Chapter Summaries

Hazlitt prepared to flee after accepting a commission to attack Arthur, but Sean ambushed him in his tent with Danny’s help. Danny declared that Arthur had arrived and that this was a divine descent.

• Sadi escorted a frightened Old Maha toward the Red Knights’ camp, where Old Maha feared the plan involved robbing a noble.
• Hazlitt reviewed his plan to use hidden cannons and explosive barrels against the Eastern, while arranging an escape to North County with trusted men.
• Danny brought Hazlitt a box containing Kemal’s severed head.
• Sean of the Black Cat Followers held a shortsword to Hazlitt’s neck and identified himself as an envoy of the current Black Cat.
• Danny revealed that he had joined Arthur’s side and announced that His Eminence had descended.

Hazlitt feared that the River God’s followers intended to sacrifice him, but Bont and Sean subdued his allies and Sean used Cat’s Cry to guide Hazlitt into identifying the deity. The followers released everyone, yet Hazlitt sensed danger and realized something was wrong.

• Hazlitt suspected Blood Axe Danny’s talk of a deity’s descent meant they would be sacrificed, and hoped Sadi and Maha would help him.
• Bont appeared from the shadows and held Cat’s Claws to Sadi and Maha’s necks, while Maha surrendered to protect his son.
• Sean noticed Hazlitt preparing to use a trump card and told him they had come for peace, asking him to identify their Eminence.
• Hazlitt guessed that their deity was the River God, then realized Sean had guided his thoughts with Cat Faction: Cat’s Cry.
• Sean released Hazlitt, and Bont released Sadi and Maha, but Hazlitt sensed danger and thought something was wrong.

Arthur used the Blood Scion to confront Hazlitt, who confessed to taking Mystic Arts, Mystic Items, and gold from the Blood Clan’s tomb. Young Maha then rushed up to the Blood Scion and asked whether he was one of the Red Knights.

• Sean put away his blade as Hazlitt faced him, and the Blood Scion entered the tent.
• Hazlitt recognized Lord Auben and, fearing the Blood Clan’s power, admitted he had taken items and gold from the clan’s tomb.
• Arthur questioned Hazlitt through the Blood Scion, and Hazlitt claimed he had only borrowed the treasures and invested the gold.
• Young Maha woke, broke free of Old Maha, and ran toward the Blood Scion.
• Young Maha asked the Blood Scion if he was one of the Red Knights.

Hazlitt surrendered to the Blood Scion, believing Arthur had arranged his mission through the South Los Medium. Hazlitt returned the borrowed items and revealed the properties and fleet he had acquired, leaving Arthur surprised by the fleet’s connection to him.

• Hazlitt knelt before the Blood Scion and addressed him as his lord, stunning Old Maha.
• Arthur realized Hazlitt had gained part of the Blood Clan’s legacy and surrendered when he recognized a true Blood Clan member.
• Hazlitt concluded the South Los Medium had brought the Blood Scion to protect him and presented a Mystic Item and Mystic Art scroll for return.
• Arthur asked what else Hazlitt had done, and Hazlitt listed the properties he had bought and the Liquor and Anise fleet he had built for him.
• Arthur recognized Liquor and Anise as a profitable fleet he had researched before and asked Hazlitt what else he had to report.

Arthur forced Hazlitt to reveal his hidden wealth and Safe Houses, then used the Crimson Orb to drain and restore his vitality. Hazlitt regained his youth and strength and knelt before the Blood Scion, calling him “Master.”

• Arthur made Hazlitt reveal additional Safe Houses and the gold hidden in the Inner Bay and South Los.
• Old Maha and Sadi realized Hazlitt had concealed far more wealth than they knew, while Sean and Bont recognized Arthur had orchestrated the entire confrontation.
• Arthur confirmed Hazlitt had no more secrets and used the Crimson Orb to drain his vitality as punishment.
• Arthur used the Crimson Orb again to restore Hazlitt’s vitality, making him younger and stronger than before.
• Hazlitt knelt before the Blood Scion and called him “Master.”

Arthur used the Blood of the Night orb to make Hazlitt obedient, then had him sign a Contract to serve the Medium of South Los and repay Arthur’s favor. Hazlitt agreed to work as the Blood Knight along the Inner River shipping routes, while Sean and Bont reported the mission’s success.

• Arthur used the Blood of the Night orb’s siphoning power to make Hazlitt suffer and submit.
• Arthur offered Hazlitt a Contract as an advance reward for helping the Medium of South Los, and Hazlitt signed it.
• Arthur learned Hazlitt had never signed a Contract before and suspected his dealings with the little Lion had been limited.
• Arthur ordered Hazlitt to continue operating as the Blood Knight along the Inner River shipping routes after completing the Contract’s task.
• The Blood Scion took the Mystic Item and Mystic Art Hazlitt had offered, then left the tent.
• Bont used the Communication Stone to tell the boss that the mission was done.

Arthur manipulated the Lady of Pain into revealing that she had a way to send a seed of her power out of the Lead Box coffin, while pretending to explain why she had failed. He left her convinced that another woman had caused her defeat.

• Arthur acknowledged Bont through the Communication Stone, then began questioning the Lady of Pain inside the Lead Box coffin.
• Arthur used a bluff about knowing secrets of the Inner Bay and West Berlin to make the Lady of Pain ask why she had failed.
• The Lady of Pain offered Arthur a seed of her power, and Arthur said he wanted it for the worm he kept.
• Arthur challenged her to send the seed out using her strength and implied that an important individual had told him she could do so.
• The Lady of Pain reacted strongly, and Arthur inferred that she had a hidden way to send the seed beyond the coffin.
• Arthur claimed that a woman he despised had caused her failure, and the Lady of Pain responded, "It was her? Now I understand!"

Arthur used the Lady of Pain’s anger to draw out clues about Kleibel and Aislan, but she uncovered his connection to the Golden Lion Family. She accused Arthur of traveling to the Inner Bay to seek justice for his mother and reclaim what belonged to her.

• Arthur suggested that the Lady of Pain’s enemy might be connected to Kleibel the Witch and watched her reaction.
• The Lady of Pain sensed Arthur’s pain at Kleibel’s name and connected Kleibel to the identity Jiljike.
• The Lady of Pain said Aislan’s name and detected Arthur’s startled reaction.
• The Lady of Pain accused Arthur Credos of carrying the Golden Lion Family’s bloodline, but Arthur denied it.
• The Lady of Pain claimed Arthur was traveling to the Inner Bay to seek justice for his mother and reclaim her inheritance, while Arthur told her to shut up.

The Lady of Pain realized Arthur had used her to uncover the truth about the past, then contacted the Old Lion to provoke him with revelations about his family. Arthur watched from his private Viewing Platform, pleased that she had taken the bait and started his move into the Inner Bay.

• The Lady of Pain inferred that Arthur had spared her to make her reveal what happened in the past, and she offered him the truth in exchange for her freedom.
• Arthur left without answering her offer, and the Lady of Pain used a seed to contact the Old Lion through the Lead Box coffin.
• The Lady of Pain told the Old Lion about his son Aislan, his granddaughter, and her son, provoking him by accusing him of knowing nothing about his descendants.
• The Lady of Pain cut off the connection after deciding that the Old Lion had taken the bait.
• Arthur watched the river from his private Viewing Platform and welcomed the Lady of Pain's contact with the Old Lion as the opening move of his entry into the Inner Bay.

Arthur gained more XP as news of his deeds spread, while the Old Lion confirmed Arthur was safe and ordered Dill Buck to protect him above all else. The Old Lion then prepared to leave the Lion Palace to meet someone he had to see.

• Arthur saw messages reporting that his reputation had spread through West Berlin and his XP had risen to 18,300.
• The Old Lion received Dill Buck’s account of events in Dordot Harbor and ordered him to protect Arthur Credos, even above the Old Lion’s own orders.
• Dill Buck ended the call, concealed his presence, and set off after the Eastern.
• The Old Lion concluded that Arthur had gained an advantage in his confrontation with the Lady of Pain and used a Human Puppet to cover his absence.
• The Old Lion insisted on leaving to meet someone, while the Human Puppet agreed to buy him time and warned him to return quickly.

A mounted party of Einhaas nobles killed Nishimi and his river bandits as they watched the Red Knights’ camp. The Marquis of Einhaas’s eldest son revealed that he had arranged a confrontation between the Red Knights and the Medium of South Los, hoping to put himself and his companions on Einhaas’s stage.

• Nishimi recalled how Kemal the Slaughterer had destroyed his band and resolved to seize treasure from the Eastern while avoiding the bounty on the Medium of South Los.
• An attacker wielding two swords beheaded Nishimi, and Fitz urged the remaining bandits to fight before spotting an approaching party of nobles and soldiers.
• The Marquis of Einhaas’s eldest son’s younger brother Burton killed Fitz, while his brother warned him not to underestimate river bandits.
• The Marquis’s eldest son eyed Lady Windsor and resolved to win her over, believing Carral could no longer threaten his plans.
• The Marquis’s eldest son announced that he had arranged a contest between the Red Knights and the Medium of South Los so the young nobles could take their place on Einhaas’s stage.

Rory persuaded a group of young nobles to join his plan to exploit a clash between the Red Knights and river pirates, revealing that Kemal and other feared pirates secretly worked with the Red Knights. The group agreed, unaware that Lady Windsor’s Communication Stone had been flashing inside her sleeve.

• Rory offered the young nobles a chance to seize control by intervening after the Red Knights and river pirates had weakened each other.
• Lady Windsor demanded a concrete plan before she would join, frustrating Rory.
• Rory explained that the Red Knights had hidden cannons by the Inner River and that Kemal would reveal the nobles as the territory’s true stars once the pirates gained the advantage.
• Rory disclosed that Kemal the Slaughterer, Sadi the Skullsplitter, and Danny the Blood Axe were all trusted confidants of the Red Knights.
• Burton and Lady Windsor agreed to join Rory’s plan, and the other young nobles followed.
• Lady Windsor’s Communication Stone flashed repeatedly inside her sleeve as Rory celebrated.

At the Storm Inn, Jimte reported Arthur’s victory in West Berlin, and Carral, Jimte, and Hayes speculated about Arthur’s plans for Einhaas. A call from Rory revealed that Arthur intended to use the coming chaos to win over young nobles, but the chapter ended as someone announced the Eastern had arrived.

• Jimte told Carral and Hayes that Arthur had won a sweeping victory in West Berlin and gained shares in Dordot Harbor and the residents’ gratitude.
• Hayes worried the victory would alert the Einhaas Fief and Bette Territory, while Carral and Jimte trusted Arthur’s judgment.
• Carral received a Communication Stone call from Windsor, and Rory explained why he had gone hunting.
• Hayes realized Arthur planned to win over young nobles in the Einhaas Fief by saving their lives amid wartime chaos.
• Carral insisted Arthur had a deeper hidden objective, before a voice announced that the Eastern had arrived.

Rory and the young nobles watched the Inner River God Cult gather near the approaching ship, while Rory secretly planned to take control of both the nobles and the cult. River pirates then revealed twenty cannons and threatened the Eastern, leaving everyone waiting for Arthur to respond.

• Rory promised young Tammy the Holy Age ship’s ram if it survived the coming attack.
• Rory identified the approaching armed crowds as the Inner River God Cult and concealed Greisa Hamlet’s loss of control over it.
• Rory secretly planned to take leadership of the young nobles and the Inner River God Cult for himself.
• Windsor noticed young Tammy and Burton exchange a fleeting glance and relayed events to Carral through a Communication Stone.
• River pirates sounded their horns and uncovered twenty 12-Pounders, causing panic aboard the Eastern.
• Old John calmed the crew by reminding them that Arthur was aboard, and Arthur put on his black coat and stepped outside.

Rory, Burton, Little Tammy, and Windsor watched as their plan to attack Arthur Credos unraveled when the river pirates honored him instead. As a bloodthirsty aura rose from a whirlpool in the Inner River, Arthur remained calm and said he had already given it one chance.

• Rory anticipated killing Arthur, while Burton resolved to eliminate Rory, Little Tammy awaited a chance to taste the powerful, and Windsor watched for a way to profit.
• Toran and the Inner River God Cult hurried to rescue Arthur, but Mr. Gwen stopped Toran from using Mystic Arts when the cannons turned toward the sky.
• The twenty cannons fired a salute, and Hazlitt, Skullsplitter Sadi, Blood Axe Danny, and the other river pirates knelt before Arthur.
• Rory urged the nobles to wait, while Burton and Little Tammy publicly supported him and Windsor recognized their apparent scheme against him.
• A huge whirlpool formed in the Inner River, and its savage aura knocked people down while Arthur stood calmly and said he had already given it one chance.

Windsor recognized the monstrous force rising from the Inner River as Imora the Devourer and urged the survivors to use their trump cards while hoping Arthur could defeat it. The chapter ended with Arthur confronting Imora as an enormous white bird appeared.

• Windsor identified the force emerging from the vortex as Imora the Devourer and warned everyone that they would die without using their trump cards.
• Several young nobles tried to escape with scrolls and Mystic Items, but Imora swallowed them.
• Windsor convinced the remaining people to stack their defensive Mystic Items and pray that Arthur could defeat Imora.
• Windsor prepared to contact Carral as Arthur said he had already given Imora one chance.
• Everyone saw an enormous white bird appear.

Arthur’s sword strike split the Inner River and Imora the Devourer, rescuing the young nobles trapped inside. The survivors emerged into the light, where someone discovered that Tammy had died.

• Arthur summoned a giant white bird of sword intent, and the swords around him trembled in submission.
• Rory’s sword shattered as he resisted Arthur’s sword intent, and he threatened everyone with a Raging Flames scroll.
• Rory kicked Burton down and accused him and Carral of taking everything from him.
• Young Tammy stabbed Rory, took his scroll, and warned the others that Rory would kill them to silence them.
• Rory tore another Raging Flames scroll, killing himself and the guards as the remaining young nobles escaped into Imora the Devourer’s stomach.
• Arthur split Imora the Devourer and rescued the trapped nobles, but someone cried out that Tammy was dead.

Imora the Devourer attacked a great white ship on the Inner River, hoping to consume the black-clad figure aboard and regain its former divinity. When the figure summoned the White Giant Bird, Imora recognized Icarus’s swordsmanship and fled, but a sword strike silenced it.

• Imora traveled through the Inner River, driven by hunger and memories of the Holy Sword Knight who had once defeated it.
• Imora spotted a great white ship and sensed that eating the person aboard might let it return to the clouds.
• Imora enveloped the area in its aura, then created a whirlpool and hurricane to drag the black-clad figure into its maw.
• The black-clad figure raised his hand, and the White Giant Bird appeared behind him.
• Imora recognized Icarus’s swordsmanship, tried to flee, and roared Icarus’s name before a sweep of sword light silenced it.

Arthur learned that the South Los Medium was Icarus, one of the Twenty-Seven Heroes, and saw an opportunity in the revelation. After the monster was destroyed, Arthur arranged for Burton and Tammy to die, leaving the surviving young nobles in shock as Windsor recognized her chance.

• The South Los Medium cleaved the Inner River and Devourer Imora apart, stunning those gathered along the banks.
• Hazlitt ordered Sadi to ensure Lord Credos could travel freely on the Inner River, while Danny prayed and Toran and Mr. Gwen reacted to the feat.
• Mr. Gwen identified the South Los Medium as Icarus, the Sword Knight and one of the Twenty-Seven Heroes, and Arthur realized the identity could be useful to him.
• Arthur considered the surviving nobles and decided Burton and Tammy should die to improve Carral's prospects of inheriting.
• Sword energy cut Burton's and Tammy's necks before Devourer Imora's remains crushed and dissolved their bodies.
• The young nobles discovered Burton and Tammy were dead, while Windsor realized her long-awaited opportunity had arrived.

Windsor reflected on her painful past and her long plan to exploit the conflict between Carral and the Einhaas Family, while Arthur’s defeat of Imora the Devourer confirmed his overwhelming strength. After the survivors thanked Arthur and mourned their dead, he turned his attention to the Devourer’s remains and the gold inside it, urging Nidhogg to consume them.

• Windsor recalled how her parents’ regretful praise drove her to prove herself, and how her mother’s suicide and her father’s withdrawal left her numb.
• Windsor discovered that Carral was hiding his true personality and talent, then spent five years preparing to use the conflict between him and the Einhaas heirs.
• After Carral left the fief, Windsor waited for his return and investigated Arthur, suspecting his appearances had been carefully arranged until she witnessed him defeat Imora the Devourer.
• Windsor and the other surviving young nobles thanked Arthur for saving them and agreed to conceal the disgraceful events that had led to the deaths of Rory, Burton, Little Tammy, Kama, Haran, and Darnell.
• Arthur returned to the Eastern’s bow, watched the river cover the Devourer’s remains, and urged Nidhogg to devour the gold and the body.