Recaps

General McHale took command of the campaign against the Rulson Kingdom after General Cook was relieved, but dismissed warnings about the kingdom’s powerful army and the Xinfei Merchant Guild’s military magic machinery. Russell left convinced McHale’s Third Army Corps would suffer a setback that might finally force the Empire Military Department to take the threat seriously.

• General McHale berated General Cook, then informed him that the Military Department had relieved him of command.
• General Cook warned McHale that the Rulson Kingdom’s army was unusually powerful, but McHale rejected his warning and studied the battle reports with disbelief.
• A guard brought Russell to McHale, and Russell reported that the Imperial Navy had failed to enter Rulson waters or carry out its landing.
• Russell warned McHale that the Xinfei Merchant Guild had equipped Rulson’s army with formidable military magic machinery, but McHale dismissed the warning.
• After leaving McHale’s tent, Russell concluded that McHale’s disregard would likely lead to a defeat that could make the Empire Military Department take the threat seriously.

Xu Yi and King Trutz discussed the Rulson Kingdom’s wartime supplies and their joint investment in a Gear Processing Factory while a convoy delivered strategic goods to the front. Xu Yi affirmed the Xinfei Merchant Guild’s willingness to risk supporting Rulson and gave King Trutz plans and a mold, leaving their cooperation poised to deepen.

• A convoy of more than a hundred Large Cargo Magic Locomotives carried strategic supplies into the Rulson Kingdom for its war against the Candel Empire.
• King Trutz compared a standard Magic Repeating Crossbow bolt with a handmade one and recognized the superior quality and lower cost of the Spirit Fox Merchant Guild’s supply.
• Xu Yi told King Trutz that the first two thousand Magic Rockets were being loaded and should arrive in three days.
• King Trutz proposed that the Gear Processing Factory operate independently under the Rulson Kingdom, but Xu Yi argued that the Xinfei Merchant Guild should remain involved.
• Xu Yi explained that backing Rulson offered greater returns than backing the Candel Empire and said a merchant had to take risks.
• Xu Yi gave King Trutz plans and a metal mold that fit a standard Magic Repeating Crossbow bolt exactly.

Queen Servini rejected Candel Empire ambassador Klein Swidden’s demand that the Lampari Kingdom stop trading with the Rulson Kingdom, pointing out that the empire had failed to force other neighboring states to comply. The meeting ended with the Candel Empire’s authority in the Sains Continent at risk because it had been unable to defeat the Rulson Kingdom.

• Xu Yi supported King Trutz by arranging supplies and offering the Rulson Kingdom technology transfers for Magic Repeating Crossbows.
• Klein Swidden demanded that Servini halt all shipments from the Lampari Kingdom to the Rulson Kingdom.
• Servini argued that the shipments were private trade and challenged the Candel Empire’s right to punish Lampari merchant guilds.
• Servini noted that other countries had also ignored the empire’s warnings, while the Sark Kingdom had not responded and the Falk Kingdom had rejected the demand.
• Servini pointed out that the Candel Empire had not punished the Rulson Kingdom despite its defiance, leaving Swidden to realize his mission had failed and the empire’s authority was in crisis.

General McHale’s Candel Empire forces suffered a devastating defeat when the Rulson Kingdom’s crossbows, Magic Locomotives, and explosive weapons overwhelmed them. News of the Empire’s losses stunned the continent, and reports identified the Rulson Kingdom’s Military Magic Machinery as the key to its superior combat power.

• General McHale watched the Rulson Kingdom’s relentless crossbow fire inflict heavy casualties and block his troops’ advance.
• General McHale’s light cavalry failed to flank the enemy after detachments of Magic Locomotives routed them with powerful weapons.
• Explosive fireballs devastated General McHale’s position, and he ordered a retreat after nearly all his guards were killed.
• The Rulson Kingdom pursued General McHale’s Third Army Corps for a week, driving it three hundred kilometers into Candel Empire territory and leaving fewer than ten thousand survivors.
• Nations across the Sains Continent examined the defeats and concluded that the Rulson Kingdom’s Military Magic Machinery gave its army its overwhelming advantage.

After the Rulson Kingdom defeated the Candel Empire, President Cantona worked with Marquis Southgate’s fief on farmland improvements and factory preparations in the Malo Empire. Riley revealed that Southgate’s sudden warmth toward Cantona was connected to the Rulson Kingdom’s victory, leaving Cantona confused.

• The Rulson Kingdom withdrew after driving General McHale’s surviving forces back into Candel Empire territory, and both countries fell into an uneasy peace.
• President Cantona waited with Baron Franklin for Marquis Southgate to inspect the completed first phase of farmland improvements, and Franklin invited Cantona to stay longer.
• Cantona reflected on the chamber’s successful harvest work across thirteen nobles’ fiefs and its plans to expand farmland improvements in the Malo Empire.
• Cantona visited the developing Magic Industrial Base, where factories were preparing to open and recruit thousands of workers from nearby fiefs.
• Cantona asked Riley why Marquis Southgate’s attitude had changed, and Riley said it was because the Rulson Kingdom had defeated the Candel Empire.

After the Rulson Kingdom’s victories made the Xinfei Merchant Guild famous across the continent, Marquis Southgate helped the Malo Empire’s officials seek contact with the guild. Xu Yi refused the flood of invitations, intent on drawing attention from military magic machinery to the guild’s civilian products.

• Duke Roosevelt questioned Marquis Southgate about the Xinfei Merchant Guild’s military magic machinery, and Southgate offered to connect the Military Department with the guild.
• Count Temple told Southgate that the emperor and Commerce Department took the machinery seriously, then asked Southgate to arrange contact with the guild about household magic machinery.
• Southgate agreed to help the Commerce Department and predicted household magic machinery would become popular throughout the empire.
• Xu Yi ordered Twisti to discard all invitations and said he would not attend the gatherings seeking the guild’s attention.
• Xu Yi recognized that the guild had become famous through its military machinery but focused on getting people interested in its civilian products.

Xu Yi reviewed the Xinfei Merchant Guild’s financial report and planned to steer the guild toward civilian magic machinery despite military machinery’s growing profits. He asked Twisti to prepare separate profit analyses, then tried to learn when Anise would return and was told she was at a critical stage.

• Xu Yi studied Sebas’s report, which showed that military magic machinery accounted for much of the guild’s profit growth, but he reaffirmed that civilian machinery would remain the guild’s main focus.
• Xu Yi asked Twisti to prepare separate reports on military and civilian magic machinery profits, and she agreed to take on the task.
• Xu Yi asked Twisti to contact Elder Lysania about Anise’s return and explained that Anise was one of his most important family members, though Stille remained the most important person to him.
• Twisti said Anise was at a critical stage and that Xu Yi would learn why in about six months.
• Xu Yi threatened to stop supporting the Moon Shadow Tribe’s territory in southwestern Sark Kingdom unless Elder Lysania explained the delay, and Twisti accused him of using public power for private ends.

Xu Yi met with Stille after she returned from promoting Mana Illusion Projection Devices in the Falk Kingdom, and they discussed how the New Moon Merchant Guild could help draw attention to civilian magic machinery. The two agreed to cooperate on promotion, and Xu Yi proposed that Stille produce a documentary series about the Xinfei Merchant Guild.

• Xu Yi explained to Twisti how to prepare separate financial reports for military and civilian magic machinery before heading toward the Magic Research Institute.
• Stille returned from the Falk Kingdom and told Xu Yi she had come back to discuss a matter concerning him.
• Stille proposed that the New Moon Merchant Guild promote Mana Illusion Projection Devices alongside Xinfei household magic machinery and create Illusion Films featuring civilian products.
• Xu Yi and Stille agreed to a mutual promotion arrangement between their merchant guilds.
• Xu Yi proposed that Stille produce a documentary series called The Development of the Xinfei Merchant Guild, and Stille enthusiastically agreed.

A Candel Empire delegation led by Marquis Descartes tried to persuade Queen Servini to hand over the Lampari Kingdom’s magic machinery technology in exchange for trade benefits and political support. Servini refused, citing the Xinfei Merchant Guild’s patents and the Mages’ Guild’s protection, leaving Descartes to consider the delegation’s second plan.

• Marquis Descartes arrived in Anvilmar City with an unusually large, high-ranking Candel Empire delegation and met Queen Servini.
• Descartes offered trade concessions and political support in return for access to all the Lampari Kingdom’s magic machinery technology.
• Servini refused, explaining that the core technology belonged to the Xinfei Merchant Guild and that local guilds only held licenses.
• Servini told Descartes that the Mages’ Guild Headquarters certified and protected the Xinfei Merchant Guild’s patents.
• Descartes recognized that the empire could not easily approach the Xinfei Merchant Guild and privately resolved to use the delegation’s second plan.

Ruff Dad finished the Ruff Merchant Guild’s profitable annual ledger and reflected on how Xinfei technology had transformed his business. Two well-dressed visitors arrived, demonstrated their interest in his household appliances, then revealed they wanted to buy the entire guild.

• Ruff Dad completed and reviewed the ledger, which showed 176,431 gold coins in sales and 89,213 gold coins in profit.
• Ruff Dad recalled buying Xinfei manufacturing technology for magic-powered kettles and stoves, while regretting that he could not invest in factories in the Malo Empire.
• Two visitors entered Ruff Dad’s shop, and he demonstrated the guild’s magic-powered kettle and stove for them.
• One visitor handed Ruff Dad an acquisition agreement and said they had come to purchase the Ruff Merchant Guild.

Ruff Dad hesitated over a lucrative offer from a Candel Empire guild to buy his merchant guild, but Doyel’s successful sale of the Ailan Merchant Guild persuaded him to accept the opportunity. Meanwhile, Xu Yi rejected Prince Frank’s proposal for a magic locomotive factory in the Candel Empire unless the Xinfei Merchant Guild retained control.

• Ruff Dad examined an offer of eight hundred thousand gold coins for the Ruff Merchant Guild but worried that the deal was suspicious.
• Doyel told Ruff Dad he had sold the Ailan Merchant Guild to buyers from the Candel Empire for six hundred thousand gold coins and had received payment immediately.
• Doyel urged Ruff Dad to sell and suggested they could use their money to pursue opportunities in the Malo Empire, prompting Ruff Dad to agree.
• Steward Mancini asked Xu Yi to establish a magic locomotive factory in the Candel Empire on Prince Frank’s behalf.
• Xu Yi said the Xinfei Merchant Guild would cooperate only if it retained control of the factory, leaving Mancini displeased.

Xu Yi analyzed the Candel Empire’s efforts to acquire Lampari Kingdom magic-industry businesses and Prince Frank’s proposed partnership, recognizing that the empire was responding quickly to its military defeats. He also received Malo Empire agreements and a Military Department invitation, leaving him to consider how to sell military magic machinery without letting either empire become too powerful.

• Director Mancini failed to persuade Xu Yi to let Prince Frank’s side lead their cooperation, and Xu Yi insisted that the Xinfei Merchant Guild must take the lead.
• Xu Yi read Baron Haines’s report that Candel Empire merchant guilds had bought Lampari Kingdom magic-industry businesses, then removed their equipment and workers.
• Xu Yi concluded that the Candel Empire was building its own magic industry while testing whether the Xinfei Merchant Guild would cooperate after the empire’s defeats against Rulson Kingdom.
• Xu Yi reviewed a Malo Empire agreement for expanded cooperation, a Commerce Department order for magic machinery, and an invitation from the Military Department to discuss military machinery.
• Xu Yi decided he would accept the Malo Empire’s invitation but worried that supplying military machinery to both empires could make them too powerful.

Queen Servini reviewed the effects of Candel Empire guilds buying Lampari Kingdom businesses, then summoned the former owners to ask if they wanted to try again. She offered them an opportunity, leaving its details and their decision for later.

• Servini weighed the damage caused by the acquisitions against the risk of confronting the Candel Empire, and relied on a fallback plan while allowing the deals to proceed.
• Ruff Dad and Doyel waited with other former guild owners in the Royal Palace and speculated about why Servini had summoned them.
• Servini entered, assured the merchants she would not hold them accountable for selling their guilds, and asked whether they planned to enjoy their money or give business another shot.
• President Soros asked what would happen if they wanted to try again, and Servini offered an opportunity without yet explaining its details.

Xu Yi planned to give thirteen merchant guilds more advanced magic machinery technology and transfer fifteen technologies to the Lampari Kingdom to strengthen its position. After arranging military machinery sales and training for the Rulson Kingdom while withholding its requested technologies, he turned to the Mages' Guild Headquarters' method of pursuing Xinfei's technology.

• Xu Yi reviewed a list of thirteen merchant guild presidents willing to accept another opportunity to buy advanced magic machinery technology from the Xinfei Merchant Guild.
• Xu Yi added three technologies, including Infantry Magic Rocket Launcher casting technology, to the fifteen technologies the Xinfei Merchant Guild would transfer to the Lampari Kingdom in exchange for mining rights.
• Xu Yi agreed to the Rulson Kingdom's purchase of more than seven million gold coins' worth of military magic machinery and arranged for Xinfei guards to train its soldiers and establish a combat system.
• Xu Yi rejected the Rulson Kingdom's requests for military magic machinery technology, despite accepting its other favorable terms.
• Xu Yi considered the varied efforts to obtain Xinfei's technology and focused on the method used by the Mages' Guild Headquarters, which angered and worried him.

After the Mages' Guild Headquarters recognized the magic industry sector, Great Mage Ferguson demanded that the Xinfei Merchant Guild submit complete documentation for its patents or risk losing their protection. Facing the threat of widespread copying and industry disorder, Xu Yi decided to seek Archmage Camilla's help with a solution he had been hesitant to pursue.

• The Mages' Guild Headquarters approved the Magic Industry College, recognized the magic industry sector, and named the Xinfei Merchant Guild an official partner.
• Xu Yi proposed that the Xinfei Merchant Guild pay the Lampari Kingdom Mages' Guild one hundred thousand gold coins annually to sponsor its qualification examinations, but Great Mage Ferguson said the proposal required discussion.
• Great Mage Ferguson demanded complete documentation for the Xinfei Merchant Guild's patents, warning that patents could be declared invalid if the guild refused.
• Xu Yi rejected the demand and worried that unprotected designs would be copied, damaging the guild and throwing the magic industry sector into disorder.
• After receiving Servini's letter and considering the spread of magic industry plans to other kingdoms and empires, Xu Yi went to Archmage Camilla's private laboratory.

Xu Yi asked Archmage Camilla about the threat military magic machinery posed to Archmages and learned that the Mages' Guild could not directly command Great Mages or Archmages. After hearing that the Mages' Guild Headquarters was trying to undermine the Xinfei Merchant Guild's magic machinery patents, Camilla backed Xu Yi as he prepared a proposal to protect patent rights.

• Xu Yi asked Archmage Camilla whether the Guards Corps could threaten an Archmage, and she explained that its attacks lacked the flexibility and power to reliably hit or overcome one.
• Xu Yi discussed the Archmages serving the Candel Empire and the Malo Empire, and Camilla warned him against attacking either empire.
• Xu Yi asked whether Great Mages and Archmages were subordinate to the Mages' Guild, and Camilla explained that the Guild could advise or request but not directly order them.
• Xu Yi told Camilla that the Mages' Guild Headquarters was using indirect means to invalidate the Xinfei Merchant Guild's patents, angering her.
• Xu Yi said he wanted to protect the patents without openly breaking with the Guild, then handed Camilla a proposal for a committee to protect magic industry patent rights.

Marquis Southgate welcomed the Cantona Chamber of Commerce and Xu Yi’s convoy to the Malo Empire as the spring harvest approached. Xu Yi arrived by Mana Airship and showed Southgate the machinery brought for the region, including a final group of vehicles carrying goods Southgate especially wanted.

• Spring construction resumed in Marquis Southgate’s fief, while his expanded wheat fields grew well and increased the need for harvest machinery.
• The Cantona Chamber of Commerce arrived with twenty Large Cargo Magic Locomotives, followed by a much larger Xinfei Merchant Guild convoy hauled by the Filson Transport Guild.
• President Cantona explained that Xu Yi had traveled separately by Mana Airship, then left with Baron Franklin to unload equipment and prepare for the harvest.
• Xu Yi arrived by Mana Airship, greeted Marquis Southgate, and agreed to show him the convoy’s goods.
• Xu Yi showed Southgate forty vehicles carrying Farmland Magic Machinery, then twenty-three carrying household and engineering machinery and other products.
• Xu Yi revealed that the final ten Large Cargo Magic Locomotives carried the goods Southgate cared about most.

Xu Yi delivered fertilizer to Marquis Southgate and met with representatives of the Malo Empire's Military Department to discuss buying Cargo Magic Locomotives. He revealed that the Xinfei Merchant Guild was developing a vehicle with strong off-road capabilities for military supply work.

• Marquis Southgate received ten Large Cargo Magic Locomotives carrying two hundred tons of fertilizer from the Moon Shadow Tribe.
• Marquis Southgate introduced Xu Yi to three Malo Empire Military Department representatives, including Viscount Eto'o of the Military Logistics Office.
• Viscount Eto'o said the Military Logistics Office wanted Large Cargo Magic Locomotives to supply troops across the empire.
• Xu Yi warned that the empire's poor roads and rough terrain would limit the standard vehicles' usefulness.
• Xu Yi showed the representatives a document about a Cargo Magic Locomotive the guild was developing for off-road use.

Xu Yi discussed the Military Department’s interest in Xinfei military machinery and toured Marquis Southgate’s newly operating Magic Industrial Base. Southgate tried to persuade Xu Yi to build a Xinfei factory on his fief, but Xu Yi hesitated because the fief was too small to justify tying the guild so closely to him.

• Baron Moff asked Xu Yi to provide information about Xinfei’s Military Magic Machinery, and Xu Yi proposed both an inspection and a demonstration by the Guards Corps.
• Viscount Eto'o took the documents on the off-road Magic Locomotive after Xu Yi said development would depend on demand.
• Marquis Southgate took Xu Yi to tour the base, where four factories were already producing steel, reinforcing steel, cement, and household magic machinery.
• Southgate explained that the Amli Merchant Guild had built six apartment buildings and was preparing more apartments and a villa district on his fief.
• Southgate offered Xu Yi low taxes if Xinfei built a factory on his land, but Xu Yi hesitated because the fief was too small.

Xu Yi brought a Military Department delegation from the Malo Empire to inspect Xinfei Merchant Guild machinery, and Viscount Eto'o eagerly examined its unfinished off-road vehicles. After Archmage Camilla greeted the visitors and asked after Archmage Alastair, Xu Yi offered Eto'o a Mana Illusion Film to demonstrate the vehicles’ capabilities.

• Xu Yi and the Malo Empire delegation reached the Xinfei Merchant Guild headquarters, where Eto'o asked to see the off-road vehicles before resting.
• On the drive to the research center, Archmage Camilla nearly collided with Xu Yi, recognized Eto'o as a visitor from the Malo Empire, and asked him how Archmage Alastair was doing.
• Xu Yi showed Eto'o five experimental Large Cargo Magic Locomotives climbing rough hills during tests.
• Eto'o asked to buy the prototypes, but Xu Yi refused because they were not for sale.
• Xu Yi invited Eto'o to watch a Mana Illusion Film demonstrating the off-road Cargo Magic Locomotive.

Xu Yi discussed Archmage Alastair and military magic machinery with Archmage Camilla, who gave him a letter to help him meet Alastair. The chapter ended with Camilla warning Xu Yi about the risks of selling military machinery to both the Malo and Candel Empires, while he insisted he had safeguards in place.

• Xu Yi watched Archmage Camilla demonstrate her improved magic welding torch and learned that ordinary people could use it.
• Xu Yi asked Camilla about Archmage Alastair, and she gave him a letter to help him meet her old friend in the Malo Empire.
• Xu Yi told Camilla that the Malo Empire's Military Department was interested in ordering off-road magic locomotives after seeing Stille's demonstration video.
• Camilla questioned Xu Yi about selling military magic machinery to the Malo and Candel Empires, and he said he had to sell to both despite their hostility.
• Camilla warned Xu Yi that his plan could endanger him and the Xinfei Merchant Guild, but he remained confident that his safeguards would protect them.

Leslie arrived at Paradise Island with a much larger fleet and announced plans to build factories and develop a mine, offering the islanders long-term jobs. As the islanders traded with his fleet, an armed group from the royal family arrived, and Leslie went to confront them.

• Leslie led fifteen guard frigates and two cargo mana-powered ships into Paradise Island’s port.
• Leslie announced plans to build a magic machinery parts factory and a steelworks, develop a mine, and recruit around two thousand workers.
• The islanders eagerly signed up for construction work and began trading herbs and ores for goods from the Sains Continent.
• Leslie received word of movement inland and ordered his subordinate to proceed according to plan.
• An armed group from the royal family arrived at the beach, and Leslie rose to approach them.

Leslie killed King Antor and seized control of Paradise Island after confronting the king over taxes and trade. Meanwhile, Xu Yi discussed selling Mana Airships to the Malo Empire, then learned that representatives of the Candel Empire had arrived and invited Eto'o to meet them.

• Leslie rejected King Antor's demand for taxes, surrounded the king's forces, and shot both King Antor and his spokesman.
• Leslie stopped the fleeing soldiers with explosions, forced them and the islanders to kneel, and declared that they would obey his orders.
• Eto'o asked Xu Yi to sell Mana Airships to the Malo Empire, and Xu Yi agreed to provide a demonstration video and consider supplying some for evaluation.
• A Xinfei Merchant Guild employee told Xu Yi that Prince Frank's representatives had arrived and encountered the Malo Empire's delegation.
• Xu Yi invited Eto'o to accompany him to meet the new guests.

Xu Yi received military delegations from the Malo and Candel Empires, whose representatives warned him against cooperating with both rival powers. He dismissed their threats and remained confident that the Xinfei Merchant Guild could use their rivalry to its advantage, while civilian magic machinery spread regardless of their objections.

• Xu Yi arrived at the reception center with Eto'o and found the Malo Empire's delegation facing Russell's Candel Empire Navy delegation.
• Eto'o and Russell exchanged barbed remarks about Russell's military record, and Xu Yi refused to reveal the guild's clients' plans.
• Eto'o told Xu Yi that the Malo Empire intended to order military magic machinery and seek a long-term partnership, while warning that cooperation with Candel could erode its trust.
• Russell sought to buy ten more Guard Frigates and equipment, then warned Xu Yi that cooperation with Malo could damage Candel's military and civilian trade ties with the guild.
• Xu Yi dismissed both empires' threats, reasoned that their rivalry gave him leverage, and examined the guild's financial report with satisfaction.

Merchant Hafra and his nephew Nethers traveled through the Candel Empire and compared its poor roads, limited food, and lack of running water with the Lampari Kingdom. Hafra realized that the Lampari Kingdom had surpassed the great empire in everyday comforts, leaving him proud as they drove toward Lalu City.

• Nethers complained about the Candel Empire's pothole-ridden roads while driving Hafra's cargo locomotive toward Lalu City.
• Nethers described the empire's narrow roads, scarce restaurants and meat, and lack of running water, contrasting them with conditions in the Lampari Kingdom.
• Hafra recognized that the Candel Empire was backward compared with the Lampari Kingdom, despite its status as a great empire.
• Hafra felt proud of the Lampari Kingdom's progress and laughed, while Nethers wondered what had made his uncle so cheerful.