Chapter Sixty – Count Dal's Death and the Shift to Bay Chin
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
The chapter opens in the town of Aseyo, Yusan, with the crew assembled for a tense dinner at Count Dal's estate. Everyone is paired off and watchful. The count is late, and after thirty minutes a messenger delivers a calling card – not from Dal, but from his Tamneki head of household. Mikail reads it aloud: the eastern count is dead. The team gasps; Royo snaps his wineglass. Euyn dismisses the servants. The group quickly concludes the plan is ruined. Sora, Tiyung, Aeri, and even Euyn begin to suggest calling it off or delaying.
Mikail rejects defeat. He insists the plan must continue unchanged, proposing they use the northern count, Bay Chin, as the new entry point to introduce Sora to the king. He lies to the team about Bay Chin’s commitment, having kept the northern count’s role secret to protect him. Mikail reminds each member why they joined. Sora recommits to free her sister; Tiyung follows Sora; Royo pledges to Euyn; Euyn nods; Aeri, the last holdout, reluctantly agrees after Mikail claims he can find another thief. The chapter ends with the team intact but the plan fundamentally altered by Dal’s death.
Key Events
- The crew gathers for dinner at Count Dal’s estate, wearing formal attire.
- Dal fails to appear; a messenger brings a calling card announcing his death from a suspected heart attack.
- Mikail notes the timeline makes murder by Sora impossible and suspects Joon ordered the hit.
- Euyn, Sora, Tiyung, and Aeri all express doubt about proceeding.
- Mikail slams the table and forces a recommitment, revealing a backup plan involving Count Bay Chin.
- Sora, Tiyung, Royo, Euyn, and finally Aeri each agree to stay with the plan.
- Mikail lies about Bay Chin’s cooperation, having kept the northern count’s involvement secret for eleven years.
Character Development
Mikail is forced into an even more dominant leadership role. He conceals his own uncertainty (“I don’t see how we go forward now”) and projects confidence to prevent the team from dissolving. His lie about Bay Chin shows his willingness to manipulate allies for the greater goal. The chapter reveals his long history of protecting Euyn and his suspicion that Joon killed his own father.
Euyn initially appears shaken and ready to abandon the mission, but Mikail’s resolve steadies him. His silence after Mikail’s plea suggests a deeper trust in his protector.
Sora’s commitment is personal: her sister’s freedom depends on the king’s death. Her trembling hands hint at physical strain, but she does not waver once Mikail reasserts purpose.
Aeri is the most reluctant. She nearly withdraws, but Mikail’s assertion that she is not irreplaceable and her glance at Royo push her to stay. Her agreement feels fragile.
Tiyung and Royo act as loyal followers: Ty to Sora, Royo to Aeri and Euyn. Neither initiates the debate but both solidify the group commitment.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Trust and secrecy dominate this chapter. Mikail keeps two major secrets: his suspicion about Joon’s patricide and Bay Chin’s true role. The team must trust Mikail’s judgment even when he withholds information.
The weight of leadership is embodied in Mikail’s table-slapping gesture. The “calling card” – a symbol of formal communication – becomes an omen of death. The imperial red jacket Euyn wears (smuggled from Qali Palace) symbolizes his rightful claim to the throne, now more precarious.
Sacrifice and necessity are tested. Each member weighs personal cost against mission success. Sora’s sister, Aeri’s freedom, Euyn’s life – all hang on proceeding despite the setback.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 60 is the turning point where the team’s unity is tested and (barely) preserved. Dal’s death removes a key ally and forces the group to improvise. Mikail’s decision to lie about Bay Chin introduces a new layer of deception that will likely complicate later events. The chapter solidifies Mikail’s role as the mission’s backbone and raises the stakes: without Dal, the assassination must use a more dangerous and unpredictable path. It also reveals that Joon has struck first, proving he knows about the conspiracy and is actively hunting its members.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why is Mikail certain that Count Dal did not die of a heart attack?
Mikail notes that many strangulations can mimic a heart attack if not examined carefully. He also knows Joon has long-standing orders to kill Dal, making the timing suspicious.
2. How does Mikail convince the team to continue after Dal’s death?
He reassures them by proposing Count Bay Chin as an alternative entry point, lies about Bay Chin’s commitment, and then reminds each member of their personal reasons for joining the mission. He hits the table to demand focus, and one by one they reaffirm their allegiance.
3. Why does Aeri nearly quit, and what ultimately makes her stay?
Aeri hesitates because the original plan has collapsed and she fears the risk. Mikail’s claim that he can find another thief (though he truly needs her) forces her to decide; her glance at Royo and the group’s renewed unity persuade her to nod in agreement.