Chapter Summaries

Edward explained that the Ernst Foundation survived by aiding the poor while remaining flexible about religion, and Klein questioned whether the True Creator was behind it. At the Tarot gathering, Alger learned the identity of the card beside the Fool, while Roselle’s diary revealed his voyage toward a Western Continent ended with him seeing an abyss.

• Edward told Klein that the Ernst Foundation relied on donations, rejected investments, and believed in its own ability to improve conditions for the poor.
• Klein asked whether the True Creator backed the foundation, and Edward redirected the conversation after Klein described his limited work for Maria.
• Edward privately concluded that Klein was the spirit associated with the Black Emperor Card and wondered whether Sefirah Castle had a master.
• Derrick brought his anxiety about the exploration team to the Tarot gathering, while Alger traded three pages of Roselle’s diary for private knowledge of the card beside the Fool.
• Klein read Roselle’s diary about searching for a Western Continent, which ended with Roselle writing that he had seen an abyss.

Alger negotiated with Richard to guide a voyage west of the Oradek Islands, unaware that Richard recognized his schemes and agreed to the original payment. Meanwhile, Klein sent Derrick a sealed item through the gray fog, and Amon discovered that Klein had a stable connection to Sefirah Castle before continuing to watch him.

• Alger recognized that Richard's proposed route might pass his secret Primitive Island and tried to raise the price for the voyage.
• Richard refused Alger's demand for twelve hundred pounds, offered him two hundred pounds as a guide, and then accepted his return to the original six-hundred-pound offer.
• Richard introduced himself as Heath Ting Ernst, administrator of the Ernst Foundation, and Alger agreed to the voyage after learning who he was.
• Derrick followed the Hanged Man's advice and performed a ritual requesting a bestowal, so Klein sent him an iron box containing the All-Black Eye and warned him not to touch it directly.
• Amon sensed Klein's connection to Sefirah Castle and concluded that Klein was one of its chosen, then continued observing him from outside his home.

Edward and Amon investigated who might be connected to Sefirah Castle, while Klein learned about an apocalypse prophecy and the Abraham Family’s curse. In the City of Silver, Derrick exposed Dark’s grotesque offerings and apparent corruption by invoking the Fool.

• Edward and Amon discussed possible holders of Sefirah Castle’s power and decided not to target those chosen by its hidden master.
• Klein read an Abraham Traveler’s account of Yellow Light Venithan, who predicted an apocalypse within two hundred years and said an Apprentice would lift the family’s curse.
• Derrick sensed that someone was monitoring him and prepared to confront Dark after the exploration team’s quarantine ended.
• Dark visited Derrick, offered him an alluring mushroom, and described murals claiming the Almighty had suffered for the City of Silver.
• Derrick resisted the temptation, recited the Fool’s honorific name, and revealed that Dark’s Doom Fruit and mushroom were severed fingers and a bloody scalp.

The Monarch of Decay read about the aftermath of Capim’s death while Derrick confronted the mutated Darc and delivered an iron box to Mr. Fool. Amon sensed Sefirah Castle’s aura, and Edward explained why he wanted the world destroyed rather than saved.

• The Monarch of Decay studied and discarded the City of Calamity contamination, then read reports about Capim’s case and Mr. Z’s promotion in the Aurora Order.
• Derrick resisted the temptation of the bloody food Darc offered and sang to strengthen himself as Darc transformed and attacked him.
• Derrick prayed, and Klein opened a door to the Gray Fog; an observer tried to stop the ritual, but Derrick threw an iron box through the door before it vanished.
• Derrick faked collapsing after the observer’s shadow enveloped him, confident that he had exposed the exploration team’s abnormalities and delivered the item to Mr. Fool.
• Amon told Edward that he had sensed Sefirah Castle’s aura nearby, and he judged that he could not safely take control of it.
• Edward said he hated the world and believed it needed destruction rather than salvation.

Arkatulia Winter, now the Monarch of Decay, restored his dead birthplace to a world where life could begin again. He accepted his role as the Monument of Civilization and continued his journey through the Sea of Stars.

• The Monarch of Decay recalled the planet’s history, from its formation and flourishing civilizations to its long winter and extinction.
• He reshaped the dead planet, clearing ice, forming rivers and seas, and carving mountains and plains.
• The Monarch of Decay moved the planet near a distant nebula, established its rotation and orbit, and reignited its Stellar Core.
• He recognized himself as both the death of civilizations and the record of their existence, and resolved to return after new life emerged.
• Arkatulia Winter named himself the Ruler of Withering, the King of Decline, and the Final Journey of all life.

Colin investigated Amon’s escape and ordered the exploration team detained, while Lovia tried to contact her Lord and Mr. A received a revelation to seek the Fool. In Backlund, Amon and Edward connected the Aurora Order’s search for the “King of Yellow and Black who wields good luck” to Klein and decided to wait rather than investigate.

• Colin and the shadow monitor concluded that Amon had planned Derrick’s escape to thwart a hidden enemy, and Colin ordered the exploration team taken into custody while arranging to question Derrick with Aiffluo.
• Colin learned that Lovia had already suspected the exploration team and asked that they be monitored discreetly, then checked that the Skold couple had shown no abnormalities.
• Lovia blamed herself for the deaths of her team members but resolved to report the mysterious being to her Lord, using Flesh Magic and a painful ritual to send a prayer.
• Mr. A received a divine revelation ordering him to find the Fool and the King of Yellow and Black who wielded good luck, along with their followers in Backlund.
• Amon discussed human kindness with Edward, who identified the Aurora Order’s translated honorific as referring to the Celestial Worthy and likely Klein, and they chose to wait rather than act.

Adela proposed a marriage alliance to Edward Vaughan, while Klein and Doctor Aaron uncovered what appeared to be Will Auceptin’s corpse. In Bayam, Richard and Alger gathered supplies for their voyage, and Richard reacted approvingly to Frank’s strange crossbreeding experiments.

• Adela offered to help Edward Vaughan imitate love and proposed that they marry because she loved him and wanted a home; Edward agreed to hear where she would begin.
• Klein and Doctor Aaron found the birch tree from Aaron’s dream and dug up a child’s corpse that Klein identified as most likely Will Auceptin, along with torn Tarot Cards.
• A crow watched Klein and Aaron, and Aaron lost more than ten seconds of memory before Klein told him they might have to answer a summons from Sivellaus Yard.
• Richard stopped a child pickpocket, lectured him, and gave him money and directions to the Ernst Foundation while Alger waited.
• Richard and Alger bought supplies in Bayam as Richard reported suspicious activity to Galan De and overheard Frank describe his crossbreeding experiments.
• Richard called Frank’s idea brilliant, while Alger hid his blue hair and continued preparing to set sail.

Richard Ernst prepared for his voyage and found an eager ally in Frank Lee, while Klein’s divination led him to suspect that Will Auceptin was another Snake of Mercury. Amon and Edward then discussed how to exploit Klein’s suspected connection to Sefirah Castle, leaving their plan to test the Fool’s honorific name unresolved.

• Richard told Alger that he wanted to discuss Frank’s ideas about hybridization, then handed Alger the supply list and asked him to buy the voyage’s provisions.
• Richard praised Frank’s research, and Frank excitedly thanked him, gave him a blessing, and accepted Galan De’s business card as a way to keep in touch.
• Klein divined that Will Auceptin’s corpse was real but would not revive, and concluded that Will had abandoned his body and might be a second Snake of Mercury.
• Amon reported that Klein had repeatedly entered Sefirah Castle, and Edward proposed making crowds recite the Fool’s honorific name to test whether Klein was its owner.
• Edward and Amon discussed using Klein’s morals against him, while Amon said he found the attempt to understand humanity interesting.

Mr. A sought the Fool’s followers, alarming Fors and Xio and prompting Klein to consider the Aurora Order’s interest before deciding there was little risk. Meanwhile, Edward and the Monarch of Decay read Richard’s report about Frank Lee’s experiments and discussed a researcher whose decades of work had been eclipsed by a blessing.

• At Mr. A’s gathering, he offered a generous reward for clues about people who believed in the Fool and warned attendees not to repeat the Fool’s titles in mystical languages.
• Fors recalled Mr. Lawrence’s belongings while Xio recognized the Fool’s description from a previous frightening incident.
• Klein learned of Mr. A’s search through Fors, reasoned that the Aurora Order likely knew of the Fool through Little Sun’s ritual, and told Fors not to worry.
• Klein counted his money and planned to sell the Werewolf Beyonder characteristic through Mr. Hanged Man to fund his advancement.
• Riel delivered Richard’s report to Edward, which described the Blue Avenger and Frank Lee’s unusual experiments, including attempts to grow cows from wheat and breed fish with wine for blood.
• Edward and the Monarch of Decay discussed an earlier Mystery Pryer researcher whose decades of agricultural experiments had been surpassed by a Harvest Priest’s blessing, then Edward planned to ask Richard for more rumors about Abyss.

Daly, Soest, and Leonard considered reports of people seeking the Fool’s worshippers, while Klein avoided meeting an important person and learned Talim was worried about something. Ademisaul wrote to Director Norma about his progress, and Sharf Maxwell arrived in the Rorsted Archipelago, where Galan De welcomed him to Bayam.

• Daly told Soest and Leonard that people in Backlund had been searching for an organization worshipping the Fool, and Leonard speculated that it was connected to the tarot rituals.
• Talim told Klein an important person wanted to meet him, but Klein declined to become involved with high society; Talim said the person might later offer him unrelated commissions.
• Talim explained that Mr. Vaughn was staying home to finish commissioned writing and recalled Mr. Carter praising Klein’s detective work at a dinner party.
• Ademisaul wrote to Director Norma that he had mastered Cogitation, advanced, begun assisting Maria at the factories, and hoped to return for New Year.
• Sharf Maxwell sailed from Trier with cultists bound for the Rorsted Archipelago, where Galan De killed the group with a strange sound and introduced himself as the Pilgrimage Church’s leader in the region.
• Galan De welcomed Sharf to Bayam, the City of Generosity.

Edward found Richard badly wounded after he escaped a Nightmare, told him that the Balam Empire had fallen, and revealed his plan to perform his ritual in Miedron. In a separate scene, Galan De returned to the poorhouse and found Sharf helping repair equipment before arranging Sharf’s move to a lavish villa.

• Edward woke Richard from a Nightmare in which he had dreamed of the Highland Kingdom’s destruction, and Richard said he had wounded an Evernight demigod and killed his followers.
• Edward told Richard that the Balam emperor was dead, the capital was burning, and the surviving princess had escaped, leaving the Highlands vulnerable to annexation.
• Edward announced that he planned to carry out his ritual in Miedron by spreading terror and corruption, and Richard staggered away despite his injuries.
• Galan De returned to the poorhouse and found Sharf directing workers as they repaired equipment and reviewing the home’s expired medicine supplies.
• Galan De gave Sharf his identification papers and told him that his great-great-uncle had bought him a villa, while Sharf asked to hire a local cook.

Edward Vaughan’s voyage diary described the Azure Avenger nearing the Outskirts of the Abyss as the crew succumbed to its influence. In Backlund, Gliela Beria obtained charms to block Edward’s danger perception and sent an oracle to the Desire Apostle preparing to act against him.

• Edward Vaughan recorded that the Azure Avenger went off course, encountered strange spiritual influence, and diverted to the Oradek Islands.
• Edward Vaughan wrote that the crew’s mental state worsened after they left the Oradek Islands and that a sailor fished up corrupting black flesh.
• Amon settled into his room in Edward’s villa, developed a flashy personal style, and discussed his preferences with Riel.
• Gliela Beria led a sacrifice to the Mother Tree of Desire and received two charms that could block a devil’s danger perception.
• Gliela Beria sent an oracle to the Desire Apostle in Backlund, directing the next step against Edward Vaughan.

Richard led the Azure Avenger into the Abyss, discovered that it was the fused remains of the Demon Monarch Farbauti, and escaped after a mysterious voice nearly lured him into the blood sea. He returned to the crew, altered his diary to conceal what had happened, and collapsed unconscious.

• After the crew’s infighting, Richard subdued them, and Alger revealed that he had once eaten at an Ernst Family poorhouse before starving to death.
• Richard identified the Abyss as the merged body of Farbauti and resisted its attempt to corrupt him with painful memories.
• A mysterious woman’s voice nearly drew Richard into the sea, so he empowered the Azure Avenger and fled the Abyss.
• As the ship escaped, Richard’s protected glasses shattered, and the voice’s curses left him injured and mentally corrupted.
• Richard changed his diary to give the crew false memories of their voyage, released their bonds, and collapsed on deck.

Alger woke after the storm and prepared to return from the Oradek Islands, while Klein pursued a bicycle investment deal and continued his quiet investigations. Amon and Edward discussed the nature of gods before Talim arrived with a worried request about a young couple, leaving Edward puzzled about a curse on Talim and a possible connection to a prince.

• Alger woke on the Azure Avenger after the storm, confirmed the crew had survived, and recalled that their mission to the Oradek Islands was complete.
• Klein prepared to negotiate the sale of his bicycle shares while keeping up his potion digestion and monitoring developments at the Tarot Club.
• Amon and Edward discussed their observations about ancient gods, and Edward told Amon he might travel with him to the sea or the Forsaken Land of the Gods.
• Talim asked Edward to keep a young couple's relationship private, and Edward promised not to spread or write about it.
• Edward wondered why a Demoness's curse affected Talim and speculated that a prince might have fallen in love with a Demoness.

Klein visited Isengard Stanton’s home and found signs of a violent struggle, then was arrested after the assistant appeared dismembered and accused him of killing Stanton. As Jurgen and Edward came to help him, Edward suspected that a young man from the Beria Family was behind the incident.

• Klein paid Old Kohler for information, heard about strike organizers, and told him to investigate cautiously.
• Klein arrived at Isengard Stanton’s house, found a bloodied sitting room, and saw the assistant split into dismembered pieces.
• Police officers arrived and arrested Klein as the prime suspect, while the unseen watcher’s gaze disappeared.
• Jurgen recruited Edward Vaughan to help Klein and brought him to the police station, where Klein was detained.
• While Klein was questioned, Edward considered the case and suspected that a Beria Family member had begun acting in Backlund.

Klein survived the Devil's attack at Isengard Stanton's house, learned that the assailant was a Sequence 5 connected to the Beria Family, and received threats at home. Edward suspected the Devil was using the attacks to distract the authorities, while Klein prepared to report the matter to the police.

• Klein told the police about his work with Isengard Stanton and was questioned over spending eighteen minutes at the murder scene despite believing only two or three minutes had passed.
• Klein told Edward about the Devil's attack, and Edward identified the attacker as a Sequence 5 Desire Apostle from the Beria Family.
• Edward explained how emotional interference could distort Klein's perception of time, then treated Klein to dinner as they discussed the Devil's apparent revenge.
• Klein found a blood-written threat at home and discovered a second message warning that he was next.
• A shadowy figure outside Klein's window mimed shooting at him before dissolving into shadows, and Edward later said he had neither seen nor sensed anyone there.

Jason Beria prepared to assassinate Duke Negan and lure Edward into a trap, while Edward discovered the Beria Family’s plot and recruited Amon to help him strike back. Klein survived a sudden attack by Stuart and gathered with the other detectives as Isengard returned, leaving the confrontation with the Beria Family about to begin.

• Jason Beria calmed his fear with a charm and left his safe house to hunt the detectives as part of the plan to assassinate Duke Negan and bait Edward.
• Klein and Edward encountered Stuart outside Klein’s home, where Edward triggered Stuart’s fear and stopped him from shooting Klein by destroying his gun.
• Klein gathered Stuart, Kasslana, Lydia, and other detectives inside, then welcomed the injured Isengard Stanton, who proposed discussing countermeasures with Klein and Kasslana.
• Edward learned from the Monarch of Decay that Beria was inside Klein’s house and that the Beria Family had prepared a trap for him.
• Edward and the Monarch agreed to make their victory appear natural, and Edward invited Amon to accompany him to the Beria Family’s territory; Amon accepted.

Edward and Amon discussed Beria’s failed ambush on Klein and chose to wait for the Devil while visiting the Aurora Order. Meanwhile, the Machinery Hivemind investigated Klein’s home, and Edward arranged to move his sacrificial rite forward as preparations for his Sequence 1 advancement continued.

• Amon and Edward learned that Beria had fled Klein’s home, and Amon divined that the Church of Steam and Machinery had reached Klein.
• Edward decided not to investigate Klein or pursue Beria directly, and he went with Amon to visit the Aurora Order.
• Ikanser Bernard questioned the living Sealed Artifact Arrodes about the Devil’s appearance, then Arrodes struck him with lightning and greeted Klein as its servant.
• Edward asked Saint Tenebrous Kisma to move his sacrificial rite forward and confirmed that the promised characteristic was secured in a separate chamber.
• Kisma described the Aurora Order’s growth and the True Creator’s condition, and Edward joined him in praying for the Lord’s kingdom.

Jason Beria and a woman from his family prepared to assassinate Duke Negan, while Amon visited the Aurora Order and Klein learned about a dangerous Sealed Artifact as the hunt for the Desire Apostle gained a lead. Edward revealed a bloodstained Crown of Thorns and questioned a spirit about its master's objective, leaving the Abyss Angel's plans unresolved.

• Jason Beria changed out of his human-skin disguise and arranged for the woman to pose as Patrick Jason and draw the authorities away while he targeted Duke Negan.
• Amon examined the Aurora Order's murals, then left the underground church after Kisma beckoned him outside.
• Eisinger Stanton told Klein and Kasslana about Sealed Artifact 1-42, a bloodstained suit of armor linked to a city's destruction.
• Ikanser Bernard arrived at Eisinger's home and announced that the Machinery Hivemind had found a lead on the Desire Apostle.
• Edward shaped an ominous obsidian object into a bloodstained Crown of Thorns and asked a spirit what its master intended.

Klein divined that Jason Beria was a Devil wearing human skin, while the investigation drew the Churches’ forces into Backlund. Edward tracked the danger toward Duke Pallas Negan and encountered Amon at a river harbor.

• Klein used Jason Beria’s handkerchief to divine his location and saw the Devil shed a human skin, revealing the brown-haired man he had first seen.
• Klein waited for a safe chance to warn the Nighthawks, then learned from Isengard Stanton that Jason had killed two detectives’ family members and that the major Churches were mobilizing.
• Klein and Isengard suspected Jason’s revenge was a cover for an attack on another target, but kept their suspicions from the Official Beyonders to avoid alerting him.
• Edward and Amon discussed the Beria Family’s interest in Duke Pallas Negan and the possibility of a coming world war.
• Edward spotted a fleeing man at the river harbor, and Amon left the departing boat to join Edward and put on his monocle.