Chapter Summaries

A lone figure sang in a boat as it traveled down the river of time to a remembered place. The figure cast a fishhook into the water.

• The figure sat upright in the lone boat and softly sang a song from memory.
• The figure stroked the marks on the gunwale as the boat moved along the river of time.
• The boat reached the place the figure remembered.
• The figure cast a fishhook into the water.

Mo Qishang awoke in Arthur Creados's body after Arthur was killed by a man seeking the Creados bloodline. The man began a bloodline-exchange ritual, and as the [Herc White Silver Potion] fueled it, Arthur felt death retreat and strange power enter him.

• Mo Qishang recovered memories of Arthur Creados and realized Arthur had died from the client's blow to the head.
• The client bound Arthur with a supernatural rope and tore off his own skin, revealing a pale, noseless man with a snake tattoo who planned to steal Arthur's bloodline.
• The man began the exchange ritual, cutting Arthur's palms and draining his blood while explaining that he already possessed a dark snake bloodline.
• The man displayed the [Herc White Silver Potion], then placed his bleeding palm against the magic circle as its black and white candles flared.
• Arthur felt his blood drain faster and powerful, icy-cold blood flow into him, while the sensation of death gave way to comfort.

Arthur escaped his restraints and killed his employer after the man’s bloodline power failed and its backlash weakened him. Arthur destroyed the [Herc White Silver Potion] to resist drinking it, but the potion merged into his body, leaving its effects unknown.

• Arthur broke the Animated Snake Rope Technique’s restraints and found his medium’s case while his employer suffered the backlash of losing his bloodline power.
• Arthur attacked his employer with holy water and lime, then shot him with the Thunder Gun and two flintlock pistols, killing him with the silver ball.
• Arthur stabbed and burned the employer to ash, then took the [Herc White Silver Potion] and fought the urge to drink it.
• Arthur shattered the flask with his silver dagger, and the potion melted the dagger before merging into Arthur’s body.

After the Herc White Silver Potion merged with Arthur, he awakened the omniscient cuisine talent and discovered the powers and history of his remnant dark serpent bloodline. He cleaned up the exorcism scene and staged a fiery display for a reporter, hoping to gain strength and public recognition while worrying about whoever might have been connected to the man he burned to ashes.

• Arthur acquired the omniscient cuisine talent, which allowed him to earn XP through battles, exploration, quests, food, and other activities.
• Arthur inspected his character panel and learned that death intuition warned him of danger while remnant dark serpent granted him enhanced attributes and supernatural abilities.
• Arthur tested his shadow concealment, serpent-like body, and other bloodline powers, then considered how bloodlines might relate to the world's nobles.
• Arthur gathered the ashes of the dead man and worried that the man had deceived powerful beings and might have had bloodline-bearing allies.
• Arthur resolved to gain strength by earning XP and left 333 Russell Street as the newspaper reporter approached.
• Arthur used lime powder, white phosphorus, and a snap of his fingers to create a fiery spectacle, prompting the reporter to call it an exorcism.

Arthur tried to gain XP by cooking and publicizing his work as a Medium, but only his newspaper coverage earned him a point. He spent it improving his swordsmanship and began considering how to make a stronger impression on Scott, who arrived at his door.

• Arthur made breakfast, but the fried eggs and ham did not qualify as fine cuisine and earned him no XP.
• A special edition of The Horn Newspaper announced that Arthur Credos had exorcised an evil spirit at 333 Russell Street.
• Arthur gained one XP point from the newspaper coverage and used it to raise Basic Swordsmanship to level two.
• Arthur tested his improved swordsmanship and found that his Physique and Spirituality attributes had not increased.
• Scott arrived at 2 Kirk Street and rang the doorbell while looking uneasy.

Arthur welcomed Scott, Dokule, Fontel, and Wiggins to 2 Kirk Street, realizing Dokule planned to expose him as a fraud and force Scott out of his job. As Dokule entered, Arthur stayed friendly while Scott grew anxious, and Dokule's confidence faltered when he looked around the hallway.

• Scott rang the bell at 2 Kirk Street with Dokule, Fontel, and Wiggins accompanying him.
• Arthur recognized Dokule's ill intent and suspected he wanted to discredit him to benefit his nephew, York, by driving Scott from The Horn Newspaper.
• Arthur put away the concealed Thunder Gun and welcomed Dokule inside, seeing the reporter as an opportunity for more publicity.
• Scott tried to stop Dokule from entering, but Dokule slipped past him and gloated over his plan to take revenge for Scott getting York's trainee position.
• Dokule looked around Arthur's hallway, and his heart suddenly shuddered.

Arthur used Old Charlie’s frightening parlor arrangements and a staged ghostly fire to drive Dokule from 2 Kirk Street. He cursed Dokule with a terrifying vision, and the fleeing reporter was struck by a carriage.

• Arthur showed Dokule and the others Old Charlie’s unsettling decorations and concealed defenses, which made them uneasy.
• Arthur triggered a white-phosphorus fireball and pretended to command it to retreat, convincing the witnesses that his servant obeyed him.
• Arthur accused Dokule of greed and ordered him out of 2 Kirk Street, so Dokule fled toward the street.
• Arthur used his bloodline and Intimidation skill to curse Dokule, who saw Arthur transform into a giant black snake.
• Dokule panicked and ran into the path of an approaching carriage, which struck him.

Arthur’s curse and a speeding carriage killed Dokule, leaving witnesses convinced Arthur was a true master. The carriage driver called the death a coincidence and revealed that its occupants had come to visit Arthur.

• A speeding carriage struck Dokule after Arthur cursed him, and Scott realized the curse seemed real.
• Fontel and Wiggins pleaded with Arthur, while Arthur silently studied the driver and noticed signs that the carriage party had targeted Dokule.
• Scott told the police officer and driver that Dokule had caused the accident by rushing into the road.
• Arthur concluded that the person inside the carriage had come to kill Dokule and considered how the incident could expand his influence and earn XP.
• The driver called Dokule’s death a coincidence and told Arthur that the carriage party had come to visit him.

Malinda Julius Caesar arrived at 2 Kirk Street after Dokule was killed, and Arthur tried to assess the danger she posed. Once they were alone in the Medium’s Hall, Malinda asked Arthur to find her girlfriend’s murderer.

• Arthur welcomed Malinda Julius Caesar while concealing his unease about her arrival and Dokule’s death.
• Malinda leapt from her carriage, introduced herself to Arthur, and followed him into 2 Kirk Street.
• Arthur noticed Malinda falter as she passed the decorations and concluded she had spotted Old Charlie’s mechanisms.
• Scott stayed outside to record the events while Fontel and Wiggins remained anxiously by the doorway.
• Malinda admired the books in the Medium’s Hall, then asked Arthur to find whoever had murdered her girlfriend.

Arthur faced down Chief Lark when the police chief accused him of using tricks to attract business, but Malinda intervened by explaining that she had come to ask Arthur to find Anna’s murderer. Lark backed down and promised the police would pursue the Axe Murderer case while preparing for the Swordsmanship Tournament.

• Malinda asked Arthur to help find the person who murdered Anna, and Arthur prepared to refuse before Chief Lark arrived.
• Chief Lark accused Arthur of fraud and threatened to arrest him, so Arthur drew a loaded flintlock and cited the search-warrant requirements of the new law.
• Lark stiffened when Arthur aimed the pistol at him, and Malinda stepped between them to explain why she had visited.
• Lark sheathed his sword and argued that Malinda should trust the police to catch the Axe Murderer.
• Malinda praised Lark but pointed out that his duties as a Swordsmanship Tournament judge would limit his attention to the case, and Lark promised to balance both responsibilities.

Arthur learned about South Los's Swordsmanship Tournament and the Axe Murderer, whose killings offered him a chance to earn XP. After Sheriff Lark showed murderous intent when Malinda described Arthur's curse, Arthur suspected the sheriff was connected to the killer and called him back before he left.

• Arthur recalled that the Swordsmanship Tournament offered a path to glory and considered whether investigating the Axe Murderer could earn him XP.
• Malinda defended Arthur to Sheriff Lark and described how Dokule had been cursed.
• Sheriff Lark's reaction triggered Arthur's Death Intuition, and Arthur suspected the sheriff believed he could communicate with the dead.
• Sheriff Lark dismissed the curse as coincidence, warned Arthur not to deceive Malinda, and investigated Dokule's death while appearing to act competently.
• Arthur watched Sheriff Lark prepare to leave, then called him back.

Arthur used a Spirit Board to communicate with the Axe Murderer's victims in the Medium's Hall, while Sheriff Lark tried to stop the séance. The board spelled out Sheriff Lark's name, leaving the room in stunned silence.

• Arthur ignored Sheriff Lark's insults and set up the Spirit Board after appearing to hear a spirit ask for help.
• Arthur recited Credos's elaborate incantation, and the planchette began moving wildly until he used Intimidation to stop it.
• The planchette spelled out the names of people murdered by the Axe Murderer, leading Fontel and Wiggins to suspect Arthur was using spirit communication to hunt the killer.
• The board revealed that the spirits wanted revenge and to expose their murderer, but Sheriff Lark interrupted them.
• Fontel challenged Sheriff Lark over his attempt to stop the séance, and the planchette spelled out Lark's name.

Arthur exposed Chief Lark as the Axe Murderer and shot him when Lark tried to kill him, leaving the others stunned. After Malinda Julius Caesar asked whether he had seen Anna, Arthur suspected her anxiety was an act and wondered what she was hiding.

• Chief Lark accused Arthur of trickery, drew his sword, and attacked him.
• Arthur shot Chief Lark with a flintlock from the desk drawer after Lark lunged at him.
• Chief Lark realized Arthur had anticipated his attack and died from his wounds.
• Scott began recording the story while Fontel and Wiggins recovered from the shocking events.
• Malinda Julius Caesar anxiously asked Arthur whether he had seen Anna, and Arthur suspected she was pretending.

Arthur concealed what he knew about Anna’s fate while Malinda Julius Caesar left after paying him and promising to handle matters concerning the deceased. Scott prepared newspaper stories about the case, and Arthur turned to Fontel and Wiggins to discuss compensation.

• Arthur told Malinda Julius Caesar that his Mediumship had not detected Anna among the lingering souls, leaving her uncertain about what he knew.
• Malinda paid Arthur ten gold, said Edwin would deliver a proper gift later, and left as patrol officers removed the body.
• Fontel lamented Malinda’s departure, while Wiggins stayed silent and Scott proposed three special editions, including an exclusive interview with Arthur.
• Arthur reviewed Scott’s draft, suggested headlines, and invited Scott to call him Arthur because they were friends.
• Arthur faced the anxious Fontel and Wiggins and asked them to discuss how they would compensate him.

After Fontel paid Arthur, Arthur recognized Wiggins as a pickpocket with valuable connections and information. Wiggins offered a secret about the Lady of the Long Night, then, when Arthur challenged his attempt to avoid compensation, swore to become Arthur’s subordinate and serve as his eyes, ears, and dagger.

• Fontel paid Arthur twenty gold notes, while Arthur assessed Wiggins as a potentially valuable source of street information.
• Wiggins asked to speak privately and told Arthur about the Lady of the Long Night and her influential salon and auction.
• Arthur realized Wiggins was hinting at Malinda Julius Caesar and considered the dangers of dealing with her.
• Arthur accused Wiggins of trying to offer information instead of proper compensation and intimidated him.
• Wiggins offered to become Arthur’s subordinate, gather information, and deal with trouble on his behalf.

Arthur collected money from Fontel and Wiggins, saw Scott off as the reporter prepared three special editions, and went out for lunch. After a disastrous taste of food from Aivor’s new snack stall, he headed to the White Rose Restaurant to try its chef’s recommendation.

• Arthur kept the twenty gold notes from Fontel and Wiggins and resolved to build a practical relationship with Wiggins rather than trust his promise.
• Arthur saw Scott off after reminding him that the special editions would be released that night and the following morning.
• Arthur walked to West Merck Avenue and bought one of every item from Aivor’s new snack stall.
• Arthur found the cupcake sickeningly sweet and the orange juice painfully sour, then gave the remaining food to a beggar.
• Arthur went into a nearby restaurant and saw that the White Rose Restaurant recommended haggis.

Arthur fled the White Rose Restaurant after finding its Haggis disgusting, then returned to Kirk Street and received an invitation to the Lady of the Long Night’s gathering. As he prepared to cook, he sensed someone watching him and grew tense.

• Arthur spat out the White Rose Restaurant’s Haggis and left his takeaway food with a roadside beggar.
• Arthur bought groceries around Kirk Street, stocked his cupboards, and tipped the bakery apprentice two Los.
• Edwin delivered Arthur an invitation to the Lady of the Long Night’s gathering on Saturday and said he would collect him.
• Edwin told Arthur that the stolen valuables had been found in a secret room in Lark’s house.
• Arthur sensed someone watching him as he was about to close the door.

Arthur watched a beggar outside his house for hours, wary that the man had followed him for a reason, while the Horn Newspaper’s special edition earned him renown and XP. After Aivor fed the beggar and the two walked away together, Arthur checked the notifications flashing before him and was delighted by what he saw.

• Arthur spotted the beggar across from his house and kept watch, unsure whether his arrival was a coincidence.
• The Horn Newspaper’s special edition earned Arthur 5 XP, which he spent to raise Basic Swordsmanship to Lv3.
• Arthur considered the fallout from killing Police Chief Lark and hoped the Shire District’s next chief would remain sensible.
• Aivor gave the beggar half a fried fish and warned him to leave before the patrolmen arrived.
• The beggar followed Aivor down the street, and Arthur continued to suspect possible dangers before checking his notifications.

After earning 30 XP from the newspaper coverage, Arthur upgraded his swordsmanship and gained a small increase in Physique after cutting an arrow in half. He began preparing dinner at home, then spotted two figures approaching his door through the Periscope.

• Arthur celebrated the XP earned from the coverage of Chief Lark’s identity and hoped the resulting police turmoil would last while he grew stronger.
• Arthur spent XP to raise Basic Swordsmanship to its maximum level, then instinctively cut a shortbow arrow in half and gained 0.1 Physique.
• Arthur considered joining the Jorjok Swordsmanship Club on West Merck Avenue to learn more advanced swordsmanship.
• Arthur prepared fried meatballs and chicken for dinner while keeping his weapons close at hand.
• Arthur saw two figures evade the patrolling police and approach 2 Kirk Street, then picked up his flintlocks and went to the front door.

Joseph and Johnny tried to kill Arthur at 2 Kirk Street, but Arthur killed them and two responding patrol officers, then destroyed the bodies with dynamite. He opened the door for reporter Scott, whose question framed the attack as retaliation for Arthur exposing Chief Lark as the Axe Murderer.

• Joseph brought Johnny to 2 Kirk Street to kill Arthur and advance his own prospects for promotion.
• Johnny picked the lock, but Arthur shot him and Joseph as soon as they entered.
• Arthur reloaded, killed two patrol officers who arrived quickly, and blew up the four bodies outside to destroy the evidence.
• After neighbors gathered, Arthur opened the door when he spotted Scott, who asked whether the attack was retaliation for exposing Chief Lark's crimes.