Chapter Summaries

Arthur used the Initiation Chart to witness Mimi and the mortally wounded Aeolia discuss his plan to open a new ladder for the Cat Cave. Aeolia vanished as he created a seventeen-rank path, and the current Black Cat, Tabby Cat, and Calico Cat each chose their own response to his act.

• Arthur sensed Mimi’s Spirituality through the Initiation Chart and saw her talking with the wounded Aeolia.
• Aeolia told Mimi he would open a new ladder for the Cat Cave before the old man arrived, despite his grave injuries.
• Mimi sensed Aeolia’s new Seventeenth Rank as he disappeared in golden light.
• The current Black Cat and Tabby Cat concealed the new Orange Cat Rank, while the current Calico Cat chose to follow her own path.
• Mimi put away her pipe and asked the old man for a favor.

Mimi sacrificed herself to clear the backlash from the first four steps of Aeolia’s Seventeenth Rank, and Herke sent Arthur an Ascension Ladder tailored to a successor. Arthur noticed Mimi’s eyes resembled Malinda’s and then asked Pendragon how he felt.

• Mimi burned through her stored food and her own body to climb the first three steps of the Seventeenth Rank, hoping to make the path safer for Aeolia’s successor.
• Mimi shattered on the fourth step, removing the obstacles from the ladder’s first four steps.
• Herke mourned Mimi and Aeolia, then created a successor assessment and sent it to Arthur as a paper airplane.
• Arthur received the Seventeenth Rank Ascension Ladder, which assessed his Great Orange ritual and listed its missing requirements.
• Arthur remembered Mimi’s azure-blue eyes, which resembled Malinda’s, then asked Pendragon how he felt.

Arthur discovered that Pendragon’s second baptism had begun granting him an incomplete Griffin Physique, which improved the efficiency of Arthur’s abilities. He planned to trade Sakiri’s head to Mrs. Susan for a Griffin Spirituality Potion, then returned to South Los as Horton made a request through Bloody John.

• Pendragon’s second baptism gave him enhanced strength, intelligence, and an incomplete Griffin Physique, while Arthur gained greater efficiency from his Great Orange ritual.
• Arthur concluded that completing Pendragon’s transformation required a Griffin Spirituality Potion and a Griffin Storm Potion, and decided to seek Mrs. Susan’s help.
• Arthur planned to offer Sakiri’s head to the South Los Family in exchange for the Griffin Spirituality Potion, using the family’s interest in restoring its honor after Sakiri destroyed Dokiman Island.
• Arthur retrieved his measures and returned to South Los with Pendragon.
• Horton contacted Bloody John and asked him to send someone reliable to meet the Medium in South Los.

Horton told Old John he planned to become a pirate hunter to curry favor with the Medium of South Los. Old John suspected the Medium possessed the Old Lion’s Lion Pride and decided to sell the secret to the Old Lion.

• Old John questioned Horton about his plans, and Horton said he was currying favor with the Medium rather than making a deal.
• Horton explained that he wanted to hunt pirates whose deaths would improve the Medium’s living conditions and earn his approval.
• Horton defended the Medium’s character, and Old John wondered whether the Medium had the Old Lion’s Lion Pride.
• Old John offered to help Horton while secretly deciding to trade the information to the Old Lion.

Arthur explained to Pendragon that he expected the old pirate to betray Horton by taking information to Old Lion, then revealed he planned to claim Coconut Island while the pirate was away. Their lesson ended when Malinda entered the Medium's Hall and found Arthur pinning down Pendragon.

• Arthur told Pendragon that the old pirate would betray Horton and sell information to Old Lion for the greatest reward.
• Arthur predicted that the old pirate would personally leave Coconut Island to contact Old Lion, giving Arthur a chance to take the island.
• Arthur explained that Coconut Island had valuable resources and manpower, and claimed he had given the pirate a chance to remain allied with Horton.
• Arthur grabbed Pendragon's tail, then pounced on him as Pendragon yowled and cried for help.
• Malinda entered the Medium's Hall, saw Arthur pinning down Pendragon, and told them to carry on.

Arthur teased Malinda before asking which pirate crews she controlled, while privately planning to build a powerful ocean-going enterprise and dominate the near seas. Malinda named twenty-two crews, and Arthur asked how close she was to them.

• Arthur kissed Pendragon and styled his hair before washing his hands and joining Malinda for tea.
• Arthur and Malinda traded jokes about their reputations and titles as Lady Anna brought them more food.
• Arthur asked Malinda which pirates she had under her command and privately imagined building an island base, sea force, and overseas trade network.
• Malinda named twenty-two pirate crews, and Arthur praised her as a pirate general.
• Arthur leaned toward Malinda and asked about her relationship with the crews.

Arthur discussed Malinda’s pirate subordinates and offered to help remove any who became a threat, while reflecting on the dangers of advancing his seventeen-rank ascension ladder. After Malinda left to stay busy for a few days, Arthur prepared to try a new flavor of cat food on Pan.

• Arthur decided his seventeen-rank ascension ladder would be difficult beyond the first four ranks, but trusted Herke had left contingencies to help him advance.
• Arthur offered Malinda a discounted service to identify and eliminate disloyal subordinates, and she asked whether he had heard anything troubling.
• Arthur and Malinda agreed that she would wait before asking him to act, then Malinda left and said she would be busy for several days.
• After Lady Anna cleared the table, Arthur put on his coat and asked Pan to try a new flavor of cat food.

Mrs. Amanda registered with Arthur Credos's Mr. Five Exchange after its trader offered reliable delivery and refunds for legal goods. At her shop, Arthur hinted that the Exchange could offer low prices by making sellers bear the costs, leaving Amanda intrigued by his plan.

• Mrs. Amanda received a delayed crate of silver vine from a dismissive boatswain and worried that better service would require money she could not afford.
• A trader from the Mr. Five Exchange approached Mrs. Amanda and offered delivery guarantees and refunds for her purchases.
• Mrs. Amanda registered with the Exchange, and its trader carried her crate to a company carriage that delivered it to her shop.
• Mrs. Amanda found Arthur at her shop and questioned whether his Exchange could survive frequent refunds.
• Arthur suggested the Exchange could sell goods far below market prices if sellers bore the costs, and Mrs. Amanda froze at the proposal.

Arthur explained the free-to-start Mr. Five Exchange to Mrs. Amanda, then asked her for a cat bed while using his Medium’s Bluff to draw her into asking about his plans. He left the cat bed behind and hinted that a better choice was available, stopping only when Mrs. Amanda called him back.

• Arthur explained that Mr. Five Exchange would eventually charge fees after its services became habitual, and Mrs. Amanda predicted it would flourish.
• Arthur asked Mrs. Amanda for a cat bed and clarified that he wanted nothing else from her.
• Mrs. Amanda brought him a cat bed woven from hundred-year-old silver vine, but Arthur’s relieved response made her question what he planned to do next.
• Arthur said the times were changing and that there was a better choice, then walked away without taking the cat bed.
• Mrs. Amanda called after Arthur to wait before he reached three.

Arthur confronted Mrs. Amanda about the Cat Faction’s choices and revealed that he belonged to the Orange Cat lineage. He left her stunned by his lineage and his new requirement for joining the Black Cat Followers.

• Arthur used Mrs. Amanda’s earlier silence and her decision to give him the cat bed as evidence that she had chosen another path for herself and her companions.
• Arthur said he wanted to avoid burning bridges because the Cat Cave had once been his home, then manifested an enormous orange cat phantom.
• Mrs. Amanda recognized the phantom as an Orange Cat and questioned how the supposedly declining lineage could have returned.
• Arthur explained that she and her companions had overlooked clues after making their choice and revealed that he had changed the Black Cat Followers’ entry requirement to major arcana rank.
• Arthur withdrew his aura and asked Mrs. Amanda whether she understood.

Arthur tried to recruit Madam Amanda into the new Black Cat Followers by breaking through her pride, then heard her account of the Cat Factions’ past and the attack on the Black Cat leader. Madam Amanda agreed to help, while Arthur remained uncertain about what had caused the Raccoon Cat and Calico Cat Factions to disappear.

• Arthur urged Madam Amanda to join the Black Cat Followers and gave her until he left South Los to decide.
• Madam Amanda asked whether Arthur’s Orange Cat Faction knew why the Raccoon Cat and Calico Cat Factions had disappeared, and Arthur implied that he knew but could not say.
• Madam Amanda recounted how the three faction leaders had deciphered their predecessors’ riddles, after which the Raccoon Cat and Calico Cat leaders sent signals asking for help and the Black Cat leader was ambushed.
• Arthur suspected Madam Amanda was withholding information and wondered why the faction leaders had left their discoveries for their descendants to decipher.
• Arthur promised that those who had taken from them would repay their debt, and Madam Amanda agreed that her faction would do its part.

Arthur returned to 2 Kirk Street with a cat bed and dried fish, reflecting on the old Black Cat Followers’ strength and the rare ritual materials he hoped to obtain through his grandfather. He invited Mrs. Susan to dinner, while Muninn flew toward the Harbor District on an order.

• Arthur accepted Mrs. Amanda’s offer to have two Major Arcana Rank members of the old Black Cat Followers join his new group, while planning to honor his promise later.
• Arthur considered asking Grandma Susan for the Great Dragon Horn, Fierce Tiger Claw, Raging Bear Gall, and Dire Wolf Ear, which were valuable and rare ritual substrates.
• Arthur arrived at 2 Kirk Street, where Merlin and Gawain helped carry in the cat bed and dried fish.
• Arthur told Merlin to invite Mrs. Susan to dinner, and Merlin left to deliver the message.
• Gawain put the dried fish in Pendragon’s cabinet, Arthur lay down, and Muninn flew toward the Harbor District on an order.

Arthur used Horton to send a message to the Medium of South Los and arranged for Matidal to become his test subject and learn to read. Old John left Coconut Island with Xavier, intent on reaching the Inner Bay to pursue the Pirate King's treasure.

• Arthur had Horton tell Xavier to deliver a message offering the Medium of South Los his loyalty and help expanding his territory.
• Old John agreed to take Xavier to South Los and secretly planned to seek the Pirate King's treasure, which he believed was hidden in the Inner Bay.
• Old John and Xavier traveled underwater in a special speedboat as Old John transformed into water and attached himself to it.
• Arthur sent Muninn to South Los with Sakiri's wrapped head, then asked Matidal to become his test subject.
• Matidal agreed after Arthur promised the experiment would not endanger her, and asked him to teach her to read.

Arthur spent XP to strengthen his Mystic Arts ahead of his planned trip to the Inner Bay, improving his shadow attacks, mobility, and physical ability. He tested his new skills by tormenting Pendragon and ended by hurling the cat into a game of hide-and-seek.

• Arthur spent 1,600 XP to raise Illusory True Shadow Art to Lv3, strengthening Shadow Spike and Shadow Devour and reducing Shadow Flash’s stamina cost.
• Arthur tested Shadow Flash by repeatedly appearing around Pendragon until the cat fled through the skylight to join Fuginn.
• Arthur spent 600 XP to raise Silent Continuous Steps to Lv3, gaining greater silence, improved movement, a double jump, and additional Physique.
• Arthur used his new double jump to follow Pendragon onto the roof, then carried him back into the Medium's Hall.
• Arthur announced a game of hide-and-seek and hurled Pendragon toward a wall, telling him to dodge it.

Arthur spent his remaining XP to raise [Cat's Grace · Orange] to its limit, improving his physique and recovery while strengthening the [Great Orange] ritual. After spotting Mrs. Susan’s carriage, he mussed Pendragon’s fur and told him to act like an idiot.

• Arthur chose [Cat's Grace · Orange] and gained 120 XP when Horton killed pirates watching Matidal.
• Arthur raised [Cat's Grace · Orange] to Lv5, increasing his physique to 15.7 and gaining improved recovery and psychological healing while asleep.
• Arthur sensed that [Cat's Grace · Orange] helped the [Great Orange] ritual progress faster.
• Arthur spotted Mrs. Susan’s carriage through Fuginn’s sight and headed to wait for her.
• Arthur grabbed Pendragon, mussed his fur, and told him to act like an idiot.

Arthur welcomed Mrs. Susan to 2 Kirk Street, discussed his plans to travel to the Inner Bay and prepare for the Old Lion’s test, and was interrupted when Pendragon ran off with a mysterious bloodstained bundle. The chapter left the bundle’s contents unknown.

• Arthur welcomed Mrs. Susan and received treats made by Granny Kulin.
• Arthur told Mrs. Susan that he planned to travel to the Inner Bay after a week and enter seclusion to prepare for the Old Lion’s test.
• Mrs. Susan warned Arthur to be careful and promised he could return safely to South Los if the test proved impossible.
• Muninn delivered a bundle that smelled faintly of blood, and Mrs. Susan suspected it contained a human head.
• Pendragon grabbed the bundle and ran off, prompting Arthur to explain that the Griffin Physique Potion had made it stronger but mischievous.

Arthur presented Sakiri’s head to Mrs. Susan, earning her gratitude and a promise of a reward from the Count of South Los. After Mrs. Susan left, Arthur caught Pendragon and began punishing him for trying to trick him.

• Arthur used the Hand of the Void to make Pendragon drop Sakiri’s concealed head at Mrs. Susan’s feet.
• Mrs. Susan recognized Sakiri and welcomed Arthur as an honored guest on behalf of the South Los Family.
• Arthur accepted a vial of Griffin Spirituality Potion and gold coins from Mrs. Susan, who also promised the Count would offer him a token of goodwill.
• Mrs. Susan explained she had to return to her duties in Inner Bay and left after dinner.
• Arthur escorted Mrs. Susan away, then caught Pendragon and announced that their cat-tossing game would begin again.

Aisi Bonaparte South Los learned from Mrs. Susan that Arthur Credos had recovered Sakiri and killed him, and she decided to reward and protect him before his journey to the Inner Bay. Mrs. Susan proposed marking Arthur as a member of the House of South Los, leaving the Countess poised to hear how.

• Aisi exercised and tried to increase her height with jumps, broth, insoles, and a Mystic Art that could not overcome the power of Thunder inside her.
• Mrs. Susan returned to the estate, waited for Aisi to finish exercising, and cautioned her about being watched and criticized.
• Mrs. Susan presented Sakiri and described Arthur Credos’s actions as proof of his honor and loyalty to South Los.
• Aisi agreed to provide Arthur with a [Griffin Spirituality Potion] and travel money, and worried that the Old Lion would target him in the Inner Bay.
• Mrs. Susan proposed protecting Arthur by marking him as one of the House of South Los, and Aisi asked what she meant.

The Countess of South Los strengthened Arthur Credos’s protection with a Mark of Thunder, while Bloody John was intercepted by Arthur’s Black Cat Followers. The old pirate’s attempted escape failed, and he offered information about the Pirate King’s treasure.

• The Countess rejected the idea that a single Lightning Strike would protect Arthur and prepared a Mark of Thunder for him.
• The Countess infused the Mark of Thunder with her blood, causing thunder to boom across South Los.
• Bloody John and Xavier came ashore, and John set out to travel along the Inner River toward the Inner Bay.
• Grindelwald and two hidden companions confronted Bloody John on behalf of Arthur and asked him to answer questions.
• Bloody John tried to flee as water, but the cold stopped him, so he surrendered and claimed he knew the location of the Pirate King’s treasure.

Old John agreed to serve as boatswain aboard the Eastern for twenty voyages, while Xavier accompanied him. After the contract took effect, Grindelwald left without questioning or guarding them, which made Old John suspect something was wrong.

• Grindelwald offered Old John a boatswain's position escorting the Eastern on twenty voyages instead of demanding an oath of allegiance, and Old John accepted.
• Grindelwald invited Old John and Xavier to follow him, offering them new clothes, lodging, and reasonable requests; both men remained wary as prisoners.
• At the Lotus Leaf Inn, Xavier thanked Old John for the lavish meal, while Old John suspected the kindness was meant to win them over.
• Grindelwald brought Old John a contract matching their agreement, including a salary, and Old John signed it without being asked about the Pirate King's treasure.
• After the contract took effect, Grindelwald left without questioning or guarding Old John and Xavier, and Old John suddenly realized something that alarmed him.