Chapter Summaries

Franz I secretly prepared to reclaim power through his ancestral connection to Tanner City while the Empire tightened its control over the Sasha Alliance. At the Temple, Sophia broke the seal, and Li Wei blasted open the Temple before the Wild Hunt King emerged to face the Iron Dragon.

• Conrad urged Franz I to resist the Empire's takeover, but Franz I dismissed him and privately resolved to carry out his own plan.
• Franz I revealed that a dream and a mysterious token had convinced him of his descent from Tanner City's ruler, and he blamed Li Wei for defeating the Wild Hunt Knights and taking Sophia away.
• Li Wei and Sophia reached the frozen Temple, where the Deer Woman explained that only Sophia could break its seal.
• Sophia crushed the ice crystal, releasing the seal and sending the Temple's ice crashing into the abyss.
• Li Wei ordered the Temple struck by the main gun, then called the Iron Dragon to attack the Wild Hunt King as he emerged from the ruins.

Li Wei used the Iron Dragon to defeat the Wild Hunt King, then stopped the King from escaping and killed him after his dark power vanished. With the Deer Woman stunned by Li Wei’s secret ability, Li Wei prepared to return and surprise Franz I.

• The Iron Dragon overwhelmed the Wild Hunt King with missiles and a devastating energy breath, reducing his giant body to charred debris.
• The Wild Hunt King emerged as a gray-haired man and tried to crawl toward a cliff so he could escape and regain his power through a descendant.
• Li Wei stepped on the man’s hand, causing his dark power to vanish, then shot him with the Persuader.
• The Deer Woman asked how Li Wei had removed the Wild Hunt King’s power, but Li Wei kept the method secret.
• Li Wei ordered everyone to head back, planning to give Franz I a surprise.

Li Wei recruited the Winged Woman and Deer Woman to help the Empire understand occult powers, then returned to the City of a Thousand Joys and reviewed the results of his mission. After confirming the city was stable and the Ite People had been expelled, he learned Franz I was recovering from a stroke and decided to visit him.

• Li Wei invited the Winged Woman and Deer Woman to join him, hoping they could guide Sophia and help the Empire study occult powers.
• Li Wei received an SSS mission rating, lifespan rewards, bonus damage against undead and evil factions, and an upgrade to Command Aura.
• Li Wei returned to the City of a Thousand Joys, where an official reported that most citizens supported the Empire and the Ite People had been expelled.
• Li Wei learned how the Ite People trapped borrowers in compounding debt and forced them into exploitative work.
• Li Wei heard that Franz I was recuperating after a stroke and decided to see how ill the king really was.

Li Wei confronted Emperor Franz I, who fatally stabbed himself while trying to summon the Wild Hunt King after the Empire had destroyed the sealed evil in Ice City, Tanner. As the truth spread, Shabak announced the complete demobilization and disarmament of its military, leaving the world baffled and Li Wei insisting the decision had been Count Caroy’s own.

• Li Wei visited Franz I in the palace and heard him claim that powers greater than the Empire existed.
• Franz I stabbed himself with an antique dagger to summon the Wild Hunt King, but Li Wei revealed the Empire had already destroyed the sealed clan in Ice City, Tanner, and Franz I died.
• News of Franz I’s death and his failed attempt to summon an Evil Spirit spread, supported by reports from witnesses and soldiers who had fought in Ice City, Tanner.
• Count Mikhail Caroy and War Minister Lindell issued Military Order No. 629, ordering Shabak’s armed forces to disarm, demobilize, and dissolve their military institutions.
• Shabak’s people and soldiers celebrated the order, while observers suspected the Empire had promised to protect the country.
• Li Wei and the Empire’s Royal Family denied that any treaty or protection deal had been made with Shabak.

Li Wei explained that the Empire would let the High Gate Kingdom test Shabak, giving the Empire a chance to seize it if another country invaded. Back in Fog City, Deer Woman learned about modern life and asked to join Li Wei on a detective case, while he hoped to enjoy his time off.

• Katie questioned Count Caroy’s plan to disarm Shabak, and Li Wei said the Empire would focus on governing its reclaimed territories rather than attack immediately.
• Li Wei explained that the Queen was using Shabak as bait for the High Gate Kingdom, since an invasion could give the Empire a pretext to occupy Shabak and expose any hidden defenses.
• Deer Woman returned to Li Wei’s Tower and complained about Fog City’s crowds after exploring the modern world with Winged Woman.
• Li Wei learned from Deer Woman and Winged Woman that elves lived in a separate realm connected to the real world by mystical power, and that elves might return as that power recovered.
• Deer Woman enjoyed her meal, asked Li Wei what a detective did, and said she wanted to join him; Li Wei hoped to keep his days off free of trouble.

Li Wei enjoyed a quiet break while his companies pursued weapons research and specialized vehicles, and Sophia learned to manipulate water, ice, and snow. At home, Li Wei questioned the spirits about coal essence and Deer Woman’s abilities, ending with Deer Woman damaging the ceiling during a demonstration.

• Li Wei asked Dr. Tester to research energy weapons and advised Uncle Hank to avoid monopolizing the Empire’s steam car market.
• Sophia awakened the ability to create and manipulate water, ice, and snow, while Li Wei noticed the spirits acted strangely around Katie and learned they knew nothing about coal essence’s origins.
• Li Wei lounged at home petting Betty the Puppy as Deer Woman criticized his laziness, and he reminded her that she had not helped investigate spirits around Fog City.
• Deer Woman asked Li Wei to take her to another horse race, but he refused and questioned whether she could do anything besides run fast.
• Deer Woman demonstrated her jumping ability, hit her head on the ceiling, and hurried away after dust fell over Li Wei.

After Mia and Serandi raised concerns about Fog City’s pollution, Li Wei decided to investigate ways to clean its rivers. He learned of the brilliant pollution researcher Professor Edwin Barojett and planned to visit him in the Lower City.

• Mia and Serandi discussed the lack of nearby spirits and the damage Fog City’s pollution could cause to nature.
• Serandi told Li Wei about her concerns, and Li Wei agreed that polluted rivers needed attention.
• Li Wei contacted Professor Henry, who described Edwin Barojett’s work in engineering, medicine, chemistry, and pollution control.
• Li Wei obtained Edwin’s intelligence file from Military Intelligence Section Seven and was astonished by his achievements and patents.
• Professor Henry found Edwin’s current address at Apartment 23 Hazelnut Tree Street, and Li Wei decided to visit him the next day.

Li Wei visited Hazel Tree Street to assess the Lower City's recovery and seek Professor Edwin, whom locals knew as the Trash King. He found Edwin's refuse shack filled with new equipment for cultivating viruses, and a bizarre metal figure appeared as heavy footsteps approached.

• Li Wei spoke with a shopkeeper and a customer, who said the Lower City had improved but teenagers still disturbed an abandoned warehouse district.
• The locals directed Li Wei to the Trash King, who lived among the rubbish beside Fog City's river.
• Li Wei searched the polluted riverbank and found a shack that appeared to be built from trash.
• Li Wei entered the shack and discovered a steam-powered automated laboratory with recently made equipment and a collection of viruses.
• Heavy footsteps sounded outside, and a bizarre metal figure appeared at the entrance.

Li Wei confronted Professor Edwin, who had planned to unleash a virus to force Fog City's officials to address pollution. Li Wei bet he could secure Parliament's approval for Edwin's pollution-control project within a month, then left Edwin under surveillance.

• Li Wei identified the sludge-covered man as Professor Edwin by threatening to involve the authorities, then drew his gun to stop Edwin from attacking him.
• Professor Edwin explained how his work on medicine and pollution led him to design a sewage-treatment system, but officials had repeatedly dismissed his proposal.
• Li Wei realized Edwin intended to spread a virus through Fog City and persuaded him that another disaster would not solve the political problem.
• Li Wei examined Edwin's blueprints and bet that he would obtain Parliament's approval for pollution-control upgrades within a month.
• Edwin agreed to destroy his viral samples and develop a solution while Li Wei left a Doll Bird to watch him.
• Li Wei left the industrial area after noticing local children playing football.

Li Wei used the Empire’s victory celebrations and a nationwide football tournament to persuade Parliament and the Queen to approve Fog City’s redevelopment and pollution-control plan. He assigned Professor Edwin a leading role in the work, then decided to take his household to Delicate to escape the coming construction and search for elves.

• Li Wei proposed the Empire Glory Cup, a nationwide football tournament celebrating the Empire’s reclaimed territory, and the Queen and Parliament approved it.
• Li Wei used the tournament’s need for a stadium and a presentable capital to win unanimous approval for Fog City’s redevelopment and pollution-control plan.
• Li Wei proposed exclusive, high-priced tournament sponsorships to fund the projects, while Parliament left implementation details to the House of Commons and government departments.
• Li Wei gave Professor Edwin the approved documents and recommended him for the redevelopment committee, telling him to handle the technical work.
• Professor Edwin accepted that the Royal Academy of Medicine would participate and agreed to prove his abilities through results.
• Li Wei returned home and decided to take everyone to Delicate, hoping to avoid Fog City’s construction and perhaps find elves there.

During a winter visit to Li Wei’s home, Ovelia joined the girls building an ice castle while Li Wei set Little Black on Mia to make the lazy Deer Woman exercise. Mia fled through the forest, but sank into deep snow and ended trapped beside the Three-Headed Hound, pleading for peace.

• Mia sensed a terrifying beast approaching just before Ovelia arrived with Little Black, and Li Wei revealed the forest spirits had a connection to Sophia.
• Ovelia saw Sophia’s awakened power at work in the ice castle the girls had built and went outside to join them.
• Li Wei tossed Little Black toward Mia, who bolted outside as the puppy transformed into its Three-Headed Hound form and chased her into the woods.
• Mia relished being back in the familiar forest and taunted the hound, confident she could outrun it.
• Mia sank into a deep mound of snow, and the Three-Headed Hound caught up and stared at her as she asked to make peace.

Li Wei gave Ovelia cheap plastic film for building greenhouses and considered using the Glory Cup preparations to advance medical and food reforms. After Ovelia arranged to test the film, she invited Li Wei to inspect the greenhouse construction the next day.

• Li Wei explained that the Holy Maiden had developed an automated production line making inexpensive plastic film from petroleum.
• Ovelia bought all five tonnes of film Li Wei had brought and arranged for her servants to collect it and test a greenhouse.
• Li Wei reflected on his plans to reform medicine and food administration before the Glory Cup, including Delinte's biological treatments and his proposed drug-testing rules.
• Li Wei recalled that doctors were promoting Radium Water despite his warnings about its dangers, and that he had cautioned the Queen, Princess, and people he knew to avoid it.
• Ovelia returned to tell Li Wei that her servants would arrive soon and invited him to inspect the greenhouse they planned to build the next day; he agreed.

Li Wei helped Ovelia begin building a plastic hoop house in Delicate and discussed her hopes for life after ruling. Their conversation was interrupted by news that the Delicate Central Bank had been robbed, leaving its vault empty, and Ovelia asked Li Wei to help find the culprits.

• Li Wei arrived at Ovelia's manor, drew a design for a plastic hoop house, and watched workers begin building it.
• Ovelia asked Li Wei why he priced the plastic sheeting cheaply, and he explained that cheaper winter produce would benefit ordinary people and support his broader plans.
• Ovelia said she hoped to open a cozy café after leaving her role as lord, while Li Wei said he intended to keep solving mysterious incidents and advancing the Empire's technology.
• A maid told Ovelia that Chief Macmillan had an urgent matter to discuss, and Ovelia left to receive his report.
• Ovelia returned and told Li Wei that the Delicate Central Bank had been robbed and its vault emptied, then asked him to help find the culprits and recover the stolen property.

Li Wei investigated the theft of 100 kilograms of gold from Delicate Bank and concluded that several people had carried it out, then arranged a plan to flush them out. The gang’s mastermind, William Pierce, heard a rumor that a valuable gemstone had also been stolen, and Al fled after suspecting his accomplices meant to blame him.

• Li Wei examined the lead-filled safe and concluded that at least three people had worked together to steal and replace the gold.
• Li Wei proposed a plan to Chief Macmillan, who left to put it into action.
• William Pierce learned from Giss that the police were searching for a gemstone called the Heart of the Ocean, supposedly included in the stolen shipment.
• Pierce accused Al or Giss of secretly taking the gemstone and hurried to confront Al and Titus.
• Al overheard Pierce and Titus discussing how to seize and torture him, escaped through a window, and decided he would not leave without a share of the loot.

Li Wei explained how a planted rumor led the railway thieves to distrust one another, allowing the police to recover the stolen valuables and arrest the culprits. After seeing Olivia’s new greenhouse, he accepted her invitation to Baron Payne’s daughter Ellie’s debutante ball so he could investigate the trouble Ellie had been hiding.

• Chief Macmillan told Li Wei that the police had caught the railway thieves and recovered the stolen goods after receiving a tip.
• Li Wei deduced that Painter had informed on Pierce and the other thieves because he feared they would suspect him of taking the nonexistent gemstone.
• Li Wei visited the Baskerville Estate and saw Olivia’s heated greenhouse, where workers had already transplanted seedlings.
• Olivia told Li Wei that the thieves had been arrested and the stolen valuables recovered, then asked him to attend Ellie’s debutante ball and investigate her troubles.
• Li Wei accepted Olivia’s request to attend Baron Payne’s gathering and look into Ellie’s situation.

Li Wei agreed to attend Corti's social gathering in Ovelia's place so he could investigate Baron Payne and his family, whom Ovelia suspected of secretly mishandling grain or other shady dealings. He arrived at the Paynes' isolated mansion and found the gathering unusually quiet, then entered the Reception Room and saw three people turn to look at him.

• Katie, Alice, and Sophia chose to stay behind and build the ice castle while Serandi searched for traces of elves.
• Li Wei reviewed Ovelia's suspicions about Baron Payne's grain proposal, the suspicious deaths of her investigators, and the baron's family before setting out to attend the gathering.
• Li Wei drove to Baron Payne's mansion, noted the cleared road and the unusually quiet grounds, and wondered whether the gathering was properly underway.
• Butler Batra welcomed Li Wei, explained that Baron Payne was occupied, and led him to the Reception Room.
• Li Wei entered the Reception Room and saw three people turn to look at him.

Li Wei attended Cody Payne’s debutante party in Lady Olivia’s place and discovered that Baron Andrew Payne had died that morning, yet his family was continuing the event to arrange marriages for his daughters. Suspecting foul play, Li Wei questioned the family and ended by asking to perform an autopsy on Baron Payne’s body.

• Li Wei noticed the all-male guests and the unsettling silence at the Payne mansion before Mrs. Payne announced that Baron Andrew Payne had died that morning.
• Mrs. Payne said Andrew’s will required his daughters to find husbands at the gathering, with suitors receiving a share of the Payne family inheritance, and introduced Cody Payne on her seventeenth birthday.
• Li Wei questioned Mrs. Payne about Andrew’s death, and a guest’s father recognized him as Sir Li Wei and hurried away with his son after Li Wei challenged him.
• The eldest Payne daughter said Andrew had fallen ill and died at seven twenty that morning after speaking to the family, while Li Wei noticed that she and her sisters seemed afraid of Mrs. Payne.
• Li Wei asked whether Andrew’s body was still in the mansion and requested permission to perform a full autopsy.

Li Wei attended Baron Payne’s gathering in Lady Ovelia’s place and revealed that he had come to discuss the Delicat District grain trade, while Mrs. Payne’s witchcraft failed to affect him. When Li Wei asked to examine the Baron’s body, Mrs. Payne summoned a dark figure from a coffin and sent it lunging at him.

• Li Wei questioned Lillian about Baron Payne’s sudden death and said he had intended to discuss the Delicat District grain trade with him.
• Li Wei used Soul Sight to recognize Mrs. Payne as a witch whose pale purple soul energy spread through the banquet hall.
• Mrs. Payne realized her powers could neither control Li Wei nor strongly influence most of the guests, and she became frightened.
• Mrs. Payne declined Li Wei’s request to examine Baron Payne’s body and revealed a black coffin behind a curtain.
• A dark figure roared out of the coffin and lunged at Li Wei.

Li Wei killed Baron Payne and his bewitched servants, then learned from Baron Payne’s daughters how Dorothy had taken control of their household. As Li Wei realized someone might have acted before him, Dorothy fled into a blizzard and was confronted by a mysterious black-robed figure.

• Li Wei shot Baron Payne and killed the servants who attacked him, while Mrs. Payne vanished through an open window.
• Li Wei calmed the guests, arranged for the police to secure the scene, and questioned Baron Payne’s daughters.
• Lillian, Ellie, and Corti told Li Wei that Dorothy had turned their father against them, driven out the maids, and surrounded herself with devoted male servants.
• The sisters said they had felt an immediate, powerful revulsion toward Dorothy, prompting Li Wei to suspect her witch powers had affected them.
• Dorothy fled through the forest and encountered a black-robed figure, who told her that her escape ended there.

Li Wei followed the people who killed Dorothy into a hidden world behind a magical barrier and discovered a lively town surrounding a castle. He joined Black Pine Town’s carnival, intending to blend in and learn what the place was.

• Dorothy tried to flee after the cloaked man condemned her for exposing their group, but he killed her with a sword.
• Li Wei tracked the two figures to a remote valley, passed through its blue barrier using his [Occult Resistance], and found a springlike world with a lake, town, and castle.
• A talking stone lion welcomed Li Wei to Black Pine Town and directed him to its annual carnival.
• Mayor Robert greeted Li Wei at the celebration and offered him food and drink, but Li Wei chose flower tea.
• Li Wei praised the tea, borrowed a guitar-like instrument, and began singing for the revelers while planning to investigate the town.