Recaps

The dwarven forces discovered that Plain Gift’s attacks had damaged the Crystal Dragon, but the dragon used its tail to deflect another projectile, while Nitelai seriously injured Giant Hammer. Su Ming’s command planned a joint strike from a hundred kilometers away to protect Celestite Dam, and the chapter ended with Vermilion Bow ready to fire again.

• Giant Hammer charged Nitelai, but Nitelai’s illusions led him into the ground and a barrage of energy beams left him seriously injured.
• The Crystal Dragon knocked an incoming Plain Gift aside with its tail, badly damaging the tail in the process.
• Su Ming and the others assessed the Crystal Dragon’s defenses and chose to launch a joint attack at a hundred kilometers to keep it away from Celestite Dam.
• Wanshi reported that Giant Hammer could not join the decisive battle, and Zijin, Wanshi, and Ruixiuli prepared to face Nitelai and Death Knell.
• The maintenance crew declared Vermilion Bow ready, and Su Ming went to the weapon with Miao Xin as the dragons took flight and the ground crew evacuated.

Su Ming launched a coordinated rocket and Plain Gift assault that shattered Jinghuo’s defenses and badly wounded the Crystal Dragon. With the Plundering Clock’s survivors forcing Jinghuo onward, they prepared to intercept the next projectile using self-destructing Crystal Spawn Insects.

• Su Ming used the Vermilion Bow to fire fragmenting Plain Gifts at Jinghuo, wounding the Crystal Dragon while its shields protected the crystal cluster nodes.
• Jinghuo exposed himself to sunlight and used his reflective scales to burn down one Rainbow Drone and threaten the others, prompting Su Ming to equip the surviving drones with laser-reflective layers.
• Su Ming halted further Vermilion Bow shots as Jinghuo’s eyesight and interception range improved, then ordered the assault to proceed with low-flying projectiles and rockets.
• Bowers launched hundreds of rockets, while Su Ming sent a low-approaching Plain Gift toward the Crystal Dragon; the Plain Gift broke the shield and the rockets devastated Jinghuo’s body.
• Su Ming prepared another fifty-ton Plain Gift as the wounded Jinghuo resumed moving, and Nitelai and Death Knell resolved to use self-destructing Crystal Spawn Insects to intercept it.

Su Ming and his allies destroyed the Crystal Dragon’s crystal restraints, unleashing its ancient, instinct-driven rage, while Zijin and Gelie pursued Nitelai. The Crystal Dragon charged the Type 59 Modified, and Su Ming’s second projectile struck it near the shoulder without stopping it.

• The Crystal Dragon dodged Plain Gift, which shattered its crystal clusters, and Death Knell and Nitelai abandoned their forces to flee as pursuers closed in.
• Zijin and Gelie caught Nitelai while Wanshi and the others surrounded Death Knell; at the hydropower station, Su Ming ordered another armor-piercing shot.
• The Crystal Dragon roared, regained speed, and charged the Type 59 Modified; Nitelai revealed that its crystal clusters had restrained its will.
• Zijin used her Omniscient Vision to see through Nitelai’s illusion and continued attacking him with Gelie, while Zhimeng discovered that the Crystal Dragon had only primitive instincts and resentment.
• Su Ming’s second projectile struck the Crystal Dragon near its shoulder, causing it to howl in pain, while Zijin and Gelie kept Nitelai trapped.

Su Ming and the others used the Vermilion Bow to devastate the Crystal Dragon’s internal organs with shrapnel rounds, bringing the charging beast down. As Miao Xin proposed cutting off its head, Su Ming refused and ordered a light round prepared at half charge.

• Stacy analyzed the Crystal Dragon’s wounds and advised attacking its vulnerable abdominal organs after its head, neck, heart, and legs proved difficult targets.
• Su Ming ordered a shrapnel round, and Miao Xin fired the Vermilion Bow from the Type 59 Modified atop a hill, striking the Crystal Dragon’s abdomen.
• The shell burst inside the Crystal Dragon, shredding its organs and disrupting its energy as it tried to unleash dragon breath.
• Su Ming ordered another shrapnel round, which struck the already damaged abdomen and made the Crystal Dragon collapse after skidding several kilometers.
• Miao Xin suggested using the giant anti-ship blade to cut off the Crystal Dragon’s head, but Su Ming refused and ordered Beianqi to prepare a light round at fifty percent charge.

The Crystal Dragon was killed, Nitelai was captured by the Divine Favor Scepter, and Death Knell escaped after disrupting the pursuers. As Su Ming’s forces secured the battlefield and its valuable remains, the Dwarf Kingdom faced the political problem of its powerful new neighbor.

• Zijin defeated Nitelai, who destroyed his body and tried to flee as a spectral soul before the Divine Favor Scepter swallowed him.
• Death Knell escaped by using her domain to disable Wanshi, Jielusi, and Ruixiuli, then caused the Crystal Spawn to explode and cover her retreat.
• Zijin and Gelie found the disappointed pursuers, while the Dragon Guard admitted they had lost Death Knell.
• Miao Xin finished off the Crystal Dragon with the Vermilion Bow, and Gelie and Zijin discussed collecting its enormous remains.
• Star Pickaxe concluded that Su Ming and the Final Bone Mad Machines posed a more troubling threat than the fallen beast.
• Su Ming ordered Bowers to seal off the battlefield under the pretense of contamination so the dwarves could not claim its crystals.

Su Ming and Zijin confessed their feelings and became lovers after the diplomatic celebration. The chapter ended with them alone in Su Ming’s room, embracing and kissing.

• Su Ming and King Star Pickaxe celebrated the agreement at the diplomatic ball, while Zijin excused herself to rest.
• Su Ming caught Qiluo returning from her family visit and demanded the Moontear fruit she had brought him.
• Su Ming confessed his love to Zijin on a nearby mountain, and Zijin accepted after hearing the moments when he had come to care for her.
• At Ruby Base, Younier put up a bounty promising a Human Bone Machine concert to anyone who caught the food-stealing unicorn, sending celebrants searching throughout the base.
• Su Ming and Zijin left the noisy mountain for his room, where Zijin asked him to loosen her dress and they embraced and kissed.

At the diplomatic ball, Stacy treated the injured Ruixiuli and Giant Hammer before she and Wanshi drank vodka, leaving the dwarves dangerously drunk and fighting over the bottle. Outside, Queen Ghostly Flower mistook a crowd of necromancers searching for Qiluomilan as an invitation to attack them.

• Stacy brought Ruixiuli, Wanshi, and Giant Hammer into a side room, where she treated Giant Hammer’s back and Wanshi examined Ruixiuli’s scars.
• Stacy offered vodka to Giant Hammer and Wanshi, and both dwarves collapsed after downing a glass before waking and fighting over the bottle.
• Qiluomilan followed the alcohol’s scent to the room, mistook the chaos for an orgy, and began sketching while Quail fled in heartbreak.
• Queen Ghostly Flower left the ballroom and was mistaken for Qiluomilan by the necromancers of the Final Bone Mad Machines.
• Queen Ghostly Flower revealed her unicorn form, used her Moon Dancer skill to appear behind the charging necromancers, and attacked them.

Bulameike negotiated with Puka for a supply of “Greatness” pills, only to learn that the gnome pharmacist wanted the Temple of Light to lift its warrants on all necromancers. Meanwhile, members of the Final Bone Mad Machines rescued a family of fleeing necromancers and uncovered a Seagull Chamber of Commerce scheme to capture them.

• Bulameike learned that Queen Ghostly Flower of Silver Moon Forest had recreated the Temple’s destroyed painting before asking Puka to supply two thousand “Greatness” pills each month.
• Puka offered only one hundred pills monthly and said the necromancer pharmacist would provide more if the Temple lifted warrants against necromancers connected to the “Spirit Cloud” incident.
• Bulameike’s magic surged and the guards drew their weapons when Puka demanded the warrants be lifted for all necromancers.
• A group of fleeing necromancers was ambushed near Red Luo Port, but members of the Final Bone Mad Machines defeated the mercenaries and offered the refugees safe passage to Dragon Valley.
• The captured mercenaries revealed that the Seagull Chamber of Commerce was capturing necromancers to sell to the Temple of Light, and the Final Bone Mad Machines’ captain ordered an attack on the organization.

Su Ming learned that the Temple of Light had lifted its manhunt for necromancers and cleared them of blame for the Spirit Cloud disaster, while still condemning his organization. He pushed Zijin and the scholars to finish the Spirit Rain system for an upcoming conflict and headed to the Celestite Hydropower Station for a Vermilion Bow test firing.

• The Council of Cardinals agreed to lift the necromancer manhunt while preparing to attack Su Ming and Bay Owl, whom it still branded as heretics.
• Su Ming thanked Queen Ghostly Flower through Ainuobia and found Zijin leading scholars in work on the Spirit Rain system.
• Su Ming announced that the Temple of Light had declared the Spirit Cloud case a miscarriage of justice and blamed the cult Plundering Clock, but Zijin ordered the scholars to continue developing Spirit Rain.
• Su Ming and Zijin discussed games that taught dragons practical skills, and Su Ming assigned the former accountant Xiyabeite to organize an audit team.
• Su Ming and Zijin kissed before parting, and Su Ming flew with Ainuobia toward the Celestite Hydropower Station for the Vermilion Bow test firing.

Su Ming oversaw a suborbital launch that was repeatedly struck by invisible atmospheric creatures called mirages, forcing the team to recover the probe and reconsider satellite launches. He briefed the Earth support team on the threat and the discovery of Gospel’s unusual properties, then learned that Sangzi and Jin Rongjia had once dated and reported each other as suspected spies.

• Su Ming expanded the Final Bone Mad Machines’ shelter as he expected more people to seek refuge after the wanted notices were lifted.
• Beianqi launched Plain Increase No. 15 with the Visiting Heaven probe, but unexplained impacts damaged the rocket and its cameras before Su Ming ordered its data capsule recovered.
• Su Ming told Ainuobia to gather researchers, and the Pansy set out to retrieve the capsule while astrologers were enlisted to analyze the findings.
• Su Ming explained to Jisu, Sangzi, and Jin Rongjia that mirages were enormous gaseous creatures in the thermosphere that could gather around rocket launches and disrupt satellite missions.
• Sangzi said Gospel fell outside known Earth superconducting systems, while Miao Xin told Su Ming that Sangzi and Jin Rongjia had once dated and secretly reported each other as suspected spies.

Su Ming advanced the Pansy's refit and planned a major expedition, while Quail demonstrated how low-quality magic crystals could be processed into useful crystal sand. As preparations expanded, Su Ming arranged a defensive project and evacuation on Brown Gold Island, appointed Beianqi captain of the Pansy, and Xiwo discovered a Naga smuggling operation.

• Stacy told Su Ming that Hechun had more to report, and Su Ming and Zijin went to Experimental Workshop No. 2 to see Quail demonstrate the processing of low-quality magic crystals into aligned, usable crystal sand.
• Su Ming assigned Newman to build a disguised defensive array on Brown Gold Island and told Younier to evacuate its residents; after hearing her concerns, he agreed to relocate everyone together and provide housing and work.
• Su Ming finalized the Pansy's upgrade into a 28,000-ton expedition ship, with support from fifty supply ships and the Feather Race fleet, and outlined the force's planned deployment.
• Su Ming told Beianqi that her Spinal Hub was stable, revealed a shipboard electromagnetic weapon, and appointed her captain of the Pansy and its operator.
• At Red Luo Port, Xiwo learned that the Naga Clan was preparing for war and, after receiving word of an order for ten extra-long bathtubs, prepared to intercept the suspected Naga buyers.

Su Ming’s team captured a Naga sabotage group carrying earthquake rune pillars and uncovered a plan to trigger a landslide-dammed lake and weaken Celestite Hydropower Station’s defenses. Su Ming ordered a counteroperation that would use the pillars to create a lake and draw out the hidden Naga squad, then ended the chapter embarrassed by Zijin’s kiss in front of Xiwo.

• Su Ming’s team overwhelmed the merchant caravan, and Rupert’s mortar crews used concussion shells to incapacitate most of the fleeing Naga in the White River.
• Xiwo identified the cargo as earthquake rune pillars, and interrogations revealed the Naga planned to trigger a landslide that could send a devastating flood toward Celestite Hydropower Station.
• Su Ming and his allies concluded that the sabotage was meant to distract the dam’s defenses while a separate team attacked, so Su Ming ordered heightened security and tasked Rupert with patrols across the White River basin.
• Su Ming ordered Bowers to deploy the captured rune pillars and blow open a low riverbank to create a lake, hoping the disturbance would expose the hidden Naga squad.
• Su Ming admitted to Zijin that he also wanted the lake for freshwater fish and crops, and Zijin kissed his cheek before Xiwo noticed the call was still open.

Su Ming tested whether Summoning of All Things could transfer uranium’s nuclear properties, then planned an enrichment program and a small modular reactor after the experiment showed it could only transfer crystal structure. As Zijin departed aboard the Pansy, Su Ming considered how to prepare for war and turned to other work at the Ruby Industrial District.

• Zijin asked Su Ming whether he would miss her before she left aboard the Pansy for its sortie against the Divine Covenant Faction.
• Su Ming, Sangzi, and Miao Xin tested transferring uranium dioxide and found that Summoning of All Things did not enrich uranium-235 across worlds.
• Su Ming chose to pursue uranium enrichment in the Taya Plane, first aiming for four percent uranium-235 to power a small modular reactor and future operations.
• Jin Rongjia helped Su Ming consider alternatives to relying on nuclear weapons, and Su Ming proposed using continuous-rod weapons against giant targets.
• Zijin left for the Pansy before dawn, and Su Ming later ordered the mining department to extract a thousand tons of uranium ore.
• Su Ming interrupted Miao Xin’s sparring and took her along to work.

Su Ming diverted White River into the lowlands to ease the flood peak and create a lake, while arranging construction of a giant aircraft from the super Crystal Dragon’s remains. Rupert uncovered suspicious merchant caravans but was captured by Naga planning a flood-assisted raid; Su Ming and Ruixiuli arrived as Rupert was about to be tortured.

• Bowers detonated charges to breach White River’s bank, sending water into the designated flood diversion area.
• Su Ming ordered a hangar built near Celestite Reservoir and arranged for Crystal Dragon bones and materials to be used in an H-6 WZ aircraft.
• Rupert reviewed surveillance footage, identified suspicious caravans, and sent teams to track them without making contact.
• Rupert flew toward one caravan’s route, was ambushed by Naga, and learned they planned to raid the warehouses using floodwaters from a barrier lake.
• A Naga warrior prepared to cut off Rupert’s arm, but Su Ming struck the warrior and a mage while Ruixiuli attacked the Naga leader.

Su Ming captured the Naga high priestess and learned in a dream interrogation that a mysterious backer had hired the Naga to steal the super Crystal Dragon materials. Suspecting King Xialike of the Star Empire, Su Ming ordered Ambassador Dalilan'an detained and planned to accuse him publicly, turning the incident into an opportunity for his broader strategy.

• Ruixiuli, the dragons, and their companions defeated the Naga forces, while Su Ming fought the high priestess and captured her with a shock weapon after Elder Mo Yuan trapped her.
• The necromancers failed to preserve the Naga souls, but they removed a self-destruction runestone from the unconscious high priestess.
• Grand Elder Zhimeng used a dream to make the high priestess reveal that a wealthy backer had paid the Naga Clan to steal the super Crystal Dragon materials.
• Su Ming suspected King Xialike had hired the Naga to avoid paying for the materials directly after Ambassador Dalilan'an repeatedly avoided inspecting the steamship.
• Su Ming ordered Dalilan'an detained and instructed his staff to accuse him of planning the theft and the damage to the White River embankment, declaring that the incident would advance his strategy.

Beianqi asked Zijin about Su Ming’s marriage proposals while the Pansy sailed toward the Arctic, and Zijin struggled with thoughts of their relationship. In the Star Empire, Xialike ordered Baxter to deny involvement in a covert operation and reviewed how Su Ming had previously used a letter to secure additional compensation.

• Beianqi wrote in her diary, checked the Pansy’s surveillance feeds, and watched Hansite and Qiluo prepare a harpoon on deck.
• Zijin sent a sealed letter to Ruby Base and explained that two seasick dragons would leave the operation near Snow Wing Island.
• Beianqi told Zijin that the Pearl Duchy had offered Princess Ximina to Su Ming as a consort and that Su Ming had refused; Zijin learned that other marriage proposals had also been made.
• King Xialike ordered Fernand to send Baxter to Dragon Valley and instructed him to firmly deny the Star Empire’s involvement in the operation.
• The Star Empire’s ministers reviewed Su Ming’s earlier dealings with them and learned that he had used a letter to demand another five hundred thousand gold coins in compensation.

Su Ming assembled Zijin’s Bone Dragon Form into the H-6 WZ and listened to the sea sounds she had recorded in a magical letter. Meanwhile, Pope Augustus uncovered the secret alliance between Su Ming, Zijin, and Fernand, but chose to conceal what he knew and reduce cooperation with the Star Empire.

• Su Ming read Zijin’s letter about the Pansy’s propulsion system and the Bone Dragon Form, then traveled to the Celestite hangar.
• Su Ming merged Zijin’s Bone Dragon Form into the H-6 WZ, establishing a mental bond with the aircraft, and began transferring its equipment.
• Su Ming activated Zijin’s letter in private and heard the sea, gulls, and her breathing; they exchanged affectionate words through their connection.
• Su Ming explained to Miao Xin that the earlier recording in a letter to Xialike had fabricated a meeting with Fernand as a trap.
• Augustus listened to the God's Wind Decree letter and discovered that Fernand had secretly negotiated with Su Ming and Zijin to target the Temple of Light’s Four Seasons Archipelago.
• Augustus recognized Fernand’s voice and, rather than openly confront the Star Empire, quietly reduced cooperation and guarded against its schemes.

Janet told Augustus that Bone King and Bay Owl had framed the Plundering Clock for the Sacred Mountain massacre, prompting him to consider a possible alliance and convene the Council of Cardinals. Meanwhile, the Star Empire’s leaders suspected Katharine had commanded the goblin campaign, and Katharine continued preparing for war from the Northern Lands.

• Janet apologized to Augustus for failing to assassinate Su Ming, and he reassured her while concealing the truth about McIntyre’s possible resurrection.
• Janet told Augustus that Bone King and Bay Owl had carried out the Sacred Mountain massacre and framed the Plundering Clock and the Truth Cult; Augustus ordered an emergency meeting of the Council of Cardinals.
• Janet reported that she had established contact with Fate Manipulator inside the Final Bone Mad Machines, and Augustus said the Church had changed its defenses to limit the danger of leaked intelligence.
• Xialike and the Star Empire’s officials concluded that Katharine had likely led the goblin campaign, but Xialike rebuked them for underestimating Su Ming and urged them to identify his own military strengths.
• Katharine declined Xialike’s request to return to the capital, sent Dafulin a sealed letter, checked on Tuanzi, and began her 142nd simulation of an assault on the Radiant Holy City.

Janet argued that the Final Bone Mad Machines had attacked Sacred Mountain without help from the Plundering Clock, but the cardinals remained unconvinced. The Cold Mountain Kingdom then presented evidence that faulty communication components from the Star Empire’s Wonderland Chamber of Commerce had caused the emergency arrays to fail, and the Star Empire’s ambassador arrived as the council began to consider the accusation.

• Janet presented the missing coal at the Dome Mine as evidence that the White Bone Train had reached Sacred Mountain and argued that the Final Bone Mad Machines could have destroyed it alone.
• Janet claimed that the Plundering Clock had trafficked girls to establish ties with Sabina and Javier, and that the Final Bone Mad Machines later ambushed its transport party at Him Cavern.
• A priest interrupted Janet to announce that Cold Mountain Kingdom’s ambassador had arrived with an explanation for the communication failures, and Janet left the chamber.
• General Emilio and Kalila told the cardinals that defective transmission modules, including components from the Wonderland Chamber of Commerce, could overload when two emergency messages arrived together.
• A priest tested the components and confirmed the defect, prompting the cardinals to debate whether the Star Empire was responsible.
• Emilio and Kalila learned that the Star Empire’s ambassador had arrived and welcomed the prospect of the empire having to answer for the faulty products.

Yise exposed Star Sand’s involvement in the Sacred Mountain attack before the Temple of Light could hear the Star Empire’s accusation against Katharine. Katharine then ordered Star Sand to declare its independence across the Northern Lands, while Su Ming’s H-6 WZ began its water taxi test.

• Yise secretly listened to Janet and the Stars ambassador discuss blaming Katharine and the Northern Stream priests for the Sacred Mountain attack, then revealed that Katharine had founded Star Sand and that it had participated in the attack.
• Yise left the council hall with Emilio after her disclosure stunned Augustus, the cardinals, Janet, and the Stars ambassador.
• Su Ming stopped Miao Xin from piloting the H-6 WZ because she lacked a license, then supervised the aircraft’s preflight checks and engine startup.
• Miao Xin accelerated the H-6 WZ across the reservoir as Su Ming monitored its readings and ordered additional engines started.
• After receiving Yise’s message, Katharine ordered Star Sand’s temples to replace their banners and proclaim independence from the Temple of Light.
• Star Sand declared a holy war against the Divine Covenant Faction in the name of Pale New Words.

Katharine consolidated Star Sand’s control in the Northern Lands while Su Ming and the Temple of Light prepared for a confrontation over Dawn Territory. The chapter ended with the Temple mobilizing its forces, including Cortes and the Atonement Spikes.

• Katharine let dissenting priests leave, arranged for Silver Mask to publicize the truth behind the Divine Language incident, and tasked Stanton with helping him imitate his former mannerisms.
• Su Ming assigned Younier to lead Ruby Base, left Bowers in charge of its defenses, and ordered Magelaili to protect Celestite and keep Red Ridge Mine operating.
• After reviewing battlefield reports, Su Ming ordered Star Sand’s forces to concentrate in Dawn Territory and instructed them to avoid a direct confrontation if they could evacuate by ship.
• Augustus invoked the Light Holy War Passage Clause with the Cold Mountain Kingdom and ordered the Temple of Light’s fleet east, away from the Northern Lands war zone.
• Gelenhate reported that the Northern Continent jurisdiction had mobilized its troops, while Cortes pledged the Atonement Spikes to the Temple’s campaign.

Augustus and Cortes planned to draw out the Final Bone Mad Machines while the Church of Light prepared to pressure the Star Empire and Star Sand. In Dawn Town, Katharine arranged a public speech for Pale New Words, but former Northern Lands clergy infiltrated the packed gathering, leaving Aoleisi and Ge'enda'er waiting for a safe chance to respond.

• Augustus praised Janet for proving the Plundering Clock had not caused the Sacred Mountain tragedy, then sent her to seek intelligence-sharing from Xialike of the Star Empire.
• Augustus and Cortes identified the suspected Pansy fleet and agreed to stage a feint against Dawn Territory before withdrawing and preparing a counterattack.
• Cortes proposed using an undercover agent and Zijin's identity as Pale New Words to undermine Katharine, and Augustus approved the operation.
• Katharine ordered Star Sand to build only superficial defenses, while Aoleisi organized the gathering and received supplies delivered by the dwarves.
• As the crowd filled Dawn Town before Pale New Words's speech, Ge'enda'er spotted more than a hundred former clergy led by Jialepien, and Katharine ordered Star Sand guards not to act rashly.
• Aoleisi told her forces to hold position and wondered where Katharine was as the former clergy moved through the crowd.

Zijin and Gelie defeated Jialepien’s forces in the Dawn Territory, though Ashen Repentance escaped, and Star Sand installed Weiaoyasi as the new deacon. As the Final Bone Mad Machines’ warship landed and the Temple of Light prepared a counterattack, Su Ming departed for Brown Gold Island aboard the newly tested H-6 WZ.

• Zijin protected the civilians while defeating Jialepien, who surrendered and revealed that Ashen Repentance had been waiting outside town.
• Katharine ordered Aoleisi and the other traitors interrogated and publicly executed, while Zijin revealed that Pale New Words was her younger brother Weiaoyasi, the new Dawn Territory deacon.
• Zijin told Su Ming that the crisis was over, and he ordered the ships to land in the Dawn Territory as the plan moved to its second phase.
• Pope Augustus and Cortes learned that Zijin had reached the Dawn Territory earlier than expected and that a massive warship had arrived, so Augustus planned to send two orders of holy knights north.
• Su Ming boarded the H-6 WZ with Mo Yuan and the others and began the night flight toward Brown Gold Island.

Su Ming reached Brown Gold Island aboard the H-6 WZ and prepared the island as a logistics and command base while deliberately leaking his whereabouts through several channels. The Temple of Light believed the intelligence and ordered its Expeditionary Crusaders fleet to attack Brown Gold Island, leaving the trap’s outcome unresolved.

• Miao Xin flew the H-6 WZ from Celestite Hydropower Station to Brown Gold Island, where Su Ming ordered the aircraft to Silver Island for further training and supplies.
• Su Ming arrived on Brown Gold Island, offered Fletcher a future role overseeing mining, and ordered the island’s communication array to send messages at high frequency.
• The Fate Manipulator secretly informed prisoners that Su Ming had left Ruby Base; the prisoners passed the information through a dwarf miner to the Temple of Light, while Su Ming revealed that several other deliberate leaks would corroborate it.
• Su Ming explained to Ainuobia why the dwarves had leaked information and discussed how shifting interests shaped relations between powers.
• Pope Augustus concluded that Su Ming was on Brown Gold Island and ordered the Expeditionary Crusaders fleet to sail there and attack.

Emilio and Yise learned that the Temple of Light was assembling an expeditionary fleet, while Su Ming prepared to draw it into a larger campaign. After arranging reconnaissance, a feigned retreat, and an H-6 WZ operation from Silver Island, Su Ming contacted the Pansy and promised its crew that action was coming soon.

• Emilio told Bulameike that the Cold Mountain Kingdom would briefly allow Star Sand passage through the Northern Lands, while accepting no responsibility for the consequences.
• Yise and Yuya combined their intelligence and discovered that the Temple of Light had assigned the Final Sin Edict and its remaining warships to the Expeditionary Crusaders, commanded by Feimaina.
• Su Ming learned that a fleet of roughly sixty vessels was approaching Brown Gold Island and ordered preparations to mislead the enemy while advancing Dawn Territory and shifting intelligence efforts to Janet.
• Su Ming asked Ruixiuli, Jielusi, Mo Yuan, and Yin'er to design an escape that would make his departure look dramatic, then left for Silver Island that afternoon.
• On Silver Island, Su Ming prepared the H-6 WZ and Rainbow Drones for a nighttime operation and contacted Beianqi aboard the Pansy, promising that the crew would soon be busy.