Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Annan arrives at the Empire’s Mountain-Ring Palace Gardens, whose serene, nature-inspired beauty surprises him. Unlike the bloody, macabre imagery he expected elsewhere in the Empire, the gardens reflect an older Elven influence.
• While waiting outside the Palace, Annan chats with Clark Holmes, a Garden Imperial Guard. Clark initially stops him, then recognizes his status through the Golden Skull Bracelet.
• Their conversation turns to the Empire’s stance toward the Northern Chaos Forces. Annan says Free City will join a campaign if useful, but will prioritize survival and remain flexible about how it contributes.
• Clark reveals that the Empire is waiting for the right moment to strike decisively, even as opposition to a prolonged conflict grows inside its borders.
• They discuss the failed attempt on the emperor. Annan argues that, had it succeeded or even reached the Palace, it might have unified the Empire’s leaders behind a major campaign. Since the assassin was stopped early, the incident has not provided the same rallying cause.

Character developments

• Annan remains wry, pragmatic, and politically cautious. He probes Clark with teasing questions, but also shows an interest in how the Empire works and recognizes its internal divisions.
• Clark Holmes is revealed as a loyal, disciplined guard who follows the Empire’s politics closely. His view is that the Empire should avoid minor skirmishes and wait to strike with overwhelming force.

Significant themes

• Beauty versus brutality: The gardens’ tranquil, Elven-inspired design contrasts with the Empire’s violent reputation.
• Power and restraint: Annan stresses that smaller powers survive by adapting, negotiating, and avoiding commitments they cannot sustain.
• Information and perspective: Annan notes that newspapers offer only a limited, curated view of events.
• Political division and timing: The Empire is not fully united on war; its leaders are waiting for an opportunity that could justify decisive action.

Character interactions

• Annan uses humor and questions to test Clark’s character, while Clark answers with formal loyalty and guarded political candor.
• Annan playfully probes Clark about his family, armor, and isolation, then turns their exchange toward the Empire’s war plans.
• Clark invites Free City to join the coming campaign; Annan agrees in principle but leaves open what participation will mean.
• Their discussion of the assassination attempt highlights how a single event might—or might not—unite the Empire behind war.

Key plot points and events

• Annan leaves the Mountain-Ring Palace Gardens with Olin after chatting with a guard he had been teasing. Olin reveals that the “guard” was actually the Emperor in disguise, who had wanted to meet Annan privately.
• Annan realizes the encounter signals the Emperor’s trust and regrets not using it to ask for compensation—or at least a commemorative photograph. He also discovers that the Old Ancestor has already returned.
• At the palace, the Emperor explains that meeting casually let him and Annan speak more freely than a formal audience would have. He recalls Annan’s warning that the Empire and the rest of Middle Earth are already preparing for war.
• Olin lays out the Empire’s preparations: public anger after the staged Chaos Cult attack at Montreal Mountain, funds and supplies gathered through newly opened banks, and a political opportunity to persuade the nobles that war is unavoidable. She tells Annan to return to Free City once his business is settled.
• Annan is invited to a royal banquet. Though he initially declines, he accepts after hearing that noblewomen will attend. He arranges for Peterson, Olmedo’s advisor, to accompany him and get suitable clothes.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan remains irreverent and opportunistic, even unknowingly joking with the Emperor. Once he understands the Emperor’s confidence in him, he recognizes its political value. The coming war makes him more serious, and he agrees to attend the banquet despite disliking the nobles.
• Olin acts as Annan’s guide and confidante, explaining the Emperor’s intentions and the Empire’s war preparations. She encourages Annan to return to Free City, which needs him.
• The Emperor shows a personal interest in Annan and prefers informal, candid conversation to rigid ceremony. He even briefly considers a marriage connection, but the Grand Steward warns against involving Olin in an alliance.
• Peterson is nervous about attending an important royal banquet. Annan takes charge, tells him to stay close, and makes sure he has suitable clothes.

Significant themes

• Trust and informal power: The Emperor’s disguise creates a candid meeting, and his willingness to approach Annan personally signals political confidence.
• War as a political project: The Empire is preparing not only militarily but also by shaping public opinion, gathering resources, and securing noble support.
• Humor alongside high stakes: Annan’s comic irreverence contrasts with the looming war and the serious responsibilities awaiting him in Free City.

Key plot points and events

• Annan prepares for a noble banquet with Peterson, teasing him about his clothes before sending him to change into a plainer outfit.
• At the banquet, Annan charms the noblewomen into buying signed sets of Everyone’s Singer figurines, earning roughly ten thousand Gold Narls for the business.
• Olin and the Old Ancestor attend. Olin stays apart from the crowd, and Annan mistakenly asks her to bring him juice, thinking she is a server. Her intimidating presence drives the noblewomen away.
• Annan and Olin discuss the nobles’ partying despite the approaching war. Olin argues they are safer—and less likely to cause trouble—away from the front.
• Annan overhears officials discussing a transfer to the Northern Great Wall. He loudly hints that he has met the Emperor, prompting the Deputy Chief Judge and two ministers to approach him.
• The officials thank Annan for his help but say it must remain secret for now. When they offer compensation, Annan first makes a show of patriotic selflessness, then asks for money.

Character developments

• Annan shows his charm and commercial skill, but also his playful irreverence and talent for using social situations to apply pressure. Beneath his theatrical patriotism, he is practical about rewards.
• Peterson is loyal and admiring, eagerly recording orders and supporting Annan, even when he is the target of teasing.
• Olin reveals that her isolation among noblewomen stems from past conflicts, which she settled with her fists. Her blunt, pragmatic view of war contrasts with Annan’s initial outrage.
• The officials recognize Annan’s performance and understand that his sudden display of noble virtue likely masks a request.

Significant themes

• Appearance and perception: Clothing, status, and reputation shape how people are seen, though Annan can manipulate those impressions.
• Pragmatism over convention: Annan questions rigid ideas about leadership, while Olin favors keeping incompetent nobles away from the front.
• Public service and personal reward: The scene plays humorously with the tension between patriotic duty and the expectation of compensation.
• War and privilege: The banquet’s luxury contrasts with the danger approaching, while the nobles’ absence from the front is framed as potentially useful.

Character interactions

• Annan teases Peterson affectionately, and Peterson responds with unwavering admiration.
• Annan and Olin exchange jokes and candid opinions; her presence changes the social atmosphere around him immediately.
• Annan uses a loud, pointed remark to draw the officials into conversation, then balances mock humility with a direct demand for money.

Plot points

• Annan negotiates with Imperial officials for support to develop Free City, whose construction is consuming enormous resources.
• The Deputy Chief Judge offers only 10,000 Gold Narls. Annan rejects the amount and asks the Minister of War for valuable military and magical technologies; the minister refuses, citing secrecy and the need for approval.
• Annan then asks for prisoners, claiming they will fertilize his flowers. The officials agree that, for ten years, Free City will receive at least 1,000 death-row inmates annually from Montreal Mountain, drawn from the Judgment Hall and Military Affairs Department.
• The Deputy Chief Judge offers another potential benefit: Blackwatch soldiers may join Annan if he can persuade them. All are included except Albeck. The Judgment Hall also promises to make some matters easier for him.
• Annan skips the banquet and asks Olin to take him to Old Ancestor. On the second floor, they approach a group that includes Old Ancestor, who is being pushed in a wheelchair by an elaborately dressed elderly woman, and members of the Montreal Golden Family.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan proves politically shrewd and persistent, pressing officials for useful compensation rather than accepting token money or an insulting offer of military-boot blueprints. He is pleased by the prisoner and Blackwatch agreements.
• His irreverent inner monologue imagines that the Imperial State Religion is treating him well because an imperial woman—or even the Emperor—has fallen in love with him. He also jokingly thinks he can learn the Blackwatch breathing method by persuading the soldiers to teach him.
• The Deputy Chief Judge and Minister of War initially resist Annan’s demands, but ultimately negotiate practical concessions. Olin, who has stayed quiet during the bargaining, questions Annan when he decides to leave the banquet.

Significant themes

• Power, knowledge, and institutional control: The Empire guards its military and magical technology, while departments carefully limit what they can give away.
• Pragmatism in politics: Annan turns an unsuccessful request for money and technology into agreements that serve Free City’s urgent needs.
• Humor and rumor: Annan’s outrageous “fertilizer” explanation and fanciful romantic theories contrast with the officials’ formal negotiations and the public’s distorted ideas about him.

Key plot points and events

• The Old Ancestor, Eliyes, greets members of the Montreal Family at a banquet. Annan’s easy, affectionate teasing draws her attention and makes her treat him with unusual warmth.
• A young Montreal descendant rebukes Annan for speaking to Eliyes so familiarly. Annan appears meek, but subtly turns the exchange around; the girl’s father apologizes, and she leaves in anger.
• On his way out, Annan notices a group of girls gossiping about him. He confronts them by pretending their insult about a “fishbone” refers to a plot to assassinate the emperor, threatening to report them to the Judgment Hall. He frightens them into silence.
• Annan parts from Olin outside the hall. She admits she cannot travel to the front, though she longs to go. He promises to record the fighting and send it to her.
• Olin returns to the banquet, where she sees that many guests are young family members hoping Eliyes will favor and advance them as she once did Olin.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan is playful, confident, and quick-witted, using apparent innocence and humor to unsettle or intimidate others. Olin observes that he seems lighter and more cheerful than before, as if some of his burdens have eased.
• Eliyes openly dotes on Annan, whose familiar manner revives fond memories for her and her sisters. Her protection of him signals his exceptional standing despite being an outsider.
• Olin remains devoted to Eliyes and constrained by her duty to the Family. Her longing for the front reveals a desire beyond the role she has accepted, while her warm exchange with Annan shows their growing closeness.
• The young heirs’ resentment of Annan contrasts with the respect his influence commands: even their elders defer to him because Eliyes favors him.

Significant themes

• Favor and status: Eliyes’s affection gives Annan authority that lineage alone cannot, while ambitious relatives hope to gain similar favor.
• Power expressed through wit: Annan avoids a direct fight but uses social pressure and a calculated threat to silence his critics.
• Duty versus personal desire: Olin’s responsibilities keep her from the front despite her longing to serve there.
• Youth and burden: Annan’s newly visible cheerfulness suggests a brief return to the energy of someone his age, though his past responsibilities remain part of how others understand him.

Key plot points and events

• Olin confronts several aristocratic young women who criticize her for associating with an outsider. Invoking the Old Ancestor’s judgment silences them, and she warns their blonde leader not to provoke her again.
• Annan visits the Judgment Hall to persuade the surviving Blackwatch soldiers to leave for Free City. He promises they can continue fighting Chaos and proposes that they use Magic Muskets until better prosthetic limbs can be made.
• The seventy-three soldiers agree to start over in Free City. Annan arranges for their families to travel there ahead of them.
• Albeck refuses to leave the Empire, knowing he is too closely tied to Blackwatch and its secrets, but offers to help Free City when possible.
• Annan asks Albeck why the Anti-Magic Field keeps expanding; Albeck has no answer. He does warn that the Empire may soon send War Envoys to rally neighboring countries for the coming war.
• Annan commits to earning battle merits and celebrates with the soldiers. Prince Aidan appears, and Annan jokingly suspects him of trying to recruit them; Aidan says he cannot offer anyone a future when he has none himself.

Character developments

• Olin shows her toughness and loyalty to the Old Ancestor, while restraining herself to avoid embarrassing her Family.
• Annan acts as a leader who gives the disabled Blackwatch soldiers purpose and a path back to the fight. He also recognizes his limits when he cannot persuade Albeck.
• Albeck remains loyal to Blackwatch and the Empire, yet signals that he may still assist Annan.
• Aidan reveals his uncertainty about his own prospects and future.

Significant themes

• Purpose after loss: The soldiers choose a renewed life over remaining trapped in defeat.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Albeck’s ties to Blackwatch prevent him from leaving, while the soldiers’ devotion to their comrades motivates them to continue.
• Adaptation and resilience: Magic Muskets and future prosthetics offer ways to overcome physical disability.
• War’s widening reach: The expanding Anti-Magic Field and the Empire’s preparations suggest a larger conflict is approaching.

Character interactions

• Olin intimidates her former tormentor, but avoids a public fight out of consideration for her Family and the Old Ancestor.
• Annan speaks with the Blackwatch soldiers as equals, offering practical hope rather than empty reassurance.
• Annan and Albeck part on friendly terms despite disagreeing about whether Albeck can join him.
• Annan and Aidan exchange a wary but lighthearted conversation that hints at Aidan’s bleak outlook.

Plot points and events

• Prince Aidan tells Annan he is returning to the Chaos Cult. Since his resurrection, he has felt cut off from his former identity and has not found a new purpose. The Cult was the first place he belonged, so he is not ready to leave it.
• Annan encourages Aidan to keep searching for something meaningful and asks him to stay in touch. He also offers Aidan his name as protection if the Bard causes trouble.
• Annan leads the Blackwatch soldiers out of the Judgment Hall. The hidden Legion Commander gives him a purse containing twenty bottles of Mountain Essence and asks him to care for the soldiers, admitting he cannot face them because he feels he failed them.
• Annan returns to Free City at midnight. His gains include the Mountain Essence, seventy-three former Blackwatch soldiers, an annual allotment of death-row inmates, and valuable goodwill and contacts from the Judgment Hall.
• Just as Annan tells Olmedo he may not have to travel again soon, news arrives: the Empire has launched a surprise attack on the Chaos Legion at Old Val Town. Olmedo studies the war map, which shows the Empire’s three other Great Legions already deployed in the north.

Character developments and interactions

• Aidan remains uncertain about his future, but Annan’s concern gives him some comfort. He and Annan part as friends, promising to exchange news.
• Annan shows resilience and compassion. He reassures the Legion Commander rather than condemning him, and accepts responsibility for the soldiers. His work gives him a sense of purpose, though events quickly threaten to pull him back into crisis.
• The Legion Commander feels guilt and shame over the soldiers’ suffering. Though he cannot bring himself to see them, he entrusts their care to Annan.
• Olmedo approves of Annan’s accomplishments but worries that he will keep rushing off into danger. Her concern is interrupted by the outbreak of war.

Significant themes

• Meaning and belonging: Aidan’s search for purpose contrasts with Annan’s active commitment to protecting others.
• Resilience and responsibility: Setbacks have not defeated Annan; he continues to take on obligations and support those who have suffered.
• War’s hidden approach: The sudden attack reveals that the apparent calm was an illusion—the Empire’s northern forces had already been active for weeks.

Key plot points and events

• The Empire’s capture of Old Val Town threatens to extend its influence across the Graypeak Mountains and surrounding plains. The Northern Chaos Forces are expected to respond, though their plans remain uncertain.
• Imperial forces reinforce Old Val Town: the Silverwing Storm and Ashen Bone-Torture Legions clear the area, while the Red Radiance Guard prepares to defend it. When a Greyfur Rat envoy demands to know whether the Empire is declaring war, the Legion Commander has him executed and sends his head to a Ratfolk head-mound.
• War’s effects spread even before fighting reaches Middle Earth: prices rise, villagers flee to towns, and nobles seek refuge in the Empire. The Rat Tide near Free City shrinks as Ratfolk forces shift toward the Empire.
• Annan learns that Minister Reynaldo has assigned Blackwatch survivors to teach at Free City University and military camps, preserving their knowledge and Blackwatch’s legacy rather than sending them straight back to battle.
• Free City’s allies are strengthening their defenses. Grand Lord Franco builds a concrete wall and cooperates with the Hellfire Legion. Claire, having restored order in the Montablinlock Duchy, returns authority to Grand Duke Girardi; Annan tells Girardi to prepare the duchy.
• Annan visits Beludona, who says she is taking Claire back with her so Claire can be promoted from Apprentice Devil without drawing attention to multiple promotions at once.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan keeps Free City prepared but finds domestic affairs running smoothly, thanks to the political commissars and Reynaldo’s leadership. He recognizes that Reynaldo persuaded the Blackwatch veterans by appealing to their duty to preserve their fallen unit’s spirit.
• Claire proves reluctant to hold power, fearing she might become like her younger brother. Her departure reflects her caution and self-awareness.
• Annan and Beludona have grown comfortable enough to tease each other like old friends. Their conversation also touches on Annan’s unresolved relationship with the Six-Armed Snake Demon: he is deliberately giving her time.
• Lily adds comic warmth to the exchange, while Beludona jokes about Annan’s skill at winning people over.
• Grand Duke Girardi remains dependent on Annan’s protection, while Franco appears to have accepted Free City’s growing strength as a reason to cooperate.

Significant themes

• War’s indiscriminate cost: Status offers no protection from death, though war also creates chances for fame and glory.
• Expansion and escalation: The Empire’s foothold at Old Val Town threatens Chaos territory, making a wider conflict increasingly likely.
• Survival through preparation and alliances: Fortifications, military cooperation, and political ties become essential as the Ratfolk threat shifts.
• Legacy and renewal: The Blackwatch survivors are encouraged to pass on their skills and identity, turning loss into an institutional future.
• Power and restraint: Claire steps away from authority, and Annan gives the Snake Demon space, suggesting that leadership and relationships both require knowing when not to press.

Plot and events

• Annan takes charge of the Devil Notary Office after Beludona leaves with Claire. He reassures the Apprentice Devils that there is enough work for everyone and gives Reynaldo twenty portions of Mountain Essence.
• Seeing that Mountain Essence might become more valuable, Annan considers buying it in bulk. But a Wilhelm merchant explains that merchants anticipated the price rise months earlier; a Mountain Range Potion now costs 5,500 Gold Narls, far above its usual 2,000. Annan refuses to take the risk while merchants capture most of the profit.
• The merchant suggests Jade Essence, which has become cheaper because Priests cannot contact their Gods during the Year of Turmoil. Annan realizes his own Divinity might let him use it to turn his Believers into Priests.
• Annan aggressively haggles with the merchant, eventually securing Jade Essence at half price. Though the merchant insists Annan is a bronze-tier customer and offers no discounts as a membership benefit, Annan buys just two bottles to test his idea.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan is shrewd and opportunistic, but wary of investing without evidence. He exploits the merchant’s fear that he will shop elsewhere, then buys only a small amount rather than committing to a large experiment.
• The Wilhelm merchant is a skilled, profit-driven negotiator who pretends each concession is painful. Its irritation at Annan’s bargaining adds humor to their exchange.
• Beludona leaves Annan responsible for the office, signaling trust in his ability to manage it. The Apprentice Devils look toward Annan once she is gone, while he manages their expectations.
• Annan’s casual generosity to Reynaldo and the Apprentice Devils contrasts with his hard bargaining over prices.

Significant themes

• Trust and reputation: Devils understand how easily trust can be damaged, even as their work involves deals with people willing to bargain with them.
• Profit and risk: Annan distinguishes between a promising price increase and an investment worth making, while the merchant prioritizes profit above all.
• Adaptability in crisis: The Year of Turmoil depresses the value of Jade Essence but may create an opportunity for Annan because of his Divinity.
• Comedic haggling: Annan and the merchant use exaggerated claims and feigned reluctance as they try to outmaneuver each other.

Key plot points and events

• Annan bargains with a Wilhelm merchant over Jade Essence, initially resisting a large purchase before settling on one hundred portions for 50,000 Gold Narls. The merchant also offers high-level protection services, but Annan declines because he is allied with the Blue Dragon Group.
• The merchant leaves pleased, revealing to another Wilhelm merchant that Jade Essence was a pile of unwanted stock they had planned to discard.
• Annan tests Jade Essence on Jimmy, one of his most devoted followers. Jimmy drinks it and apparently becomes a Priest, sensing a connection to Annan and learning the Mage Hand Cantrip—even though Annan cannot grant him divine power.
• Annan leaves Jimmy with the Skeleton King to investigate his new abilities, then visits the partially completed Wealth Church. The Believers are moved by Annan’s apparent devotion as he fusses over the Lady of Wealth’s statue.

Character developments

• Annan is cautious and practical in negotiations, but willing to experiment with Jade Essence. Its effect on Jimmy raises questions about the nature of his divinity and his followers’ powers.
• Jimmy demonstrates extraordinary loyalty by readily risking himself in Annan’s experiment. He gains Priest-like abilities and a felt connection to Annan.
• The Wilhelm merchants show their opportunistic, profit-driven nature: they sell unwanted goods at a substantial price while presenting themselves as peace-loving protectors.
• The Wealth Church’s Believers see Annan’s actions as proof of his devotion and legitimacy as the Lady’s Holy Son.

Significant themes

• Commerce and self-interest: The Wilhelm merchants exploit opportunities and even frame their services to profit from conflict.
• Faith and divine power: Annan’s followers can become Believers through a reciprocal connection, yet Jimmy’s new abilities emerge despite Annan’s inability to consciously grant power.
• Devotion and perception: Jimmy’s sincere loyalty contrasts with the Believers’ interpretation of Annan’s theatrical attention to the statue as genuine religious fervor.
• Experimentation amid uncertainty: Annan’s use of Jade Essence may unlock power, but its effects and risks remain unclear.

Character interactions

• Annan and the Wilhelm merchant haggle over Jade Essence and discuss protection services; Annan keeps the merchant at arm’s length.
• Annan explains the risks of Jade Essence to Jimmy, who accepts them without hesitation.
• Annan observes Jimmy’s transformation, then entrusts him to the Skeleton King for further study.
• At the Wealth Church, Annan’s behavior around the Lady’s statue inspires awe among the Believers, who treat him as a holy figure.

Key plot points and events

• Archbishop Tomark gives Annan ten million Gold Narls and promises a Holy Army unit—including a Legendary fighter—to help defend Free City against Chaos. Annan confirms the money is not from the city’s development fund.
• Annan asks Tomark to explain Faith Power, insisting that finding the Lady remains his duty despite the Year of Turmoil cutting off contact between gods and believers.
• After learning how Faith Power works, Annan resumes his studies with the Skeleton King. That night, Jimmy begins praying as a priest, and his devotion generates nearly five portions of Faith Power for Annan.
• Annan gives Jade Essence to his believers, but withholds it from Moxi, whom he still distrusts because of her divided loyalties.
• At Old Val Town, the Rat Tide begins. Imperial forces destroy the first wave, but further waves follow, while the Ratfolk mobilize to reclaim territory.
• Annan orders the Hellfire Legion to withdraw toward the Duchy. In response, Grand Duke Girardi raises a white flag after hearing that war is imminent—apparently interpreting the warning as a reason to surrender.
• Annan summons Claire from Hell to deal with the situation. Claire returns as a newly established Devil, having advanced remarkably quickly with the Lava Lake Devil Lord’s approval.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan uses his growing influence pragmatically, securing money and military support while remaining sincerely committed to finding the Lady. He also discovers that a priest can provide far more Faith Power than an ordinary believer.
• Tomark is reassured by Annan’s declaration of faith and supports him generously, trusting his loyalty despite his love of money.
• Jimmy takes his first step as a priest, becoming a significant source of Faith Power for Annan.
• Moxi remains outside Annan’s inner circle because he doubts her loyalty.
• Grand Duke Girardi is portrayed as extraordinarily cowardly: he responds to the prospect of war by surrendering rather than resisting.
• Claire has rapidly risen in the Devil hierarchy and is now officially a Devil. Her relationship with Annan remains important enough that her Lord allows her to return when summoned.
• Annan contrasts Girardi with the Mad Dog Duke, who is violently stubborn, joking that Girardi may have Goblin blood.

Significant themes

• Faith and divine absence: Annan’s search for the Lady continues even when the gods cannot hear prayers; Faith Power may offer a practical route toward renewed contact.
• Power, resources, and loyalty: Annan balances spiritual duty with political and military concerns, while carefully judging who deserves his trust.
• Leadership and cowardice: The Rat Tide tests the region’s rulers, and Girardi’s surrender sharply contrasts with Annan’s efforts to organize a defense.

Key plot points and events

• Annan tells Claire the Duchy needs her. She returns with officials assigned by his eldest sister to stabilize the Duchy, and agrees to punish Grand Duke Girardi for his incompetence. That night, Girardi’s cries as he is whipped carry as far as Free City.
• On the fifth day of the Empire’s defense of Old Val Town, a Free City reconnaissance airship observes the battle from the Graypeak Mountains. The town’s growing wall is holding the Rat Tide, but rats are slipping around its flanks and threatening nearby territories.
• Small factions, rebuffed by the Empire, appeal to Free City for help. The City Lord’s Mansion convenes to consider intervention.
• Before the meeting, Annan visits Biross, who has spent the past week alone in her room. He explains that he was not trying to confine or pressure her, and argues that Free City and the Demons could become allies despite their existing alliance with the Ratfolk.
• Annan shows Biross Free City’s diverse religious and civic institutions, including the Spider Queen Church and a railway project connecting Free City to Siltovis. He asks her to explore the city and judge it for herself.
• At the council meeting, officials debate the costs and urgency of helping the small factions. They argue that aid should bring practical returns, that Free City must protect its trade and borders, and that decisive action could stop the Ratfolk from establishing nests nearby.

Character developments

• Claire appears cold and resolute, taking responsibility for restoring order in the Duchy.
• Annan tries to build trust with Biross through reassurance, persuasion, and an invitation to experience Free City firsthand.
• Biross is guarded and conflicted. Although Annan mistakes her silence and sighs for hurt and resignation, she is actually unsure how to respond or what feelings to display.
• Free City’s officials show confidence and growing political ambition, while War Minister Reynaldo observes rather than leading the debate.

Character interactions

• Annan and Claire discuss the Duchy’s crisis; Claire accepts the task and Annan leaves Girardi’s punishment to her.
• Annan and Biross negotiate cautiously. Biross challenges whether he truly understands Demons, while he claims to understand her character and responsibility as a commander.
• In council, department officials make competing but complementary cases for helping the threatened factions: economic benefit, protection of trade, and the need to prevent the Ratfolk threat from spreading.

Significant themes

• Pragmatic alliance-building: Annan seeks cooperation across existing rivalries, relying on trust and shared interests.
• Leadership and responsibility: Claire, Biross, and Free City’s officials are presented as people expected to act decisively for those depending on them.
• Interpreting others: Annan’s assumptions about Biross reveal how easily outward behavior can be misunderstood.
• Expansion and security: Free City’s aid decision is shaped by both humanitarian appeals and the strategic danger of allowing the Rat Tide to spread.

Key events

• Free City’s officials debate whether to support the threatened neighboring powers. The cautious Construction Department favors waiting, while the more numerous radicals want to act quickly.
• Annan introduces Biross, a former commander in the Demon Lord’s Sixth Legion, as a new ally. Asked about the McKennan Ratfolk, she warns that their seemingly reckless assault on Old Val Town may be a diversion. Olmedo develops the idea: the Ratfolk army is like an expanding balloon that could suddenly burst toward a more vulnerable target.
• Free City delays its decision but offers neighboring Lords the chance to buy weapons. Frightened by the Ratfolk and abandoned by the Empire, they flood Free City with gifts, deposits, and even their children as hostages, treating it as a powerful protector.
• Intelligence confirms that Old Val Town is only a feint: the Ratfolk’s real target is the Dimon Kingdom, whose fertile lands and resources could sustain them. Annan sends the warning to both the Empire and the Kingdom.
• Joan delivers the intelligence to Grand Marshal Garkin. He recognizes the danger, trusts Annan’s information, and pulls his army back behind the Mountain Pass.
• The Imperial War Envoy arrives in Free City, accompanied by Gandhi, a Church priest.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan shows strategic confidence: he relies on his information network rather than conventional scouting, manages Free City’s response, and warns the Empire and Dimon Kingdom. He remains composed when receiving the Imperial envoy.
• Biross begins establishing herself as a trusted ally. Her knowledge of Ratfolk behavior helps identify the likely deception.
• Olmedo interprets Biross’s warning and presents the “expanding balloon” analogy, helping the council grasp the scale of the threat. She and Biross share a brief moment of mutual respect.
• Joan proves resourceful, delivering the warning while tactfully claiming Annan trusts Garkin’s judgment—something Annan did not actually say.
• Garkin shifts from hunting Rat Swarms to a cautious withdrawal after weighing Annan’s warning against the Ratfolk’s movements.
• The officials’ debate reflects differing priorities, but the narration emphasizes that both factions sincerely believe they are serving Free City. Peterson enthusiastically welcomes Biross and later stands confidently beside Annan.

Significant themes

• Deception and strategic misdirection: The attack on Old Val Town conceals the true invasion route.
• Intelligence and trust: Annan’s network and Garkin’s willingness to act on uncertain but credible information prove more valuable than brute force.
• Power and dependency: Smaller states, deserted by the Empire, turn to Free City for protection and treat it like a rising empire.
• Idealism and experience: Reynaldo’s reflection contrasts youthful conviction with the compromises and disappointments of age.

Key plot points and events

• The Empire’s War Envoy arrives in Free City with a Call-Up Order declaring the city at war and granting the Empire authority to use its troops and resources.
• Annan asks who will command Free City. The Envoy says the Emperor will command in name, while Annan will retain practical control.
• Annan promises to defend the city against the Ratfolk. He then asks Peterson to show the Envoy the military camp while Gandhi speaks with him.
• Peterson proudly presents the Hellfire cavalry’s shooting skills and the city’s firearms. The Envoy tries a standard Magic Musket, handles its recoil easily, and is impressed by its power.
• Gema refuses to let Peterson give away his well-loved gun, which he maintains to please its Gun Spirit. The Envoy then tests a Mountain Copper Matchlock. Its tremendous recoil numbs his hand, but its shot smashes the target, leaving him thrilled by its force.

Character developments

• Annan remains confident and somewhat irreverent, questioning the Emperor’s military ability while trusting that Free City will remain under his command.
• Peterson acts bold in front of Annan but becomes deferential around the imperial envoy. He eagerly uses the inspection to show off the city’s troops and weapons.
• The War Envoy begins as an official inspecting Free City’s forces but becomes fascinated by its firearms, especially the matchlock’s raw power.
• Gema shows fierce personal attachment to his Magic Musket and refuses to part with it, regardless of the visitor’s rank.

Character interactions

• Annan and the Envoy exchange formal assurances, with Annan openly skeptical of the Emperor’s command.
• Peterson alternates between boasting to the Envoy and trying to impress him with Free City’s equipment.
• Gema gives the Envoy firing instructions, then clashes with Peterson over the offer to give away his gun.
• Peterson and Gema each react differently to the matchlock’s shot: Peterson protects his ears, while Gema watches the gun’s recoil.

Significant themes

• Military power and technological change: Firearms impress a traditional warrior with their range, force, and unfamiliar handling.
• Authority versus practical control: The Emperor holds nominal command, but Annan is expected to lead Free City in practice.
• Reputation and reality: Despite the Empire’s fearsome reputation, its envoy behaves reasonably; meanwhile, Free City’s seemingly ordinary troops possess remarkable shooting ability.
• Pride and attachment: Peterson’s showmanship and Gema’s devotion to his weapon reveal different forms of loyalty and pride.

Key plot points

• Mountain Copper Matchlocks prove highly durable and powerful, with their force limited mainly by the user’s strength. The main drawback is the slow, inconvenient loading process, so the Mushroom House and Blacksmith Shop are developing ammunition.
• The War Envoy tests a matchlock and meets Gema, a Diatra family head and Deepwinter Legion Sergeant Major. Peterson explains Lord Annan’s Military Rank System, which rewards service and achievement separately from command appointments.
• The War Envoy praises the system and asks to learn more, seeing it as a practical way to recognize soldiers and improve morale without creating too many command posts.
• Gandhi privately asks Annan which side Free City would support in a full-scale invasion by the Chaos Forces. Annan bluntly says he will back whichever side is winning, having already arranged options with both the Demons and Ratfolk.
• Their exchange reveals that the Empire is preparing a new campaign and wants reliable partners. It plans to enlist Free City and the battle-tested Dimon Kingdom while making less capable nobles pay rather than burden the army.
• Gandhi decides Free City will have to contribute money if it will not provide troops.

Character developments and interactions

• The War Envoy is impressed by the Military Rank System, which separates a soldier’s honor from the limited number of leadership positions. His interest shifts from weapons to military organization.
• Gema expresses pride in his family and rank, while Peterson explains the system behind that rank.
• Annan displays his characteristic pragmatism and candor, openly admitting that survival and profit matter more to him than dying for the Empire. Gandhi finds him honest, but unreliable as a military ally.
• Gandhi balances amusement and concern at Annan’s frankness. He recognizes Annan’s potential value but ultimately decides Free City should fund the effort rather than send troops.

Significant themes

• Honor versus material reward: Military ranks let soldiers earn recognition without requiring a new command position.
• Pragmatism and loyalty: Annan treats alliances as contingent on survival, while the Empire seeks partners judged by practical military value.
• War’s cost and burden-sharing: The Empire intends to rely on capable allies and make other powers contribute financially.
• Innovation and preparation: New weapons and organizational systems reflect efforts to improve both battlefield effectiveness and morale.

Key plot points and events

• Annan learns that the Empire is seeking allies for a campaign to wipe out the Northern Chaos forces. It has approached Free City and the Dimon Kingdom, expecting the latter to agree because of its longstanding conflict with the enemy.
• When Annan hears that the Empire may offer substantial rewards, he immediately declares Free City ready to fight the Ratfolk. He frames the decision as patriotic revenge, though his eagerness is clearly driven in part by the prospect of payment.
• Annan considers profiting from the campaign by secretly arranging a bulk supply of Ratfolk ears for reward claims, but backs away after reflecting that he cannot undermine his own side for personal gain.
• Olmedo supports cooperating with the Empire, reasoning that Free City has much to gain and little to lose. She also warns that the Empire’s limited choice of allies suggests it intends a decisive campaign and will not tolerate obstruction.
• A message arrives that Dimon’s Grand Marshal Garkin has returned and can provide Ratfolk ears. Annan instantly asks for as many as possible, rationalizing that they were collected on the front lines and will earn rewards for Dimon.
• That evening, the Empire’s envoys compare their impressions. Gandhi doubts Annan’s full commitment, but assumes his people’s history makes him a reliable ally. The next day, the Hellfire Legion’s disciplined, battle-scarred return to Free City impresses both envoys and eases their doubts about the city’s ability to contribute.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan shifts between opportunism and conscience. He is animated by the promise of rewards, yet draws a line at actively compromising Free City’s interests. His exchanges with Gandhi show how readily he disguises self-interest as patriotic resolve; his conversation with Olmedo brings his motives into clearer view.
• Olmedo approaches war as a political calculation, weighing costs against benefits rather than treating it as a matter of personal duty. She approves the alliance but cautions Annan against misjudging the Empire’s determination.
• Gandhi initially takes Annan’s impassioned declarations at face value and regards him as a likely ally. The returning Hellfire Legion provides more convincing evidence of Free City’s military strength.
• The War Envoy reports on his visit to the Empire’s legions and former Blackwatch comrades. Their restrained, uneasy encounter hints at the personal cost of political and military changes.

Significant themes

• Money, reward, and duty: Annan’s enthusiasm exposes the role material incentives play in motivating him, while his hesitation over fraudulent profiteering reveals the limits of his opportunism.
• Political pragmatism versus personal responsibility: Olmedo evaluates the alliance strategically, contrasting with the more personal sense of obligation associated with soldiers such as Femi.
• Appearance and sincerity: Annan’s rhetoric of vengeance masks a practical interest in rewards, leaving the Empire’s representatives uncertain about his true commitment.
• Military spirit: The chapter emphasizes that a Legion’s resolve and discipline—not just its strength—make it formidable.

Key plot points and events

• The War Envoy and Gandhi return from Free City with a favorable assessment and a costly Mountain Copper Matchlock from Olmedo. Annan winces at the expense, but Olmedo argues that gifts help secure military relationships—and, by extension, access to rewards for Ratfolk ears.
• Annan discovers that Leila has been fishing with a Gold Narl as bait, after she claims to have caught a huge, rare fish. Illymoyas confesses she tricked Leila, secretly took the coin, and then caught a real fish to replace it.
• Illymoyas explains that she feels uncomfortable spending money Annan gives her, even though he regularly leaves purses for her to find. Annan is annoyed that she fooled Leila but ultimately lets their harmless money-swapping game continue.
• Free City approves sending the Hellfire Legion to aid Pearl Territory, which is already under attack by a Rat Swarm. Ingrid accompanies the troops to establish trade, especially for Magic Muskets.
• Annan sees the deployment as both military assistance and a commercial opportunity: local factions that can defend themselves will weaken the Molefolk, while Free City can sell weapons and benefit from their Ratfolk kills.
• Free City also receives salted Ratfolk ears from the Dimon Kingdom, expands border construction, and stockpiles resources for the prolonged war.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan is calculating and frugal, but also generous and pragmatic. He understands the value of diplomacy, supports Illymoyas despite her trickery, and plans military aid around long-term trade and war gains.
• Olmedo emphasizes that spending resources strategically can bring greater returns.
• Leila is revealed to be an enthusiastic, persistent fisher who cares more about fishing than money or appearances. Her gullibility makes her an easy target for Illymoyas’s prank.
• Illymoyas is playful and financially resourceful, yet reluctant to spend money she considers Annan’s. Her guilt leads her to ensure Leila actually receives a fish.
• Annan’s exasperation with both women gives way to affection and tolerance; he recognizes that Leila’s inexpensive hobby is harmless and that Illymoyas’s deception costs little in the end.
• Annan and Gema discuss whether to send more troops for training. Annan prioritizes building the Hellfire Legion’s reputation and creating demand for Free City’s weapons.

Significant themes

• Strategic generosity: Spending on gifts or aid can secure influence, trade, and future benefits.
• Frugality and money: The chapter treats money with humor, especially through Annan’s stinginess and Illymoyas’s reluctance to spend his gifts.
• Mutual benefit and practical loyalty: Free City and the Dimon Kingdom cooperate without discussing payment, recognizing what each owes the other.
• War as both danger and opportunity: Free City prepares for a long conflict while using military support, arms sales, and Ratfolk-ear rewards to strengthen its position.

Plot and key events

• Free City mobilizes for war, stockpiling food, ore, coal, and skilled labor while its factories produce weapons, armor, Golems, and supplies. Lilith’s Breeze Domain Runes relieve the city’s worsening smoke-related irritation.
• The Hellfire Legion arrives in the Pearl Territory and uses the “Slime Formation”—a coordinated, shifting line—to sweep through villages and eliminate a Rat Swarm of roughly 100,000. The operation quickly ends the local Rat Plague.
• Rather than remain to protect every lord, the Legion urges the nobles to defend themselves. Ingrid and the Ceremonial Affairs Department persuade them to buy weapons and cement, while the Guard Legion sends instructors to train their forces. Free City trades supplies for Rat Ears, and weapons and cement travel east by train.
• Captured Ratfolk reveal that the swarm was wild and clanless: it had been called south toward Old Val Town, then scattered and wandered off course. Its arrival was not a deliberate advance.
• Despite being warned that more waves may come, the nobles choose a third option: they offer payment in hopes that Annan will station troops in their territories.
• Olmedo presses Annan to decide whether Free City will remain focused on protecting itself or openly demonstrate its power. Such a move would mark Annan’s emergence as a king rather than merely a lord.

Character developments and interactions

• Ingrid becomes a key persuader, translating the Legion’s battlefield success into an argument for local self-defense and modern weapons.
• The Hellfire Legion proves both disciplined and effective, while its example helps convince the nobles that organized resistance is possible.
• The nobles shift from dependence and fear toward buying arms—but ultimately still seek Annan’s protection, revealing their reluctance to take full responsibility.
• Annan faces a defining political choice: stay within his current role or step onto a wider stage.
• Olmedo directly frames that choice as a turning point for Free City.

Significant themes

• Self-reliance versus dependence: Free City pushes local lords to defend themselves, but they continue to look to Annan for security.
• Power as persuasion: The Legion’s visible success makes diplomacy and arms sales far more convincing.
• War as mobilization: Food, industry, training, trade, and civilian organization are all part of preparing for conflict.
• Political transformation: Free City’s response to the crisis may turn Annan’s practical authority into an open claim to kingship.

Key plot points and events

• Annan and Olmedo discuss the difference between being a lord, responsible mainly for one’s own territory, and being king, whose decisions affect countless people. Annan is uncertain whether he wants the greater burden and asks what the Empire expects of Free City.
• As war approaches, Free City mobilizes: most soldiers return for intensive training and new equipment. Political Commissar Frank limits the unreliable Second-Generation Magic Muskets to five squads so their problems can be studied before mass production.
• Annan considers the risks of accepting vassals and greater responsibility. Doing so would make Free City less able to flee danger—but the nobles’ families are already settling there, prompting his wry thought that they could be evacuated along with the city.
• Annan sends his decision to Gandhi, who tells him to keep waiting. Meanwhile, Free City continues gathering supplies for a potentially harsh Deepwinter. Idelia reassures Annan that the Empire’s history suggests a dispatched War Envoy means war is coming.
• Twenty-seven of the East’s thirty-four lords agree to become Free City’s vassals under the threat of the Rat Tide. Olmedo organizes a meeting to plan joint defense against the Northern Chaos Forces; Annan is needed mainly to appear and greet the lords.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan remains torn between avoiding political responsibility and protecting people who may depend on him. His humor—especially about selling houses and evacuating nobles—lightens the anxiety without resolving his dilemma.
• Olmedo advises Annan without pressuring him. Though she says she wants him to be happy, she admits she has ambitions of her own and can no longer imagine returning to a quiet life.
• Frank demonstrates a methodical, evidence-based approach by prioritizing weapon testing and improvement over rapid but risky distribution.
• Idelia offers Annan reassurance, while Olin relays his decision to Gandhi. Ingrid supports the preparations by showing eastern nobles around Free City.

Significant themes

• Leadership and responsibility: Political authority carries obligations to protect those who rely on it.
• Duty versus self-preservation: Free City’s ability to flee may disappear if it takes on vassals and commits to defending them.
• Pragmatism under uncertainty: The city prepares for war and winter while awaiting the Empire’s intentions.
• Careful progress: Frank’s controlled weapon rollout reflects the chapter’s preference for testing and improvement over reckless expansion.

Key plot points and events

• Olmedo negotiates a new alliance between Free City and several western lords. Though presented as mutual aid, its contract gives Free City substantial commercial and political advantages: low tariffs, freedom of movement for its people, protection for its businesses, and first choice on property. In return, Free City offers help against outside threats and refuge when possible.
• Annan is surprised by how favorable the terms are, but Olmedo explains that the lords will value Free City’s support and stability. The alliance also lets Free City extend its influence and attract investment.
• Olmedo plans to steer the lords’ money toward risky, slow-paying Mushroom House projects that Free City has struggled to fund. The agreement is intended as a model for bringing more territories into Free City’s orbit.
• Annan, excited by the alliance’s reach, declares himself “King of Freedom”; Olmedo reminds him that he rules only one region—for now.
• The following day, the lords tour the Mushroom House and select projects. Count Collins later seeks a private meeting with Annan, carrying greetings from Fronning, the Duchy of Keating’s Minister of Finance. Collins reports that Fronning is faring poorly, as Keating faces constant incursions by Ratfolk and demons.

Character developments and interactions

• Annan recognizes the alliance’s unequal terms but lets Olmedo lead. He uses warm, respectful gestures to put the lords at ease, while privately seeing the deal as a way to expand Free City’s power. His youthful ambition surfaces in his claim to kingship.
• Olmedo proves to be a pragmatic diplomat and strategist: he secures favorable terms, reassures Annan, and finds a way to use outside investment to fund less popular projects.
• The lords regard Annan as a powerful benefactor and willingly accept the arrangement, even expressing gratitude for terms that chiefly benefit Free City.
• Count Collins invests heavily to gain access to Annan and acts as a link to Fronning. His report introduces Keating’s worsening danger and hints at a possible new political or commercial concern.

Significant themes

• Power disguised as partnership: The alliance is framed as mutual aid, but its clauses make Free City dominant.
• Commerce as influence: Trade, investment, and access to property become tools for extending political reach.
• Pragmatism and ambition: Olmedo focuses on workable gains, while Annan begins imagining a much larger future.
• Unequal hierarchies: The lords’ deference to Annan reflects how power shapes relationships even among nobles.