Chapter Summaries

Chapter 101 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the Anas Kingdom, former Queen Minina—now Queen Laurie—reviews the success of road construction projects inspired by Cyrus, the Lord of Desinia. Cement-concrete roads have improved travel and sanitation, connecting the royal city with the harbor and neighboring cities.
• Although Laurie rules publicly, Archibald’s influence is increasingly powerful. After revealing his royal identity and taking revenge, he has abandoned much of his former disguise and is now feared and respected by the Nagabi Merchant Guild and other political factions.
• Laurie urges Archibald to marry and produce an heir bearing the Cavendish name. Since she cannot have children because of a past miscarriage caused by Puli’s violence, she believes Archibald must eventually provide a successor to preserve the royal line.
• She suggests several noblewomen, including Duke Rens’s daughter, and even proposes a marriage alliance with Cyrus. Archibald rejects the political marriage idea involving Cyrus but agrees, reluctantly, to meet Duke Rens’s daughter, making clear that he does not want Laurie to continue arranging matches if he is dissatisfied.
• The narrative shifts to the Desinia Territory, where road construction has expanded to the borders. The Artisans’ Guild, led by engineer Conrad Brown, has developed under Cyrus’s patronage. Conrad’s sons, Darren and Dief, have followed him into engineering, with Darren now leading construction teams.
• Border security has become more organized, with cavalry checkpoints and rotating commanders protecting cities and trade routes. The Desinia Territory’s alliance with Achiyoli and Helgoda has increased commercial traffic along the Aibuting River.
• River bandits have exploited the lack of cavalry patrols, attacking merchant ships. Regimental Commander Mike sets a trap by disguising soldiers as merchants, successfully capturing and executing the bandit gang.
• The merchants praise Mike’s military ability and learn that he was formerly a slave. His rise inspires admiration, especially among slaves, reinforcing Desinia’s reputation as a territory with fewer slaves and greater opportunities for freedom.
• Mike returns to the city and reunites with Bana, who arrives earlier than expected with Darren’s convoy. Bana explains that Cyrus will soon travel along the Aibuting River to the Saint Airo Empire, prompting preparations for his safety.

Character Developments

• Queen Laurie/Minina: She has transformed from a traumatized, vengeful woman into a strong and self-reliant ruler. Though she claims to live for herself now, she remains deeply concerned with the stability of Anas and the continuation of the Cavendish bloodline.
• Archibald: Having completed his revenge and revealed his legitimate royal identity, he now appears more confident and politically influential. However, he remains uninterested in marriage and resists being treated merely as a tool for dynastic succession.
• Darnell: He supports Laurie’s concerns about Archibald’s future and appears sympathetic to her inability to have children.
• Mike: His successful campaign against the river bandits demonstrates his strategic intelligence, combat ability, and leadership. His former status as a slave makes his current position especially meaningful and inspirational.
• Bana: He maintains a close friendship with Mike and shows loyalty to Cyrus by helping prepare for the lord’s upcoming journey.
• Darren and Conrad: Their continued engineering work demonstrates how Cyrus’s policies have allowed talented commoners to rise and contribute to large-scale development.

Significant Themes

• Rebirth and self-determination: Laurie’s recovery from betrayal and loss reflects her transformation into an independent ruler. Mike’s rise from slavery to military leadership similarly emphasizes personal renewal.
• Political succession and responsibility: Laurie’s concern over Archibald’s marriage reveals the tension between personal freedom and the obligations of royal blood.
• Modernization and effective governance: Roads, sanitation, engineering institutions, and organized military systems show Desinia’s rapid development under Cyrus.
• Social mobility: Mike’s rise from slavery to regimental commander illustrates Desinia’s comparatively progressive social structure and its appeal to the enslaved.
• Security enabling prosperity: Increased trade brings wealth but also criminal threats, requiring organized military protection and strategic leadership.

Character Interactions

• Laurie and Archibald discuss marriage, succession, and the future of Anas. Their exchange shows Laurie’s maternal concern and Archibald’s restrained resistance.
• Laurie briefly considers Cyrus as a possible marriage-alliance partner for Archibald, but Archibald firmly rejects the idea.
• Mike’s soldiers and the merchant shipowner discuss Mike’s achievements and his former status as a slave, highlighting the respect he commands.
• Mike and Bana reunite warmly after the bandit operation. Their conversation shifts from personal friendship to military duty when Bana announces Cyrus’s upcoming journey to the Saint Airo Empire.

Chapter 102 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• In the Phoebe family’s courtyard, young Shamir Phoebe spends the winter afternoon reading Tales of the Gods, a popular series written by Lord Desinia.
• Shamir admires the book’s depiction of gods, dragons, elves, and dwarves, and openly praises Desinia’s talent despite her father’s resentment toward him.
• Her maid, Merry, reminds her that Desinia once tricked Marquis Gally Phoebe out of several chests of gold through the White Sugar Formula. Shamir defends him, arguing that the Nagabi Merchant Guild’s manager was actually responsible.
• Marquis Gally visits Shamir and urges her to develop more social interests instead of remaining isolated in the courtyard and reading.
• Shamir explains that she dislikes attending noble gatherings because the capital’s established aristocratic families look down on the Phoebes as provincial newcomers, especially because of Gally’s financial loss.
• Gally encourages her to attend the upcoming Alchemists and Physicians’ Exchange, where many important nobles and influential figures will gather.
• He mentions possible prestigious matches for her, including Grand Duke Achiyoli and Archibald Cavendish, leader of the Nagabi Merchant Guild and a member of Anas Kingdom’s royal family.
• Shamir asks whether these people will come to the capital. After learning that nobles will enter through Bulo Main Road and stay at Sheri Hall, she requests permission to go see them.
• Gally agrees, provided she is accompanied by the butler and maid, leaving Shamir excited and expectant.

Character Developments

• Shamir Phoebe: Revealed as intelligent, sheltered, highly sensitive, and deeply fond of literature. Her repeated reading of Desinia’s work suggests admiration that may be developing into romantic interest, though she has never met him. She is reluctant to socialize because of aristocratic prejudice but becomes eager when given the chance to see visiting nobles and perhaps Lord Desinia.
• Marquis Gally Phoebe: Acts as a protective but ambitious father. He worries about Shamir’s isolation and wants to use her beauty and status to secure an advantageous marriage. His anger toward Desinia remains strong because of the money he lost.
• Merry: A caring and practical maid who worries about Shamir’s health and provides a lighthearted counterpoint to Shamir’s admiration of Desinia.
• Lord Desinia: Does not appear directly, but his reputation dominates the conversation. He is portrayed as talented, famous, clever, and capable of outwitting nobles.

Significant Themes

• Social class and prejudice: The Phoebe family’s relatively recent rise in status leaves them vulnerable to mockery from older noble houses.
• Beauty, status, and marriage: Gally treats Shamir’s exceptional beauty as a political and social asset, emphasizing marriage to powerful men or royal heirs.
• Admiration and idealization: Shamir’s fascination with Desinia is based entirely on his books and reputation, highlighting how imagination can create an idealized image of someone unknown.
• Tradition versus new influence: The Thorn Merchant Guild’s fashionable products are more desirable than those of the established Ed Merchant Guild, reflecting changing commercial power and dissatisfaction with political restrictions.
• Isolation versus social participation: Shamir prefers the safety of books and the courtyard, while her father pressures her to enter the competitive world of aristocratic society.

Character Interactions

• Merry gently advises Shamir to leave the cold courtyard, but Shamir insists on finishing her book.
• Their discussion about Desinia reveals Shamir’s admiration and Merry’s skepticism.
• Gally challenges Shamir’s reading habits and attempts to redirect her toward socializing and marriage prospects.
• Shamir resists being controlled but remains respectful toward her father. Her curiosity about the arriving nobles ultimately overcomes her usual fear of social judgment.

Chapter 103 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The royal capital of the Saint Airo Empire prepares for the once-every-five-years Grand Alchemists and Physicians Exchange. Nobles, foreign rulers, and distinguished guests arrive at Sheri Hall under the supervision of fourteen-year-old Prince Kashu.
• Shamir spends several days watching the arrivals outside Sheri Hall. She observes Prince Kashu, Grand Duke Achiyoli, and Archibald Cavendish, while also listening to nobles and women gossip about Lord Desinia.
• Rumors portray Desinia as both a brilliant young lord and an extraordinarily attractive figure. Marquis Richard’s praise of Desinia Territory and its clean administrative center, Visas, further heightens public curiosity.
• A group of women debates whether Desinia is too young to be desirable. The conversation turns into a quarrel between a younger noble girl and Avril, a mature and influential socialite connected to Marquis Richard.
• Lord Desinia’s convoy finally arrives in the capital. His procession includes tigers, lions, black panthers, a White Wolf, and the imposing Black-and-White Cavalry. The beasts frighten the crowd, forcing people to retreat and leaving the street clear for the procession.
• The White Wolf enters Desinia’s carriage and later emerges carrying a black-and-white cub. The animals behave as though they are a familiar, disciplined family rather than a dangerous army.
• At Sheri Hall, Prince Kashu is visibly terrified by the beasts and nearly falls while backing away. Desinia’s soldiers stop in perfect formation, while the coachman opens the carriage.
• Desinia finally steps out, dressed elegantly in white and black with a Thorn Rose emblem and a gold-rimmed monocle. A small white cub emerges from beneath his cloak, revealing that Desinia had been carrying it.
• Shamir is overwhelmed by his appearance, becoming physically weak and unable to hear what others are saying. The chapter ends with her and the nearby noblewomen admiring him as a beautiful “blooming rose.”

Character Developments

• Shamir: Her fascination with Lord Desinia grows into intense romantic admiration. Initially curious and excited, she becomes completely captivated when she finally sees him. She also demonstrates strong interest in the rumors surrounding him and the stories in Tales of the Gods.
• Lord Desinia: Though he does not speak, his entrance establishes him as powerful, refined, mysterious, and compassionate. His command over dangerous beasts contrasts with his gentle treatment of the cub and White Wolf.
• Prince Kashu: His ceremonial responsibility is undermined by fear when faced with Desinia’s animals. His nervousness reveals his youth and inexperience despite his royal position.
• Avril: She is portrayed as confident, provocative, and socially influential. Her teasing remarks show her willingness to challenge younger women and suggest possible interest in Desinia.
• The younger noble girl: She openly admires Desinia and defends her attraction to him, becoming jealous and angry when Avril mocks her.
• Marquis Richard: Although absent, his previous praise of Desinia has helped shape the capital’s favorable expectations.

Significant Themes

• Reputation versus reality: Desinia’s legendary reputation precedes him, but his actual arrival exceeds the rumors through his magnificent convoy and striking appearance.
• Power and control: The terrifying beasts and perfectly disciplined cavalry demonstrate Desinia’s strength, authority, and ability to command forces others fear.
• Beauty and fascination: The chapter emphasizes Desinia’s physical attractiveness and the intense effect he has on observers, particularly noblewomen.
• Social status and spectacle: The arrival of foreign nobles and Desinia’s procession turns the capital into a stage where wealth, influence, military power, and personal charm are publicly displayed.
• Youth and maturity: Desinia’s youth is repeatedly discussed, yet his composure, elegance, and authority challenge the assumption that he is merely a boy.

Character Interactions

• Shamir watches Prince Kashu receive guests while secretly hoping to see Desinia.
• The noblewomen debate Desinia’s age and appeal, with the younger girl defending her admiration and Avril responding with provocative mockery.
• Shamir’s butler and Merry protect her from the crowd as Desinia’s intimidating procession passes.
• Prince Kashu attempts to receive Desinia but is visibly frightened by the approaching animals.
• Desinia’s relationship with his beasts is shown through quiet, affectionate actions, especially when he carries and strokes the cub before approaching Kashu.

Chapter 104 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyrus arrives at Sheri Hall with Rice Cake, Coalball, and his other large, fluffy beasts. Prince Kashu is visibly frightened by the animals, despite Cyrus reassuring him that they are harmless.
• Kashu compares himself unfavorably with Cyrus, feeling bitter and envious of the Desinia lord’s power, wealth, territory, loyal cavalry, and ability to command dangerous beasts so effortlessly.
• Because of the beasts, Kashu offers Cyrus private lodging on the eastern side of Sheri Hall, separate from the other distinguished guests.
• Archibald announces that he will also stay in the eastern section, followed by Orville. Their decision highlights the close alliance between Desinia, Achiyoli, and Anas.
• Cyrus briefly notices a petite figure in a white cloak among the crowd, though the person is quickly obscured.
• Shamir believes she made eye contact with Cyrus and leaves Sheri Hall excited and flustered after watching his arrival.
• That night, Cyrus receives an invitation from the Pope. Cardinal Malediz and Archbishop Paul personally escort him to Saint Church, and Cyrus brings Black Sugar, his now-grown black panther, along with Judas.
• At Saint Church, Cardinal Dempus attempts to take over the escorting duty, provoking a tense exchange with Malediz. Paul resolves the conflict by suggesting that both cardinals accompany Cyrus.
• Cyrus is brought to the Pope’s private residence. Paul and Judas remain outside while Cyrus, Black Sugar, Malediz, and Dempus proceed inside. The cardinals soon leave, allowing Cyrus and Pope Segalot to speak privately.
• Segalot warmly reflects on Cyrus’s growth since their first meeting, recalling how young and small he had been. The chapter ends with Segalot unexpectedly asking Cyrus to stay the night.

Character Developments

• Cyrus remains calm, compassionate, and self-assured. He treats his enormous beasts affectionately and reassures Kashu without mocking his fear. His growing influence is evident in the respect shown by nobles, royalty, soldiers, and the Holy See.
• Prince Kashu is revealed as insecure and envious. Cyrus’s authority and composure make him painfully aware of his own lesser status, while the beasts intensify his anxiety.
• Archibald and Orville demonstrate their loyalty to Cyrus by choosing to live on the eastern side of Sheri Hall with him rather than among the other guests.
• Shamir develops an innocent admiration for Cyrus after seeing him, becoming visibly excited over the possibility that he noticed her.
• Malediz and Dempus are established as rival cardinals. Their polite words conceal mutual irritation, especially when Dempus tries to satisfy his curiosity about Cyrus by inserting himself into the escort.
• Segalot displays a deeply personal affection and nostalgia toward Cyrus. He notices Cyrus’s continued use of the thorn-rose jewelry he once gave him and is struck by how much Cyrus has matured.
• Black Sugar is now a fully grown but still relaxed and affectionate companion, quietly accompanying Cyrus during his meeting with the Pope.

Significant Themes

• Power and social comparison: Kashu’s envy emphasizes the gap between inherited rank and genuine authority. Cyrus’s power comes from his territory, allies, wealth, military strength, and personal charisma.
• Loyalty and alliance: Archibald and Orville’s choice to stay near Cyrus reinforces the political and personal bonds among their territories.
• Growth and passage of time: Segalot’s memories of Cyrus as a small child contrast with his current maturity and status.
• Affection beneath formality: Despite the political and religious setting, the interactions between Cyrus and Segalot carry warmth, familiarity, and possible romantic tension.
• Appearance versus reality: The beasts appear terrifying but are obedient and gentle with Cyrus, while the seemingly courteous cardinals conceal rivalry and hostility.

Important Character Interactions

• Cyrus and Kashu: Cyrus reassures Kashu about the beasts, while Kashu internally compares himself with Cyrus and struggles with jealousy.
• Cyrus, Archibald, and Orville: Their brief exchange confirms their shared allegiance and willingness to remain together.
• Malediz and Dempus: The two cardinals compete over escorting Cyrus, creating an awkward but restrained confrontation.
• Cyrus and Segalot: Their private reunion is affectionate and nostalgic. Segalot admires Cyrus’s growth, while Cyrus becomes shy under the Pope’s intense attention. The final invitation to stay overnight adds intimacy and suspense.

Chapter 105 Summary

• Plot and events: Segalot persuades Cyrus to remain overnight at the Holy See, promising to provide toiletries, clothing, and a bath. He sends messengers to inform Judas and allows Cyrus’s butler to stay nearby. Cyrus bathes in the Pope’s private bathroom, then struggles with the unfamiliar loose underwear and oversized sleeping robe provided for him. When he rings for help finding somewhere to hang his washed boxer briefs, Segalot personally comes to assist him.
• Segalot then brings Cyrus to his bedroom, where Black Sugar is waiting. Cyrus hesitantly asks whether they will sleep in the same bed, but agrees after Segalot offers to sleep on the sofa. They lie beneath separate blankets while Black Sugar sleeps nearby. By candlelight, Cyrus asks Segalot about the Saint Airo Empire’s royal family. Segalot explains that the King and Queen have three sons and a daughter, and that the Queen especially favors her youngest son, Kashu Gels. Cyrus gradually falls asleep to Segalot’s voice. Segalot quietly adjusts his blanket and appears to brush his cheek before watching him sleep with an unreadable expression.
• Character development: Cyrus remains polite but increasingly flustered by Segalot’s attention and physical proximity. His embarrassment is especially evident when wearing Segalot’s clothing, being found holding his underwear, and realizing they will share a bed. Nevertheless, he grows more comfortable in the Pope’s presence and accepts the unusual intimacy of staying overnight. Segalot reveals a considerate, attentive side, personally ensuring Cyrus’s comfort and showing subtle signs of romantic or possessive interest. His private reaction to Cyrus sleeping suggests emotions he does not openly express.
• Character interactions: Segalot repeatedly teases or gently pressures Cyrus into staying, while Cyrus makes increasingly weak excuses before giving in. Segalot offers practical help without overtly crossing boundaries, though his attention and closeness make Cyrus self-conscious. Black Sugar provides a warm, familiar presence for Cyrus and reacts possessively or curiously to the sleeping arrangements. The nighttime conversation about the royal family creates a quiet, intimate exchange between Cyrus and Segalot.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes growing intimacy, trust, and domestic comfort. Cyrus’s unfamiliarity with the Pope’s private world contrasts with Segalot’s willingness to accommodate him. Bathing, borrowed clothing, shared sleeping quarters, candlelight, and bedtime conversation create a romantic atmosphere, while the lingering uncertainty surrounding Segalot’s feelings introduces subtle tension. The chapter also highlights cultural differences concerning hygiene and clothing on the Western Continent.

Chapter 106 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyrus wakes in the morning sprawled across Pope Segalot in the Pope’s bed. He had unconsciously moved closer during the night after mistaking Segalot’s quilt—and eventually Segalot himself—for a pillow.
• Black Sugar discovers them together and tries to lick Cyrus’s hand, but Segalot gently pushes her away and soothes Cyrus back to sleep.
• When Cyrus awakens, he is mortified to realize how intimately he has been sleeping. Segalot calmly reassures him that nothing happened and explains that Cyrus simply moved toward him in his sleep.
• Cyrus gets dressed, washes, eats breakfast, says goodbye to Black Sugar, and leaves Saint Church with Segalot.
• Segalot personally escorts Cyrus back to Sheri Hall. There, they encounter Orville and Archibald, who had come looking for Cyrus.
• Cyrus admits that he spent the night at Saint Church but avoids explicitly mentioning that he shared Segalot’s bed.
• Segalot inadvertently reveals that Cyrus slept with his head on Segalot’s shoulder, creating an awkward silence and leaving Orville and Archibald suspicious.

Character Developments

• Cyrus: Displays his usual innocent, affectionate, and somewhat oblivious nature. His deep trust in Segalot is evident through his unconscious movements during sleep, though he becomes extremely embarrassed once he realizes what happened.
• Segalot: Shows unusual tenderness and protectiveness. He allows Cyrus to sleep against him, keeps him covered, holds him in place, soothes him back to sleep, and fixes his clothing in the morning. Although he maintains a calm exterior, his thoughts reveal that Cyrus’s closeness affects him deeply.
• Black Sugar: Acts as a curious and affectionate observer. She notices Cyrus and Segalot’s closeness, attempts to interact with Cyrus, and reacts to the morning commotion.
• Orville and Archibald: Their reactions suggest they immediately recognize the intimacy implied by Cyrus’s appearance and Segalot’s comment. Archibald is particularly attentive to Cyrus, while Orville openly questions where Cyrus spent the night.

Significant Themes

• Growing intimacy: Cyrus and Segalot’s physical closeness develops naturally through unconscious gestures and domestic interactions rather than deliberate confession.
• Innocence versus implication: Cyrus sees the night’s events as harmless, while the surrounding characters understand their potentially romantic significance.
• Hidden emotions: Segalot behaves with composure but privately experiences attraction and fascination, revealing feelings he does not openly acknowledge.
• Domestic comfort and trust: The shared bed, quiet morning routine, and care between the characters create a sense of intimacy and emotional safety.

Character Interactions

• Segalot gently prevents Black Sugar from waking Cyrus and continues comforting him.
• Cyrus unconsciously clings to Segalot throughout the night, while Segalot chooses not to move away and instead protects him from the cold.
• In the morning, Segalot reassures the embarrassed Cyrus and adjusts his robe.
• Segalot escorts Cyrus home, where his casual remark about Cyrus sleeping on his shoulder exposes their closeness to Orville and Archibald, producing an awkward but humorous moment.

Chapter 107 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyrus, the Pope, Grand Duke Achiyoli, and Prince Cavendish remain awkwardly gathered in Sheri Hall early in the morning.
• Prince Kashu arrives and announces that King Gena Kozmo of the Bovell Kingdom is about to reach the hall.
• Gena enters with an imposing physical presence, revealing himself as a towering, powerful king from the cold northern lands.
• After being introduced to Cyrus, Gena expresses interest in visiting him and requests lodging on the eastern side of Sheri Hall, near Cyrus and the other distinguished guests.
• In the eastern building, Coalball is caught carrying Eggy down the stairs while Walker chases after them. Snowball is furious because Eggy urinated on his cushion and Coalball accidentally bit a patch of fur from Snowball’s tail while trying to protect Eggy.
• Gena and his wolf trainer, Coliford, become intensely interested in Ice Cream, Cyrus’s pure white wolf. They regard such a wolf as exceptionally valuable and closely associated with Bovell’s northern homeland, though they restrain themselves from trying to claim him.
• Cyrus comforts Snowball, embraces the guilty Coalball, and carries Eggy, intending to discipline the puppy later.
• As Cyrus heads upstairs surrounded by his animals, he remembers that the Pope wanted to visit his room and invites him to follow. Segalot responds with a smile.

Character Developments

• Cyrus continues to act as the calm, responsible caretaker of his many magical beasts. He handles their quarrel fairly, comforting Snowball without wholly condemning Coalball and planning to educate Eggy.
• Gena Kozmo is introduced as a formidable, reserved king whose controlled manner conceals strong interest in Cyrus and his animals—particularly Ice Cream. His decision to stay near Cyrus suggests deliberate curiosity or attraction.
• Coliford, Gena’s wolf trainer, reveals deep cultural reverence for pure white wolves and struggles to suppress his desire to take Ice Cream back to Bovell.
• Prince Kashu becomes increasingly aware that many influential figures are gathering around Cyrus. He is cautious around the Pope and Gena and plans to report the unusual situation to his mother.
• The animal companions display distinct personalities: Coalball is mischievous and protective, Snowball is strict and easily aggrieved, Eggy is playful and troublesome, and Ice Cream remains calm and independent.

Significant Themes

• Cyrus as a center of influence: Powerful religious, political, and noble figures are increasingly drawn toward him, even when he does not actively seek their attention.
• Cultural significance of animals: Ice Cream’s pure white coat carries particular meaning in Bovell, suggesting connections between the animals and the kingdom’s traditions or beliefs.
• Family-like conflict and reconciliation: The beasts’ quarrel resembles a sibling dispute, and Cyrus maintains order through fairness, affection, and discipline.
• Political tension and diplomacy: Gena’s choice of lodging brings him closer to Cyrus and the other major figures, while Kashu must carefully navigate the presence of royalty and the Pope.
• Hidden interest beneath restraint: Gena and Coliford remain outwardly composed, but their intense reactions to Ice Cream hint at powerful motives beneath their controlled behavior.

Character Interactions

• Kashu respectfully introduces Gena to Cyrus and explains the unusual lodging arrangements.
• Gena directly addresses Cyrus and asks where he is staying, then chooses to reside nearby.
• Gena and Coliford silently but intensely observe Ice Cream, who briefly meets Gena’s gaze before calmly ignoring him.
• Snowball disciplines Coalball and Eggy, while Cyrus comforts all three animals and restores peace.
• Cyrus invites the Pope to accompany him upstairs, continuing the Pope’s apparent interest in seeing Cyrus’s private quarters and beasts.

Chapter 108 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Saint Airo Empire’s Alchemists and Physicians Exchange is presented as a major, month-long international event funded by the royal family. Cyrus arrives in the empire less than two weeks before its start and initially stays at the Pope’s residence.
• After meeting Gena Kozmo through Prince Kashu, Cyrus is invited to hunt at the Boer Mountain Hunting Grounds. He is reluctant because of the winter weather and because the grounds are connected to political rivals, especially Marquis Galli Phoebe and the Ed Merchant Guild.
• Cyrus ultimately agrees, partly because he believes Ice Cream would enjoy experiencing the outdoors. He leaves Eggy and Rice Cake behind for their safety.
• The hunting event is arranged as a competition between the Saint Airo Empire’s nobles and the visiting dignitaries from Sheri Hall. The contest involves surrounding and capturing prey and carries symbolic importance for the empire’s prestige.
• The imperial royal family attends, including Prince Kashu, Second Prince Kien, and Princess Lennar. Kien and Lennar privately discuss Kashu’s growing arrogance and political ambition. Kien reveals that he has contacted their elder brother, who is stationed at the border, hoping to bring him back and restrain Kashu.
• Marquis Galli, her daughter Shamir Phoebe, and the Ed Merchant Guild’s president Thomas and his son Jared also attend. Lennar mocks the apparent alliance between Galli and Thomas, suggesting it was formed through their shared financial interests.
• Although Cyrus was reportedly not expected to attend, he suddenly arrives dramatically at the hunting grounds wearing black-and-red riding clothes and accompanied by his powerful beasts, including the golden lion. His entrance shocks the crowd and immediately captures Lennar’s attention.

Character Developments

• Cyrus: Shows caution and political awareness by anticipating possible sabotage from Marquis Galli and the Ed Merchant Guild. Despite his reluctance to participate, he demonstrates consideration for Ice Cream’s happiness and confidently enters the hunting grounds with his beasts, reinforcing his imposing reputation.
• Gena Kozmo: Acts as the person who draws Cyrus into the hunting event, using an appeal to the beasts’ freedom and instincts.
• Prince Kashu: Is increasingly portrayed as ambitious, arrogant, and dismissive of his siblings, though he maintains a more controlled image in public.
• Prince Kien: Appears gentle and unassuming but reveals political intelligence and initiative by secretly contacting his elder brother to counter Kashu.
• Princess Lennar: Is cold, outspoken, and openly critical of Kashu. Her hostility softens into excitement when she learns that their elder brother may return. Cyrus’s arrival unexpectedly fascinates her.
• Shamir Phoebe: Is established as exceptionally beautiful and the center of attention among the nobles. Her anticipated encounter with Cyrus suggests the beginning of an important relationship.
• Marquis Galli and the Ed Merchant Guild: Their cooperation is depicted as opportunistic and rooted in mutual financial interests rather than genuine friendship.

Significant Themes

• Power and political rivalry: The hunting competition serves as both entertainment and a display of national prestige, while tensions within the imperial royal family suggest an impending power struggle.
• Appearances versus reality: Public noble etiquette conceals resentment, ambition, and strategic alliances. Kashu appears composed before outsiders but behaves differently with family.
• Cyrus’s growing influence: His entrance with his beasts presents him as an unusual and formidable figure, capable of commanding attention without formal declarations of power.
• Freedom and nature: Gena’s argument about allowing beasts to run freely contrasts with Cyrus’s knowledge that his animals are comfortable and even content living lazily in the castle.
• Romantic and narrative foreshadowing: The chapter recalls Shamir’s future meeting with the male lead while setting up her first encounter with Cyrus, hinting at possible complications involving the original story’s expected relationships.

Character Interactions

• Cyrus and Gena become acquainted through Prince Kashu, leading to Gena’s invitation to the hunt.
• Cyrus’s concern about the safety of Eggy and Rice Cake reflects his protective relationship with his beasts.
• Kien and Lennar openly discuss Kashu’s ambition and agree that their elder brother should return to challenge his influence.
• Lennar mocks the alliance between Marquis Galli and Thomas, revealing her sharp judgment and contempt for greed.
• The chapter ends with Lennar and the assembled nobles reacting in shock to Cyrus’s unexpected arrival, while Lennar becomes visibly captivated by his striking appearance and commanding presence.

Chapter 109 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• The winter hunting competition at the Boer Mountain Hunting Grounds becomes tense when Cyrus, Lord Desinia, unexpectedly arrives with Coalball, Ice Cream, Egg Yolk, and a whole pack of powerful beasts.
• The nobles and royal participants immediately feel discouraged, believing they have no chance of competing against Cyrus’s enormous and dangerous-looking animals.
• Because the temporary wooden shed is crowded and the beasts frighten the servants, Cyrus sends most of them outside to roam while he enters the gathering.
• Prince Kashu questions Cyrus’s decision to participate, implying that the competition is unfair if his beasts are allowed to join. He subtly pressures Cyrus either to withdraw or to prevent the animals from competing.
• Cyrus refuses to be intimidated. He sarcastically suggests that Kashu and the others simply admit defeat, while insisting that his “little darlings” are only there to have fun. He challenges anyone with comparable companions to bring them forward.
• Kashu is angered but cannot openly object without appearing rude, especially since he had organized the hunt after believing Cyrus would not attend.
• Marquis Galli and Old Thomas exchange a meaningful look, after which Thomas secretly sends a knight away on an unexplained errand. Shamir notices but is too focused on Cyrus to investigate.
• Before Kashu can formally begin the hunt, news arrives that the empire’s first prince, Warner Gales, has returned from the border and is coming to participate.
• Cyrus realizes that Warner is the male protagonist of the original novel and wonders whether the female protagonist, Shamir Phoebe, is also present. He spots her distinctive silver hair and pink eyes, but she immediately hides inside her cloak.
• The crowd is then surprised by the arrival of the Pope, who appears to have come because of his close childhood friendship with Warner.
• Warner receives a much warmer and more sincere welcome from the nobles than Kashu does. Kien and Rennal also join him, leaving Kashu visibly displeased before he forces himself to approach.
• After Rennal speaks with Warner, Warner goes to meet Cyrus. However, the interaction is interrupted when Cyrus’s beasts return to him.
• Ice Cream affectionately presses against Cyrus and begs for attention. Cyrus immediately focuses on him, kissing and comforting the wolf cub while promising that he can soon enter the forest and play.

Character Developments

• Cyrus/Desinia: Demonstrates greater confidence and assertiveness. Although he originally avoided the hunt to prevent trouble, once present, he refuses to retreat or let others dictate how his animals may participate. His affectionate treatment of the beasts also highlights his nurturing side.
• Prince Kashu: Reveals insecurity and political calculation. He attempts to manipulate Cyrus into withdrawing but is embarrassed when Cyrus turns his insinuations back on him. His discomfort worsens when Warner’s arrival shifts the nobles’ attention away from him.
• Warner Gales: Makes his early appearance as the respected and charismatic first prince. His warm, calm personality contrasts with Kashu’s strained demeanor, and his arrival immediately attracts genuine loyalty from the nobles.
• Shamir Phoebe: Is confirmed to be present but reacts nervously or evasively upon seeing Cyrus, hiding in her cloak instead of approaching him.
• Princess Rennal: Clearly supports and enjoys teasing Kashu, recognizing his political maneuvering and taking pleasure in Warner’s return.
• Kien: Remains composed and observant, quietly watching the family dynamics rather than openly reacting.
• Ice Cream and the other beasts: Are shown to be energetic, affectionate, and deeply attached to Cyrus. Their presence both intimidates the other participants and reinforces Cyrus’s emotional bond with them.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: Cyrus’s beasts radically alter the balance of the hunt, demonstrating how overwhelming power can destroy the competitive spirit of an ostensibly recreational event.
• Political rivalry and manipulation: Kashu attempts to control the situation indirectly, while Warner’s return exposes the shifting alliances and differences in royal influence.
• Confidence and resistance: Cyrus refuses to submit to social pressure, choosing to defend his companions and stand by his decision.
• Affection versus appearances: Others see Cyrus’s beasts as terrifying weapons, but Cyrus views them as beloved pets. His tenderness toward Ice Cream contrasts humorously with their fearsome appearance.
• Fate and the original novel: The early appearances of Warner and Shamir remind Cyrus that major figures from the original story are entering the narrative sooner than expected, potentially disrupting his plans.

Character Interactions

• Cyrus and Kashu engage in a pointed verbal exchange in which Kashu hints that Cyrus should withdraw, while Cyrus responds with mocking confidence.
• Rennal and Kien privately observe and comment on Kashu’s failed maneuvering.
• Galli and Old Thomas share a suspicious interaction, followed by Thomas secretly dispatching a knight.
• Warner greets the Pope warmly and is welcomed by the nobles, while Kashu struggles to maintain his composure.
• Warner approaches Cyrus after Rennal introduces or draws his attention to him, but the meeting is interrupted by the returning beasts.
• Cyrus and Ice Cream share a tender moment, with Ice Cream seeking affection and Cyrus responding immediately and lovingly.

Chapter Summary: “A Hunt at Boer Mountain”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Prince Warner successfully organizes the hunting competition at Boer Mountain, leaving Prince Kashu unable to object despite his resentment. Warner’s competence has significantly weakened Kashu’s standing among the nobles.
• Princess Lennar enjoys Kashu’s humiliation and openly mocks him through her newly warmer, more confident demeanor.
• While the noblewomen socialize beneath a wooden shed, they discuss Lord Desinia’s unusual hunting advantage: his enormous, well-trained fierce beasts. Most expect him to win easily.
• A hostile noble matron suggests that Desinia’s beasts may eventually turn on him. Shamir defends Desinia, insisting that the animals like him, while Lennar sharply humiliates the matron with a sarcastic warning that the beasts might bite off her head instead.
• In the hunting grounds, Cyrus/Desinia hunts alongside the Pope, Segalot, and his animals. He does not need to use conventional hunting methods because the beasts capture prey efficiently and deliver it to the servants.
• The hunting grounds are nearly barren and filled with specially bred animals, making the prey easy to spot. Qing Tuan catches a rabbit, while the tiger Coalball and the other fluffy beasts continue bringing back game.
• Servants initially panic whenever the large animals approach, despite knowing they are tame. Eventually, the knights become accustomed to the beasts and even begin to admire them.
• Cyrus realizes that King Gena has gone in the direction where Ice Cream and Egg Yolk ran, suggesting that Gena is deliberately pursuing or attempting to obtain Ice Cream.
• Cyrus admits he is not skilled or strong enough for archery and offers his bow to Segalot. Before the Pope can shoot, a series of roars signals trouble.
• Coliford arrives carrying news that someone deliberately threw a javelin at the white wolf, Ice Cream. The attacker survived but was terrified by the beasts.
• Gena asks Cyrus to intervene before the attacker is killed. Cyrus remains calm, trusting that his animals will not randomly attack, and asks Coliford to explain what happened in detail. He then invites Segalot to accompany him.

Character Developments

• Warner: Demonstrates authority and organizational competence, further strengthening his political position.
• Kashu: Is reduced to silently enduring his loss of prestige and public humiliation.
• Lennar: Reveals a dramatic change from cold restraint to open amusement and aggressive wit. She actively defends Desinia while enjoying opportunities to embarrass Kashu and his allies.
• Shamir: Shows growing affection and loyalty toward Desinia and his beasts. Though shy, she openly defends them when challenged.
• Cyrus/Desinia: Remains composed, confident, and protective of his animals. He is unconcerned about conventional hunting prestige, relying on his beasts’ abilities instead. His calm response to the attempted attack highlights his self-control and confidence.
• Segalot: Accompanies Cyrus willingly and appears comfortable participating in his activities, reinforcing their close relationship.
• Gena: His decision to follow the direction of Ice Cream and Egg Yolk suggests a continued interest in the animals, possibly with ulterior motives.
• Coliford: Acts as Gena’s messenger and is visibly shaken by the power of Desinia’s beasts.

Significant Themes

• Power and political status: Warner’s success and Kashu’s decline show how competence affects royal influence and public respect.
• Social rivalry and humiliation: The women’s gathering functions as a forum for gossip, status competition, and indirect political conflict.
• Trust versus prejudice: Desinia’s beasts are feared because of their size and nature, but their obedience and loyalty challenge the assumption that they are inherently dangerous.
• Authority through composure: Cyrus’s calm handling of the attempted attack contrasts with the panic of the servants and demonstrates his control over both the animals and the situation.
• Loyalty and protection: Shamir, Lennar, Cyrus, and the beasts all show varying forms of loyalty toward Desinia, while the attack reveals the dangers surrounding his growing prominence.

Character Interactions

• Lennar and Kashu: Lennar takes pleasure in Kashu’s diminished status and no longer hides her satisfaction.
• Shamir and the hostile matron: Shamir timidly but firmly defends Desinia’s beasts; Lennar then escalates the exchange by mocking the matron.
• Cyrus and Segalot: Cyrus casually offers Segalot his bow, reflecting their relaxed companionship. He later asks the Pope to accompany him while investigating the attack.
• Cyrus and Coliford: Cyrus remains calm while Coliford panics, questioning him carefully rather than rushing blindly into the confrontation.
• Cyrus and his beasts: The animals obey him instinctively, hunt for him, and deliver their prey, emphasizing their unusual bond.
• Gena and Desinia’s animals: Gena’s movement toward Ice Cream and Egg Yolk, followed by the attempted attack on Ice Cream, creates tension and suggests a developing conflict over the beasts.

Chapter 111 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyrus arrives at the Boer Mountain Hunting Grounds with the Pope after learning from Coliford that Viscount El deliberately attacked Ice Cream, the White Wolf, with a javelin.
• The scene reveals that Cyrus’s beasts—Coalball, Snowball, Egg Yolk, the black and white tigers, and the enormous white gyrfalcon—have surrounded and terrified Viscount El and his companions. They have restrained them without killing them.
• Gena and Coliford testify that El’s group had been equipped with bows, javelins, slings, servants, and knights, suggesting that they were prepared to hunt the White Wolf and the lion rather than accidentally throw a weapon.
• Egg Yolk had bitten El’s iron javelin in half, while the beasts prevented the attackers from fleeing. The destruction of the iron weapon and the beasts’ coordinated behavior frighten the entire hunting party.
• First Prince Warner attempts to intervene, but the white tiger blocks him. Archibald warns Warner not to interfere before the incident is properly investigated.
• Cyrus examines the broken javelin and points out that hunting grounds normally provide wooden weapons. The iron shaft, specially used by El, indicates that the weapon was intended for powerful, deliberate hunting.
• Cyrus accuses El and those behind him of trying to capture or kill his beasts and warns that such an act could provoke conflict between Desinia and the Saint Airo Empire.
• When the princes continue making excuses for El, Cyrus throws the remaining javelin fragment past him and embeds it in a tree, causing El to faint. He demands either a proper explanation or El’s life, then leaves.
• The hunting competition ends prematurely. The Pope orders that the matter be thoroughly investigated, while Warner and the other nobles are left unable to suppress the seriousness of the incident.
• Cyrus’s later investigation confirms that El is an experienced hunter, particularly skilled with javelins, and has previously hunted wolves and large beasts.
• Walker and Ferdinand conclude that El’s attack was likely arranged by Marquis Galli and the Ed Merchant Guild as revenge against Cyrus. Their plan was to kill or injure Ice Cream and disguise the act as an accidental hunting mistake.
• The conspirators underestimated both the extraordinary abilities of Cyrus’s beasts and the depth of Cyrus’s attachment to them.
• Ten days later, Warner brings El to Sheri Hall to apologize under pressure from the Pope. El offers expensive gifts, which Cyrus accepts outwardly but later throws away, declaring that the matter is not finished.
• The chapter ends by setting up the upcoming Alchemists and Physicians Exchange, held in an auction hall belonging to the Ed Merchant Guild.

Character Developments

• Cyrus demonstrates that he is fiercely protective of his beasts and willing to confront the Empire’s princes and nobles directly. He remains controlled but uses a dramatic threat to make clear that he will not accept a superficial apology.
• Ice Cream is established as a valuable and unusually capable White Wolf whose survival depends on extraordinary agility and lineage.
• The fluffy beasts show remarkable intelligence, discipline, and restraint. They recognize threats, coordinate attacks, protect one another, and obey Cyrus immediately when he arrives.
• Viscount El is revealed to be an accomplished and deliberate hunter rather than an innocent participant who merely made a mistake. His terror exposes how badly he misjudged Cyrus’s beasts.
• First Prince Warner tries to preserve order and protect El, but he is unable to control the beasts or dismiss the evidence. His attempts to mediate also reveal his political vulnerability.
• Archibald and Orville openly distrust El’s group and support Cyrus’s position. Archibald especially challenges Warner’s attempt to interfere.
• Gena Kozmo and Coliford become crucial witnesses, although Gena’s former conflict with the Empire makes his testimony politically complicated.
• Marquis Galli and the Ed Merchant Guild emerge as likely conspirators seeking revenge against Cyrus.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and the value of nonhuman companions: Cyrus treats his beasts as cherished companions rather than expendable animals, contrasting sharply with the conspirators’ assumption that Ice Cream’s death would have limited consequences.
• Power and intimidation: The beasts’ overwhelming strength allows Cyrus to challenge influential nobles, while his calm threat demonstrates that political power is not limited to formal rank.
• Justice versus convenient excuses: El’s allies attempt to hide behind the claim of an accidental throw, but Cyrus rejects this politically convenient explanation.
• Underestimation and miscalculation: The attackers fail because they underestimate the beasts’ intelligence and abilities, as well as Cyrus’s emotional investment in them.
• Political tension and retaliation: The incident reflects the ongoing rivalry between Cyrus, Marquis Galli, and the Ed Merchant Guild, suggesting that their conflict is escalating beyond personal hostility.
• Controlled violence: Cyrus’s beasts frighten and restrain the attackers without killing them, showing both their power and their obedience to Cyrus’s limits.

Important Character Interactions

• Cyrus and his beasts: His arrival instantly calms them. They respond affectionately to his touch and obey his commands, reinforcing their strong bond.
• Cyrus and Warner: Warner asks for mercy and tries to minimize the incident, but Cyrus refuses to yield. Cyrus’s final demand makes clear that Warner cannot settle the matter with a token apology.
• Cyrus and Viscount El: Cyrus indirectly confronts El by throwing the broken javelin fragment beside him, demonstrating that El’s fear is only a fraction of what Ice Cream experienced.
• Warner and Archibald: Archibald warns Warner not to interfere and insists that El’s actions be investigated, challenging Warner’s attempt to protect the viscount.
• Gena and the assembled nobles: Gena gives an eyewitness account, but the political history between Bovell and the Empire causes the testimony to be questioned.
• The Pope and Warner: The Pope later applies pressure that forces Warner to bring El to Cyrus and arrange a formal apology.
• Cyrus and the conspirators’ representatives: Cyrus accepts El’s compensation publicly but privately rejects it, signaling that he intends to retaliate rather than consider the matter resolved.

Chapter 112 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The grand Alchemists and Physicians Exchange opens in Sheri Hall, with alchemists, physicians, members of the Saint Airo Empire’s royal family, nobles, and distinguished guests taking their assigned seats.
• The exchange’s scale and organization demonstrate the Empire’s high regard for the event and its trust in the Ed Merchant Guild, which arranged the venue.
• Renowned master alchemist Chipman Norton occupies a prominent front-row seat. He is known for his meticulous nature, persistence, and expertise in potions and medicinal ointments. The Ed Merchant Guild heavily funds his research.
• Many attendees compare Norton with Cyrus, the Lord of Desinia, whose achievements include numerous medicinal products as well as innovations such as paper, movable-type printing, bricks, roads, sugar, and cement.
• Cyrus’s rapid rise from a minor lord to ruler of a vast territory inspires both admiration and jealousy. Rumors circulate that he may have claimed the work of the alchemists in his Alchemy Tower rather than developing everything himself.
• The exchange also features young alchemical talents Yinke Ken and Feilifu Kier. Yinke researches the Philosopher’s Stone, while Feilifu pursues the transformation of metals into gold—two traditional ultimate goals of alchemy.
• Feilifu, who comes from a poor background, is openly skeptical of Cyrus’s achievements and envies his wealth and status. He discusses the recent hunting incident involving Cyrus’s beast, in which the eldest prince apparently forced the offending viscount to apologize to Cyrus.
• Yinke defends Cyrus indirectly, noting that the eldest prince’s actions suggest the viscount was at fault. He also reveals that he plans to visit the Desinia Territory after the exchange because he believes the Alchemy Tower offers genuine opportunities for talented researchers.
• The two alchemists disagree and stop speaking coldly to each other.
• Cyrus then arrives in striking aristocratic attire and takes a seat near Chipman Norton. Feilifu is immediately captivated by Cyrus’s appearance and abruptly reconsiders his negative assumptions, even suggesting that he may reconsider accepting the Ed Merchant Guild’s invitation.
• Cyrus privately orders Judas and Ferdinand to count the attending alchemists and physicians and identify the talents whom the Ed Merchant Guild plans to recruit, showing that he is treating the exchange as an opportunity to assess and attract valuable personnel.

Character Developments

• Cyrus/Desinia: His reputation continues to grow, but so do jealousy and suspicion surrounding him. His confident arrival and strategic instructions reveal both his social influence and his practical interest in expanding Desinia’s talent base.
• Chipman Norton: He is established as a disciplined, respected master alchemist and the Ed Merchant Guild’s most valued researcher, though he is implicitly positioned as a rival to Cyrus.
• Yinke Ken: He is cautious and restrained, warning Feilifu not to speak recklessly. Unlike Feilifu, he trusts the reports of Cyrus’s talent and intends to seek advancement in Desinia.
• Feilifu Kier: Initially jealous and suspicious of Cyrus, he is unexpectedly dazzled by Cyrus’s appearance and begins reconsidering his allegiance to the Ed Merchant Guild.
• Judas and Ferdinand: They act as Cyrus’s discreet aides, carrying out his instructions to gather intelligence on potential recruits.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy versus merit: Cyrus’s achievements provoke admiration but also accusations that he takes credit for others’ work.
• Class and privilege: Feilifu’s resentment stems from the contrast between his difficult rise as a poor apprentice and Cyrus’s inherited status, wealth, and influence.
• Competing visions of alchemy: Traditional alchemists focus on the Philosopher’s Stone and transmuting metals, while Cyrus’s practical inventions and medicines represent a broader, more utilitarian form of alchemical progress.
• Talent and institutional power: The exchange is not merely a scholarly gathering; it is also a contest among powerful organizations to recruit and control gifted researchers.
• Appearance and perception: Feilifu’s sudden change of attitude after seeing Cyrus illustrates how charisma and beauty can overturn intellectual prejudice.

Character Interactions

• Feilifu and Yinke debate Cyrus’s reputation, the hunting incident, and whether Desinia’s accomplishments are legitimate.
• Yinke urges caution and reveals his intention to join or visit Desinia, while Feilifu initially argues that Chipman Norton and the Ed Merchant Guild are safer choices.
• Their disagreement creates temporary tension between them.
• Cyrus’s arrival immediately changes Feilifu’s attitude, while Yinke remains comparatively calm and puzzled by his companion’s reaction.
• Cyrus maintains a discreet working relationship with Judas and Ferdinand, directing them to evaluate the exchange’s participants and the Ed Merchant Guild’s recruitment targets.

Chapter 113 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the auction house, Cyrus notices a young alchemist repeatedly watching him. He also exchanges a formal nod with Chipman Norton, a senior figure in the Alchemy Association.
• Cyrus orders Judas to record promising individuals in a notebook for recruitment into the Desinia Territory. He intends to compete with rival powers—especially the Ed Merchant Guild and Marquis Galli—by attracting or taking control of the most talented alchemists and physicians.
• Cyrus’s recruitment policy is pragmatic: persuade capable people sincerely, and if persuasion fails, use force. Ferdinand, Walker, and Judas are responsible for carrying out these plans.
• The chapter reflects on the difficult state of alchemy. Research is expensive, dangerous, and socially divided, while both commoner and noble alchemists face serious obstacles. Few survive or succeed enough to reach the field’s highest level.
• Cyrus’s own achievements—particularly beet sugar, his wealth, and his military reforms—make him both influential and a target of envy. His territory’s strength protects it from being exploited by rival nobles.
• The exchange begins with several weak or exaggerated presentations, though a few researchers demonstrate genuine promise.
• Yinke Ken presents a newly developed suppository. He explains its medical uses, including treatment for gastrointestinal discomfort, constipation, pain, and related symptoms. He honestly acknowledges its limitations and possible side effects.
• Cyrus recognizes Yinke Ken’s value and orders Judas to prioritize him for recruitment.
• Cyrus dismisses another alchemist’s supposed “Universal Antidote” as fraudulent because it relies on unsupported claims, prayer, holy water, and incantations.
• The chapter ends as Feilifu Kier—the dark-haired alchemist who had been watching Cyrus—takes the stage to present his research.

Character Developments

• Cyrus Desinia: Shows himself to be calculating, ambitious, and highly alert to political and intellectual competition. He views the exchange not merely as an academic event but as an opportunity to expand his territory’s talent pool. Despite relying on the Omnipotent Library, he recognizes the importance of genuine study, experimentation, and practical development.
• Judas, Ferdinand, and Walker: Function as Cyrus’s trusted agents. They understand his coded instructions and are prepared to recruit talented individuals through persuasion or coercion.
• Yinke Ken: Emerges as an honest and capable young researcher. His willingness to explain both the benefits and risks of his medicine distinguishes him from fraudulent presenters.
• Chipman Norton: His position as a respected master alchemist is reinforced, and Cyrus identifies him as a potential priority recruit despite their unclear relationship.
• Feilifu Kier: Is introduced as a potentially important young alchemist who appears nervous around Cyrus but is evidently significant enough to present his work at the exchange.

Significant Themes

• Talent as a political and economic resource: Scientific ability is treated as something powerful factions compete to possess.
• Pragmatism versus idealism: Cyrus values sincerity and persuasion, but ultimately accepts coercion as a tool when necessary.
• The difficulty of scientific progress: Alchemy requires money, equipment, education, physical risk, and persistence; most researchers fail before reaching meaningful results.
• Merit over social status: Cyrus’s military system allows even former slaves, such as Captain Mike Andrew, to rise through achievement, reflecting his broader interest in cultivating talent regardless of background.
• Science versus superstition and deception: Genuine experimentation and honest conclusions are contrasted with exaggerated advertising, empty claims, and the supposed universal cure dependent on religious rituals.
• Power provoking envy: Cyrus’s success in alchemy, commerce, and military organization makes the Desinia Territory both admirable and threatening to others.

Important Character Interactions

• Cyrus and the unnamed dark-haired alchemist exchange several glances, establishing tension and curiosity before the man is revealed as Feilifu Kier.
• Cyrus and Chipman Norton acknowledge one another with a formal nod, while Cyrus secretly orders an investigation into Norton.
• Cyrus gives Judas coded instructions about recruiting targets, with Ferdinand and the absent Walker understanding the plan.
• Yinke Ken presents his medicine before the nobles and responds responsibly to questions of safety and effectiveness, impressing Cyrus.
• Cyrus mentally contrasts Yinke’s credible research with the fraudulent alchemist claiming to have created a universal antidote.

Chapter 114 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Feilifu Kier presents his alchemical research at the auction house, visibly nervous and repeatedly glancing toward Cyrus.
• He explains his theory that all matter consists of four elements—air, water, fire, and earth—while the human body is governed by four qualities: dryness, moisture, cold, and heat.
• According to Feilifu, transformations between substances could eventually allow metals to be turned into gold and lead to the creation of a Philosopher’s Stone capable of curing illness by restoring the body’s balance.
• When Cyrus asks whether he has already created a metal that can cure disease, Feilifu admits that this ultimate goal remains unattained but announces a preliminary breakthrough: mercury can measure temperature.
• Feilifu demonstrates a glass mercury thermometer by placing it in hot water and showing the mercury rise, then fall again when exposed to cooler air.
• Cyrus immediately recognizes the device as a thermometer, particularly a potentially useful clinical thermometer, and realizes he had overlooked this common medical instrument.
• The discovery is especially significant because Cyrus previously warned the Alchemy Association that mercury was highly toxic. His warning had caused mercury research to be reduced or abandoned, earning him resentment from many alchemists in the metal-research school.
• Impressed by Feilifu’s talent, Cyrus instructs Judas to recruit him before the Ed Merchant Guild can do so.
• After finishing his presentation, Feilifu becomes so flustered by Cyrus’s attention that he chokes, blushes, and begins hiccupping while leaving the stage.
• Cyrus then shifts his attention to the upcoming presentations, wondering whether Chipman Norton will be next.

Character Developments

• Feilifu Kier: Despite his earlier suspicion of Cyrus, Feilifu is clearly affected by Cyrus’s presence and becomes unusually shy and nervous. His research proves that he is a gifted and innovative alchemist, even if his theoretical direction is somewhat misguided. His emotional awkwardness contrasts sharply with his normally composed and confident personality.
• Cyrus Desinia: Cyrus demonstrates both scientific knowledge and practical judgment. He understands the medical value of the thermometer, remembers mercury’s dangers, and immediately sees Feilifu as a valuable researcher who could be redirected toward safer and more useful work.
• Judas: He continues acting as Cyrus’s trusted aide, receiving instructions to monitor and recruit Feilifu.
• Chipman Norton and Beijin: Their discussion reflects the wider alchemical community’s interest in Feilifu’s discovery and the controversy surrounding mercury research.

Significant Themes

• Science versus tradition: Feilifu’s elemental theory is rooted in ancient alchemical beliefs, but his thermometer represents genuine empirical progress.
• The dangers of incomplete knowledge: Mercury was once considered a sacred and medicinal substance, but its toxicity caused severe harm when misunderstood.
• Practical application of research: Even imperfect theories can produce valuable inventions when supported by observation and experimentation.
• Competition for talent: Cyrus and the Ed Merchant Guild are both interested in securing Feilifu’s abilities, highlighting the growing importance of scientific researchers.
• Emotional vulnerability: Feilifu’s nervous reactions reveal a personal and possibly romantic fascination with Cyrus beneath his professional exterior.

Character Interactions

• Feilifu interacts with the audience by presenting his theory and answering Cyrus’s questions.
• Cyrus challenges Feilifu directly but listens seriously to his work, creating a mixture of professional respect and personal tension.
• Feilifu’s fellow alchemists notice and mock his unusual nervousness, especially his stuttering and awkward behavior.
• Cyrus privately instructs Judas to recruit Feilifu, treating him as a promising potential member of his research efforts.
• Feilifu’s embarrassment intensifies after Cyrus smiles at him, causing him to choke and hiccup in front of everyone.

Chapter 115 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chipman Norton, a highly respected senior alchemist, presents his discoveries after being chosen to appear before Cyrus because of his lower social status.
• He introduces two major achievements:
  1. A sweet elderflower medicinal syrup that treats coughs, sore throats, headaches, and fevers, while also nourishing the body. It can be stored for six months and is especially suitable for children.
  2. A local anesthetic, available as a liquid and a paste, designed to reduce pain without causing the severe side effects associated with the continent’s existing full-body anesthetic.
• The medicinal syrup is distributed to high-ranking nobles for tasting. Its pleasant flavor and practical health benefits impress them.
• Chipman demonstrates the liquid anesthetic on an injured man whose leg was pierced by splintered wood. After repeated applications around the wound, the patient loses sensation in the area and allows the wound to be treated without pain.
• Chipman then explains a paste anesthetic intended for internal pain. Cyrus recognizes that this use is medically flawed and potentially dangerous, though he acknowledges the significance of Chipman’s achievement.
• Watching Chipman’s expertise, Cyrus decides that the older alchemist is too valuable to lose. He reflects on the need for a dedicated institution—such as his Alchemy Tower—where alchemists and physicians can collaborate, conduct experiments, and develop medicine systematically.

Character Developments

• Chipman Norton is established as a meticulous, disciplined, and highly capable alchemist. His work is practical rather than flashy, focusing on medicines that directly improve people’s lives.
• Beijin, Chipman’s apprentice, assists competently with the demonstrations, including preparing the syrup and treating the injured patient.
• Cyrus displays sharp medical knowledge and critical thinking. He can recognize both the value and the limitations of Chipman’s inventions, especially the incorrect application of the anesthetic paste.
• Cyrus also becomes increasingly interested in recruiting or protecting talented alchemists and reforming the stagnant Alchemy Association.

Significant Themes

• Innovation versus outdated systems: Chipman’s discoveries show genuine progress, but the lack of organized medical knowledge leads to dangerous misunderstandings.
• The importance of collaboration and institutions: Cyrus sees that individual researchers cannot advance medicine effectively while working in isolation.
• Practical science and public benefit: The syrup and anesthetic are valuable because they solve everyday problems, particularly children’s difficulty taking bitter medicine and patients’ suffering during treatment.
• Social hierarchy: Despite Chipman’s respected reputation, he must present before Cyrus because he is a commoner while Cyrus is a noble.
• Responsible use of knowledge: The chapter emphasizes that developing medicine is not enough; it must also be applied correctly to avoid harming patients.

Character Interactions

• Chipman and Beijin work closely together during the presentation, showing a respectful teacher-apprentice relationship.
• Chipman reassures the injured patient before treating him and demonstrates patience and professionalism throughout the procedure.
• The nobles respond favorably to the syrup, revealing their interest in convenient medicines that benefit themselves and their children.
• Cyrus silently evaluates Chipman’s work and observes his methods with growing interest. Though he identifies flaws in the anesthetic paste, he views Chipman as a valuable talent who could thrive under better guidance and within the structured research environment of the Alchemy Tower.

Chapter 116 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After presenting his research, Chipman gives his patient topical anesthetic and leaves the stage with his apprentice, Beijin.
• Cyrus is invited to present his own alchemical achievements. He arrives alone onstage while the alchemists from Desinia’s Alchemy Tower remain seated, causing some audience members to suspect that Cyrus may be claiming others’ work.
• Cyrus explains that his presentation will include not only four alchemical inventions but also medical theories and a systematic explanation of hygiene and disinfection. His goal is to prepare people to respond effectively to future epidemics.
• Before revealing his inventions, Cyrus challenges the authority of the Alchemy Association. When an alchemist claims that Desinia’s Alchemy Tower belongs to the Association, Cyrus declares that he is no longer a member.
• Cyrus criticizes the Association’s president for pursuing wealth and pleasure while failing to support alchemical research. He argues that the Association has become stagnant and no longer protects or benefits alchemists.
• Cyrus announces that he alone is capable of creating a better organization—one that can provide alchemists with funding, equipment, and freedom to conduct research. This implies that he intends for the Alchemy Tower to replace or rival the Alchemy Association.
• He then introduces the first two of his four achievements:
  1. Improved liquid hand soap, which produces abundant foam and cleans the hands thoroughly.
  2. Essential oils, produced primarily through distillation and intended for skincare, fragrance, and relaxation.
• The products attract considerable interest, especially among the noblewomen. Both items will later be sold through the Thorn Merchant Guild.
• Saigalo secretly watches Cyrus from the auction house’s second floor. He then announces that he will leave the empire for a time, clearly intending to travel to Desinia.

Character Developments

• Cyrus demonstrates increasing confidence, authority, and ambition. He presents himself not merely as an alchemist but as a reformer capable of reorganizing the entire alchemical world.
• He also reveals a strong sense of social responsibility through his emphasis on hygiene, disinfection, and epidemic prevention.
• The Alchemy Association’s supporters are shown to be uneasy and defensive as Cyrus questions the Association’s legitimacy and exposes its decline.
• Saigalo continues to take a strong personal interest in Cyrus, watching him attentively and preparing to visit Desinia under the pretext of travel.
• Archbishop Paul notices Saigalo’s unusual behavior but does not understand his preoccupation with Cyrus. He remains obedient and immediately prepares for the Pope’s journey.

Significant Themes

• Institutional reform: Cyrus condemns organizations that have become corrupt, stagnant, and self-serving, suggesting that effective institutions must serve their members rather than exploit them.
• Knowledge and public welfare: Alchemy is presented as more than the production of impressive inventions; theory, medicine, hygiene, and preparation for epidemics are equally important.
• Power and independence: Cyrus’s withdrawal from the Alchemy Association reflects his refusal to submit to an authority he considers ineffective. His Alchemy Tower may become an independent center of research.
• Ambition and competition: The chapter establishes an emerging conflict between Cyrus’s new organization and the centuries-old Alchemy Association.
• Beauty, commerce, and innovation: The hand soap and essential oils connect alchemical research to everyday life, luxury, personal care, and profitable trade.

Character Interactions

• Cyrus confronts the alchemist who insists that the Alchemy Tower belongs to the Alchemy Association, forcing him to recognize Cyrus’s political authority.
• Cyrus addresses the gathered alchemists and physicians as potential members of a new, more supportive research institution.
• The nobles, particularly the ladies, react enthusiastically to the essential oils and their promised fragrances and cosmetic benefits.
• Saigalo silently observes Cyrus from above, while Paul accompanies him and follows his orders. Saigalo’s decision to travel to Desinia suggests that his interest in Cyrus is becoming more direct and personal.

Chapter 117 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyrus presents vodka as the third research result after hand sanitizer and essential oils. He explains that it is an extremely strong distilled liquor with potential medical uses but must be consumed carefully.
• A skeptical, heavy-drinking noble challenges Cyrus and drinks two glasses of vodka in quick succession. The liquor overwhelms him, causing severe burning, stomach pain, drunkenness, and unconsciousness. Cyrus has honey water administered to ease the effects, while First Prince Warner arranges for knights to carry the overweight noble from the hall.
• Cyrus demonstrates that vodka can be mixed with other drinks. King Gena Kozmo tastes vodka combined with medicinal syrup, enjoys it, and expresses interest in making it the Bovell Kingdom’s national liquor. Cyrus implies that the price will determine whether a deal is possible.
• The nobles begin considering Desinia’s growing commercial influence. Old Thomas of the Ed Merchant Guild worries that the Ed Guild may eventually be crushed by the cooperation between the Thorn and Nagabi Merchant Guilds.
• Cyrus introduces the fourth research result, Iodophor, a purple-black disinfectant used to sterilize wounds, treat burns and cuts, and prevent infection.
• He explains the existence of bacteria and argues that disease is caused by microorganisms rather than devils or divine punishment. A physician vehemently rejects his claims, insisting that illness results from sin and that prayer and holy relics are the true cures.
• Cyrus exposes the cruelty and ineffectiveness of traditional medical practices such as bloodletting, induced vomiting, cauterization, trepanation, and unnecessary amputation. His criticism leaves many physicians angry and embarrassed.
• Cyrus explains that bacteria can be observed with a microscope and that food spoilage, contaminated wounds, and illness are connected to microorganisms. He emphasizes hygiene, sterilization, isolation, and the dangers of disease transmission through coughing, sneezing, and droplets.
• Some audience members repeatedly interrupt and accuse him of insulting the Creator God, but Orville and Archibald’s authority keeps them quiet.
• Cyrus credits the alchemists who worked with him, explaining that their cooperation and development of specialized equipment—including a crude microscope—made the discoveries possible. He invites serious-minded alchemists and physicians to study at the Alchemy Tower in Desinia.
• After the exchange meeting, Cyrus orders Ferdinand and Walker to follow the registry of interested individuals. Soon afterward, Judas informs him that two alchemists, Yinke Ken and Feilifu Kier, have come to visit.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Cyrus demonstrates confidence, scientific knowledge, and a mischievous sense of humor when exposing vodka’s potency. He also acts as an educator and reformer, openly challenging religious superstition and dangerous medical traditions.
• The skeptical noble becomes an unwilling demonstration of vodka’s strength, collapsing after drinking too much too quickly.
• King Gena Kozmo develops a strong appreciation for vodka and begins considering a trade agreement with Desinia, particularly because the liquor’s warmth suits the cold climate of Bovell.
• First Prince Warner responds practically to the drunken noble’s collapse and organizes his removal from the hall.
• The hostile physician represents the old medical and religious worldview. His argument collapses when Cyrus asks how many patients he has actually cured, leaving him unable to provide a convincing response.
• Orville and Archibald do not directly debate Cyrus’s opponents, but their intimidating presence protects him from being openly disrupted.
• Old Thomas becomes increasingly concerned about Desinia’s economic power and the threat posed by the Thorn and Nagabi Merchant Guilds.
• The alchemists working with Cyrus receive public recognition for their contributions, reinforcing the importance of collaboration rather than individual achievement.

Significant Themes

• Science versus superstition: Cyrus challenges the belief that disease is caused by devils or divine punishment and promotes observation, experimentation, and proof.
• Medical reform: The chapter condemns harmful traditional treatments and presents sanitation, disinfection, and germ theory as safer alternatives.
• The power of knowledge: Cyrus argues that facts must be verified rather than accepted through rumor, tradition, or religious authority.
• Commercial and political influence: Desinia’s inventions increase its economic power and attract interest from foreign rulers and merchant guilds.
• Cooperation and collective achievement: Cyrus emphasizes that the four discoveries resulted from coordinated work among multiple alchemists and researchers.
• Resistance to progress: Religious figures, conservative physicians, and some nobles react defensively because the new ideas threaten established beliefs and authority.

Chapter 118 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the Alchemists and Physicians Exchange, Cyrus—the Lord of Desinia—immediately withdraws instead of socializing with the nobles. His abrupt departure, combined with Ferdinand and Walker leaving separately, suggests that he is secretly carrying out preparations.
• Two talented alchemists, Yinke Ken and Feilifu Kier, visit Cyrus at Sheri Hall and remain there overnight. They later leave looking discouraged and refuse visitors.
• First Prince Warner Gales visits Cyrus to negotiate the establishment of a Thorn Merchant Guild branch in the Saint Airo Empire. Cyrus agrees in principle, though the two discuss taxation and the political complications surrounding the proposal.
• Warner explains that the royal family wants to restrain the powerful Ed Merchant Guild. Its president, Old Thomas, has suppressed rival guilds and allowed personal grudges to endanger relations between the empire and Desinia. The royal family will continue supporting the Ed Guild, but wants it kept under control.
• Cyrus realizes that the proposed cooperation would benefit both sides: the empire can discipline the Ed Merchant Guild, while the Thorn Merchant Guild gains entry into the imperial market. He accepts Warner’s offer.
• Princess Rennal and Shamir Phoebe request to see Cyrus, but he declines. As Warner leaves, Cyrus notices Rennal looking at him with shy admiration and disappointment, apparently directed at him rather than at Warner, creating an unexpected romantic-comedy moment.
• Ferdinand scouts the capital’s guard schedules and escape routes, while Walker and his men “persuade” people listed in Cyrus’s booklet to cooperate, using force when necessary.
• Before the research results are officially verified, Cyrus leaves the empire. Orville announces that he has already returned to Desinia, surprising the other guests. Archibald hints that Cyrus has no need for anyone to verify his research.
• The next day, the verification meeting is disrupted by several disappearances. Jared, the Ed Merchant Guild president’s son, is found tied naked to Marquis Galli in an abandoned house. Both men had been abducted and deliberately placed together in a humiliating situation.
• Cyrus had arranged the incident after discovering that Jared and Marquis Galli were both secretly involved with nearby widows. The resulting scandal damages their reputations, strains the relationship between Old Thomas and Marquis Galli, and leaves Marquis Galli ill with humiliation.
• The verification is further delayed when the two young alchemists from Sheri Hall are found missing. Master Chipman Norton and his apprentice Beijin are also gone, along with important possessions and alchemical supplies.
• The nobles suspect that Cyrus secretly removed the alchemists. Old Thomas, already devastated by his son’s scandal, faints when he realizes that Master Norton may have disappeared as well.

Character Developments

• Cyrus demonstrates strategic intelligence, political caution, and a willingness to use covert and humiliating methods against enemies. He successfully negotiates with Warner while simultaneously preparing an escape and removing valuable allies from the empire.
• First Prince Warner emerges as pragmatic and politically perceptive. He admires Cyrus and seeks cooperation with him to counterbalance the Ed Merchant Guild while preserving the royal family’s broader economic interests.
• Ferdinand and Walker act as Cyrus’s operational agents. Ferdinand handles reconnaissance and escape planning, while Walker uses intimidation and negotiation to secure cooperation.
• Orville and Archibald support Cyrus and help conceal or explain his movements. Archibald shows open hostility toward those who might question Cyrus’s actions.
• Rennal appears unexpectedly interested in Cyrus, showing shyness, disappointment, and delight when he notices her.
• Old Thomas, Jared, and Marquis Galli suffer public humiliation and political damage. Old Thomas’s confidence collapses as his son’s scandal and Master Norton’s disappearance threaten the Ed Merchant Guild’s position.

Significant Themes

• Political maneuvering and economic power: The chapter highlights the struggle among the imperial royal family, the Ed Merchant Guild, the Nagabi Merchant Guild, and the Thorn Merchant Guild.
• Cooperation built on mutual advantage: Cyrus and Warner cooperate despite competing interests because both benefit from limiting the Ed Merchant Guild’s influence.
• Covert retaliation and strategic manipulation: Cyrus punishes his enemies indirectly, using their own secret affairs to create a devastating public scandal.
• Control of talent and knowledge: The disappearance of the gifted alchemists and Master Norton suggests that Cyrus is securing valuable researchers before the empire can recruit them.
• Public reputation and humiliation: The scandal involving Jared and Marquis Galli demonstrates how quickly noble status can be undermined by gossip.
• Unpredictability: Cyrus repeatedly acts outside conventional expectations, leaving the nobles confused about his intentions and movements.

Important Character Interactions

• Cyrus and Warner establish a political and commercial partnership, discussing the Thorn Merchant Guild’s expansion and the Ed Merchant Guild’s dangerous influence.
• Cyrus refuses to meet Rennal and Shamir, but his brief visual exchange with Rennal hints at unexpected romantic interest.
• Orville and Archibald defend Cyrus’s unexplained departure and discourage others from questioning it.
• Ferdinand reports the affair connecting Jared and Marquis Galli, enabling Cyrus’s retaliatory scheme.
• Warner, the royal knights, and the nobles discover Jared and Marquis Galli together, turning their private affairs into a public scandal.
• Old Thomas and Marquis Galli become enemies after the incident, while the empire begins to suspect that Cyrus has taken control of several important alchemists.

Chapter 119 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyrus leaves the Saint Airo Empire ahead of schedule and unexpectedly meets Pope Segalot and Archbishop Paul at the port. Since Segalot is traveling to the Desinia Territory, Cyrus allows him to board his ship.
• After more than half a month at sea, Cyrus returns to the Desinia Territory with numerous alchemists he has recruited—some voluntarily and others brought back through coercion.
• The convoy reaches Par Mountain during a heavy snowfall. Cyrus, Segalot, and the sleeping cubs Eggy and Rice Cake share a carriage, creating an intimate and domestic atmosphere.
• Segalot explains that he has come to the Desinia Territory to personally investigate a matter that affects only himself. He refuses to reveal further details, suggesting that Cyrus may learn the truth later—or perhaps never.
• Upon arrival, most of the magical beasts rush happily into the castle through their private passages. Cyrus asks Judas which alchemists still refuse to accept their new situation.
• Only Master Chipman Norton and his apprentice Beijin remain openly determined to leave. Cyrus attempts to persuade Chipman by arguing that the Alchemy Tower offers superior support and that the Ed Merchant Guild has already been repaid for helping him.
• Chipman’s resistance is rooted in loyalty: the Alchemy Association’s president taught him, while the Ed Merchant Guild supported him during difficult times. He also feels guilty for previously studying and commercially reproducing Cyrus’s plant potions without permission.
• Instead of continuing to argue, Cyrus distracts Chipman by pointing out errors in his research on local anesthetics. Chipman’s professional curiosity overwhelms his stubbornness, and he follows Cyrus to discuss the problem.
• Once the alchemists see the advanced instruments and equipment in the Alchemy Tower, most are captivated. Chipman eventually decides to remain in the Desinia Territory and writes to Grand President Thomas explaining that he left voluntarily and will not return.
• Cyrus later notices on the system’s sea map that Rice Ball, the orca accompanying Samuel Fern, has begun swimming back instead of remaining stationary. This confirms that Samuel’s expedition to the New Continent has ended and that the Windrider is returning.
• Cyrus reacts with uncontrolled joy, while Qing Tuan watches him in confusion.

Character Developments

• Cyrus demonstrates both possessiveness and practical leadership. He has gathered talented alchemists for his territory, but he also understands how to win their loyalty through funding, superior facilities, persuasion, and recognition of their abilities.
• Segalot remains mysterious and emotionally guarded. His unexplained personal mission suggests an important future development and marks the first major problem he has encountered as Pope.
• Chipman Norton changes from a stubborn, loyalty-bound captive into a willing member of Cyrus’s Alchemy Tower. His dedication to rigorous research is used as the key to overcoming his resistance.
• Beijin is more receptive to Cyrus’s arguments than his teacher and appears increasingly impressed by the Desinia Territory.
• Cyrus and the magical beasts are shown sharing a warm, familial bond, especially in the carriage scene with Eggy and Rice Cake.
• Cyrus’s excitement over Samuel’s return reveals his deep emotional investment in the expedition and his concern for those who left to explore the New Continent.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty versus opportunity: Chipman must choose between loyalty to the people and organizations that supported him and the superior opportunities offered by Cyrus.
• Persuasion and leadership: Cyrus wins people over not only through force, but by providing resources, acknowledging talent, and appealing to individual interests.
• Scientific progress and institutional support: The advanced Alchemy Tower symbolizes how funding, equipment, and a capable patron can transform magical research.
• Home and belonging: The return to Par Mountain is portrayed as a return to safety and freedom, emphasized by the beasts’ eager retreat into the castle.
• Mystery and anticipation: Segalot’s undisclosed personal problem and Samuel’s return from the New Continent establish important future storylines.
• Affection and domestic intimacy: The close carriage scene, Cyrus’s care for the sleeping cubs, and his emotional reaction to the returning expedition highlight the warmth of his relationships.

Character Interactions

• Cyrus and Segalot: They travel in close proximity and discuss Segalot’s mysterious purpose. Cyrus offers help, while Segalot maintains secrecy.
• Cyrus and Eggy/Rice Cake: Cyrus gently settles the restless cubs and helps them return to sleep, reinforcing his protective role.
• Cyrus and Judas: Cyrus relies on Judas for information about the alchemists’ attitudes and entrusts him with the cubs upon arrival.
• Cyrus and Chipman: Their tense persuasion develops into a productive exchange when Cyrus challenges Chipman’s anesthetic research. Cyrus uses Chipman’s scholarly instincts to break through his resistance.
• Chipman and Beijin: Beijin supports his teacher but is increasingly persuaded by Cyrus. Their dynamic reflects the contrast between Chipman’s stubborn loyalty and Beijin’s openness.
• The alchemists and the Alchemy Tower: Their fascination with the Tower’s equipment converts reluctance into enthusiasm, confirming Cyrus’s belief that the facilities will secure their loyalty.
• Cyrus and Qing Tuan: Qing Tuan observes Cyrus’s exuberant celebration of Samuel’s return, providing a humorous contrast to Cyrus’s intense emotions.

Chapter 120 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cyrus begins planning major improvements to medical care in the Desinia Territory, including:
  • Recruiting and training physicians.
  • Establishing hospitals and a Physicians’ Association.
  • Requiring physicians to obtain licenses.
  • Developing standardized diagnostic and treatment procedures.
• Because there are too few qualified medical educators and resources, Cyrus decides to first train alchemists such as Chipman Norton and Yinke Ken to become instructors in medicine and pharmacology.
• In his study, Cyrus receives a financial and political report from Gibran. The Thorn Merchant Guild’s expansion in the Saint Airo Empire is progressing despite interference from the Ed Merchant Guild, largely because of support from Prince Warner and the royal family.
• Gibran also reports that the impoverished southern Yami Kingdom wishes to establish friendly relations with Desinia and purchase a large quantity of plant-based medicines.
• Cyrus meets the Yami envoy and questions what the distant, poor kingdom can offer Desinia in return. He learns that the medicines are supposedly intended for an ill royal family member.
• Rather than simply selling the medicines, Cyrus offers them at a favorable price and includes newly developed medicines. In exchange, he asks the envoy to report on the patient’s condition and the medicines’ effectiveness.
• Cyrus arranges for Qing Tuan to learn the route and carry correspondence between the two countries. He also plans to provide a booklet explaining proper medicine use, disease prevention, isolation, and how to prevent the illness from worsening.
• Cyrus grows suspicious that the Yami Kingdom’s request may be connected to the future epidemic. The large quantity of medicine and the kingdom’s long journey to Desinia seem excessive if only one royal family member is ill.
• Before the Yami convoy departs, the envoy reveals that Light Green, Gaina’s former king, is now living in the Yami Kingdom and recommended Desinia as a source of affordable medicine. Cyrus sends Light Green his greetings.

Character Development

• Cyrus: Shows increasing commitment to reforming medicine and public health. He combines political caution with compassion, using the Yami Kingdom’s request as an opportunity to test new medicines and gather information. His suspicions about a possible epidemic also reveal his foresight and anxiety about events from the original novel.
• Judas: Continues to function as a reliable and trusted butler. His close relationship with the castle’s animals is emphasized, especially when Snowball obediently opens the door for him.
• Gibran: Acts as an efficient financial and political administrator, bringing Cyrus updates about the merchant guild and the Yami diplomatic mission.
• Yami Kingdom envoy: Initially nervous and hesitant because of his country’s weakness, he becomes relieved and grateful after Cyrus agrees to help. He ultimately proves honest by revealing Light Green’s involvement.
• Light Green: Though absent, his continued journey after leaving Gaina is revealed. His recommendation helps the Yami Kingdom gain Cyrus’s assistance and reconnects him to Cyrus’s past.
• The fluffy animals: Snowball, Qing Tuan, and Rice Cake reinforce the warm, domestic atmosphere of Cyrus’s castle and his affectionate relationship with them.

Significant Themes

• Medical reform versus entrenched tradition: Cyrus seeks to replace cruel, ineffective medical practices with evidence-based treatment, professional licensing, and organized education.
• Public health and epidemic prevention: The chapter foreshadows a possible epidemic and emphasizes early treatment, isolation, documentation, and the importance of tracking disease patterns.
• Compassion balanced with strategy: Cyrus helps the poor Yami Kingdom, but he also ensures that the exchange produces useful medical information and strengthens diplomatic ties.
• Unequal international relations: The Saint Airo Empire’s oppression, taxation, and price manipulation leave southern nations impoverished, illustrating the political forces behind the Yami Kingdom’s desperation.
• Trust and communication: Cyrus establishes ongoing correspondence with the Yami Kingdom, using Qing Tuan to overcome distance and maintain reliable information exchange.
• Comfort and responsibility: Cyrus’s cozy study and affectionate interactions with the animals contrast with the serious administrative, medical, and political responsibilities he carries.

Character Interactions

• Cyrus consults with Gibran about trade, guild expansion, and the Yami Kingdom’s request.
• Judas and the animals display their familiar, affectionate routine, with Snowball opening the door and receiving Judas’s attention.
• Cyrus questions the Yami envoy directly, shifting the meeting from a vague request for friendship to a concrete negotiation.
• Cyrus offers the envoy medicines and assistance while requiring reports on the patient’s recovery.
• Qing Tuan’s dramatic entrance frightens the envoy but establishes the means for future communication.
• The envoy’s mention of Light Green links the current diplomatic mission to Cyrus’s past relationship with Gaina’s former king.