Chapter Summaries

Klein entered the world inside Groselle's Travels and found that it contained a peaceful city where Groselle and Mobett Zoroast were alive. After exploring Groselle's dream, Klein discovered a view of the Giant King's Court from behind.

• Klein used his blood to enter Groselle's Travels, disguised himself, and slipped past the city guard into Pesot.
• Klein saw Groselle leave the blacksmiths' guild, then met Mobett Zoroast at a tavern and learned that Mobett had married Siatas.
• Siatas came to the tavern to fetch Mobett, and Klein left without speaking to her.
• Klein explored the book's false Spirit World, then found Groselle asleep at home in his smithy.
• Klein used the Nightmare Beyonder Characteristic to enter Groselle's dream and saw the Giant King's Court from behind.

Klein explored Groselle’s dream to learn about the Giant King’s Court and reached the boundary of the dream. He created a staircase into the depths of Groselle’s subconscious, intending to investigate the sea of collective subconscious beyond it.

• Klein recognized the forest as the Forest of Decay and realized that Groselle’s dream might reveal information about the Giant King’s Court.
• Klein asked Groselle how to return to the royal court and followed his directions to the Desolate Tunnel.
• Klein passed a talking stone stele by redirecting its trick question to the king, then crossed a cave covered in murals.
• Klein entered a rising chamber and emerged in a guards’ residence, where he saw murals of Badhair, God of Dawn, and Omebella, Goddess of Harvest.
• Klein found that the entrance led to the hazy boundary of the dream and conjured a staircase descending into Groselle’s subconscious.

Klein explored Groselle’s subconscious but retreated after discovering that it could corrupt his mind, then spoke with Longzel in the book’s world. Meanwhile, Alger received the Ocean Songster formula and characteristic from Mr. Fool and planned his next steps toward advancing, with Bansy on his route.

• Klein descended into Groselle’s subconscious, endured a hallucination of rotting hands, and realized that the deeper he went, the more vulnerable his mind became to corruption.
• Klein left the mental world and, wary that the book might copy adventurers who had spent time inside it, decided to limit his future explorations.
• Klein sat beside Longzel, who wondered who he was and where he belonged, then quietly departed while Longzel continued watching the sunset.
• Alger received an Ocean Songster Beyonder characteristic and its formula through the Gate of Sacrifice, and learned that the advancement ritual required consuming the potion inside an Obninsk.
• Alger decided to ask Mr. Fool for help finding an unaffiliated Obninsk after leaving Passo Island, and set his course to stop at Bansy Harbor.

Klein arranged to leave Bayam for Connaught City, but a visit from Reinette Tinekerr and Frank Lee’s letter distracted him with the danger and potential of Frank’s bizarre mushroom research. At the Seaweed Bar, Klein booked passage and forged papers, where he encountered Silver Coin Viper Orville and an unidentified hooded companion.

• Frank Lee sent Klein a letter describing a mushroom he had cultivated from a Rose Bishop, and Reinette Tinekerr delivered it after retrieving it from Frank.
• Cattleya sensed an illusory headless doll near Frank’s room and suffered burning pain in her eyes.
• Klein decided to travel to Connaught City, then wrote Frank suggesting he develop foods for the City of Silver and divined that Frank was still alive.
• Klein paid Denil a deposit for an off-the-books ticket to Connaught City and forged identification papers.
• Orville entered the Seaweed Bar with a hooded companion and ordered ten tickets to Pritz Harbor; Denil identified Orville as an adventurer serving the owner of the Dawn.

Klein obtained false identification papers and a ship ticket in Bayam, but learned that Military Intelligence Section 9 and the police were searching for Silver Coin Viper Orville and a candy-loving old man. A divination revealed that the old man was the missing scientist Turan von Hermosuin, whose work had once sparked a deadly struggle between Loen and Intis.

• Klein listened to patrons speculate about Orville’s ten tickets while waiting at the Seaweed Bar.
• Military Intelligence Section 9 searched the bar for Orville, who had already escaped, and Klein steadied Denil when an officer shoved him.
• Klein bought his identification papers and ship ticket, then returned to his inn, where police questioned him about a thin old man who loved candy.
• Klein used the Sea God Scepter to learn that the search targeted the old man, and Braya reported that authorities were ordered to find him without harming him.
• Klein divined the clue and recognized the missing man as Turan von Hermosuin, the renowned scientist behind the third-generation difference engine manuscript.

Klein discovered that the Rose School of Thought was hiding Turan von Hermosuin at 32 Black Pepper Avenue, then publicly broadcast his location to force the authorities and Churches to act. After Klein went to bed, Hermosuin appeared at his door, introduced himself as Orange Light Hilarion, warned him about the Mother Tree of Desire, and offered to die at one of Klein’s enemies’ doorsteps.

• Klein intercepted and deciphered a telegram that led him to suspect the Admiral of Blood’s group was involved in Hermosuin’s disappearance.
• Klein divined that Hermosuin was at 32 Black Pepper Avenue, where he was working on an analytical engine.
• Klein used the Sea God Scepter to broadcast Hermosuin’s location across Bayam, alerting Orville, Jahn Kottman, and Robert Davis.
• Klein left the radio transceiver monitoring transmissions and went to bed, believing public attention would prevent any faction from secretly claiming Hermosuin.
• Hermosuin came to Klein’s door, identified himself as Orange Light Hilarion, warned Klein to beware the Mother Tree of Desire, and offered to die at an enemy’s doorstep.

Klein learned that powerful Spirit World creatures could sense his connection to the gray fog, and Orange Light Hilarion warned him that the Mother Tree of Desire was a major threat. Suspecting the Rose School of Thought might soon act against him, Klein sought help from Mr. Azik and arranged to summon Reinette Tinekerr if danger arose.

• Hermosuin, revealed as Orange Light Hilarion, explained that certain Spirit World creatures and powerful beings could sense qualities linking Klein to the great ruler above the Spirit World.
• Hilarion warned Klein that the Mother Tree of Desire and the Rose School of Thought might try to seize control of him, then left after Klein refused to let him die on his doorstep.
• Klein reasoned that the Mother Tree of Desire might be preparing a way for her followers to detect him, and he decided to return to Backlund and prepare for danger.
• Klein divined that his life was not in danger soon but remained wary of the Mother Tree of Desire's interference, so he wrote to Mr. Azik asking whether Hilarion's warning meant mortal danger was near.
• Klein asked Reinette Tinekerr to help him if danger arose, and she agreed in exchange for ten thousand gold coins, payable in installments.

After receiving a threatening telegram, Klein tried to flee Bayam at dawn, while Senor and Jax prepared to hunt him for the Mother Tree of Desire. Klein was ambushed in the woods on his way to the coast.

• Klein received a telegram reading, "I see you," and decided to leave Bayam rather than take a ship.
• Senor confronted Orville over the loss of Hermosuin and ordered him to send the threatening telegram to the eavesdropper.
• Jax completed a ritual that created a strange humanoid creature and said they could use a School of Life monocle to locate Klein after dawn.
• Klein sacrificed most of his belongings above the gray fog, settled his inn bill, and left Bayam for the woods near the coast.
• A leaf covered Klein's mouth and nose as branches and discarded picnic rubbish attacked him.

Klein survived a surprise attack by a Rose School of Thought Demigod, using his preparations and Reinette Tinekerr’s intervention to stay alive. As the two Demigods fought nearby, Klein sensed another enemy approaching and prepared to shoot.

• Klein escaped a sudden attack that bound him with his own clothes and paper figurines, using his flames to break free.
• Klein’s Groselle's Travels blocked a lethal ice arrow, and he summoned Reinette Tinekerr with the Adventurer Harmonica.
• Reinette Tinekerr pulled the brown-skinned Jax from hiding and attacked him, but Jax escaped through reflective surfaces and transformed after swallowing a strange figure.
• Klein sensed Reinette Tinekerr and the Rose School of Thought Demigod fighting nearby, then spotted another enemy approaching through illusory threads.
• Klein disguised his awareness of the approaching enemy, interfered with their danger sense using a gold coin, and fired Death Knell.

Klein fought Admiral of Blood Senor in the woods outside Bayam, using Death Knell, his Devil glove, and Flame Jump while Senor’s uncanny luck repeatedly spoiled his attacks. The chapter ended with Klein using a Bribe against Senor as their battle continued.

• Klein shot at Senor, but a rabbit distracted him and the bullet instead blasted a hole through a tree, revealing the Admiral of Blood’s identity.
• Klein used the Devil glove’s “Slow” ability and fired a Fatal Attack, but another illusory figure pulled Senor out of the bullet’s path.
• Klein escaped Senor’s Scream and attempted possession with Flame Jump, then used “Slaughter” to burn away the spirits surrounding them, though Senor escaped with only minor wounds.
• Klein recognized Senor’s extraordinary luck, changed back into Gehrman Sparrow, and planned to draw Sea King Jahn Kottman into the fight if necessary.
• Senor extinguished Klein’s flames with a Scream and ice, disrupting his Flame Jump, but Klein countered Senor’s deathly skull attack with a Devil fireball.
• Klein threw his iron cigarette case at Senor and used “Bribe” as a Baron of Corruption.

Klein repeatedly slowed, froze, and struck Admiral of Blood Senor while manipulating his Spirit Body Threads, but Jax’s infant-like cry broke his control. Klein recovered first and wounded Senor, then a colossal, monstrous arm appeared and forced him to defend himself with Groselle’s Travels.

• Klein used Creeping Hunger, Slow, Freeze, and Spirit Piercing in repeated combinations to keep Senor trapped while secretly manipulating his Spirit Body Threads.
• Klein blocked Senor’s ice arrow with Groselle’s Travels and interrupted his attempted Scream with an Air Bullet as his control over Senor deepened.
• Jax returned to reality and unleashed a terrifying infant’s cry, breaking Klein’s concentration and freeing Senor from control.
• Reinette Tinekerr resumed fighting Jax while Klein and Senor struggled to recover from the cry; Klein regained his senses first and struck Senor with a Magma Sword.
• Klein pressed Death Knell to Senor’s head and fired, but an accident made the bullet wound Senor’s neck instead of killing him.
• A gigantic black arm covered in skulls, eyes, and toothed tongues appeared, and Klein shut his eyes, lunged aside, and raised Groselle’s Travels to shield himself.

Klein escaped the battle on Blue Mountain Island while supernatural forces clashed around him, then reached safety with help from Reinette Tinekerr. Azik arrived and took him back into the Spirit World, while the threat hidden in Groselle's Travels remained unresolved.

• Silvery-white lightning, Jahn Kottman's attack, and Reinette Tinekerr's intervention restrained the descending arm as Klein used the corrupted Kindling glove and a Spirituality Religion Copper Whistle to add further dangers to the chaos.
• Klein discovered that Admiral of Blood Senor had vanished and suspected his blood had drawn him into Groselle's Travels, so he collected some blood-stained dirt before fleeing through the forest.
• Klein jumped from the cliff and was swallowed by a giant sea creature, then used a Light Priest Beyonder Characteristic and returned to the gray fog to purge the growing feathers from his spirit.
• Reinette Tinekerr carried Klein through the Spirit World to a reef, warned him to remember her payment, and disappeared.
• Azik arrived and carried Klein back into the Spirit World despite Klein already having reached safety.

After escaping the battle with Azik, Klein used Groselle's Travels to locate the unconscious Admiral of Blood Senor and turned him into a long-term puppet. The chapter ended with Senor awakening under Klein's control and asking how he could serve.

• Jahn Kottman identified the escaped adventurer as Gehrman Sparrow and recalled the strange participants in the battle.
• Azik removed the feathers left by the Spirituality Religion Copper Whistle, explained his suspicions about the monster, and advised Klein to seek safety in a major city.
• Klein sacrificed his belongings above the Gray Fog, used Senor's blood on Groselle's Travels, and returned to the place where he had left the book.
• Klein followed a divination to find the unconscious Senor, examined his luck-affecting necklace, and set it aside.
• Klein took control of Senor's Spirit Body Threads, and Senor awoke as Klein's puppet and asked what he could do.

Klein secured Senor against divination, examined the Admiral of Blood’s possessions, and claimed a luck-altering silver necklace before leaving for Connaught City. Meanwhile, Alger searched the ruins of Bansy Harbor and left, after which a mysterious cleric emerged from the ruins.

• Klein sent Senor through the gray fog, found no major hidden problems, and discovered that the puppet carried 325 pounds, 16 soli, and 8 pence.
• Klein divined the silver necklace’s history and effects, named it Lucky Scales, and decided to wear it for now.
• Klein studied Senor’s Wraith abilities, returned his belongings to the real world, and sealed the Azik Copper Whistle and a gold coin in an iron cigarette case.
• Klein left the cave near Pritz Harbor, changed his appearance, and took a steam train toward Connaught City instead of returning directly to Backlund.
• Alger searched the ruins of Bansy Harbor with his sailors, found nothing valuable, and sailed away on the Blue Avenger.
• A mysterious figure in black clerical robes emerged from deep within the Bansy Harbor ruins.

Klein delivered David Raymond’s final words to Niel, then left a valuable Beyonder characteristic at an Evernight church. He returned to Backlund under the identity Dawn Dantès and laid Longzel Edward’s ashes to rest, leaving an inscription on the cabinet.

• Klein visited Niel Raymond and told her that her father David loved her, regretted missing her childhood, and had died by accident after those responsible were punished.
• Niel asked Klein what kind of person her father had been, and Klein called him a guardian before leaving as she began to sob.
• Klein left a wrapped gelatinous substance at an Evernight church, where a priest found it after Klein set it alight remotely.
• Klein traveled toward Backlund under the identity Dawn Dantès, carrying Longzel Edward’s ashes in his suitcase.
• Benson told Melissa he had completed his probation period at the Ministry of Finance, and Melissa suggested a hair-growth remedy.
• Klein arrived in Backlund, placed Longzel Edward’s urn in a Church of Storms cemetery, and engraved the words “Every journey has a destination.”

Klein returned to Backlund as Dawn Dantès and refined his layered cover identities and plans to steal the Antigonus Family Notebook. After changing back into Sherlock Moriarty, he visited Isengard Stanton, whose new assistant recognized him.

• Klein watched a postal worker ride one of the bicycles his company had promoted and considered developing a raincoat next.
• Klein planned three layers of identity for Dawn Dantès to withstand investigations by the Nighthawks and other officials.
• Klein outlined a plan to approach Saint Samuel Cathedral, identify its internal keepers, and use one to reach the Antigonus Family Notebook behind Chanis Gate.
• Klein changed from Dawn Dantès into Sherlock Moriarty and went to Isengard Stanton's home.
• Isengard Stanton's wheat-haired assistant recognized Sherlock Moriarty when Klein said a friend had returned from vacation.

Klein returned to Backlund as Sherlock Moriarty, asked Isengard Stanton to sell his stake in the Backlund Bicycle Company, and began restoring his old connections. He met Sharron outside the Bravehearts Bar, confirmed that he had killed Senor, and offered to sell Senor’s lucky item or the Biotoxin Bottle.

• Klein visited Isengard Stanton and asked him to sell his ten percent stake in the Backlund Bicycle Company through newspaper notices.
• Klein went to the Bravehearts Bar, where Ian told him that Gehrman Sparrow had a fifty-thousand-pound bounty for an incident in Bayam and was suspected of killing Admiral of Blood Senor.
• Klein learned from Ian that Emlyn White had been to the bar, then waited in a carriage for Sharron.
• Sharron appeared in Klein’s carriage, and Klein told her he had killed Senor and would sell Senor’s Wraith Beyonder Characteristic to Maric once he found a replacement.
• Klein offered Sharron the choice of buying Senor’s lucky item or the Biotoxin Bottle.

Klein and Sharron investigated the buried ruins beneath Williams Street, where they found the remains of the evil spirit’s prison but no Beyonder Characteristics. Their discovery of two black high-backed chairs left Klein wondering what had happened to the sealed evil spirit.

• Klein learned from Sharron that the attacker Jax was a Puppet and that Zatwin was the demigod hunting them; Sharron said the being Klein encountered might have been Suah, leader of the Rose School of Thought.
• Sharron told Klein that the Nighthawks and Machinery Hivemind had destroyed Williams Street over two months earlier, and that Baronet Pound had died suddenly after a revel.
• Klein and Sharron traveled to Williams Street and entered the buried ruins using Senor as Klein’s puppet.
• They found the sealed room destroyed, with no Beyonder Characteristics or signs that living people had entered it.
• Sharron pointed out the remains of a black high-backed chair, then identified a second one nearby.

Klein and Sharron discovered that three Sequence 1 Angels may have been sacrificed in a ritual connected to Blood Emperor Alista Tudor and concluded the sealed Evil Spirit might include the ancestors of the Sauron and Einhorn Families alongside Medici. After Klein gave Sharron a way to contact him and escorted her home, Danitz heard adventurers discussing Gehrman Sparrow and Admiral of Blood’s bounty.

• Klein and Sharron found fragments from three different high-backed chairs and connected them to a possible Red Priest advancement ritual involving Medici and the Sauron and Einhorn ancestors.
• Klein and Sharron theorized that the Evil Spirit had escaped with the Beyonder Characteristics and Red Priest card, and Klein suggested its lack of obvious clues might be a Hunter’s provocation.
• Klein asked Sharron where pure Evil Spirits and Wraiths gained their power, and she answered that it came from the Spirit World.
• Klein gave Sharron his messenger-summoning method, received her address at the Bravehearts Bar, and escorted her back to the Backlund Bridge Area.
• Danitz returned to Bayam and heard an adventurer ask whether Gehrman Sparrow would send someone to collect Admiral of Blood’s bounty.

Danitz learned that Gehrman Sparrow had killed Admiral of Blood, while Elland and Oz Kent were cleared after an investigation into their connection to him. In Backlund, Klein began his formal debut as Dawn Dantès by seeking an experienced butler for his new household.

• Danitz read the newspapers and discovered Gehrman Sparrow had killed Admiral of Blood, then feared that he might be tied to Gehrman's secret organization.
• Elland and Oz Kent left their investigation and discussed Gehrman's power and his rescue of people in Bansy.
• Donna defended Uncle Sparrow to Denton after he heard newspapers call him a cultist and murderer.
• Klein left his hotel as Dawn Dantès and went to the Metropolis Help Domestic Servants Association to hire a butler.
• Klein told Beline he wanted a butler who had served an aristocratic household and agreed to pay the high salary for a good one.