Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Following”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner successfully creates two additional Brass Charms after using all the Manhass Monkey brain slices, giving him five newly made charms in total.
• He attends another Beyonder gathering with Detective Isengard, who is disguised as the organizer, Eye of Wisdom.
• Artisan’s Agent offers two Beyonder weapons:
  • Claw of Frost, a powerful claw weapon with regeneration, enhanced physical abilities, poison, and freezing effects, but with a dangerous Full Moon drawback.
  • Cane-Sword, a sturdy cane that transforms into a longsword and boosts strength and agility, though it will permanently become a cane within six months.
• Poison Rose buys the Claw of Frost for 550 pounds. Abner purchases the Cane-Sword for 200 pounds, gaining a practical means of self-defense.
• Abner sells three Words of Confusion Charms, which can briefly daze even Mid-Sequence Beyonders. They sell for a total of 150 pounds, temporarily restoring his finances.
• After the gathering, Abner asks Kaspars about the Wraith he believes was Miss Sharron. Kaspars confirms that she bears Abner no ill will and directs him to Maric if he wants further information.
• Abner follows a suspicious man leaving Grant Clothing Store, apparently Mr. Grant, but loses him at an unlit intersection because of the heavy fog and his poor surveillance skills.
• Detective Isengard teases Abner and suggests he needs formal detective training in addition to mysticism lessons.
• Unable to investigate Mr. Grant himself, Abner asks Xio to follow the man later that night.

Character Development

• Abner becomes more resourceful and commercially minded. He invents the appealing name “Words of Confusion” for his charms and successfully sells them at a high price.
• His purchase of the Cane-Sword shows that he is increasingly aware of his physical weaknesses and the need for reliable self-defense.
• Abner also recognizes his limitations. His failed attempt at surveillance embarrasses him and makes clear that his detective abilities are underdeveloped.
• Detective Isengard continues acting as Abner’s mentor, evaluating the Cane-Sword and humorously criticizing Abner’s investigative shortcomings.
• Kaspars is revealed to be dealing with dangerous Beyonder figures because a rival has found a powerful backer. His situation emphasizes his vulnerability and the risks surrounding him.
• Xio is positioned as a capable investigator whom Abner trusts to handle the surveillance he cannot perform himself.
• Poison Rose remains an important and wealthy participant in the gathering, purchasing both the Claw of Frost and one of Abner’s charms.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and self-preservation: Abner improves his survival prospects by acquiring a weapon and selling charms, rather than relying solely on firearms or mysticism.
• The value of information and skills: Money, weapons, and Beyonder abilities are all useful, but Abner’s failure to follow Mr. Grant shows that practical investigative skills are equally important.
• Resourcefulness amid poverty: Abner repeatedly balances expensive purchases against limited funds, forcing him to create and sell charms to remain financially stable.
• Dangerous alliances and hidden networks: The gathering, Kaspars’s connections, Miss Sharron, and Maric’s group reveal a wider world of powerful and potentially unstable Beyonders.
• Humility and self-awareness: Abner’s willingness to acknowledge his incompetence and seek Xio’s help demonstrates growing maturity.

Character Interactions

• Abner and Isengard interact as student and teacher, with Isengard both supporting Abner and mocking his lack of detective ability.
• Abner competes with another buyer for the Cane-Sword, briefly suspecting that the rival bidder may have been a shill.
• Poison Rose, Black Snake, and a newly arrived participant purchase Abner’s charms, establishing his growing presence in the Beyonder market.
• Kaspars reassures Abner about Miss Sharron and explains that his association with dangerous people is a defensive response to a rival’s new backing.
• Abner asks Xio to conduct surveillance on Mr. Grant, turning to a trusted ally after his own investigation fails.

Summary: “Missing Persons Case (First Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xio agrees to investigate Grant, a clothing-store owner whose suspicious behavior suggests he may be involved in something dangerous rather than having an affair. Abner gives Xio a “Words of Confusion” Brass Charm for protection.
• Abner spends the morning studying at public libraries to broaden his general knowledge and further digest his Reader potion.
• Detective Isengard Stanton unexpectedly summons Abner to assist with a missing-persons investigation in Cherwood Borough.
• At the police station, Sheriff Fasin provides eleven missing-person case files. Abner analyzes them with the help of his

Pure White Eye

• Six cases appear highly mysterious and likely connected.
• Three seem related to human trafficking, possibly involving cultists.
• Two have clearer leads and can be investigated separately.
• Isengard takes responsibility for the six unexplained cases, while Abner is assigned to inspect the scenes of the two cases with clearer evidence.
• At 17 Gravy Street, Abner investigates the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Mr. Little Hattie. His sister Rachel claims that a friend called for him from outside, but the maid insists she heard no one.
• Abner demonstrates that Rachel could not realistically have heard an outside caller over the distance and piano music. He suspects the story was fabricated.
• Examining the boy’s preparations—withdrawn money, essential belongings, and his interest in an expensive doll model—Abner concludes that Little Hattie may have staged his own disappearance to escape home and pursue the doll.

Character Developments

• Xio displays confidence and initiative, drawing on her own experience with secrecy and dangerous activities. She accepts Abner’s protection without formality, showing their growing trust.
• Abner continues developing as both a mysticism scholar and investigator. His observational skills, logical reasoning, and willingness to test witness statements in practice become evident.
• Detective Isengard treats Abner as a genuine investigative assistant, giving him practical training rather than merely academic instruction. His influence within the police force is also revealed.
• Sheriff Fasin shows strong respect for Isengard, suggesting Isengard’s connections and reputation within Sivellaus Yard.
• Aitris, the assigned police officer, initially doubts private detectives but becomes surprised by Abner’s reasoning.
• Little Hattie is reinterpreted from a passive victim into a likely runaway who deliberately created a false explanation for his departure.
• Rachel appears to have lied about the circumstances of her brother’s disappearance, though Abner leaves open the possibility that she was manipulated or merely cooperating with her brother.

Significant Themes

• Investigation through observation and experimentation: Abner does not accept witness accounts at face value; he tests whether Rachel’s version of events is physically plausible.
• Appearances versus reality: The missing-person cases initially seem to form one pattern, but careful analysis reveals several unrelated causes.
• Growing independence and competence: Abner moves beyond book learning into practical detective work, discovering that he enjoys solving cases.
• Trust and mutual protection: Abner and Xio’s relationship reflects loyalty, shared danger, and increasing confidence in one another.
• The limits of conventional thinking: Abner’s idea that someone might “kidnap himself” challenges the assumptions of the police and highlights his imaginative approach.
• Hidden dangers in society: Human trafficking, cult activity, and unexplained disappearances establish a darker background beyond the apparently simple case.

Character Interactions

• Abner and Xio: Abner gives Xio a protective charm, while Xio accepts the assignment to help him and Abner’s acquaintance Jane.
• Abner and Isengard: Their teacher-student relationship becomes more practical as Isengard brings Abner into an active investigation and evaluates his deductions.
• Isengard and Sheriff Fasin: Their friendly, influential relationship allows Isengard to take command of the investigation with little resistance.
• Abner and Aitris: Aitris begins skeptical and confused but is gradually led through Abner’s reasoning about the impossible phone-call-like summons.
• Abner’s investigation of the Hattie family: By comparing Rachel’s statement with the maid’s testimony and the physical layout of the house, Abner exposes inconsistencies and develops the theory that Little Hattie planned his own disappearance.

Chapter Summary: “Doll (Second Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Officer Aitris accepts Abner’s theory that Little Beck Hattie may have staged his own kidnapping, with help from his sister Rachel, to obtain money from their parents.
• At the Hattie residence, the family reveals that they have received a ransom letter supposedly signed by the notorious bandit “Red Ghost” Tannick, demanding £100.
• Abner and Aitris recognize that the ransom seems suspiciously small for someone with Tannick’s reputation, reinforcing the possibility that Beck fabricated the kidnapping.
• Abner intimidates Rachel with his cane and the Pure White Eye, causing her to confess that Beck blackmailed her into helping him lie because he discovered her relationship with Dickert.
• Rachel reveals that Beck intended to obtain money by selling unwanted dolls to a friend named Emlyn.
• The Hatties realize that Beck’s obsession with dolls was the reason behind the entire scheme. Mr. Hattie asks Abner and Aitris to locate Emlyn.
• After leaving the house, Abner notices the family servants carrying the dolls to be burned. One large cat-eared doll triggers a powerful spiritual reaction in him.
• Abner uses the Pure White Eye to analyze the doll but is overwhelmed by a severe headache and collapses. Just before losing consciousness, he sees the Gray Fog.

Character Developments

• Abner continues to demonstrate sharp investigative instincts, correctly identifying inconsistencies in the Hatties’ behavior and exposing Rachel’s involvement. He also experiments with the intimidating effects of his cane and Pure White Eye.
• Officer Aitris becomes more receptive to Abner’s deductions, although she remains annoyed by his habit of stating obvious possibilities and provoking suspects.
• Rachel Hattie is revealed to be weak-willed and easily pressured. Though initially complicit in Beck’s deception, she breaks under Abner’s interrogation and exposes the truth.
• Mr. Hattie shifts from suspicion and defensiveness to cooperation once he realizes his son orchestrated the scheme.
• Mrs. Hattie remains fiercely protective of Beck and emotionally volatile, prioritizing her son’s welfare over uncovering his wrongdoing.
• Little Beck Hattie is established as spoiled, manipulative, and obsessed with dolls, having exploited his sister and deceived his parents for money.
• Abner’s connection to the mysterious cat-eared doll is introduced, suggesting that it may play an important role in his future or Fate.

Significant Themes

• Deception and family dysfunction: Beck’s “kidnapping” exposes dishonesty, favoritism, and poor communication within the Hattie family.
• The danger of obsession: Beck’s fixation on dolls leads him to manipulate his sister and fabricate a crime.
• Investigation versus appearances: Abner looks beyond the family’s claims, using behavioral clues and psychological pressure to uncover the truth.
• Hidden supernatural significance: The ordinary-looking doll appears connected to Abner’s destiny, emphasizing that seemingly mundane objects may conceal powerful mysteries.
• Fate and higher powers: Abner’s vision of the Gray Fog suggests a deeper connection between the doll and the mysterious supernatural forces surrounding him.

Important Character Interactions

• Abner and Aitris debate the possibility that Beck staged his kidnapping, with Aitris gradually accepting his reasoning.
• The investigators confront Mr. and Mrs. Hattie about the ransom demand, while Mrs. Hattie angrily rejects their involvement.
• Abner pressures Rachel into confessing, revealing both Beck’s blackmail and her relationship with Dickert.
• Mr. Hattie confronts Rachel about Beck’s whereabouts and then asks the investigators to find Emlyn.
• Aitris mocks Abner’s unusually heavy cane after witnessing its destructive effect.
• Abner encounters the cat-eared doll as the Hattie servants prepare to burn it, leading directly to his collapse and vision of the Gray Fog.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner awakens after more than six hours of sleep, still suffering from a severe headache and depleted Spirituality. Detective Isengard reveals that Abner had nearly lost control when the police brought him back.
• Abner explains that a Beyonder item caused a backlash while he was observing something connected to a powerful existence. Internally, he wonders why he survived without becoming a Monster, considering whether the Pure White Eye, divine protection, or his otherworldly soul saved him.
• After Isengard leaves, Abner recalls seeing the Gray Fog through the analyzed puppet. He realizes the puppet was connected to Sefirah Castle—or possibly the Celestial Worthy—and understands that he narrowly escaped death.
• Abner deduces that such objects may be connected to the Gray Fog like the “Red Stars” associated with Sefirah Castle. Although his discovery cannot immediately create a true connection, it may allow him to design rituals that help him contact the future Tarot Club indirectly and safely.
• Meanwhile, Xio investigates a man secretly collecting corpses in the East Borough. She suspects he is a Corpse Collector using the Acting Method, possibly connected to the Numinous Episcopate.
• The corpse collector discovers Xio, but both reveal that they possess identical Brass Charms from Abner. The man explains that he is gathering the bodies of impoverished vagrants to bury them and intends to perform a Requiem ritual.
• Recognizing his inexperience and trusting nature, Xio agrees to observe and protect him during the ritual.
• The following morning, Abner’s Spirituality has fully recovered. He leaves to pursue the missing-person cases assigned by Detective Isengard and meets Xio in the East Borough.
• Xio reports her encounter and describes the corpse collector as knowledgeable but naïve. Abner realizes that the man is Mr. Grant, the father of his classmate, and likely the person who purchased his last Brass Charm.

Character Developments

• Abner: Becomes more cautious about the dangers of analyzing high-level mystical objects. He deepens his understanding of the Gray Fog, Sefirah Castle, and possible methods of safely contacting the future Klein. He continues concealing his secrets from Isengard while maintaining a frightened, innocent façade.
• Detective Isengard: Shows strong concern for Abner and recognizes that his student is hiding important information, though he chooses not to pressure him directly.
• Xio: Demonstrates growing confidence in investigation and Beyonder matters. She applies Abner’s Acting Method theory, identifies a possible Corpse Collector, and shows compassion by protecting the inexperienced man rather than immediately treating him as a threat.
• Mr. Grant: Is revealed to be a likely low-sequence Beyonder who uses the Acting Method by collecting and burying corpses. His mystical knowledge contrasts with his poor judgment and openness toward strangers.

Significant Themes

• The danger of forbidden knowledge: Abner’s attempt to analyze the puppet nearly destroys his Spirituality and exposes him to terrifyingly powerful entities.
• Identity and otherworldliness: Abner questions whether his soul’s origin outside this universe protects him from madness and corruption.
• Caution versus recklessness: Abner recognizes the need for indirect contact with powerful figures, while Mr. Grant’s naïveté illustrates the dangers of lacking caution in the Beyonder world.
• Compassion amid hardship: Xio’s willingness to help bury the corpses of starving and freezing vagrants highlights humanity and kindness in the impoverished East Borough.
• The Acting Method: Both Xio and Mr. Grant provide practical examples of how Beyonders embody their pathways, reinforcing the method’s importance.

Important Character Interactions

• Abner and Isengard: Isengard interrogates and reprimands Abner over his near-loss of control, while Abner deliberately withholds the truth.
• Xio and Mr. Grant: Their tense confrontation becomes cooperative after they realize both possess Abner’s Brass Charm. Xio accepts his explanation and offers protection during his Requiem ritual.
• Abner and Xio: Xio notices Abner’s poor condition and shares her investigation results. Her report allows Abner to identify the mysterious corpse collector as Mr. Grant.

Chapter Summary: “Dreams of Adventure”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner realizes that Mr. Grant’s knowledge of the Corpse Collector pathway and the Acting Method likely came from Patrick Brain, a nominal representative of the Numinous Episcopate and a genuine Demigod. Abner concludes that investigating Brain would be dangerously beyond his abilities and abandons the matter.
• Xio tells Abner that Fors’s new book, Stormy Manor, has been published. Abner congratulates Fors and Xio, noting that Xio is moving closer to entering noble society and uncovering the truth behind her father’s death.
• Back at the Cherwood Borough police station, Officer Aitris reveals that he carried Abner—and Abner’s unusually heavy cane—back after Abner fainted. Their conversation develops into sarcastic, friend-like bickering.
• Aitris also explains that Emlyn White has been detained for questioning regarding Mr. Little Hattie’s kidnapping case. Emlyn is released after his Lawyer arrives, but he exchanges insults with Aitris, who mocks his family and suggests he was switched at birth. Abner prevents the quarrel from escalating.
• Aitris admits that he never wanted to become a police officer; he wanted to be an adventurer, but became one because of his father, Sheriff Fasin.
• Abner investigates another missing-person case and determines that the supposedly missing girl, Tiel Swiger—actually Annie Gwen—ran away from home after resisting an arranged marriage. She obtained a false male identity and went to sea in search of adventure. Abner closes the case after informing her parents.
• Meanwhile, Isengard Stanton and Sheriff Fasin investigate a horrifying scene in which human body parts are scattered throughout an alley. Isengard notices evidence suggesting the involvement of zombies.
• Isengard later informs Abner that their commission has ended. The remaining missing-person cases have been transferred to the Mandated Punishers because they are connected to a fugitive previously overlooked by that organization.

Character Developments

• Abner demonstrates caution and sound judgment by abandoning his investigation into Patrick Brain after recognizing the danger of confronting a Demigod. He also shows strong deductive ability in solving the runaway girl’s disappearance.
• Xio has gained a clearer purpose and renewed hope in pursuing the truth about her father’s death, largely because of Abner’s guidance.
• Aitris is established as abrasive, sarcastic, and confrontational, but also helpful and somewhat frustrated with his life as a police officer. His forgotten ambition to become an adventurer adds depth to his character.
• Emlyn White displays his characteristic arrogance and contempt, remaining largely unfazed by Aitris’s insults. His appearance foreshadows his future importance as the “Moon” of the Tarot Club.
• Isengard Stanton remains calm and competent while investigating the gruesome crime scene, relying on his Beyonder abilities to maintain composure.
• Annie Gwen/Tiel Swiger is portrayed as independent, rebellious, and courageous for escaping an unwanted marriage and pursuing a life at sea.

Significant Themes

• Caution in the Beyonder world: Abner recognizes that knowledge and power are dangerous, and that even investigating a Demigod can have fatal consequences.
• Freedom and adventure: Annie’s escape and Aitris’s unrealized dream both reflect the desire to break away from social expectations and pursue an adventurous life.
• Appearances versus reality: Several identities and situations are misleading: Grant may be connected to a Demigod, Annie hides behind a male identity, and the apparent missing-person cases conceal a larger supernatural crime.
• Friendship through conflict: Abner and Aitris’s constant sarcasm masks increasing familiarity, while Aitris’s clash with Emlyn highlights contrasting forms of arrogance.
• The hidden supernatural world: Ordinary police work gradually intersects with zombies, Beyonder organizations, and supernatural fugitives, showing how close the occult world is to everyday life.

Character Interactions

• Abner and Xio share a supportive conversation about Fors’s publication and Xio’s investigation into her father’s death.
• Abner and Aitris exchange sarcastic remarks, with Abner recognizing their interaction as resembling an argument between familiar friends.
• Aitris and Emlyn engage in an escalating exchange of insults, with Aitris provoking Emlyn about his family and Emlyn responding with contempt.
• Abner restrains Aitris and prevents the dispute from becoming physical.
• Abner and Isengard discuss the unresolved missing-person cases, learning that the Mandated Punishers have assumed responsibility because of their connection to a supernatural fugitive.

Chapter Summary: “Siege (First Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kaspars reports to Maric that Jason, a member of the Rose School’s Indulgence Faction, has recently murdered several people in Cherwood Borough. The police have discovered an alley filled with human remains and transferred the case to the Mandated Punishers.
• Maric and Miss Sharron conclude that Jason’s injuries have intensified his hunger for human flesh, but they also suspect he knowingly committed the murders because he believed he could evade both the Mandated Punishers and their own pursuit. Sharron goes to Cherwood Borough to monitor the situation.
• Abner and Xio practice shooting and combat at a police station’s underground range because they can no longer safely use the abandoned manor. Abner also begins learning basic longsword techniques from Xio.
• Abner informs Jane that her father has not been having an affair. He disguises the truth about her father’s corpse-related activities by explaining that the man performs nighttime volunteer work helping the homeless. Jane accepts the explanation, relieved that her family life remains intact.
• While studying Night’s Revelation in the public library, Abner reflects on the world’s origins and whether his Pure White Eye might eventually trace all things back to the primordial Creator. This thought triggers the complete digestion of his Reader Potion, achieved after only two weeks.
• The Mandated Punishers pursue Jason in an area sealed off from ordinary reality. Two Wind-blessed agents attack him while their captain maintains the Barrier. Jason discovers what appears to be an escape route, but it is revealed to be a trap.
• A lightning strike severely injures Jason. Just before the Punishers can finish him, a Werewolf breaks through the Barrier, rescues Jason, and escapes despite sustaining heavy damage.
• The Mandated Punishers’ captain admits that the Rose School used a Wraith to restrain or distract him. Miss Sharron is implied to be the Wraith observing the battle.
• The injured Werewolf eventually collapses, forcing Jason to carry it. Jason reaches a clothing store’s backyard, setting up the next stage of the confrontation.

Character Developments

• Maric demonstrates calm, analytical leadership. He correctly recognizes that Jason’s behavior reflects both physical injury and the Indulgence Faction’s dangerous impulses.
• Miss Sharron takes an active role in the pursuit, volunteering to monitor the Mandated Punishers and later using her Wraith abilities to interfere with their captain.
• Abner continues developing as an investigator and Beyonder. He improves his firearms and swordsmanship, handles Jane’s investigation tactfully, and achieves a major advancement when his Reader Potion is fully digested.
• Xio acts as Abner’s combat instructor. Although not an expert swordswoman, her knight training gives her enough knowledge to teach him the fundamentals.
• Jane reveals her strong trust in Abner and her desire to preserve the stability of her family. She readily accepts his explanation because she does not want to believe her father has betrayed the family.
• Jason is shown to be dangerously unstable, driven by hunger and malice, yet still capable of strategic thinking. Even after severe injury, he recognizes the trap set by the Punishers and survives through Rose School assistance.
• The Mandated Punishers’ captain is portrayed as powerful but cautious and self-critical. He acknowledges that the Wraith’s interference allowed Jason to escape.
• The Werewolf displays extreme loyalty and resilience by rescuing Jason despite being wounded by multiple attacks.

Significant Themes

• Predation and loss of restraint: Jason’s injuries intensify his cannibalistic urges, illustrating how physical and spiritual damage can erode self-control.
• Strategy versus brute force: The battle is determined not only by strength but by barriers, traps, deception, and coordinated supernatural abilities.
• Hidden truths and protective lies: Abner conceals the disturbing reality of Jane’s father’s activities, showing how truth can be softened to protect someone emotionally.
• Knowledge and transcendence: Abner’s meditation on creation and the Oldest One leads directly to the digestion of his potion, linking intellectual understanding with supernatural advancement.
• Factional conflict and sacrifice: The Rose School and the Mandated Punishers clash through coordinated operations, with both sides using members as distractions, rescuers, and tactical assets.
• The instability of reality: The sealed battlefield, the Barrier, and the Wraith’s interference emphasize that supernatural conflicts can occur outside ordinary perception.

Character Interactions

• Kaspars and Maric: Kaspars delivers intelligence about Jason, while Maric evaluates the implications and prepares a response.
• Maric and Sharron: They calmly discuss Jason’s behavior and coordinate their pursuit, with Sharron taking responsibility for observing the Punishers.
• Abner and Aitris: Aitris teases Abner about bringing Xio to the shooting range, though his unusually subdued mood limits his usual insults.
• Abner and Xio: They train together, with Xio providing firearms and sword-combat instruction.
• Abner and Jane: Abner resolves Jane’s suspicion about her father through a carefully constructed explanation, preserving her confidence and emotional stability.
• Jason and the Mandated Punishers: Their pursuit becomes a battle of endurance and tactics, culminating in Jason’s apparent escape.
• Jason and the Werewolf: The Werewolf rescues Jason, but after collapsing from its injuries, Jason carries it, showing a reciprocal bond between members of the Indulgence Faction.
• The Punishers and the unseen Wraith: The Wraith’s interference prevents the captain from fully controlling the battlefield and enables Jason’s escape.

Sequence 8 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner finishes digesting the Reader Potion, attributing his rapid progress to the Pure White Eye and his broad knowledge from his previous life. He realizes that analyzing the world and its rules effectively constituted “Acting.”
• At Isengard Stanton’s home, Abner prepares and consumes the Sequence 8 Detective Potion, successfully advancing despite its unpleasant taste and mild physical pain.
• As a Detective, Abner gains improved observation, reading comprehension, deduction, logical analysis, and Spirit Vision. He studies the spiritual layers of a person and considers the dangers of combining Spirit Vision with the Pure White Eye, fearing it might analyze the entire Spirit World.
• After testing the Pure White Eye, Abner discovers that its activation limit has increased to approximately one minute and ten seconds. While using it, his abilities approach those of a Sequence 7 Keeper of Knowledge, including Weapon Proficiency, Combat Master, and Scene Replay.
• Abner experiments with the “Unsheathe” spell, transforming his cane into a saber. Though his enhanced combat abilities are temporary, he is thrilled to finally possess meaningful fighting strength.
• Elsewhere, Miss Sharron reports to Maric that the Rose School’s Jason, Tyr, and Steve escaped the Mandated Punishers’ ambush but were seriously injured. Maric plans to raid their hiding place in Cherwood Borough the following night, while Sharron continues surveillance.
• The Mandated Punishers fail to locate the fugitives because Sharron erased or confused their traces. Their captain orders police to report suspicious murders and disappearances, anticipating that the Indulgence Faction’s supernatural instincts may lead them to commit further crimes. He also spreads news of their injuries through independent Beyonder networks.
• Isengard returns home expecting to tell Abner about the Tyrant faction’s setback, only to be shocked that Abner has already advanced to Detective in just two weeks.

Character Developments

• Abner advances from Reader to Detective and gains a much stronger grasp of deduction, mysticism, Spirit Vision, and ritual magic. His Pure White Eye becomes more powerful, briefly granting him abilities close to those of a Sequence 7 Beyonder.
• Abner’s confidence and excitement grow as he realizes he can now defend himself in combat, although his strongest abilities remain limited by the Pure White Eye’s short duration.
• Maric becomes more proactive and ruthless after learning that the enemy is badly wounded. He begins organizing a retaliatory raid.
• Sharron demonstrates her effectiveness as a tracker and intelligence-gatherer, following Tyr while also obscuring the fugitives’ trail.
• The Mandated Punishers’ captain responds strategically to the failed pursuit, using police surveillance and information networks instead of relying solely on direct investigation.
• Isengard is positioned as a mentor who is impressed and surprised by Abner’s unusually rapid advancement.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge as power: Abner’s education, analysis, and understanding of worldly rules directly accelerate his advancement on the Reader pathway.
• The value and danger of supernatural abilities: The Pure White Eye greatly strengthens Abner but carries serious risks, particularly if used on the Spirit World.
• Preparation versus temporary strength: Abner can briefly rival stronger Beyonders, but his power is constrained by limited activation time, emphasizing the need for strategy and restraint.
• Pursuit and concealment: The conflict between the Mandated Punishers and the Rose School highlights tracking, counter-tracking, misinformation, and the importance of intelligence.
• Escalating faction conflict: The injured Rose School members and the planned raid suggest that the struggle between the factions is entering a more violent phase.

Character Interactions

• Abner has no direct interaction with Isengard during the latter’s absence, but his advancement is deliberately carried out in his teacher’s laboratory.
• Sharron reports the fugitives’ condition and location to Maric. Their brief exchange shows mutual trust and a coordinated plan: Maric prepares the assault while Sharron maintains surveillance.
• The Mandated Punishers’ captain directs his subordinate and coordinates broader police and Beyonder networks to locate the enemy.
• The chapter ends with the anticipated reunion between Abner and Isengard, whose surprise underscores how extraordinary Abner’s rapid progression has been.

Prelude (First Update) — Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner’s teacher, Detective Isengard Stanton, realizes that Abner already knows the Acting Method for digesting Beyonder potions. Isengard reveals that he discovered the method only after years of stagnation and a forced advancement, and acknowledges that Abner’s future is likely brighter than his own.
• Isengard reports that the Mandated Punishers failed to capture members of the Rose School, even after deploying a powerful Grade 2 Sealed Artifact. The artifact created an isolated space that concealed the battle from Abner and others nearby.
• At the Grant family’s clothing store, Mr. Grant wakes from a disturbing nightmare but detects no supernatural presence. Meanwhile, Rose School members Steve the Wraith, Tyr, and Jason the Zombie secretly prepare to attack the household. Tyr struggles to suppress his violent urges, while Steve and Jason insist that they wait until their trap succeeds.
• Abner learns that Aitris has abandoned her police career to pursue her dream of becoming an adventurer. Though her colleagues mock her decision, Abner and Xio sympathize with her.
• During his regular training with Xio, Abner demonstrates a dramatic improvement in shooting and swordsmanship after advancing to Sequence 8. Xio barely defeats him in sparring.
• Xio gives Abner an advance copy of Fors’s newly published novel, Stormy Manor. The book has received an excellent response, though Fors is avoiding public literary salons despite opportunities to promote herself.
• Isengard assigns Abner to organize clues and connections in various strange cases as practical training for his Detective Acting. He also emphasizes preparation and the importance of maintaining a polished, deductive image.
• The chapter ends with Maric leaving Bravehearts Bar with his Zombie, suggesting that another supernatural operation is about to begin.

Character Developments

• Abner: Advances to Sequence 8 and rapidly improves his physical combat abilities. He continues hiding the full extent of his knowledge from Isengard, while becoming more involved in investigative work and thinking about his own uncertain ambitions.
• Detective Isengard: Recognizes Abner’s unusual talent and maturity. He begins treating him more like a true Detective by giving him investigative responsibilities, while revealing more about his own difficult path to advancement.
• Xio: Remains supportive of Abner and proud of Fors’s success. Her commitment to personal ideals is shown through her defense of Aitris’s decision to pursue her dream.
• Aitris: Leaves the police force to become an adventurer, choosing personal ambition over a secure promotion.
• Fors: Gains literary fame through Stormy Manor but continues to avoid social obligations and public appearances.
• Steve, Tyr, and Jason: Are established as dangerous Rose School agents preparing a planned attack. Tyr is openly bloodthirsty and close to losing control, while Steve and Jason act more cautiously and strategically.
• Mr. Grant: Displays heightened sensitivity as a Beyonder but remains unaware of the danger gathering around his family.

Significant Themes

• The Acting Method and personal growth: Abner’s progress reflects the importance of understanding and embodying one’s role rather than merely acquiring power.
• Dreams versus security: Aitris’s departure raises the value of pursuing one’s ambitions instead of accepting a safe but unsuitable life. This also prompts Abner to question his own ultimate goals.
• Preparation and deduction: Isengard’s investigative philosophy emphasizes gathering knowledge in advance so that one can respond confidently when danger or opportunity arises.
• Hidden supernatural conflict: Ordinary locations conceal battles, conspiracies, and threats that normal people cannot perceive.
• Self-control versus instinct: Tyr’s violent impulses contrast with the restraint required for strategy and survival.
• Public image and performance: Fors’s reluctance to appear publicly and Isengard’s emphasis on elegance and presentation both highlight how reputation and outward behavior affect success.

Character Interactions

• Isengard and Abner discuss the Acting Method, establishing mutual awareness but also respecting personal secrets.
• Isengard recounts the Mandated Punishers’ failure, allowing Abner to learn about the hidden use of a powerful Sealed Artifact.
• Steve restrains Tyr’s urge to massacre the Grant family, while Jason offers Tyr a corpse to keep him calm until the planned attack.
• Abner and Xio discuss Aitris’s decision, with both defending the right to pursue one’s dreams.
• Xio presents Abner with Stormy Manor, and they jokingly discuss Fors’s success and her avoidance of literary salons.
• Isengard begins formally training Abner through case analysis, strengthening their teacher-student relationship.

Chapter Summary: “Brutal (Second Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tyr, the Werewolf, waits in the warehouse with Jason and Steve, barely restraining his bloodlust. Once Steve gives the signal, Tyr transforms and attacks the Grant family’s residence.
• Mr. Grant senses the danger and tries to protect his wife, but Tyr overwhelms him. A mystical ring summons a Spirit World creature that blocks Tyr’s first attack, though Mr. Grant is severely thrown through the store.
• Tyr captures Mrs. Grant and brutally kills her while their daughter, Jane, witnesses the attack. When Tyr turns on Jane, Mr. Grant uses a “Words of Confusion” charm to incapacitate him temporarily.
• Realizing he cannot save both himself and Jane, Mr. Grant blows a mystical copper whistle given to him by Mr. Brain. The whistle summons a vast black fog and releases a Demigod-level aura, while gradually sacrificing Mr. Grant’s life.
• Meanwhile, Jason attempts to trap Miss Sharron. He reveals that the Mandated Punishers’ earlier attack on him and the others was staged to make them appear weak and lure Sharron into striking.
• Sharron possesses Jason, but Steve activates the “Scarlet Lunar Corona,” a crimson Full Moon artifact that suppresses her powers and weakens her. Jason moves to capture her.
• Maric intervenes with a Holy Flame, rescuing Sharron and attempting to flee. Steve uses death-related spells to restrain him, but Maric frees himself with a purification charm.
• The black fog from Mr. Grant’s whistle obscures and eventually destroys the Scarlet Lunar Corona. Its disappearance restores Sharron and Maric’s strength while Steve suffers backlash.
• Sharron uses her Wraith abilities to rescue Jane and Mr. Grant’s corpse. Maric carries them away, allowing the pair to escape before official Beyonders arrive.
• The Indulgence Faction members—Tyr, Jason, and Steve—withdraw rather than risk confronting the authorities, who are expected to investigate the Demigod-level disturbance.
• In Hillston District, Abner awakens after sensing the explosion of Demigod power and finds his teacher watching the disturbance from the window.

Character Developments

• Tyr fully gives in to his Werewolf instincts, becoming a sadistic and nearly mindless embodiment of violence. His attack demonstrates how little control he retains over his bloodlust.
• Mr. Grant shifts from desperate defender to self-sacrificing father. Despite his grief and injuries, he prioritizes Jane’s survival and gives his life to summon help.
• Jane is traumatized by witnessing her mother’s murder and nearly becoming Tyr’s next victim, but is ultimately rescued by Sharron and Maric.
• Miss Sharron is initially caught in Jason and Steve’s trap, but recovers once the Scarlet Lunar Corona is neutralized. She demonstrates compassion by risking herself to save Jane and preserve Mr. Grant’s remains.
• Maric acts decisively to protect Sharron, enduring the effects of the Full Moon’s influence and using his charms to escape Steve’s restraints.
• Jason and Steve reveal the careful planning behind their ambush, but their apparent victory collapses when Mr. Grant’s sacrifice summons a power beyond their control.
• Abner becomes aware that the conflict has escalated to a level involving Demigod powers, foreshadowing official intervention.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and parental love: Mr. Grant willingly gives up his life to save Jane, making his final act the emotional center of the chapter.
• The loss of humanity: Tyr’s transformation shows how uncontrolled desire and malice can erase reason and turn a person into a monster.
• Traps and counter-traps: Both sides rely on deception, hidden artifacts, and staged weakness, emphasizing the strategic nature of Beyonder conflicts.
• The danger of forbidden power: The Scarlet Lunar Corona and the sacrificial whistle both provide immense power but carry severe consequences for their users and surroundings.
• Compassion amid brutality: Sharron’s decision to rescue Jane and Mr. Grant’s body contrasts sharply with the Indulgence Faction’s cruelty.
• Official authority versus secret organizations: The threat of nearby official Beyonders forces the Indulgence Faction and Sharron’s group to retreat before the battle can continue.

Character Interactions

• Tyr and Jason: Jason restrains Tyr at first, but Tyr’s bloodlust quickly overwhelms Jason’s control.
• Tyr and the Grant family: Tyr murders Mrs. Grant and nearly kills Jane, while Mr. Grant repeatedly risks himself to protect them.
• Mr. Grant and Mr. Brain: Mr. Brain’s earlier gifts—the mystical ring and copper whistle—become crucial to Mr. Grant’s defense and final sacrifice.
• Jason and Sharron: Jason attempts to imprison Sharron after revealing that he deliberately baited her into the ambush, but her possession attack and later recovery disrupt his plan.
• Steve, Sharron, and Maric: Steve uses the Scarlet Lunar Corona and deathly restraints against them, while Maric repeatedly intervenes to protect Sharron.
• Sharron, Maric, and Jane: After escaping the trap, Sharron saves Jane and Mr. Grant’s corpse, and Maric carries them to safety.
• Abner and his teacher: Their brief exchange establishes that the Demigod-level event has been detected from afar and will likely trigger a larger response.

Chapter Summary: “Rewind (First Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner learns from the newspaper that Grant Clothing Store was attacked. Mrs. Grant was killed, while Mr. Grant and Jane were reported missing and presumed kidnapped.
• He connects the attack’s timing and location to the Demigod-level power that erupted the previous night and worries that Jane’s family became caught in a supernatural conflict.
• Abner visits the crime scene and uses his Pure White Eye and Scene Replay abilities to investigate.
• A police officer’s attempt to conceal a melted piece of copper reveals that it is Abner’s former Brass Charm. The charm’s spiritual traces allow Abner to reconstruct the battle:
  • Mr. Grant was attacked by a black-furred monster.
  • He used the Brass Charm and later summoned a vast black mist through a whistle.
  • Mr. Grant was killed.
  • A female ghost, recognized as Miss Sharron, rescued Jane.
  • An elderly Storm-affiliated man descended from the sky and took the whistle.
• The Mandated Punishers determine that the clothing store was the site of a clash between the Rose School of Thought’s Temperance and Indulgence Factions. They begin searching for the Indulgence members, the Grant family, information about Mr. Grant’s Beyonder connections, and details on the Scarlet Lunar Corona.
• Abner notices a carriage belonging to Mr. Brain, a person admired by Mr. Grant, leaving the area, suggesting a possible lead.
• Back at Detective Isengard’s home, Abner asks to borrow Sealed Artifact 2-081 so he can analyze higher-Sequence Reader pathway potion formulas and advance more quickly.

Character Developments

• Abner is deeply shaken by Jane’s disappearance and frustrated by his inability to protect her. The incident forces him to recognize the gap between his current abilities and the power of Mid-Sequence or higher Beyonders.
• His investigation demonstrates his growing competence as a “Detective” and Keeper of Knowledge. He successfully uncovers events that official investigators cannot fully reconstruct.
• Abner’s priorities shift decisively toward becoming stronger. Rather than waiting for a convenient opportunity, he resolves to pursue the Sequence 7 and Sequence 6 Reader formulas immediately.
• Jane is revealed to have survived the attack, at least temporarily, thanks to Miss Sharron’s intervention.
• Mr. Grant is shown to have possessed hidden Beyonder abilities and several artifacts. His desperate resistance and sacrifice helped save Jane, though the full reason for his involvement remains unknown.
• Susan, Roman, and Caster, Jane’s friends and Abner’s former classmates, show genuine concern. Susan especially comforts Abner and reminds him that the tragedy is not his fault.
• Detective Isengard provides emotional support and quietly shares intelligence, while his willingness to lend 2-081 may help Abner advance.

Significant Themes

• Powerlessness and responsibility: Abner’s distress comes not only from fearing for Jane but from realizing that good intentions and investigative ability are insufficient against supernatural forces.
• The need for strength: The attack convinces Abner that remaining weak leaves both himself and his friends vulnerable to disasters beyond their control.
• Truth versus incomplete knowledge: Official authorities can identify the factions involved but cannot replay the highest-level events. Abner’s personal evidence gives him a clearer, though still incomplete, understanding.
• Sacrifice and protection: Mr. Grant’s final actions and Miss Sharron’s rescue of Jane highlight the ways characters protect others through desperate sacrifice or unexpected mercy.
• Hidden supernatural conflicts: Ordinary people and locations can become collateral damage in battles between secret organizations and powerful Beyonders.

Character Interactions

• Abner speaks with Susan, Roman, and Caster at the cordoned-off store. Their shared concern for Jane strengthens the sense of their longstanding friendship.
• Susan notices Abner’s emotional and physical strain and comforts him, interpreting his worry as romantic affection for Jane.
• Abner privately reflects that his feelings for Jane are based on admiration for her innocent, cheerful personality rather than romantic love.
• Abner consults Isengard, who reassures him that Jane is likely alive and temporarily safe.
• Abner then makes a direct request to Isengard for access to 2-081, marking a new step in their teacher-student relationship and in Abner’s determination to grow stronger.

Chapter Summary: Jane’s Choice

Key Plot Points and Events

• Detective Isengard warns Abner not to act impulsively while pursuing his goals. He allows Abner to enter the storage room for one hour each night at ten o’clock to study the Sealed Artifact “2-081.”
• In the apartment near Bravehearts Bar, Jane mourns over her father’s corpse. Maric and Sharron explain that her father’s death helped them escape and offer compensation:
  • Money, a new identity, and a fresh start elsewhere.
  • The opportunity to become a Beyonder and seek revenge.
• Jane chooses the dangerous second option. Rather than waiting for a properly prepared Prisoner Potion, she decides to consume her father’s Beyonder Characteristic and follow his path as a Corpse Collector.
• Despite Maric’s warning about the danger of losing control, Jane drinks the prepared Beyonder Characteristic without hesitation. Sharron supports her decision, impressed by her resolve.
• Later, Abner receives a telegram from Kaspars asking him to come to Bravehearts Bar. Concerned that Maric and Sharron may be involved, Abner consults Isengard before leaving.
• Isengard reassures Abner that he can protect himself and lends him a powerful transforming hat. The hat grants underwater breathing and quasi-spells involving water and wind, though it causes thirst and weakness on land.
• Kaspars tells Abner that someone wants to meet him—specifically, a “little girl.” Abner correctly suspects Jane and follows Kaspars to the apartment where he once prepared his Sequence 9 potion.
• The chapter ends as Abner enters the familiar building to meet Jane.

Character Developments

• Abner: Shows growing caution and maturity. He values Isengard’s advice, recognizes the potential danger posed by Maric and Sharron, and prepares backup measures before meeting them. He also continues progressing toward Sequence 7.
• Detective Isengard: Demonstrates a protective but respectful mentorship style. He does not pry into Abner’s plans, yet provides practical warnings, access to a Sealed Artifact, and the defensive hat.
• Jane: Transforms from a grieving daughter into someone driven by determination and revenge. She rejects safety and anonymity, choosing instead to inherit her father’s Beyonder path so she can remain connected to him and pursue those responsible.
• Maric: Acts responsibly by explaining Jane’s choices and warning her about the risks of directly consuming the Beyonder Characteristic. He remains calm and practical but ultimately accepts her decision.
• Sharron: Shows little emotion but supports Jane’s resolve, believing her determination is sufficient justification for taking the risk.
• Kaspars: Continues to serve as a trustworthy intermediary, arranging Abner’s meeting with Jane while hinting that Maric remains in hiding.

Significant Themes

• Caution versus impatience: Isengard’s warning emphasizes that advancement and power must be pursued methodically. Jane’s decision contrasts sharply with this philosophy, as she deliberately chooses a faster but more dangerous route.
• Grief and revenge: Jane’s mourning becomes a motive for transformation. Her desire to avenge her father outweighs concerns for her own safety.
• Inheritance and identity: By choosing her father’s Beyonder path, Jane attempts to preserve his presence and continue his unfinished life.
• Mentorship and protection: Isengard protects Abner without controlling him, while Maric and Sharron offer Jane choices rather than forcing her into a particular future.
• Power and its consequences: The chapter highlights that gaining supernatural abilities always involves risk, whether through Sealed Artifacts, potions, or unstable Beyonder Characteristics.

Character Interactions

• Isengard and Abner share a respectful teacher-student relationship built on trust, with Isengard offering guidance while allowing Abner independence.
• Maric and Sharron discuss Jane’s future and the consequences of her father’s death, balancing compensation with concern for her safety.
• Jane firmly confronts Maric and rejects an ordinary life, forcing him and Sharron to acknowledge her determination.
• Abner consults Isengard before meeting Kaspars, showing that he trusts his teacher’s judgment.
• Kaspars acts as the bridge between Abner and Jane, leading Abner to the apartment where Jane’s new path—and their next interaction—will begin.

Chapter Summary: “Parting” (First Update)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner visits Jane and is shocked by how drastically she has changed after becoming a Sequence 9 Corpse Collector. Her hair and complexion have deteriorated, and her formerly cheerful eyes have become cold and corpse-like, suggesting problems during her advancement.
• Jane confirms that she knowingly consumed Mr. Grant’s Beyonder Characteristic despite warnings from Sharron and Maric. Her goal is to avenge her murdered parents by killing the Werewolf responsible and destroying the Rose School.
• Abner explains that he hid the truth about her father and his own Beyonder identity because he wanted to protect her from the danger and madness associated with the Beyonder path. Jane is hurt by the deception but still trusts him.
• Jane reveals that Sharron and Maric have arranged for her to stay temporarily in Enmat Harbor while they evade enemies and the authorities. She asks Abner to retrieve assets her father hid in Saint George Borough, since she cannot safely leave.
• Abner investigates the house at 16 Chapel Street, cautiously entering only after using his abilities to ensure it is not an ambush. A ghostly guardian attacks him, but he defeats it with Wind Blades, binding abilities, and his Cane-Sword.
• In the basement, Abner discovers Mr. Grant’s hidden supplies: 500 gold pounds, valuable jewelry and gemstones, the Corpse Collector and Gravedigger potion formulas, and a false Bayam identity document. He returns everything to Jane.
• Jane plans to leave Backlund that afternoon to avoid detection and begin growing stronger. Abner promises to visit her in Enmat Harbor, though he does not accompany her departure to avoid drawing attention.
• After Jane leaves, Abner focuses on his studies, commissions, and analysis of 2-081. Over the following weeks, his work handling minor cases earns him a small neighborhood reputation.
• The chapter ends when an exceptionally beautiful and charming woman arrives at Detective Isengard Stanton’s office, setting up the next development.

Character Developments

• Jane undergoes a dramatic physical and emotional transformation because of her unstable advancement. Although the Potion’s influence makes her appear frightening and emotionally distant, her core personality, reasoning, and desire for revenge remain intact.
• Jane’s grief hardens into determination. She is willing to endure danger and possible madness to avenge her parents, even acknowledging that she may never regain her former innocence and happiness.
• Jane develops deep trust in Abner, viewing him as the only person she can safely rely on. At the same time, she struggles with resentment toward Sharron and Maric because of their connection to the Rose School, despite recognizing that they helped save her.
• Abner acts as Jane’s protector and emotional anchor. He remains calm and accepting despite her frightening appearance, reassures her that her resentment is understandable, and warns her about the risks of the Beyonder path.
• Abner demonstrates increasing caution and competence by carefully investigating the hidden house, defeating its supernatural guardian, preserving evidence, and avoiding actions that might expose either himself or Jane.
• Jane’s departure creates a temporary emotional separation between the two friends, but Abner maintains hope that they will meet again.

Significant Themes

• The cost of revenge: Jane’s pursuit of vengeance has already changed her body and personality, emphasizing that revenge demands a severe personal sacrifice.
• Danger and madness on the Beyonder path: Advancement is portrayed as physically and psychologically hazardous, particularly when a Beyonder directly consumes an unprocessed characteristic.
• Trust and secrecy: Abner concealed the truth to protect Jane, while Jane’s decision to trust him reflects their strong bond despite his earlier deception.
• Grief and maturity: Jane’s transformation represents a forced passage into adulthood. Her suffering has made her more hardened and serious, though it may also take away the innocence she once possessed.
• Misplaced resentment: Jane knows that her hostility toward Sharron and Maric is unfair, showing the tension between rational understanding and emotional trauma.
• Parting and hope: Jane and Abner separate because of danger and necessity, but their farewell is marked by the hope that their friendship will continue.

Important Character Interactions

• Abner and Jane: Their central conversation reveals Jane’s transformation, her revenge motive, Abner’s protective intentions, and the trust still remaining between them.
• Jane and Sharron/Maric: Though they saved and assisted her, Jane cannot fully trust them because of their affiliation with the Rose School. Their patience contrasts with her unresolved anger.
• Abner and Mr. Grant’s legacy: Abner interacts with the consequences of Mr. Grant’s hidden preparations, discovering that Jane’s father had anticipated danger and left behind money, formulas, and an escape identity.
• Abner and the ghost guardian: This encounter highlights Abner’s growing combat ability and his careful use of Beyonder tools and analysis.
• Abner and Teacher: After Jane’s departure, Abner returns to his assigned commissions and studies, continuing his professional development and strengthening his local reputation.

Chapter Summary: “Commission”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A striking woman calling herself Rei visits the Isengard Detective Agency while Detective Isengard is away and commissions his apprentice, Abner Braine, to investigate the interests, habits, and daily routines of twelve unmarried noblemen.
• Abner charges her twenty pounds, receives an advance, and signs a contract with her. Rei uses her supernatural charm, apparently a form of Suggestion, but Abner resists it.
• Reviewing the list, Abner notices that the nobles are not merely unmarried: most are financially ruined, politically weakened, or otherwise vulnerable. He suspects they were deliberately selected.
• Using his knowledge of future events and the Pure White Eye, Abner connects Baron Gramir to the future pirate Vice Admiral Hurricane Qilingos, who would impersonate him. He concludes that Rei may be gathering private information so Qilingos can successfully replace one of these nobles.
• Abner further suspects that Rei is a Demoness, likely working for or alongside the organization connected to Qilingos and the Demoness Sect. He decides to conceal his suspicions and avoid interfering unless she threatens him, while planning to discuss the matter with his teacher.
• After leaving, Rei reveals that the commission is a cover designed to make her future familiarity with a nobleman’s habits appear natural. She explains that such precautions would help her avoid suspicion from official Beyonders.
• In her carriage, Rei speaks with Lina, a younger accomplice. Rei criticizes Lina for failing to protect a recruit named Turner, who was captured by officials after becoming involved in a loan-shark human-trafficking operation.
• Lina suspects that a bounty hunter known as the Arbiter may have helped expose Turner and plans to investigate her.

Character Developments

• Abner demonstrates professional detective skills, caution, and strong deductive ability. He recognizes the hidden pattern behind Rei’s request and successfully links it to future events involving Qilingos.
• He also shows restraint and strategic pragmatism: rather than immediately exposing Rei, he chooses to observe her and avoid provoking a dangerous organization.
• Rei is established as intelligent, manipulative, confident, and highly experienced in covert operations. Her beauty and supernatural charm are tools she uses to disguise her real objectives.
• Lina is shown to be less careful and less competent than Rei. Her failure to protect Turner has created a potential security problem, prompting Rei to reprimand and educate her.

Significant Themes

• Appearance versus reality: Rei presents herself as a wealthy woman seeking romantic information, but her real purpose is espionage and preparation for an identity replacement.
• Deduction and foreknowledge: Abner’s knowledge of future events allows him to reconstruct a conspiracy from small clues, demonstrating the power and danger of information.
• Caution and self-preservation: Both Abner and Rei emphasize covering one’s tracks, anticipating investigations, and preparing for unexpected developments.
• Manipulation and identity: The planned impersonation of a nobleman depends on controlling personal information, habits, and social behavior.
• Moral ambiguity: Abner chooses not to interfere because the targets are mostly corrupt or undeserving nobles, while Rei and Lina are involved in criminal and supernatural schemes despite their polished appearances.

Character Interactions

• Abner and Rei: Their meeting is a contest of subtle influence. Rei attempts to charm and control Abner, but he remains unaffected and carefully studies her motives. She becomes intrigued by his resistance.
• Rei and Lina: Rei acts as Lina’s superior and mentor, reprimanding her carelessness while explaining the need for plausible cover stories and contingency plans.
• Lina and Turner: Though Turner does not appear directly, Lina’s failed recruitment of him has led to his capture and may expose her activities.
• Lina and the Arbiter: Lina identifies the Arbiter as a possible threat and intends to investigate her, setting up a future conflict.

Chapter Summary: “Dealing with It (First Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Due to the recent conflict within the Rose School of Thought, official Beyonder organizations are conducting intense investigations, forcing many underground figures into hiding.
• Xio learns from Sherman, an informant, that a beautiful and unusually persuasive woman has been questioning people about:
  • Xio’s involvement with Rosen, the Two-Faced Man
  • Rosen’s adviser
  • Xio’s residence and means of contact
• The woman appears to possess a Fascination ability that strongly affects men. Sherman resisted somewhat because he is attracted to men, but even he found the woman disturbing.
• Xio travels in disguise to Detective Isengard’s office and consults Abner.
• Abner identifies the woman as probably belonging to the Demoness Pathway, most likely a Sequence 7 Witch. He suspects she is Lina, the Witch connected to Turner’s case.
• Abner explains that the Demoness Sect likely operates under the public identity of the Gnosis Society and does not require evidence before attacking someone; suspicion alone is enough.
• Abner realizes the situation may involve not only Lina but also Miss Ray, whom he suspects is a more powerful Demoness—possibly a Sequence 6 Demoness of Pleasure.
• Detective Isengard confirms that an official team once ambushed a Witch at Rosen’s hideout, but she was rescued by a Demoness of Pleasure, validating Abner’s fears.
• Isengard proposes reporting the Demonesses to the authorities while carefully concealing the source of the information and avoiding the exposure of Xio and Abner as Beyonders.

Character Developments

• Xio becomes more cautious and proactive after learning she is being investigated. She disguises herself, changes routes, and seeks Abner’s help rather than confronting the threat directly.
• Abner demonstrates strong knowledge of Beyonder Pathways and successfully identifies the likely nature of the enemy. He also recognizes that his past involvement in Turner’s capture makes him a potential target.
• Detective Isengard remains calm despite the danger and reveals himself as a strategic thinker. His proposed solution emphasizes indirect action, secrecy, and using official forces without exposing the group.
• Sherman is further characterized as a marginalized but reliable informant. He trusts Xio because she has treated him with respect, and their relationship shows Xio’s compassion toward outsiders.
• Miss Ray becomes increasingly suspicious as a possible high-level Demoness whose goals may conflict with Abner and Xio.

Significant Themes

• Paranoia and survival: Characters must assume they are being watched and take precautions even when they have done nothing provably wrong.
• Power without justice: The Demoness Sect acts on suspicion rather than evidence, contrasting with Xio’s ideals as an Arbiter.
• The danger of hidden identities: Organizations and individuals conceal their true affiliations, making it difficult to know who is friend or enemy.
• Strategic cooperation with authority: The chapter explores using official institutions as protection while avoiding the risks of revealing too much.
• Prejudice and compassion: Sherman’s treatment highlights social discrimination, while Xio’s acceptance earns his loyalty.

Character Interactions

• Sherman warns Xio about the strange woman and provides crucial information despite his fear.
• Xio consults Abner, showing trust in his expertise and relying on him to identify the woman’s Pathway.
• Abner and Xio jointly assess the threat and realize Lina may be connected to the Demoness Sect.
• Abner informs Isengard about the situation, including Miss Ray’s visit and his suspicions.
• Isengard reassures Xio that he can protect her from being detained and proposes a covert report to the authorities, giving the group a possible way to deal with the Demonesses without revealing their identities.

Chapter Summary: “Commission from Damir Port”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner and Detective Isengard discuss how to report the two Demonesses, Rei and Lina, without exposing themselves or interfering with the secret organization’s plans.
• They decide the report should be delayed until after Abner completes Miss Ray’s commission and Rei gathers information from the nobles.
• Isengard rejects the idea of fabricating evidence, warning that official Beyonders could detect the deception and investigate Abner and his allies instead.
• Their preferred strategy is to expose Lina’s existing traces gradually, allowing the authorities to discover her independently and eventually follow her trail to Rei.
• Since Lina has already connected Xio to the investigation, Isengard advises Xio to leave Backlund for about a month. Abner must leave as well because his frequent association with Xio is publicly known.
• Isengard believes the Demonesses are unlikely to pursue him because he possesses combat strength equivalent to a Sequence 6 Beyonder, making an attack too risky. If they do attack, the confrontation itself would provide evidence for the authorities.
• Isengard assigns Abner and Xio a paid commission from an old friend in Damir Port involving a Beyonder incident. The trip’s route—from Backlund to Pritz Harbor, then Damir, Enmat Harbor, East Chester County, Tingen, and back to Backlund—is expected to take roughly one month.

Character Developments

• Abner demonstrates growing strategic judgment, carefully considering timing, evidence, and how to avoid suspicion. He also recognizes his mistake in overlooking the danger of being traced through Xio.
• Detective Isengard acts as both mentor and planner, testing Abner’s reasoning while offering a cautious, indirect approach to dealing with the Demonesses. His confidence in his ability to survive an attack reveals his considerable strength.
• Xio accepts the need to leave Backlund, though she is reluctant because it is central to her efforts to grow stronger and clear her father’s name. She is also concerned that Fors may become inactive or irresponsible while she is away.
• Fors does not appear directly, but Xio’s comments portray her as talented yet prone to laziness and inactivity.
• The Demonesses are characterized as dangerous but mission-focused. Lina is careless enough to leave detectable traces, while Rei appears more cautious and organized.

Significant Themes

• Indirect justice and manipulation: The group seeks to guide the authorities toward the truth without directly reporting the Demonesses or exposing their own involvement.
• Risk management and strategic patience: Timing, evidence, personal connections, and combat ability all determine how safely the characters can act.
• Surveillance and traces: The chapter emphasizes that actions inevitably leave clues, especially when an investigator is careless.
• Mentorship and growth: Isengard challenges Abner to think independently, showing Abner’s development from an inexperienced Beyonder into a more capable planner.
• Fate and historical inevitability: Abner worries that his thoughts and choices may have been influenced by hidden forces or an “Author,” reflecting the story’s recurring uncertainty about destiny and manipulation.

Character Interactions

• Isengard questions Abner like a teacher testing a student, guiding him toward the idea of exposing existing clues rather than fabricating evidence.
• Abner and Xio discuss the practical consequences of her leaving Backlund, including their shared concern over Fors.
• Isengard points out that Abner and Xio’s public association makes both of them vulnerable, forcing Abner to reconsider his assumptions.
• Abner worries that leaving together will expose Isengard to retaliation, but Isengard reassures him that his greater strength makes him a less attractive target.
• The chapter ends with Isengard using the threat of the Demonesses as an opportunity to send Abner and Xio on a month-long commission to Damir Port.

Chapter Summary: “Pritz Harbor”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner, Xio, and Detective Isengard plan their return journey through Enmat Harbor rather than traveling directly from Pritz Harbor.
• Isengard gives three reasons for the detour:
  1. It may help them avoid a possible Demoness Sect ambush.
  2. Abner promised to visit a young woman in Enmat Harbor.
  3. Xio can visit her family while passing through.
• Isengard reveals that Xio’s true identity is Xio Dier, formerly the eldest daughter of the aristocratic Dill family. Her family became fugitives after her father was falsely accused.
• He explains that MI9 has recently begun investigating the East Borough’s “Arbiter,” likely because certain MI9 higher-ups have connections with the Demoness Sect. However, an MI9 intelligence officer with ties to the Dill family may help resolve Xio’s situation once the Demoness matter ends.
• Isengard lends Abner the Sea Breeze Hat, an item with part of a Wind-blessed’s abilities that will be especially useful at sea.
• As payment for Abner’s commission, Isengard gives him a golden leaf from the Tree of Wisdom, a primary ingredient for the Sequence 7 Keeper of Knowledge potion.
• Abner repays Isengard’s generosity by revealing that he knows Elder Tree Heartwood is a main ingredient in the Sequence 6 Polymath potion. Isengard understands the hint and gives Abner Xio’s payment: the Ring of Prediction.
• The ring enhances balance, coordination, intuition, and the ability to anticipate an opponent’s movements, though it causes the wearer to lose control of their facial expressions.
• On June 26, Abner and Xio arrive at Pritz Harbor, the largest and busiest port in Loen. They disguise themselves and head to the ticketing company to arrange their voyage.
• At the ticket office, they notice a warning forbidding people from opening Wolf Fish canned food indoors. Just as Xio asks what it means, they hear a can being opened behind them, setting up a comic or potentially chaotic incident.

Character Developments

• Abner shows growing maturity and caution. He accepts useful equipment and rewards but also seeks to repay Isengard rather than simply benefiting from his teacher’s generosity.
• His progress as a Beyonder becomes clearer: he has obtained the Keeper of Knowledge formula and learned part of the Polymath formula through Analysis.
• Abner remains protective of Xio and understands the likely identity and motives of the MI9 officer connected to her family.
• Xio becomes increasingly aware of the danger surrounding her identity and the possible threat from MI9 and the Demoness Sect. Although initially alarmed, she trusts Isengard’s judgment and begins preparing to leave and lie low.
• Detective Isengard acts as both mentor and protector. He demonstrates sharp deductive ability, provides strategic advice, supports Xio, and gives both students valuable resources.

Significant Themes

• Preparation and caution: The travel route, disguises, equipment, and avoidance of possible ambushes emphasize the need to prepare for hidden threats.
• Trust and mentorship: Isengard supports Abner and Xio materially and emotionally, while Abner shows gratitude and loyalty by sharing valuable knowledge.
• Hidden identities and political danger: Xio’s false name and fugitive status reflect the broader dangers of aristocratic injustice, military surveillance, and secret organizations.
• Knowledge as power: Abner’s Analysis abilities and his knowledge of potion ingredients strengthen his position and allow him to negotiate with others.
• Humor amid danger: Isengard’s teasing, the Ring of Prediction’s facial-expression drawback, and the ominous warning about Wolf Fish canned food provide comic relief against the chapter’s darker political tensions.

Character Interactions

• Isengard teases Abner about his promise to visit a young woman, demonstrating his ability to read Abner’s reactions.
• He advises Abner to control his facial expressions, while Abner responds with exaggerated “expressionlessness.”
• Isengard reveals Xio’s connection to MI9 and reassures her that her troubles may be resolved after the Demoness Sect affair.
• Abner and Isengard exchange information about potion ingredients, showing mutual respect and a developing teacher-student partnership.
• Abner worries that giving Xio a ring might cause misunderstandings, especially if Fors were to see it.
• At Pritz Harbor, Abner and Xio travel together in disguise, ending the chapter just before the mysterious consequences of opening the prohibited canned food.

Summary of “Blood Moon”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the Pritz Harbor Ticketing Company, Xio innocently asks about Wolf Fish Canned Food, prompting company guards to tackle a Southern Continent man who is attempting to open a can. The guards explain that the food’s horrifying smell can incapacitate people and that the man intended to use it against the company.
• Alanson and Xio search for passage tickets but find that most second- and third-class cabins are sold out. Increased Royal Navy inspections around Oak Island have reduced maritime traffic, driving up demand for the remaining tickets.
• Alanson connects the heightened security to the upcoming maiden voyage of the kingdom’s first ironclad warship, the Pritz, which will be attended by the king.
• He purchases two first-class tickets aboard the Glory of All Cities, a new, steam-powered Intisian ship scheduled to depart for Bayam. The first-class cabin includes servants’ rooms, allowing Alanson and Xio to travel discreetly.
• The following morning, they board the ship at Rose Quay. The vessel is large, modern, artistically designed, and heavily armed with cannons for protection against pirates and rival ships.
• In their luxurious cabin, Alanson suggests that Xio use the master bedroom while he sleeps in a servants’ room. Xio is disguised as his maid, but Alanson assures her that no one will question their arrangement.
• On deck, they meet the captain, Alanson Edward, who claims that his family once lived in a district of Backlund that no longer exists. The other passengers treat this as a joke, but the protagonist takes the strange story seriously.
• That night, Alanson leaves the cabin and sees the scarlet Blood Moon. He realizes that the dawn of June 28 is the night when Mr. Fool descended, and he looks toward Tingen City, thinking of the event taking place there.

Character Developments

• Alanson remains cautious, observant, and strategically minded. He evaluates the ship’s political and religious associations before choosing it and continues to conceal his and Xio’s identities while traveling.
• He shows awareness of major supernatural and political events, connecting the navy’s actions to the Pritz’s maiden voyage and recognizing the significance of the Blood Moon.
• Xio displays curiosity and practicality, especially in her questions about Wolf Fish Canned Food and the travel arrangements. She accepts Alanson’s reasoning about their cabin and continues to act as his maid.
• Captain Alanson Edward is introduced as sociable and talkative, but his family history hints at a possible connection to altered history, hidden knowledge, or supernatural phenomena.
• The guards’ swift handling of the canned food emphasizes their experience and the strange hazards associated with the world’s everyday objects.

Significant Themes

• Hidden danger beneath ordinary life: A simple can of food becomes a potential weapon, showing how mundane objects can carry bizarre or dangerous consequences.
• Secrecy and disguise: Alanson and Xio carefully manage their identities and relationship while traveling, reinforcing the importance of concealment.
• Political and military tension: Royal Navy inspections, the reduced number of ships, and the heavily armed Glory of All Cities reflect competition among nations and growing maritime instability.
• Industrial modernity: The steam-powered ship, its artistic design, and its cannons represent technological progress and the changing balance of power at sea.
• Distorted history and mystery: Captain Edward’s account of a nonexistent Backlund district hints that the world’s history may be unreliable or subject to supernatural alteration.
• Fate and supernatural significance: The Blood Moon is presented as a major mystical event connected to Mr. Fool’s descent, linking the shipboard journey to events in Tingen.

Character Interactions

• Xio questions a company guard about Wolf Fish Canned Food, while the guard explains its infamous smell and past use.
• Alanson and Xio cooperate in obtaining tickets and planning their cover identities aboard the ship.
• Alanson reassures Xio about sleeping arrangements, using logic and confidence to overcome her hesitation.
• Captain Edward entertains the passengers with stories about the ship and his family, while a sailor mocks his claim about Backlund’s nonexistent district.
• Although the other passengers dismiss the captain’s story, Alanson notices its potential significance and reacts thoughtfully.
• The chapter ends with Alanson alone under the Blood Moon, mentally connecting the distant event involving Mr. Fool to the journey ahead.

Chapter Summary: Dream Labyrinth (First Update)

Key Plot Points and Events

• On a Blood Moon night aboard the Glory of All Cities, Abner stands on deck, anticipating a major supernatural event: the arrival of a powerful “ray of light” that will influence the world.
• Xio joins him because she is worried about Fors, who hears disturbing ravings during Blood Moons. Abner reassures her indirectly, and the two share a quiet moment under the moonlight.
• Captain Alanson Edward interrupts them, warning that rough seas are ahead. His drunken remark about being “favored by the sea” leads Abner to suspect that he may be a Beyonder, possibly connected to the Sailor pathway.
• Abner questions Captain Edward about his family’s former home and an ancestor named Longzel, who disappeared more than 160 years ago. He learns that Longzel’s descendants would welcome him home, allowing Abner to potentially pass the message along in the future.
• After arriving at Damir Port on June 30, Abner and Xio meet Gaston Vilpin, the school principal who hired Detective Isengard.
• Gaston offers them a commission worth 1,000 gold pounds but requires them to sign a mystical “Book of Justice” contract before revealing the details.
• The contract obligates Abner and Xio to help Gaston reach the seventh floor of the mysterious Dream Labyrinth Tower. The earlier floors are supposedly not life-threatening, but they are extremely difficult and require more than physical strength.

Character Developments

• Abner shows increasing confidence in his Detective abilities. He mentally formalizes the Detective Acting Method as a process of observing clues, applying knowledge, and logically reconstructing events.
• He also demonstrates growing connections to the supernatural world, knowing enough about Longzel and Mr. Fool to act as a potential intermediary.
• Abner’s mood has noticeably improved after the arrival of the mysterious “One,” easing the pressure he had been carrying.
• Xio reveals her deep concern for Fors and her continued determination to clear her father’s name. She is perceptive enough to recognize Abner’s unusual knowledge, joking that he is favored by Wisdom.
• Captain Edward appears drunken and comic but may possess hidden supernatural status, suggested by his reference to being favored by the sea.
• Gaston Vilpin initially doubts Abner and Xio because of their age, but Abner’s deductions impress him and begin to earn his respect.

Significant Themes

• Hidden supernatural events: Major changes are occurring in the world, but ordinary people remain unaware of their significance.
• Knowledge and deduction: Abner’s strength lies in reconstructing truths from scattered details rather than relying on force.
• Friendship and emotional support: Xio’s concern for Fors and her happiness at seeing Abner smile emphasize the importance of companionship amid danger.
• Trust and contracts: Gaston’s insistence on the mystical contract reflects the fragile trust between strangers and the binding nature of supernatural agreements.
• Homecoming and lost history: Longzel’s centuries-long absence introduces the theme of exile, forgotten ancestry, and the possibility of returning home.
• Wisdom over combat: The Dream Labyrinth appears designed to test intelligence, judgment, and other nonviolent qualities.

Character Interactions

• Abner and Xio share a warm, teasing friendship while discussing Fors and the Blood Moon. Their quiet companionship shows mutual trust.
• Abner and Captain Edward exchange jokes, but their conversation contains serious implications about the captain’s possible Beyonder identity and Longzel’s family history.
• Abner and Xio work together professionally, calmly reviewing the Book of Justice before accepting the commission.
• Abner and Gaston begin with distrust, but Gaston’s opinion improves after Abner correctly infers the nature of the Dream Labyrinth’s challenges.

Chapter Summary: “Preparing to Enter”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner, Xio, and Mr. Gaston sign a notarized contract concerning their exploration of the Dream Labyrinth Tower. The agreement requires secrecy and allows each participant to keep their own rewards.
• Abner uses the Pure White Eye to verify that the contract contains no hidden problems.
• Mr. Gaston explains that the Dream Labyrinth Tower is an inverted structure existing between dreams and reality. It contains increasingly difficult Dream Secret Realms:
  • The ninth floor is the easiest and can usually be cleared.
  • The eighth floor is more difficult and luck-dependent.
  • The seventh floor is extremely challenging, which is as far as Mr. Gaston hopes to reach.
• Solving each floor’s labyrinth allows explorers to enter a Reward Room and obtain random knowledge or intelligence. The tower can be entered once a month, but rewards deteriorate with repeated visits and only reset after six months.
• The first three floors are relatively safe. Death or severe harm causes the explorer to awaken in reality, though they may suffer temporary mental exhaustion. The true danger supposedly begins below the sixth floor.
• The group can enter as a team, increasing the difficulty slightly but allowing them to cooperate rather than being separated.
• Mr. Gaston reveals that he is a Sequence 7 Appraiser. He needs Abner’s Dream Talismans to activate the entrance, since none of the participants are Dreamwalkers or Nightmares.
• Abner creates two Dream Talismans and prepares for the expedition. He also worries about how to contact Klein without exposing Klein to danger or compromising his own trustworthiness.
• The narrative briefly shifts to Klein, who has survived an attempted attack involving a Secret Order member. Dunn Smith offers him the opportunity to become a Beyonder, but Klein postpones choosing a pathway.
• A mysterious silver-haired man observes the aftermath with interest.
• On July 1 at 9 p.m., Abner, Xio, and Gaston activate the Dream Talismans at the hidden underground entrance. A colossal tower inverted upon the earth appears before them, marking the beginning of their expedition.

Character Development

• Abner: Demonstrates caution, analytical ability, and growing responsibility. He verifies the contract, assesses Gaston’s strength, recognizes the tower’s risks, and prepares the necessary talismans. His thoughts about contacting Klein show that he values Klein’s safety and understands the political dangers surrounding Sefirah Castle.
• Xio: Acts as a practical and cooperative partner. She carefully reviews the contract, asks important questions about team formation and the tower’s mechanics, and agrees to the expedition without hesitation.
• Mr. Gaston: Reveals himself to be an experienced but limited explorer. His knowledge of the tower is extensive, but his inability to solve higher-level labyrinths explains why he hires Abner and Xio. His Sequence 7 status also clarifies his reliance on money and Beyonder items rather than direct combat strength.
• Klein: Shows caution by delaying his decision about becoming a Beyonder, despite receiving an opportunity after helping stop an attack. His encounter with Dunn marks an important step toward his supernatural development.
• The silver-haired observer: Appears to be monitoring Klein’s situation and suggests that larger forces are already interested in his fate.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge and mystery: The tower offers valuable knowledge as rewards, but obtaining it requires solving unpredictable mysteries and accepting escalating danger.
• Preparation versus uncertainty: Abner prepares carefully, yet the random nature of the labyrinths makes complete planning impossible.
• Trust and secrecy: The notarized contract protects the expedition, while Abner’s concern about contacting Klein highlights the difficulty of forming alliances in a world filled with hidden powers.
• Power and specialization: Each character contributes a different strength—Abner’s analysis, Xio’s practical judgment, and Gaston’s research and resources—emphasizing the importance of cooperation.
• Game-like supernatural structure: The tower operates like an instance dungeon, with floors, rewards, team mechanics, entry limits, and escalating difficulty, though its dreamlike nature makes the consequences more mysterious and dangerous.

Important Character Interactions

• Abner and Xio jointly review and sign the contract, establishing mutual trust.
• Abner questions Gaston extensively about the tower, its dangers, rewards, and puzzles, effectively evaluating whether the expedition is worthwhile.
• Xio asks whether the group will be separated, prompting Gaston to explain the team system.
• Gaston relies on Abner’s ability to create Dream Talismans, making Abner essential to accessing the tower.
• Abner mentally compares Gaston’s description to a game dungeon and suspects the tower may be connected to Roselle, though he keeps this theory to himself.
• Abner’s thoughts about contacting Klein parallel Klein’s meeting with Dunn, linking both characters’ preparations for major supernatural developments.

Chapter Summary: “The Ninth Floor (First Update)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Abner, Xio, and Mr. Gaston enter the enormous Dream Labyrinth Tower through a Dream Door. The tower’s immense, inverted structure reinforces Abner’s suspicion that it may have been created by Emperor Roselle.
• On the ninth floor, they are transported into an Intis-style apartment and instructed to open a fifteen-digit combination lock before escaping.
• The floor suppresses Beyonder powers almost completely, preventing brute force or the use of Beyonder items. The burning fireplaces gradually raise the temperature, creating a timed escape-room challenge.
• Abner uses his Pure White Eye to analyze the lock and instantly determines the correct combination. Xio enters the digits, allowing the group to escape.
• When Gaston asks how Abner solved the puzzle, Abner jokingly claims, “This is deduction,” imitating the sort of explanation Sherlock would give.
• The group enters a vast library called the Reward Room. Each participant receives a book containing information tailored to them.
• Abner’s reward, Gwen’s Cave Adventures, mentions a Dragon-Eyed Giant Python, whose eye is an important Potion ingredient. He realizes the tower can provide useful and possibly current intelligence.
• Gaston reveals that the Sword and Fire bar mentioned in the book is his establishment and that he discovered the tower’s entrance beneath a school three years earlier. He has used the tower’s knowledge to organize Beyonder gatherings and trade information.
• Xio receives an unfinished romance novel about a woman named Shermane and an unnamed nobleman. Abner recognizes that it may contain information connected to Xio’s father’s wrongful case but avoids explaining the dangerous implications.
• After resting, the group proceeds to the next floor and appears before a mountain villa.

Character Developments

• Abner: Demonstrates increased mastery of the Pure White Eye and confirms that it can function despite the tower’s suppression. He becomes more interested in the tower’s ability to generate valuable, personalized knowledge. His playful “deduction” remark also shows his growing confidence and willingness to imitate Sherlock-like behavior.
• Xio: Shows discomfort at being deprived of her Arbiter abilities but remains practical and cooperative. She trusts Abner’s unexplained deductions and successfully operates the lock. Her reward hints at information connected to her personal quest, increasing the emotional stakes for her.
• Mr. Gaston: Acts as the experienced guide, quickly identifying the escape-room rules and explaining the tower’s mechanics. He is astonished by Abner’s effortless solution and reveals more about his own history with the tower and the Sword and Fire bar.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge versus power: With Beyonder abilities sealed, success depends on reasoning, observation, and specialized knowledge rather than force.
• The value and danger of information: The Reward Room provides precisely targeted clues, but some knowledge—particularly information involving powerful angels and high-level conspiracies—may be too dangerous to reveal openly.
• Mystery and artificial intelligence-like design: The tower appears capable of acquiring or updating information, suggesting a sophisticated and possibly supernatural creator.
• Trust and concealed abilities: Xio trusts Abner even when she cannot understand his methods, while Abner continues hiding the true extent of his powers.
• Personal quests: The rewards are not merely generic prizes; they connect to each character’s goals, especially Xio’s search for the truth about her father.

Character Interactions

• Gaston explains the tower’s rules and tests whether Abner is worth the fee he paid for his services.
• Xio examines the lock and acknowledges that she could have forced it with her Arbiter powers, but cannot do so under the floor’s restrictions.
• Abner gives Xio the lock combination, and her unquestioning cooperation allows them to escape.
• Abner’s imitation of Sherlock’s “deduction” style amuses Xio but leaves Gaston bewildered.
• Abner and Gaston compare the significance of their rewards, while Xio seeks Abner’s interpretation of her mysterious romance novel.
• Abner deliberately withholds the full truth about Shermane and the nobleman, protecting Xio—and himself—from dangerous knowledge.