Chapter Summaries

Li Wei took the girls to the Pearl Islands, where Little Mermaid enjoyed the beach and met Mrs. Riddle, a wealthy woman known for her string of troubled marriages. After Mrs. Riddle flirted with Li Wei and then drew the attention of a newlywed husband, his wife confronted him, leaving Li Wei expecting further drama on the island.

• Li Wei decided to spare the Natural Staff for now, while Alice and Sophia helped Little Mermaid practice walking around the tower.
• After completing his work, Li Wei took the girls on vacation to the Pearl Islands and settled into a villa on the main island.
• Li Wei met Howard on the beach, and Howard pointed out Mrs. Riddle and her husband, Most Riddle.
• Mrs. Riddle flirted with Li Wei, but he kept his distance as a newlywed husband began paying attention to her.
• The newlywed wife noticed her husband's interest in Mrs. Riddle, approached the group, and led him toward the water while Li Wei watched.

Li Wei watched the strained relationships among the resort guests, then performed “Careless Whisper” with the Little Mermaid at the evening salon. The newlywed husband took his wife’s hand during the song, while the tensions among the couples remained unresolved.

• Li Wei discussed how marriage scams and bride-price disputes had appeared across many eras and cultures before finding the newlywed wife distressed in the hall.
• The newlywed wife said Gleat and Mrs. Riddle had gone to the Garden Market without her, and Mr. Howard mocked Gleat for neglecting her.
• Gleat told Li Wei that Mr. Riddle must have abused Mrs. Riddle, while Mr. Riddle declared that he would not let anyone take her away from him.
• Li Wei took the little girls to the Garden Market, then agreed to sing at the evening salon with the Little Mermaid playing saxophone.
• As Li Wei sang “Careless Whisper,” Gleat reached for his wife’s hand, and she did not pull away.

Li Wei investigated Mrs. Riddle’s poisoning after she died at the Salon, where suspicion fell on Gleat. Fingerprint evidence led Li Wei to order an arrest, though he hinted that the case was not what it first appeared to be.

• Li Wei spent a pleasant day fishing and barbecuing with the girls, who befriended a sea otter that gave them its favorite stones.
• The newlywed wife begged Li Wei for help with Gleat’s infatuation with Mrs. Riddle, but he advised her to leave the Pearl Islands.
• Mr. Riddle angrily confronted Gleat at lunch, while old Howard told Li Wei that Mr. Riddle had been spending time with the newlywed wife.
• Erin told Li Wei that Mrs. Riddle had died after drinking a Blue Dream at the Salon, and Mr. Riddle accused Gleat of poisoning it.
• Li Wei questioned the bartender and ordered fingerprints taken; Katie blamed Gleat, but Li Wei pointed out flaws in her theory.
• An officer reported finding poison in Gleat’s pocket, and Li Wei examined the fingerprint report before ordering an arrest.

Li Wei exposed Mrs. Glaite and Mr. Riddle as conspirators who poisoned Mrs. Riddle and tried to frame Mr. Glaite, then explained how they had planned to profit from the murders. The police took the pair away, and Mr. Riddle immediately tried to shift the blame onto Mrs. Glaite.

• Li Wei accused Mrs. Glaite of pretending to be abandoned and revealed that Mr. Glaite had never planned to leave his wife for Mrs. Riddle.
• Li Wei caught Mr. Riddle revealing knowledge of the medicine bottle and argued that he had poisoned Mrs. Riddle by giving her the wine.
• Li Wei explained that Mr. Riddle wanted Mrs. Riddle’s fortune while Mrs. Glaite planned to frame her husband and inherit his property.
• Li Wei told the group that the police had found both suspects’ fingerprints on the medicine bottle, and the police arrested them.
• Mr. Riddle shouted that Mrs. Glaite had planned the murder, while Li Wei told Katie that Mr. Riddle’s confession would not absolve him.

Li Wei returned to Fog City to approve the Amusement Park’s tested attractions, which were intended to shelter humans transformed into Beastmen. After riding the Roller Coaster with Director Colette, Li Wei left the director unconscious from fright.

• Li Wei ended his vacation and went to the Empire Third Steam Machinery Manufacturing Plant to review the Amusement Park project.
• Director Colette showed Li Wei a working scale model and presented the completed feasibility and safety reports for the rides.
• Li Wei inspected the prototypes and heard concerns about evacuating Ferris Wheel passengers if the ride stopped in the air.
• When Li Wei tried to ride the Roller Coaster, Director Colette feared it was a torture device, so Li Wei invited him aboard to prove it was fun.
• As the Roller Coaster climbed, Li Wei falsely told Director Colette that a screw had fallen from his seat, terrifying him throughout the ride.
• After the ride, Li Wei admitted the missing screw was a joke, and Director Colette passed out.

The Empire demanded the Sasha Alliance’s unconditional surrender, but the murder of the imperial embassy delegation gave the Queen grounds to escalate the conflict. She sent Li Wei and the Thistle Knight Order to investigate in the alliance’s capital, and Li Wei prepared to bring Sophia home with him.

• The Sasha Alliance fractured between factions that wanted to resist the Empire, surrender, or declare independence after its costly war with the Duchy of Seth.
• After the Empire issued an ultimatum demanding unconditional surrender, the imperial embassy and delegation in the City of a Thousand Joys were found murdered.
• Li Wei warned General Haig that the killings might be a plot to provoke war, and the Queen ordered him to investigate with the Thistle Knight Order and authorized him to use force against anyone who obstructed him.
• The Queen ordered the Empire to prepare for military action and suggested that Li Wei bring Princess Sophia to the Sasha Alliance.
• Li Wei told Sophia she would visit her home and reviewed intelligence reports that said reporters had discovered the bodies after finding the embassy gates open and its sentries missing.

Li Wei arrived at the Empire's embassy in the Sasha Alliance after its staff were mysteriously frozen to death, and took charge of the investigation. After inspecting the scene and questioning the first responding officer, he ordered Anthony to track down the reporters who had discovered the bodies.

• Anthony claimed authority over the embassy investigation and warned the police chief that entering without permission would violate diplomatic privileges.
• Li Wei arrived aboard the Night Raven in a supersonic flyby, then ordered agents to secure the embassy and prepare cameras and audio recorders.
• Li Wei found that a supernatural cold had frozen everyone inside the embassy, then magically melted the ice and ordered the bodies examined and returned to the Empire.
• The first responding officer told Li Wei that reporters had reported the deaths and then disappeared before he could identify their newspaper.
• Li Wei told Anthony to investigate every printing house in the City of a Thousand Joys to find the reporters.

Li Wei investigated the supernatural attack on the imperial embassy and identified the Wild Hunt as a likely culprit after discovering clues in newspaper photographs. He followed the trail to the police station, where frost on the door suggested the danger had arrived.

• Li Wei ordered Anthony to search newspaper printing houses, seize photographs and printing materials, and collect copies of special editions about the embassy attack.
• Li Wei researched the Sasha Alliance’s winter legends and found an account of the Wild Hunt that matched the embassy’s frozen bodies and stolen souls.
• Anthony reported that his team had smashed a newspaper’s press and arrested its staff, then brought Li Wei the confiscated photographs and image cards.
• Li Wei spotted wheel-like tracks across several bodies in the photographs and inferred that a chariot had crossed the embassy before heading north.
• Li Wei went to the police station to question the photographer and found frost covering its entrance door.
• Li Wei told Anthony and the others to stay back, then pushed open the police station door alone.

Ruth watched Li Wei confront the Ghost Knight responsible for the frozen deaths at the Empire Embassy, then witnessed more spectral knights arrive. Li Wei’s silver Dragon intervened as the Wild Hunt appeared, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Ruth realized the station’s stove had gone out as supernatural cold spread through the cells, and she saw a Ghost Knight emerge from the shadows.
• Li Wei entered the Police Station, identified the Ghost Knight as the likely attacker of the Empire Embassy, and demanded its motive.
• The Ghost Knight attacked Li Wei, who destroyed it with a sequence of shots from the Persuader.
• More Ghost Knights charged Li Wei, but his silver Dragon crashed through the roof and crushed several of them.
• The Wild Hunt appeared as snow fell and the moonlight vanished.

Li Wei drove off the Wild Hunt army with his steel dragon, then brought Sophia to meet Franz I at the Royal Palace. He asserted the Empire’s authority before the court, leaving Franz I and his ministers facing the choice to submit or die.

• Li Wei and his steel dragon defeated the Wild Hunt’s blizzard attack, and the surviving knights fled.
• Li Wei reassured Sophia before taking her aboard the Night Raven to the City of a Thousand Joys.
• Li Wei brought Sophia into the Royal Palace to meet Franz I, alarming the minister who recognized her as the missing princess.
• Li Wei told Franz I that the Empire was investigating the attacks and refused to share his lead.
• When an official blamed Li Wei’s dragon for the city’s damage, Li Wei declared that the Empire owed no explanation and that the Sasha Alliance had no choice but to accept its will.

Li Wei forced Franz I to accept imperial troops investigating the attack in the Sasha Alliance, then revealed that Sophia was the emperor’s granddaughter. Franz I collapsed after recognizing her, and Li Wei left the palace suspecting the old emperor still had a plan.

• Li Wei announced he would arrest suspected conspirators and said imperial Steam Mech Troopers would assist, despite ministers’ objections.
• Li Wei threatened war if Franz I refused imperial help, and Franz I reluctantly agreed to receive the troops.
• Li Wei asked whether Franz I would step down, then reassured him that the royal bloodline continued and identified Sophia as the crown prince’s surviving daughter.
• Franz I recognized Sophia, realized the Empire had outmaneuvered him, and collapsed convulsing after coughing up blood.
• Li Wei left the palace with Sophia, told her Franz I would recover, and suspected the emperor had deliberately endured the humiliation while keeping his own plans hidden.

Li Wei uncovered Franz I’s apparent scheme to draw the Empire into the Sasha Alliance’s crisis and asked Military Intelligence Section Seven to back a bold response. As Li Wei set course for Shabak’s capital, an immense imperial airship fleet arrived at the City of a Thousand Joys and announced it would take over the city’s lower-level administration to investigate the embassy attack.

• Anthony told Li Wei that Count Károly Mihaly led Shabak’s Separatist Faction and had demanded that Franz I recognize Shabak’s independence.
• Li Wei concluded that Franz I was using the Empire’s intervention as part of a larger scheme and asked the Old Butler to seek the Queen’s approval for a major commitment.
• Li Wei ordered Lieutenant Horn to set course for the City of Pearls, Shabak’s capital.
• Conrad watched hundreds of imperial airships arrive over the City of a Thousand Joys and ordered his staff to ask their purpose.
• An imperial representative told Conrad that the fleet would temporarily take over the city and replace lower-level personnel to investigate the embassy attack.

Li Wei’s Empire flooded the City of a Thousand Joys with supplies and took control of its key institutions, leaving Sasha Alliance officials unable to resist. After reading about Count Caroy’s radical reforms and plans to disarm Shabak, Li Wei finished breakfast in the City of Pearls and set out to meet him.

• Li Wei arranged for the Empire to transfer five hundred million to Franz I, overwhelming the trap Franz had set.
• The Empire supplied the City of a Thousand Joys with food, lowering prices, while imperial forces took control of the city’s security, communications, transport, and supply infrastructure.
• Conrad and other Sasha Alliance officials argued over the Empire’s occupation, but the Minister of Justice defended its actions and noted that the supplies had eased public unrest.
• Li Wei read that Count Caroy had seized power in Shabak, confiscated large landholdings, and introduced labor reforms.
• Li Wei learned that Caroy planned to reduce Shabak’s armed forces to demonstrate peaceful intent, then decided to meet the count and discover his motives.

Li Wei visited Prime Minister Károly Mihály in Shabak to ask about the government’s plan for disarmament. Károly declared that Shabak would abolish its entire military to prove its peaceful intentions, leaving Li Wei stunned as he departed to report the plan to the Queen.

• Li Wei arrived at Shabak’s Parliament Building and requested an audience with Prime Minister Károly Mihály.
• Károly Mihály received Li Wei and denied responsibility for the attack on the Empire Embassy, while Li Wei said he already suspected who was behind it.
• Li Wei showed Károly Mihály a newspaper and asked whether the prime minister truly intended to disarm Shabak.
• Károly Mihály said he and Minister of War Bella supported disarmament and declared that Shabak would abolish its army, military institutions, and weapons forces entirely.
• Li Wei confirmed that Károly Mihály sincerely believed in the plan and left, promising to convey his words to the Queen without guaranteeing her response.

Li Wei investigated Shabak’s plans and learned that Prime Minister Carloy intended to cut the military and declare his desire for peace, despite the danger. After reporting the situation and reviewing the Imperial takeover of the City of a Thousand Joys, Li Wei set out to raid the Wild Hunt Knights’ lair.

• Li Wei told the Old Butler that Prime Minister Carloy sincerely planned to reduce Shabak’s military and issue a unilateral peace declaration.
• Li Wei concluded that the Queen would decide how the Empire should respond to Shabak’s weakness and gave her advance notice.
• Li Wei learned that Imperial forces had expelled Ite residents from the City of a Thousand Joys, winning support from locals who welcomed lower prices and the cancellation of their debts.
• Li Wei noted that Franz I remained in the hospital and recalled placing a [Death Mark] on a surviving Wild Hunt Knight.
• Li Wei traveled to the City of Pearls and decided to raid the Wild Hunt Knights’ lair over their attack on the Empire Embassy.

Sophia experienced a vivid dream in which a powerful woman confronted a king in the ancient city of Tanner, then woke with an icy chill and sought comfort from Li Wei. After connecting the dream to legends about Tanner and the Sasha royal bloodline, Li Wei decided to take Sophia somewhere.

• Sophia dreamed she was a woman who learned that the Emperor of Tanner planned to summon a monster, then ordered Les to flee with Ales and Kyle.
• The woman entered a snowbound Temple, destroyed black-armored Knights, and confronted King Cruz, who had summoned a Frenzied Spirit to escape death.
• Sophia woke screaming and covered her surroundings in ice, then ran to Li Wei and told him about the dream.
• Li Wei recognized Tanner as a city from legends about a wealthy settlement frozen in the White Mountains and considered how Sophia and Franz I might descend from its Holy Maiden and king.
• Li Wei recognized the black-armored Knights as the Wild Hunt and asked Sophia if she wanted to go somewhere with him.

Li Wei blasted open the sealed ice city and led an Imperial regiment inside, where the soldiers discovered that sustained gunfire could weaken and destroy the supernatural Wild Hunt. He ordered all forces to attack as the advance into the city began.

• Li Wei fired the Eye of the Sky's main gun at the mountain, shattering its icy shell and exposing the buried city.
• Li Wei and Sophia entered the city as the Eighteenth Mechanized Mixed Regiment established an armed encampment.
• Wild Hunt Knights and their hounds emerged from the snowstorm and charged the Imperial troops.
• The soldiers' sustained gunfire weakened the Wild Hunt, killing its hounds, horses, and riders until only ice crystals remained.
• Li Wei explained that the creatures' power could be depleted and ordered all forces to attack.

Li Wei led the Empire’s army through Ice City, where its Mecha and armored infantry defeated monsters with little resistance. After setting camp, he met the city’s Winged Woman and Deer Woman and explained that the Empire had defeated the demons and had come to investigate the Wild Hunt’s attack; he asked them to explain Ice City and the Wild Hunt.

• Li Wei’s army advanced through Ice City, and the Empire’s Mecha burned a treant monster to ash.
• Li Wei stopped the march for the night and checked on Sophia, whose familiarity with the city had helped the army find a route around a collapsed bridge.
• Li Wei reflected that the Empire’s Mecha might be strengthened by the public’s belief in their victories and by the popularity of his Iron Legion comic.
• The Winged Woman and Deer Woman watched the army from a tower and wondered why mortals had entered Ice City.
• Li Wei appeared before the two women, explained the Empire’s defeat of the demons and its investigation into the Wild Hunt, and asked what they knew about Ice City and the Wild Hunt.

Li Wei learned that [Reality Anchoring] could permanently destroy souls tainted by otherworldly power, then prepared to eliminate the Wild Hunt King with the guardians’ help. Before he could act, the Hollow Shadow infiltrated the Imperial camp and attacked the soldiers.

• The Winged Woman explained the Wild Hunt King’s history and why the guardians had sealed him rather than kill him, and Li Wei realized [Reality Anchoring] could purify his soul.
• Li Wei told the Winged Woman and Deer Woman he would enter the temple and destroy the Wild Hunt King, and the Winged Woman described the King’s shadow, soul-devouring, ice, and summoning powers.
• The system gave Li Wei the quest “Root Them Out” to eliminate the Wild Hunt Clan, and he returned to camp after speaking with the guardians.
• Sophia sensed something approaching, so Li Wei sounded the alarm and used [Soul Sight] to spot a shadow infiltrating the Imperial troops.
• Li Wei fired flares to expose the shadow, but the Hollow Shadow seized an Armored Infantry Mech pilot, froze him into an undead skeleton, and rose to attack the camp.

Li Wei’s forces defeated a Hollow Shadow and its Winter Ghost, then confronted eight more Hollow Shadows threatening the camp. Searchlights and coordinated attacks destroyed the creatures, with Winged Woman secretly helping bring down the last one.

• Li Wei ordered signal flares and Knight Mechs to burn a Hollow Shadow and the Winter Ghost it created.
• Deer Woman and Winged Woman were temporarily blinded by the signal flares, then Winged Woman revealed that the Wild Hunt King had sent eight Hollow Shadows after the holy maiden bloodline.
• Li Wei ordered searchlights switched on, exposing the Hollow Shadows around the camp and forcing them to retreat.
• Li Wei’s forces used signal flares, flamethrowers, and incendiary bullets to kill seven Hollow Shadows.
• Winged Woman shot the final Hollow Shadow with a light arrow, allowing Li Wei’s forces to finish it with fire.