Chapter Summaries

Vivian ordered the Dragon Emperor Bureau to investigate Hoshimi Miyabi and summoned Long Yi to help reclaim Lu Yingheng, while a hidden rival began a plan to seize him. Alice secretly intended to let the others fight before positioning herself as Lu Yingheng’s only trusted companion.

• Vivian warned Alice not to interfere in her fight with Hoshimi Miyabi, then ordered Long Er to hack local surveillance, destroy the recordings, and gather information on the woman who had approached Lu Yingheng.
• Vivian ordered Long Yi out of retirement to help her take Lu Yingheng back unharmed, no matter the cost.
• A black-robed woman ordered her followers to shadow the Dragon Emperor Guard and the Hoshimi Family, then seize Lu Yingheng when an opportunity arose.
• Alice revealed that her promise to stay neutral was a ruse and planned to benefit after Vivian and Hoshimi Miyabi weakened each other.

Wise and Belle received a call from Mayor Mayflower, who revealed that the Dragon Emperor had staged his death with his help and that his memory loss was an expected cost. Mayflower warned that powerful groups were watching Lu Yingheng, leaving the siblings to protect him at the video store.

• Wise warned Belle that the footage had drawn the attention of New Eridu’s upper circles and could bring trouble for Lu Yingheng.
• Mayor Mayflower called Phaethon and revealed that he knew Wise and Belle’s identities.
• Belle said they would not hand over the Dragon Emperor, but Mayflower explained that he and the Dragon Emperor had staged the Dragon Emperor’s death to expose hostile forces and strengthen him.
• Mayflower said Lu Yingheng would likely recover his memories and offered the siblings his black card to cover the cost of taking him in.
• Mayflower warned that Vivian’s Dragon Emperor Bureau, the Hoshimi Family, and unknown figures were watching Lu Yingheng, and he said the video store was safest for now.
• Wise and Belle stared at each other in shock as Lu Yingheng quietly arranged shelves outside.

Lu Yingheng watched players react to the interlude revealing that he had faked his death to lure out his enemies. After earning 300 million Emotion Points from the twist, he chose to wait before exchanging them for bloodlines so he could harvest more points later.

• Lu Yingheng asked the system to release the previous day's events as an interlude and watched the players' reactions.
• Xia Linxi streamed the story, praised Lu Yingheng's appearance, and joked about wanting him as a playable character.
• Xia Linxi missed Lu Yingheng's brief shirt-lifting scene because autoplay skipped past it.
• Xia Linxi learned that Lu Yingheng had faked his death to lure out the bad guys and wondered why he had not defeated them directly.
• Lu Yingheng dismissed the screen, learned he had gained 300 million Emotion Points, and decided to delay exchanging them for bloodlines.

Lu Yingheng decided to give players a limited amount of resources through the game’s trust invitation system. After Xia Linxi told Lin Xingyao about the feature, Lin Xingyao chose Polychromes from Lu Yingheng and received 1,600.

• Lu Yingheng asked the system whether he could give players resources to earn Emotion Points and settled on giving them 1,600.
• Xia Linxi told Lin Xingyao that she had found a trust invitation from Lu Yingheng at the video store and received 1,600 Polychromes.
• Lin Xingyao returned to the video store in the game and spoke with Lu Yingheng about his recovering throat and a black gold card.
• Lin Xingyao chose to ask Lu Yingheng for Polychromes, and he arranged for a contact to send her 1,600.
• Lin Xingyao found the Polychromes in her account and joked that they were a betrothal gift from her husband.

Hoshimi Miyabi told Hoshimi Kiyohime that the Dragon Emperor might still be alive, though he was gravely injured and unable to see or speak. As they discussed how to protect him from the city’s authorities and Vivian, Kiyohime asked Miyabi whether she liked him, and Miyabi answered that she did.

• Hoshimi Miyabi told Hoshimi Kiyohime that a clothing-store clerk had given her a recent photograph suggesting the Dragon Emperor was alive.
• Miyabi explained that the Dragon Emperor was likely gravely injured and that surveillance footage across Lumina Square had been disabled as the city’s authorities suppressed clues about him.
• Kiyohime urged the Hoshimi Family to search for the Dragon Emperor, but Miyabi said they should instead clear away dangers and restrain the Dragon Emperor Guard from acting rashly.
• Kiyohime warned that Vivian might abduct and imprison the Dragon Emperor, and Miyabi admitted she no longer believed Vivian’s obsession could be cured.
• Kiyohime asked whether Miyabi liked the Dragon Emperor, and Miyabi frankly said that she did.

Hoshimi Kiyohime helped Hoshimi Miyabi recognize that she had fallen in love with the Dragon Emperor, then warned her against confusing love with possessive obsession. After Hoshimi Kiyohime left to tell Hoshimi Miyabi’s father that their benefactor was alive, Hoshimi Miyabi resolved to show Vivian what healthy love was.

• Hoshimi Kiyohime asked Hoshimi Miyabi whether she longed to live peacefully with the Dragon Emperor, and Hoshimi Miyabi admitted she would look forward to it.
• Hoshimi Miyabi blushed at the thought of embracing the Dragon Emperor and acknowledged feeling jealous when Vivian and Alice stayed close to him.
• Hoshimi Kiyohime explained that Hoshimi Miyabi’s longing and jealousy meant she loved the Dragon Emperor, then distinguished healthy love from Vivian’s possessiveness.
• Hoshimi Miyabi worried that she would have to imprison the Dragon Emperor to keep him from other women, but Hoshimi Kiyohime urged her to fight for him without resorting to obsession.
• Hoshimi Kiyohime left to tell Hoshimi Miyabi’s father that the Dragon Emperor was alive, while Hoshimi Miyabi decided to teach Vivian what healthy love was.

Lu Yingheng enjoyed a quiet day at the video store with Belle, who asked whether his memory had returned, while he wondered if Nekomata’s storyline was about to begin. The system bargained for his phone and gave him an Animal Affinity Buff, leaving its effects unclear.

• Lu Yingheng kept writing IOUs for the electricity bills despite the mayor’s black card covering them.
• Belle asked Lu Yingheng about his recovering memory, and he said he remembered nothing beyond basic combat instincts.
• Belle teased Lu Yingheng about former lovers and joked that he might be a scumbag, then returned upstairs.
• Lu Yingheng removed his colored contacts to reveal his golden eyes and thought Nekomata’s storyline might be starting soon.
• The system begged Lu Yingheng for his phone and offered an Animal Affinity Buff in exchange.
• The system placed a white glow against Lu Yingheng’s chest and declared their exchange settled.

Lu Yingheng discovered that the system had hidden a permanent Succubus Physique on him and gave him Animal Affinity, leaving him worried that his growing charm would cause romantic chaos. After serving a customer at his video store, he caught the system again and threatened to spank her because he was in a bad mood.

• Lu Yingheng examined his system panel and found his Succubus Physique, which the system admitted she had concealed since they first bound.
• Lu Yingheng read the details of Animal Affinity and realized it would greatly increase his appeal to Animal Thirens, including Hoshimi Miyabi.
• A customer arrived at the video store, and Lu Yingheng scanned their purchase and saw them out.
• Lu Yingheng caught the system as she hid and played on her phone, then threatened to spank her to vent his frustration.

Lu Yingheng continued his peaceful life at the video store while the main storyline began around him. When Nekomiya Mana rushed into the shop, his Animal Affinity made her instantly cling to him, leaving Belle jealous and trying to keep things under control.

• Lu Yingheng ignored the approaching main storyline and carried on with his lazy routine at the video store.
• Nicole visited and recited Lu Yingheng’s old Dragon Emperor boasts, but Belle rescued him by taking Nicole away on a commission.
• Nekomiya Mana rushed toward Lu Yingheng, and he caught her without meaning to use his strength.
• Belle comforted the upset Nekomiya Mana, then Lu Yingheng’s Animal Affinity drew the catgirl into his arms.
• Nekomiya Mana introduced herself and nuzzled Lu Yingheng while Belle grew jealous and stopped her from licking him.

Belle and Wise met Anton after he asked Phaethon for help with Belobog Heavy Industries’ subway reconstruction project. At the construction site, a runaway machine charged toward Lu Yingheng, leaving Anton unable to reach him in time.

• On a television show, Anton debated Belobog Heavy Industries’ subway plan with a man in a lion headpiece, while Lu Yingheng playfully took a chip from Belle.
• Fairy told Wise that a previous client had sent Phaethon a message asking for help and requesting a meeting at five in the morning.
• Lu Yingheng advised Wise to attend the meeting, and Belle met Anton on Sixth Street and agreed to hitch a ride to the construction site.
• Wise worked out that Nicole had revealed Phaethon’s identity, and Belle followed Anton to the site.
• A huge yellow machine burst through a gate and charged at Lu Yingheng, while Anton failed to reach him in time.

Lu Yingheng stopped a malfunctioning construction machine with ease, then revealed that he could turn invisible before vanishing. Belle met Koleda and the Belobog Heavy Industries team, who asked her to retrieve three intelligent machines lost inside a Hollow.

• A malfunctioning machine barreled toward Anton, but Lu Yingheng stopped it effortlessly while Grace finished debugging its system.
• Koleda introduced herself as Belobog Heavy Industries’ president, while Ben and Grace explained their roles to Belle.
• Lu Yingheng told Belle he had recovered the ability to turn invisible, then used Word Spirit: Meishō to disappear.
• Koleda explained that rival companies had been obstructing Belobog Heavy Industries’ subway project.
• Ben and Grace told Belle that three intelligent construction machines had gone deep into a Hollow and had not returned, and Belle agreed to help retrieve them.

Lu Yingheng revealed himself to three members of the Three-Pact Round Table and attacked them, explaining that he had deliberately shed his Void Hunter status so he could act beyond the rules. He left them alive for now and urged them to advance their plans so the protagonist could grow.

• Near a Hollow, Anton gave Proxy the approximate location of a grabbing machine, and Belle confidently said Hollows were their specialty.
• Lu Yingheng walked through the city invisibly and vowed to uproot the people who had enjoyed his disappearance.
• At a secret meeting, three Round Table members discussed the Dragon Emperor Guard’s deployment and the municipal government’s deletion of Lumina Square surveillance footage.
• Lu Yingheng appeared at the meeting, revealed he was alive, and threw the man in purple glasses and the elderly man into a wall.
• Lu Yingheng grabbed the woman by the throat and explained that, as an unregistered person, he was no longer bound by rules meant for Void Hunters.
• Lu Yingheng spared the three members for now, saying he needed useful puppets and wanted the Order of Glorification to act so the protagonist could grow.

Belle and her companions finished their job for Belobog Heavy Industries, while Lu Yingheng returned to the video store with milk tea after going out. Vivian discovered that someone had been using Lord Dragon Emperor’s card and vowed to find the person she believed had taken advantage of Brother Yingheng.

• Anton fought Hans, the giant yellow machine, and helped him when Ethereals attacked; Hans decided to return with Anton and learn to become a real man.
• Belle returned to the video store and worried when Lu Yingheng was missing, but he came back with milk tea and said he had gone to play arcade games.
• Belle, Wise, and Lu Yingheng discussed the day’s job and went out for ramen.
• Long Er told Vivian that Lord Dragon Emperor’s card had been used repeatedly for small purchases, and Vivian ordered him to leave.
• Vivian crumpled the file and vowed to find the person she believed had swindled Brother Yingheng out of his money and body.

Belle and the Belobog Heavy Industries crew found an excavator whose love for an unfinished building led it to demolish its supposed lover, but Grace convinced it that the rubble was embracing it. Back at the video store, Belle invited Lu Yingheng to a movie, though he called her his little sister, leaving Wise feeling ignored.

• Belle, Grace, Koleda, and Ben found the excavator at a construction site, where it declared its love for the unfinished building Mr. Mashiro and attacked them for approaching it.
• The excavator struck a load-bearing wall and accidentally caused Mr. Mashiro to collapse on top of it, leaving it distraught over its lover’s apparent death.
• Grace reassured the excavator that Mr. Mashiro had embraced it and protected it from Ethereals, and the machine accepted his explanation.
• Belle told Wise that Belobog Heavy Industries would send two intelligent machines for inspection and contact them after locating the last pile driver.
• Belle asked Lu Yingheng about his recovering memories and invited him to a movie, but he called her his little sister, while Wise felt left out.

Belle took Lu Yingheng to a horror movie hoping to grow closer to him, but she spent the screening hiding in his arms. Afterward, Lu Yingheng teased her by revealing she had mistaken the movie’s ghost for a butcher.

• Belle chose a horror movie for her date with Lu Yingheng, hoping to get close to him.
• Belle removed Lu Yingheng’s mask in the dark theater and settled beside him to watch the film.
• Frightened by the movie, Belle buried herself in Lu Yingheng’s embrace while he shielded her from the screen and comforted her.
• After the movie ended, Lu Yingheng tricked Belle into describing a butcher who had not appeared in the ghost movie.
• Belle realized Lu Yingheng had teased her, protested, and hurried after him as they left the cinema.

Belle, Wise, Lu Yingheng, and the Belobog crew searched a Hollow for the final runaway pile driver, Friday, and discovered it believed it was protecting a weakening seal. Friday fled again after the crew tried to stop it, while Ben restrained it and Grace moved in to fix its emotion module.

• Belle and Wise asked Lu Yingheng to join the search for the final pile driver, and he agreed despite Belle’s objections.
• Ben explained that the fast-moving pile driver had disappeared deep inside a Hollow, and Fairy plotted a route to it.
• Belle led the crew to a construction site, where Friday spotted them and immediately ran away.
• After the crew cornered Friday, it called itself the Condemner of Dawn and claimed it had to reinforce a weakening seal near the Old Capital.
• Friday ran again when Anton challenged it, but Ben grabbed one of its legs while Grace approached to repair its emotion module.

Koleda remembered her father, Khors Belobog, leaving her when she was young, and learned that Lu Yingheng believed the truth about him was more complicated than it seemed. Lu Yingheng vanished before explaining further, leaving Koleda with questions about her father and the fall of the Old Capital.

• Koleda recalled Khors promising to build her an intelligent machine before growing distant and leaving home with a bag of money.
• Xia Linxi related to Koleda’s childhood loneliness as she watched the story on stream.
• Lu Yingheng arrived to collect the Bangboo and thanked Koleda for completing the commissions with Phaethon’s help.
• Koleda explained that Khors was her biological father and had disappeared with Belobog Heavy Industries’ funds on the eve of the Old Capital’s fall.
• Lu Yingheng questioned whether Koleda had seen the truth and hinted that Khors might have been a hero before vanishing.

Belle and Wise joined Koleda’s Belobog Heavy Industries crew in searching the Hollow for the prototype that had altered several machines. Lu Yingheng left them to the search while secretly preparing a plan involving TOPS and Vivian.

• Wise told Belle that Grace had traced the machines’ changes to a signal from Belobog Heavy Industries’ prototype, and Koleda requested the siblings’ help finding it.
• Lu Yingheng accompanied Belle and the Belobog Heavy Industries crew to the construction site, then left to buy ice pops after setting Eous down.
• Grace explained that the machines’ logic cores had improved after receiving the prototype’s signal, and Koleda assigned the Hollow search to the Proxy.
• Belle recognized TOPS as the financial group suspected of plotting against Lu Yingheng when Anton and Ben described the Old Capital development project.
• Lu Yingheng met a subordinate in a Lumina Square alley, ordered him to keep their plans from Vivian, and said he was preparing to make his entrance.

Koleda, Grace, and the others fought off Ethereals while tracing the prototype’s signal, which led them to Visionary Memorial Square, an unfinished project tied to the former president. As the group approached the monument, Koleda and Grace showed their concern for each other despite their disagreement over Khors Belobog.

• Belle coordinated with Grace as the three machines received a signal from the prototype, but an intense Ethereal headed toward Grace.
• Koleda, Anton, and the others rushed to back Grace up, drove off the Ethereals, and Koleda scolded Grace for making everyone worry.
• Fairy pinpointed the prototype at Visionary Memorial Square, and Ben recognized the structure as the monument from Belobog Heavy Industries’ abandoned project.
• Anton and Ben wondered whether the prototype and its mentor Khors were connected to the former president, but Koleda dismissed the idea and recalled the Proxy assistant’s words about sinners and heroes.
• As the group walked toward the monument, Koleda quietly admitted she did not want to lose another family member, while Grace and Belle did not hear her.

Koleda and the others found evidence that Khors had used the missing money to pay for the prototype, clearing him of theft, but bullet holes in its cockpit suggested a violent incident. Koleda confessed she had mistaken her father for a thief and, grieving, agreed with Grace to find his killer.

• Koleda, Grace, and Belle inspected the prototype cockpit and found bullet holes, while Ben and Anton searched the monument.
• Belle found a delivery receipt signed by Khors, and Ben confirmed its amount and date matched the missing money and Khors’s disappearance.
• Grace and the others concluded Khors had paid for the prototype rather than stolen the money, though Ben wondered why someone had fought him at the monument.
• Koleda told Grace she had seen Khors leave with a bag of cash the night he disappeared and had believed he ran away with the money.
• Grace comforted Koleda and urged her to join them in finding and avenging Khors’s killer.