Chapter Summaries

District 25 publicized the Federation’s battlefield defeat, deepening public anger and instability. After Dorothy refused to blame Noel for the losses, Lin Gong secretly called Jonas, convinced that helping remove Noel was the right choice.

• District 25 spread news of the Federation’s defeat, and citizens began criticizing its leaders and welcoming the Federation’s losses.
• Lin Gong reported to Dorothy that Noel was being blamed for the failed operation and suggested Noel was unfit for her position.
• Dorothy rebuked Lin Gong for overstepping and reaffirmed her trust in Noel.
• Lin Gong left Dorothy’s office, resented Noel’s place in Dorothy’s confidence, and decided to act against her.
• Lin Gong called Jonas, who told her she had made the right choice.

Lin Gong secretly contacted Jonas and agreed to betray Dorothy in exchange for compensation and a way out of the Federation, hoping to remove Noel from Dorothy’s side. Jonas recorded the call and sent it to Noel, then felt Little An calling him.

• Lin Gong called Jonas from a secluded restroom and offered to provide information in exchange for compensation and safe passage out of the Federation.
• Jonas promised Lin Gong whatever compensation she wanted and offered to send Esnie to help her escape if she was exposed.
• Lin Gong accepted Jonas’s proposal and said she wanted Noel removed from Dorothy’s side because Dorothy trusted Noel too much.
• Jonas told Lin Gong to wait for instructions, then admitted to Esnie that he had recorded the call as a precaution.
• Jonas sent the recording to Noel, explained what she should do, and then felt drowsy as Little An seemed to call him.

Jonas learned from Annis Erdoka that the Predecessor Civilization was close to awakening somewhere inside the Federation, though its exact location remained unknown. He resolved to bring the Federation under control and instructed Noel to keep Lin Gong anxious until she betrayed him.

• Jonas embraced Annis Erdoka in a vision, and she warned him that the Predecessor Civilization was coming.
• Annis Erdoka sensed faint psionic energy and revealed that the Predecessor Civilization was somewhere within the Federation.
• Jonas woke in his office and told Esnie he was tired, while planning to settle the conflict with the Federation before preparing to face the Predecessor Civilization.
• Jonas contacted Noel and confirmed that she would keep acting as though she wanted to make up for her mistakes until Lin Gong carried out her betrayal.
• Jonas told Noel to handle Lin Gong, considering her betrayal the conclusion of the first act.

After the Federation’s defeat in District 25, its powerful families argued over who was responsible and proposed an investigative team that could limit Dorothy’s and Noel’s battlefield authority. Lin Gong forced the representatives to leave, then privately contacted the head of the Snow Family about their discussion.

• The Brand and Calder representatives blamed each other for the loss of their Psionics, while the head of the Snow Family called for an investigation into the defeat.
• The head of the Snow Family proposed that each family appoint someone to an investigative team that would coordinate with the overall commander on battlefield matters.
• The representatives recognized that the proposal could curb Dorothy’s and Noel’s authority, but questioned whether it was too risky.
• Lin Gong entered the conference room, told the representatives that Dorothy would not see them, and ordered them to leave.
• After the representatives dispersed, Lin Gong messaged the head of the Snow Family and asked to discuss what he had been saying.

Snow tried to distance himself from a proposal to investigate Dorothy, but Lin Gong sent him a recording that could implicate him and threaten his family. He agreed to meet her and whoever she represented, while dismissing her as someone else's pawn.

• Snow worried Dorothy might know about the meeting and decided to deny involvement in the proposal to investigate her.
• Lin Gong told Snow she was not acting for Dorothy and argued that one person should not control the Federation's fate.
• Snow responded with cautious assurances about unity and stability, avoiding a commitment to Lin Gong.
• Lin Gong sent Snow an audio recording of the meeting and warned that his proposal put his family at risk.
• Snow questioned what help Lin Gong could offer, and she said she represented a party rather than herself.
• Snow agreed to meet Lin Gong at a time and place of his choosing and asked her to inform whoever stood behind her.

Jonas directed Lin Gong to unite the families with promises backed by his name, while Lin Gong recruited Snow to help bring down Dorothy. Snow agreed to cooperate for the largest share and demanded that Jonas guarantee his payment, leaving Lin Gong uneasy about the deal.

• Jonas told Lin Gong to offer the families favorable terms and invoke his name if they questioned her authority.
• Lin Gong met Snow at an underground bar, where he asked how far her master's plans reached and learned Jonas was behind them.
• Snow agreed to plan the operation and contact the families, while Lin Gong said she would arrange an undetected route for District 25 Psionics and fourth-generation tactical mecha.
• Snow demanded the largest share for his family and a guarantee from Jonas; Lin Gong accepted and agreed to arrange the requested credit transfer.

Lin Gong and Snow persuaded the Brand and Calder Families to join a plan to oppose Dorothy by revealing that Jonas of District 25 would cooperate with them. After arranging deliveries of Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha and Psionics, Lin Gong asked Jonas about his plans, but he kept them secret.

• Snow gathered representatives of the Brand and Calder Families with Lin Gong to discuss their shared predicament.
• Lin Gong proposed turning the situation around by opposing Dorothy, but the Calder representative questioned whether they could challenge her.
• Lin Gong revealed that Jonas of District 25 wanted to cooperate, shocking both representatives.
• The Brand representative asked about the terms, and the Calder representative agreed to cooperate as well.
• Lin Gong promised each family a shipment of Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha in three days and said Psionics from District 25 would join her.
• Lin Gong sent Jonas a recording of the meeting and asked what he planned, but Jonas told her it was a secret.

Brand and Calder launched an attack on Dorothy’s secret base with Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha while Lin Gong and Snow advanced from another direction. The mecha suddenly stopped responding, and Dorothy appeared on their shared comms channel.

• Brand and Calder received Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha from Jonas and prepared their pilots for the operation.
• Lin Gong told Brand they would attack at three that afternoon, and Brand agreed to move quickly.
• Brand and Calder’s mecha advanced toward Dorothy’s secret base as drones issued a warning, while Lin Gong and Snow approached from the other side.
• Lin Gong ordered the operation to begin, and the two mecha units fought through Dorothy’s defenses.
• A pilot reported that the Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha had stopped moving, and the comms link to them went silent.
• Dorothy addressed Brand, Calder, Lin Gong, and Snow over their shared comms channel.

Dorothy used evidence gathered by Noel to expose Lin Gong as a mole and force Brand and the others to surrender half their families’ shares. The chapter ended with Noel privately addressing Jonas as her dear master.

• Dorothy revealed that she knew Brand, Calder, Snow, and Lin Gong had secretly cooperated with Jonas and threatened to use their deployment as an excuse to purge the Federation’s upper class.
• Calder realized Lin Gong had leaked their information, and Dorothy played recordings of Lin Gong’s conversations with Jonas.
• Dorothy told the group that some of their Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha had self-destructed and demanded half of each family’s total shares in exchange for their lives.
• Brand protested, but Dorothy cut off his channel; Calder and Snow agreed to her demand, and Dorothy left Lin Gong to them.
• Dorothy thanked Noel for planting a listening device on Lin Gong, and Noel silently called Jonas her dear master.

Noel spoke with Dorothy about Lin Gong’s execution and the difficult battlefield situation before Jonas contacted her through the Mind Link with a new mission. Noel agreed to lead the Federation’s remaining core forces against a major strategic position, while Jonas said he would help remove her Thought Seal after Dorothy surrendered.

• Dorothy told Noel that Lin Gong had been treated as a traitor to District 25 and described Lin Gong’s accusations against Jonas and Noel.
• Noel reported that the Federation had captured an important location but was struggling with the effects of a previous trap and the loss of precision components for Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha.
• Dorothy reassured Noel that she trusted her and urged her not to repeat her earlier mistake.
• Jonas contacted Noel, revealed that Esnie and Celine were interrupting him, and ordered Noel to gather the Federation’s remaining core forces for an attack on an important strategic position.
• Jonas promised to prepare the position, arrange for Noel to be picked up, and help remove her Thought Seal after Dorothy formally surrendered; Noel agreed to follow his orders.

Noel and Dorothy planned to stake everything on a decisive battle against District 25, while Jonas revealed that the apparent Federation advantage was part of a staged deception. The great battle was about to begin, and Jonas asked Noel to enjoy their last moments of leisure.

• Noel struggled to devise a plan, knowing the Federation families would be reluctant to commit enough Psionics and Tactical Mecha.
• Dorothy told Noel that District 25's Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha were gaining technological advantages and proposed an all-out attack before the Federation lost its edge.
• Noel agreed with Dorothy that they should lure the Federation's main forces with valuable Psionics and Tactical Mecha, then surround and destroy them.
• Noel told Jonas that Dorothy intended to stake everything on the next battle, and Jonas said the Federation's perceived battlefield advantage had been staged to deceive her.
• Jonas asked Noel to tell him Dorothy's arrangements and promised to fulfill her requests after removing her Thought Seal, then urged her to enjoy their last moments of leisure.

District 25’s mercenaries and the Federation fought a brutal battle, with District 25 gaining the advantage through better equipment, medical support, and intelligence warfare. As the Federation’s morale collapsed, Mr. Jonas addressed its soldiers over their communications systems.

• District 25’s commander drove mercenaries forward by promising credit points and medical support, while Federation soldiers complained about poor pay and inadequate benefits.
• Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha and armored vehicles helped District 25 batter Federation positions, and cybernetic limbs let wounded District 25 soldiers return to battle quickly.
• The Federation received reinforcements and deployed Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha, Drones, and Hackers, briefly restoring its confidence.
• A hacker using the ID For Lord Jonas disrupted Federation systems, exposed enemy positions, and enabled District 25 to target them with greater precision.
• Federation soldiers lost their will to fight under bombardment and communications attacks, while District 25 kept the advantage on the main battlefield.
• Mr. Jonas introduced himself over the Federation’s communications systems and said he had something its soldiers would want to hear.

Jonas disrupted the Federation’s battlefield communications and called on its soldiers to surrender, using the moment to undermine their faith in their leadership. After Noel warned him that Dorothy was preparing another all-out attack, Jonas reflected on how thoroughly the odds were stacked against her.

• Jonas announced over the Federation’s communications channel that District 25 had stopped firing and demanded the Federation’s soldiers surrender, threatening to target any area where gunfire continued.
• After a Federation soldier fired, District 25’s and the Federation’s Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha both bombarded his position, convincing the soldiers that even their own Mecha had turned against them.
• Jonas gave the soldiers five seconds to decide before the battle resumed, then explained to Eiffel that his speech was meant to weaken Federation morale and that he would accept any prisoners who surrendered.
• Noel contacted Jonas through their Mind Link and warned him that Dorothy was preparing a final all-out offensive around three the next morning on the southern side of the Wasteland battlefield.
• Jonas concluded that Dorothy was running out of options and wondered how she could fight when her trusted allies, her soldiers, and the referee were on his side.

A commander sent fourth-generation tactical mecha to attack District 25's military camp and draw its forces' attention. The camp appeared empty, and the commanders learned that the Mecha Corps and Psionics on the southern battlefield had been ambushed.

• A drone spotted the approaching fourth-generation tactical mecha, which shot it down.
• A commander ordered the second mecha squad to attack District 25's gun emplacements and communications center as a decoy.
• The mecha advanced to District 25's outer defenses and opened fire on the camp.
• The commander discovered that the camp contained no one and checked with the other commanders.
• The commanders received word that the Mecha Corps and Psionics on the southern battlefield had been ambushed.

District 25 ambushed and destroyed the Federation force on the southern battlefield, then offered to begin peace talks with Dorothy. The chapter ended with the battlefield in ruins and survivors left grieving.

• The Federation’s Psionics and Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha waited for Dorothy’s orders on the southern battlefield.
• District 25 launched a surprise bombardment, trapping the Federation forces and disrupting their communications.
• Several Federation Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha restarted, then overheated and self-destructed, killing nearby allies.
• District 25’s Fourth-Generation Tactical Mecha advanced and overwhelmed the disorganized Federation force.
• After the attack ended, District 25 told the survivors to inform Dorothy that peace talks could begin.

In a Federation bar, ordinary people and veteran Serf discussed how the war and its possible end would affect their lives. They hoped the peace talks between Dorothy and District 25 would end the fighting, though they feared the powerful would benefit while ordinary people continued to suffer.

• Tom, Nick, and Jerry worried that the war’s aftermath would bring job insecurity and little improvement for ordinary people.
• Serf arrived after working overtime and explained that his workplace had grown busy as returning soldiers sought jobs.
• Tom asked whether Dorothy and District 25 would hold peace talks, and Serf said ending the war would be worthwhile.
• Bar patrons discussed battlefield casualties, and Serf defended the Psionics by explaining that they had often been targeted and killed.
• The group speculated that Jonas and District 25 would decide the Federation’s future and hoped ordinary people’s lives would improve.

With the Federation nearing peace negotiations, Iris spent time with Jonas and accepted his praise for helping secure the Federation and Dorothy’s defeat. Iris’s other self took over and kissed Jonas, leaving him to deal with Eiffel’s incoming call.

• The Federation dismissed its soldiers but remained silent, while Jonas waited rather than press the peace offer.
• Iris ate coconut cake in Jonas’s office as her other self urged her to ask him for attention.
• Jonas wiped cream from Iris’s mouth, and Iris sat on his lap after asking if she could help him.
• Jonas praised Iris for helping persuade the Federation and Dorothy to accept defeat and promised to spend more time with her.
• Iris yielded control to her other self, who kissed Jonas while Eiffel called.

Jonas stayed beside the sleeping Iris and accidentally answered Eiffel’s call, letting her hear the private things he had said to Iris. Eiffel came to his office and asked him to repeat those words to her while Iris slept nearby.

• Jonas carried the exhausted Iris to the sofa, covered her with a blanket, and continued reading while she slept.
• Jonas realized he had accidentally answered Eiffel’s call, and she told him she had heard the sounds and words from his time with Iris.
• Eiffel asked whether Jonas had wanted to say those things himself and why he had not said them to her; Jonas apologized and explained his hesitation.
• Eiffel said she preferred their efficient, harmonious working relationship, then clarified that she was not averse to what he had said.
• Eiffel went to Jonas’s office, locked the door, and asked him to repeat the words while Iris remained asleep on the sofa.

Iris woke from a dream in which she rescued Prince Jonas from Esnie, Eiffel, and Celine, then found Jonas acting strangely after a cup broke in his office. Once Iris left to fetch dinner, Eiffel emerged from beneath his desk, revealing Jonas's defeat.

• Iris dreamed she defeated a dragon and overcame Esnie, Eiffel, and Celine to rescue Jonas.
• Iris woke when a cup broke and asked Jonas if everything was all right.
• Jonas urged Iris to go to dinner and bring back spaghetti and pineapple pizza.
• Iris kissed Jonas as her reward, then left the office.
• Eiffel emerged from beneath Jonas's desk holding the gloves she had taken off, and Jonas said he would get a robot to clean up.

Jonas visited Zero in her lavish room and discussed her unusually comfortable life as his captive. He then asked her to become his employee as the Federation and Dorothy neared surrender.

• Jonas reflected that the weakened Federation posed little immediate threat and noted that Iris and Eiffel were absent.
• Jonas entered Zero’s room and asked what she thought of its furnishings, interrupting her meal.
• Jonas used a command to make Zero stand at attention, then listed the privileges she had as his captive.
• Jonas explained that Thought Seals and other safeguards prevented Zero from escaping or harming him, while she believed she owed him loyalty.
• Jonas mentioned the Federation and Dorothy’s approaching surrender, then formally offered to hire Zero as his employee.