Chapter Summaries

Dottas reported to the Rat Council that the Medium had fallen out with a woman after attracting too much attention. The Council members debated whether to contact the Count or confront the Medium, then decided to wait for more information.

• Dottas passed through Mouse Tail Alley and reported the Medium’s dispute to the doorkeeper, who transmitted the message by crystal.
• The three Rat Council members met in an empty house in the Shire District to discuss the Medium and his Golden Acorn.
• The member by the window urged contacting Her Excellency the Count, while the member by the door warned that nobles could not be trusted and confrontation might provoke the Medium.
• The member in the shadows said they would soon know which choice to make.

Arthur used the scandalous newspaper reports and his staged distress to draw out Mouse Tail Alley, then angrily rejected its messenger while pretending to protect Malinda from suspicion. The messenger reported back, and his lord ordered someone to tell Malinda that Arthur had contacted the Rat Council, but the messenger encountered a blond woman watching him in the street.

• Scott brought Arthur the Star Newspaper and explained that the Moon Newspaper had printed a more lurid story about Arthur and Malinda.
• Arthur gained XP from the newspaper reports, asked Scott to announce that the Medium's Hall would close for a week, and ignored curious visitors while making himself look bedraggled.
• Arthur opened the door late at night, shoved the middle-aged messenger outside, threw back his unopened letter, and insisted he would never associate with the rats.
• The middle-aged messenger reported Arthur's rejection and disheveled appearance to his lord, who ordered someone to inform Malinda that Arthur had contacted the Rat Council.
• The middle-aged messenger left, eager to spread the rumor, then saw a short-haired blond woman watching him with a pipe at the end of the street.

A cloaked man attacked Boka outside an empty house, but Boka’s head exploded and the blast exposed a hidden pit of corpses. Haywood stopped the neighbors from calling the police and left to seek help, heading first for Rat Street.

• A cloaked man removed Boka’s head, but Boka’s voice warned him to stay away before the head exploded and damaged the house.
• Haywood joined the neighbors fighting the fire and urged them to seek compensation for the ruined property.
• Neighbors discovered ten corpses arranged in a pit beneath the house, including the homeowner and a property agent Haywood recognized.
• Haywood persuaded the neighbors not to call the police, arguing that the discovery would ruin their property values.
• Haywood organized the neighbors to delay the patrol officers and conceal the bodies while he went to find someone who could help.
• Haywood headed toward Rat Street instead of going straight to Kirk Street.

Arthur investigated Haywood’s discovery of ten bodies at a burned house on Pine Street and suspected that a former owner had killed successive owners and agents. He then connected the discovery to Malinda and the Rat Council’s conflict, realizing the resulting panic could drive Pine Street’s residents to ruin or suicide.

• Arthur welcomed Wiggins and Haywood, who offered him thirty Gold Tickets to investigate an explosion and fire on Pine Street that had exposed ten bodies.
• Haywood described five pairs of bodies, including decomposed corpses and skeletons, facing one another inside the house.
• Arthur asked Wiggins to have his boys find Chief Maltz and bring records of the house’s previous owners and agents.
• Arthur explained that a former owner had likely killed the successive owners and agents, and Haywood realized he might have bought the house himself.
• Arthur suspected that the bodies’ location had been chosen deliberately and considered how the discovery could drive down property values and provoke suicides on Pine Street.
• Arthur wondered whether Malinda and the Rat Council had deliberately caused the incident and whether the resulting uproar could bring the Count of South Los’s wrath.

Arthur recognized that the Rat Council was staging mass suicides on Pine Street to provoke a conflict between the Old Lion of the Inner Bay and the Countess of South Los. He sent Wiggins to alert Malinda and mobilize help, while Dottas led five men to Pine Street, where an unseen attacker struck him.

• Arthur ordered Wiggins to tell Malinda what had happened on Pine Street and to have Maltz secure South Los’s newspaper offices and reinforce the street.
• Arthur asked Haywood whether he could use a flintlock, while preparing his Medium's Case.
• Dottas gathered five men on Mule Street and ordered them to kill households on Pine Street and make the deaths look like suicides.
• Dottas and his men reached Pine Street, where a longsword shot from the shadows and pierced Dottas’s chest.

Arthur killed six outlaws and defeated Mouse Tail Alley's gatekeeper with a concealed explosive trap. As Pine Street’s residents prepared to defend their homes, Maltz arrived with Wiggins and twenty armed patrol officers.

• Arthur killed Dottas and the five other outlaws with his sword and Thunder Gun, then sensed another Mystical Side enemy nearby.
• Urto fired poisoned crossbow bolts at Arthur, who pretended that dodging had weakened him and fled into the shrubs.
• Urto chased Arthur into the shrubs, leaving his hand crossbows behind, and Arthur killed him with explosives dropped by [Hand of the Void].
• Arthur hid while Pine Street’s residents stayed indoors, armed themselves, and prepared to fight if the battle went badly.
• Maltz arrived at the entrance to Pine Street with Wiggins and twenty armed patrol officers.

After Maltz helped Arthur secure Pine Street, the two secretly discussed the aftermath of the raid and their plans for Rat Street. Arthur resisted the temptation to raid Mouse Tail Alley for the Rat Council’s spoils, but an unexpected person emerged from the shadows before he could leave.

• Maltz told Arthur that mystic forces had attacked his men at the newspaper offices, and Arthur advised him to use explosives and stay behind the crowd.
• Arthur and Maltz secretly discussed arranging passage, keeping Rat Street open under Wiggins, and replacing the Dort District chief.
• Arthur told Wiggins to handle Dottas's headquarters and examined the two Jackal Hand Crossbows he had taken from Urto.
• Arthur considered looting Mouse Tail Alley during the Countess’s crackdown but decided the risk was too great.
• As Arthur prepared to leave, an unexpected person stepped out of the shadows.

Arthur confronted Albers and his uncle Losek, who revealed his role in founding the Rat Council and described its coming collapse. Losek offered Arthur a wicker case of assets in exchange for his friendship.

• Arthur realized Albers had come unwillingly to save his uncle and suspected Losek was a senior member of the Rat Council.
• Losek introduced himself as Albers's uncle and confessed that Isidore had orchestrated the plan without informing him or Harris.
• Losek said the Rat Council was falling apart: Isidore had chosen war with the Countess of South Los, Harris would side with her, and Losek planned to return to Rosh Castle.
• Losek revealed that he and the others had founded the Rat Council, then offered Arthur assets from it in exchange for his friendship.

Arthur used his bluff to convince Losek that Creados was a powerful hidden family and accepted several Rat Council treasures. After Losek and Albers left, Arthur brought the items back to 2 Kirk Street and began inspecting them.

• Arthur raised [Bluff] by two levels and kept his composure as Losek offered him the Athos Box and everything inside it.
• Losek explained that the Athos Box held a separate space and gave Arthur the Blood Marquis's Ring, which could stabilize spirituality, along with a copper coin.
• Arthur warned Losek that the countess controlled South Los, and Losek claimed he had his own escape route.
• Albers asked Arthur if they were still friends, and Arthur promised they were and told him to write.
• Arthur checked the treasures for danger with two [Hands of the Void], carried them to 2 Kirk Street, and gasped as he inspected them.

Arthur examined his new magical items, gained room to develop his spirituality, and recognized how small a part he played in South Los's covert conflict. As he comforted Pendragon, two of the cat's whiskers fell out, prompting Arthur to wonder if they were advice.

• Arthur found that the Balanced Blood Ring could safely harmonize his spirituality and give him more room to learn mystic arts.
• Arthur inspected the Athos Box, stored the Medium's Case inside it, and discovered its space, concealment, and contents.
• Arthur identified the Protective Copper Coin as protection against an explosion and tucked it close to his body.
• Arthur reflected that the Old Lion and the Countess were waging a covert struggle through the Rat Council, Isidore, and Harris, while he was an expendable bystander.
• Arthur cuddled Pendragon, whose two fallen whiskers made Arthur ask whether Pan was offering him advice.

Arthur upgraded Hand of the Void to Lv3 and learned Ringing Art, Arrow Guidance Art, and Lockpicking Art, then tested Ringing Art while settling in for a quiet night in South Los. The next morning, someone arrived at 2 Kirk Street seeking to commission the Medium Credos.

• Arthur stored Pendragon's shed whiskers in Athos's Box and spent 30 XP upgrading Hand of the Void to Lv3, gaining two stronger hands with greater range.
• Arthur learned Ringing Art, Arrow Guidance Art, and Lockpicking Art, then raised Ringing Art to Lv2 with his remaining XP.
• Arthur tested Ringing Art by producing faint footsteps in the corridor, and he noticed that his Spirituality had not increased.
• Arthur carried Pendragon to bed, and the night passed peacefully in South Los without violence or deaths.
• Arthur woke when Pendragon landed on his abdomen and decided to prepare chicken breast for him.
• A visitor struck the gate at 2 Kirk Street and asked to commission the esteemed Medium Credos.

Arthur opened his door to a distressed visitor who had apparently lost his memory, then learned from Chief Maltz that the man was the missing painter Mr. Jenkin. When Maltz tried to ask who had kidnapped him, Jenkin panicked and struggled to hurt himself, leaving the mystery unresolved.

• Arthur deduced that the visitor might be a navigator on a smuggling ship, but refused to let him into the Medium's Hall because it was closed for a week.
• The visitor injured his forehead while pounding on the door, then seemed confused about who he was and why he had come to Arthur.
• Arthur punched and restrained the visitor, then sent a newsboy to notify Chief Maltz.
• Maltz arrived with patrol officers and recognized the visitor as Mr. Jenkin, a famous painter who had disappeared a year earlier.
• After the officers untied Jenkin, he learned that he was a painter with a wife, but panicked when Maltz asked who had kidnapped him.

Arthur directed Maltz to investigate Jenkin’s disappearance in the Harbor District, then spent the day practicing Mystic Arts while waiting for Malinda. She arrived with his agreed payment and the Cat Cave Mystic Art Silent Continuous Steps, and the chapter ended with her asking how he had arranged Haywood’s house purchase.

• Arthur told Maltz to search Kirk Street and the Harbor District for traces connected to Jenkin’s kidnappers, and Maltz left to investigate.
• Arthur worried that the Countess or the Old Lion might be connected to Jenkin’s disappearance, then fed Pendragon and practiced Mystic Arts throughout the day.
• Malinda arrived at 2 Kirk Street and gave Arthur the four promised materials, a Cat Faction Mystic Art, and Silent Continuous Steps as the Count’s payment for his response the previous night.
• Malinda said she had the right to stay the night because she delivered the payment, and Arthur allowed her to stay only in the Medium’s Hall.
• Malinda asked whether Haywood’s purchase of a house on Pine Street had been a coincidence, and Arthur answered by raising one finger, leaving her confused.

Arthur learned that Malinda would inherit the title of Baron Kemail and that Isidore had escaped, so he let her stay at his place for safety. In return for hot cocoa and bedding, Malinda revealed the Cat Cave’s hidden history and identified Arthur as the current Black Cat.

• Malinda told Arthur that she would inherit the title of Baron Kemail before Wintertide and warned him that Isidore had escaped.
• Arthur realized Malinda might be using her stay at his home to draw Isidore out, and he agreed after insisting she pay for any damage.
• Malinda traded secrets about the Cat Cave and its four hidden factions for Arthur’s help and hot cocoa.
• Malinda recounted how the Black Cat Faction was destroyed during the Seven-Year War and how the surviving factions went into hiding.
• Malinda confronted Arthur by naming him the current Black Cat, Arthur Credos.

Arthur tried to benefit from Malinda’s suspicions that he belonged to the Black Cat Faction while carefully avoiding any direct admission. After secretly demonstrating silent movement, he recognized that he needed more evidence to support his hidden identity before facing others.

• Arthur decided that a rumored connection to the Black Cat Faction could bring him valuable advantages, but he knew he had to balance those rewards against the risks.
• When Malinda asked whether his family belonged to the Black Cat Followers, Arthur deflected her questions with jokes and sarcastic claims.
• Malinda pretended to sleep, then watched Arthur move silently back to his chair and concluded he had mastered Silent Continuous Steps.
• Arthur realized his Dark Serpent bloodline’s silent movement could help support his cover, but he knew his deception would soon face more scrutiny.
• Arthur picked up the Cat Faction Mystic Art scroll and found an idea for adding more details to his concealed identity.

Arthur studied the Cat's Grace Mystic Art and considered how to obtain the Black Cat Faction's core Mystic Art, Mediumship, while Malinda stayed at 2 Kirk Street. Maltz arrived with an unexpected discovery and showed Arthur a check.

• Arthur stored Silent Continuous Steps and Cat's Grace · Orange in the [Athos Box] and considered asking the Countess about the Black Cat Faction's Mystic Arts.
• Arthur put away the four ritual materials and rested in the Medium's Hall with Malinda and Pendragon.
• Malinda left for the day after breakfast, warning Arthur not to touch her toiletries and deliberately letting the neighbors see her leave.
• Arthur considered how to lure Isidore into revealing himself, then Maltz rushed in and announced that they had found something.
• Maltz placed a check in front of Arthur, who immediately guessed what had happened.

Arthur realized that the forged checks might have been produced by Jenkin, the painter, and suspected he was involved in the criminals’ scheme. Maltz investigated, then returned with news that Jenkin had disappeared and his wife had been killed.

• Arthur identified the check as a possible forgery and learned it had been found at the Silver Brow Racetrack.
• Maltz explained that the criminals had spent forged checks at illegal businesses, while Arthur questioned whether Jenkin had been an accomplice rather than simply a captive.
• Arthur suggested the criminals might still be protecting Jenkin because he was valuable to their operation, and Maltz left to investigate.
• Arthur waited at home with Pendragon, hoping renewed attention on Jenkin would help him earn XP.
• Maltz returned and announced that Jenkin was missing and his wife was dead.

Arthur joined Maltz to investigate the death of Jenkin’s wife, whose wealth and the rising value of Jenkin’s paintings raised questions about the painter’s disappearance and forged-check case. In the untouched master bedroom, Arthur recognized that something about the scene was wrong, but the chapter ended before he explained what.

• Arthur agreed to inspect the scene of Jenkin’s wife’s death and left with Maltz, Anna, and Pendragon.
• Maltz told Arthur that Jenkin had been a painter from Swallow Castle, that his apprentice Aeron had kept searching for him, and that Jenkin’s paintings had soared in value during his disappearance.
• Maltz explained that Jenkin’s wife had bought a villa in the wealthy Whitebird District after the value of Jenkin’s paintings rose dramatically.
• Arthur and Maltz arrived at 44 Whitebird Street, where Andy maintained order and Dico questioned the servants.
• Arthur examined the villa and followed Maltz to the untouched master bedroom, where he realized something was wrong.

Arthur investigated the murder of Jenkin’s wife and concluded that someone had staged clues to frame Jenkin and direct the investigation. He summoned a check expert to examine the suspicious check, but the expert said he could not explain the message Arthur sensed on it.

• Arthur found perfume and a well-used shaving razor hidden beneath the washstand, suggesting Jenkin’s wife had a lover, and discovered a small knife in her hand and shoeprints around the bedroom window.
• Maltz reported that Jenkin’s apprentice Aeron and the lover Jondis had visited the villa before Jenkin argued with his wife, and Arthur agreed that Jenkin had killed her.
• Arthur declared that Jondis was dead but that Jenkin had not killed him, then sent Andy to inspect Jondis’s house and Dico to fetch a check expert.
• Arthur presented the check to the old expert and asked about the strong message from the dead he sensed on it, but the expert said he could not tell him why.

Arthur exposed Aeron as the murderer behind the killings of Jenkin, his wife, Jondis, and Jondis’s coachman, and Maltz arrested him. Arthur left with Pendragon after claiming Jenkin had promised him 44 Whitebird Street, but a watcher triggered Arthur’s Death Intuition.

• An old man said the counterfeit check resembled one from a past case, then left to return to his card game.
• Andy announced that Jondis’s house was on fire and that two bodies were inside, while Arthur inferred the murderer was nearby through Anna.
• Maltz knocked out and arrested Aeron as he entered 44 Whitebird Street, and Arthur accused him of arranging the killings and framing others to avenge his father.
• Arthur explained that Aeron’s use of an identical counterfeit check at the Silver Brow Racetrack had exposed him, and Aeron admitted he had killed innocent people for revenge.
• Arthur told Aeron that Jenkin had come to him for help and promised him 44 Whitebird Street and his possessions, then left with Pendragon as Death Intuition flickered at the sense of someone watching.