reveals the broader strategy: use the Magic Crystal Cannons to ambush and destroy the human alliance’s naval forces, particularly a large portion of the Radiance Church’s elite. This could weaken humanity, trigger conflict among its churches, and give the Elves decades—or a century—to recover.

Character Developments

• Luo Laike has fully adapted physically to his new Elven form and now appears as a fifty-year-old Elf with centuries of potential life and study ahead of him. He is treated as a respected member of the Grand Elder’s Lineage, but this honor comes with obligations.
• He remains intelligent and observant, quickly recognizing the strategic importance of the Magic Crystal Cannon. His experience as a former human makes him especially valuable for dealing with the human world.
• Luo Laike also demonstrates caution and independence by asking whether Magic Beast crystals could serve as substitutes, though he accepts the technical explanation that they are inferior.
• The Grand Elder becomes more trusting and open with Luo Laike, revealing the Mythal’s secrets and assigning him a crucial mission. His mood is notably optimistic, as the new weapon gives him hope for the survival of the Elven race.
• The Grand Elder’s strategic thinking is emphasized: he is willing to sacrifice expensive resources for one decisive strike that could change the balance of power.
• The unnamed Elf researchers and mages are shown as highly advanced and industrious, developing technology capable of compensating for the Elves’ numerical and strategic disadvantages.

Significant Themes

• Survival through innovation: The Elves compensate for their dwindling population and endangered position by developing powerful magical technology.
• War as a means to peace: The Grand Elder adopts Lord Anion’s strategy of using one devastating victory to create a long period of safety and recovery.
• Trust and controlled loyalty: Luo Laike is welcomed into Elven society, but his loyalty remains subject to magical enforcement and testing.
• Nature and civilization: The island’s tranquil, living environment contrasts with the destructive military technology being developed within it. The Elves’ harmony with nature coexists with preparations for mass warfare.
• Scarcity and resource management: The Magic Crystal Cannon is formidable but expensive, making its ammunition a limited strategic resource rather than a weapon for prolonged combat.
• Hope amid extinction: The Mythal and the cannon represent different forms of hope—one defensive and protective, the other offensive and revolutionary. Together, they may allow the Elves to survive long enough to rebuild.

Character Interactions

• The Grand Elder explains the Mythal’s nature and abilities to Luo Laike, treating him as a trusted insider.
• Luo Laike respectfully questions the Elf mage about the cannon’s power, range, construction, and ammunition, demonstrating both curiosity and strategic understanding.
• The Grand Elder assigns Luo Laike the dangerous task of purchasing Magic Crystals in the human world, reinforcing both his new status and his duty to the Elves.
• The researchers show Luo Laike the cannon’s capabilities and clarify its limitations, helping him understand its importance.
• After Luo Laike’s departure, the Grand Elder reassures a concerned subordinate that Luo Laike cannot betray them without suffering divine punishment, while also explaining why his human background makes him ideal for the mission.
  Overall, the chapter shifts the Elves from passive survival toward an active military strategy: protected by the Mythal and armed with a powerful but resource-intensive weapon, they prepare to strike humanity decisively and secure a century in which their civilization can recover.

Summary: “News of the Holy War (Part 1)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Fifth-Level Druid from the Giant Eagle Druid School oversees farming in a village on the border of Tatshaw Territory. The Druids’ guidance is provided freely through their connection to Lord Romon and the school.
• The villagers warmly welcome the Druids, preparing a meal and treating them as honored guests. The Druids, accustomed to rural life and not arrogant despite their status, accept the invitation.
• During the journey back to the village, the Druids notice unusual activity on the road in a neighboring territory. Concerned that the disturbance may affect Tatshaw Territory, they ask the village chief to investigate.
• Scouts return with news that several Temples are mobilizing troops and recruiting Guard Corps members. The Druids recognize this as a sign that the Holy War against the Elves is nearing its outbreak.
• The Druids return to the Giant Eagle Druid School, where the news has already sparked anxious discussion. Many fear the conflict could develop into another continent-wide catastrophe like the Demon Calamity.
• The chapter ends with tensions rising both outside and within the Druid community as the Holy War approaches.

Character Developments

• The leading Fifth-Level Druid demonstrates authority, responsibility, and concern for both agriculture and regional security. He reassures the villagers while recognizing the seriousness of the military mobilization.
• The village chief is hospitable and deeply grateful to the Druids, but his enthusiasm gives way to fear when he hears about the war. His memories of the Demon Calamity and Magic Beast tide show how ordinary people bear the long-term scars of conflict.
• The Druids collectively shift from curiosity and excitement about the possibility of war to unease after hearing the chief’s perspective. They begin to understand that war is not merely an opportunity for glory but a disaster for civilians and nature.
• Capilo, a more moderate Druid, openly condemns both human greed and the destruction caused by war. His position creates conflict with Druids who believe humanity is justified in retaliating against the Elves.
• The supervising Archdruid acts as a mediator, stopping the argument before it escalates.

Significant Themes

• War’s unequal impact: Young professionals may see war as a chance to prove themselves, while ordinary villagers experience it as fear, loss, and disruption.
• The preservation of nature: The Druids worry that war will destroy ecosystems and eliminate plant species that cannot be restored once their habitats disappear. The school has already collected seeds as a safeguard.
• Moral ambiguity: The debate over whether humans or Elves are responsible for the conflict highlights the difficulty of assigning simple blame. Some Druids defend humanity’s right to retaliate, while others criticize human greed.
• Peace and collective memory: The village chief’s recollections of previous catastrophes emphasize the value of stability and the trauma left by earlier disasters.
• Responsibility and leadership: The Druids’ close ties to Lord Romon and Tatshaw Territory make them feel responsible for protecting the region and monitoring threats beyond their borders.

Character Interactions

• The Druids interact respectfully and warmly with the villagers, accepting their hospitality and treating them without arrogance.
• The village chief relies on the Druids’ authority and asks them to interpret the alarming news.
• The Druids consult one another and send villagers to investigate the neighboring territory.
• At the school, their discussion becomes a heated ideological dispute over human responsibility, Elven provocation, and environmental destruction.
• The Archdruid intervenes to restore order, but the lingering tension reflects the broader conflict that is about to erupt.

Summary of “Holy War News (Part 2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The fleet approaches Far-Sail Port with its vegetable reserves nearly exhausted. The commander agrees to stop and restock, emphasizing that the expedition must not be delayed because the fleet needs to reach the battlefield on time.
• First mate Sak is ordered to purchase durable food, especially vegetables, lemons, and oranges, to prevent scurvy during the long voyage. He worries about whether the fleet can complete its mission on schedule and whether its sailors will survive the coming war.
• Far-Sail Port is revealed as a prosperous, orderly, and clean harbor. A patrol ship escorts the fleet in, while port regulations limit how many warships may approach the docks.
• A port official introduces Sak to canned vegetables, a relatively new invention. The vegetables are compressed and sealed in pottery or glass containers, allowing them to last for months and occupy little storage space.
• After tasting the canned vegetables, the fleet commander recognizes their practical value. He orders large quantities for the entire fleet, noting that the containers can later be reused to store rainwater or other supplies.
• Several days later, the Church of the Goddess of Agriculture prepares to depart with the Fifth Fleet, which Romon has transferred to the Church’s command for the upcoming holy war.
• At Far-Sail Port, Eileen reassures Romon that the Church will protect the fleet. Romon accepts the decision without regret, while acknowledging that Lord Shakat is suffering most from the fleet’s departure.
• Romon comforts Shakat as the fleet sails away. Shakat tries to appear composed, but watching the fleet disappear deeply wounds him because he personally built it over seven or eight years.

Character Developments

• Sak is shown as responsible, conscientious, and anxious about his duty. He takes the food shortage seriously and strives to fulfill the commander’s trust despite uncertainty about the port and the expedition.
• The fleet commander demonstrates practical leadership. He prioritizes the crew’s health, carefully plans supplies, and quickly recognizes the military and logistical advantages of canned food.
• Romon displays resolve and emotional maturity. Though the Fifth Fleet’s departure is painful, he stands by his decision to relinquish it and offers quiet support to Shakat.
• Eileen acts as a reassuring and understanding partner, representing the Church while accepting the necessity of sacrifice for the fleet’s growth and wartime role.
• Shakat experiences the greatest emotional turmoil. His pride in the fleet is overwhelmed by grief when he realizes that the fleet he built is leaving permanently.

Significant Themes

• War and sacrifice: The approaching holy war threatens to consume prosperous places and forces individuals to surrender things they value.
• Duty versus personal emotion: The characters must continue with their responsibilities despite fear, uncertainty, or grief.
• Logistics and innovation: Canned vegetables represent how practical technological advances can support armies and improve survival during long expeditions.
• The impermanence of achievement: Shakat’s pain reflects the idea that even something built over many years may eventually have to be given away or risked.
• Hope amid danger: The beautiful port and calm sea contrast with the looming war, emphasizing how peace and prosperity may be fragile.

Character Interactions

• The commander entrusts Sak with resupplying the fleet, reinforcing their relationship of authority and mutual respect.
• Sak works with the port official, whose enthusiastic explanation and demonstration of canned food change the fleet’s provisioning plans.
• Eileen and Romon discuss the transfer of the Fifth Fleet, with Eileen offering reassurance and Romon affirming his decision.
• Romon comforts Shakat through quiet physical gestures and sympathetic words rather than lengthy discussion.
• Shakat’s restrained response to Romon reveals the depth of his grief as the fleet he created sails beyond his reach.

Romon visited Nick at city hall and ordered Far-Sail Port’s second expansion and a formal reorganization of its administration as Far-Sail City. The chapter ended with Nick summoning construction experts to plan the expansion using drawing number 56.

• Romon traveled through the growing city, noticing the Mages' Home, the temple of the God of Order, and the busy city hall district.
• Romon told Nick to begin a second expansion five kilometers beyond the old walls, budgeted at one hundred thousand gold coins, to make room for residents and workshops.
• Romon ordered Far-Sail Port renamed Far-Sail City, with Nick as its first mayor, and instructed him to organize districts, streets, offices, and taxation.
• Nick asked whether Princess Qian Niya should receive tax exemptions after she bought two workshops, but Romon ordered equal taxation while allowing preferential treatment in other areas.
• Romon congratulated Nick on the birth of his daughter and promised a generous cash gift.
• After Romon left, Nick summoned three construction experts and asked them to propose how to carry out the expansion according to drawing number 56.

Romon reassured Eileen about Shakat’s grief over losing the Fifth Fleet, then agreed to let Princess Qian Niya establish pottery and canned-vegetable workshops in Tatshaw Territory. Her businesses opened and became profitable, while she observed Romon’s orderly plans for developing Far-Sail City.

• Romon told Eileen that Shakat needed time alone and reassured her that the Church of the Goddess of Agriculture was not to blame for the fleet’s transfer.
• Princess Qian Niya asked Romon to partner with her in establishing coarse pottery and canned-vegetable workshops, and he approved the investment with a discount on land.
• Princess Qian Niya selected a site in Far-Sail City’s New District, and Romon assigned craftsmen to help build her workshops.
• The workshops opened, hired workers, and sold well-made goods that earned strong profits in Far-Sail Port’s busy market.
• Princess Qian Niya and Daisenni reviewed the workshops’ profits as they watched Romon’s road construction and orderly city planning.

Princess Qian Niya embraced her growing independence in Tatshaw Territory and drew closer to Romon as she visited his workshops. When Crown Prince Xiusenya invited Romon to join the coming holy war, Romon declined, and their relationship grew more distant as the fleet departed.

• Princess Qian Niya reminded Daisenni that their gains in Tatshaw Territory were only a foothold and said she wanted to build the life she chose.
• Princess Qian Niya dressed carefully and persuaded Romon to let her accompany him on his afternoon inspection of the processing workshops.
• Princess Qian Niya asked why Romon did not monopolize the canned-vegetable market, and Romon explained that he planned to keep only about thirty percent of the workshops and sell the rest to support local commerce.
• An attendant told Romon that Crown Prince Xiusenya had arrived at Far-Sail Port, and Romon and Princess Qian Niya went to meet him.
• Prince Xiusenya asked Romon to join the expeditionary force for the coming holy war, but Romon declined because his Guild and city expansion needed his attention.
• Prince Xiusenya replenished his fleet and sailed away, while Romon recognized that their relationship had grown more distant.