At first, gradually, first, then, and later can be used to describe the process of the novel's trust in the protagonist or the main character. By analyzing the meaning and context of these words, we can feel that the trust of the novel to the protagonist is a gradual process, and this process is constantly strengthened with the passage of time. For example, the novel might use these words to describe the reader's trust in the protagonist when he made a mistake at the beginning or when he was not trustworthy enough. Then, the protagonist gradually showed a more reliable and credible side after experiencing some difficulties and challenges, allowing the readers to re-establish their trust in the protagonist. In this process, the author may use other descriptions to strengthen the reader's trust in the protagonist, such as describing his sense of responsibility, courage, intelligence, etc. Ultimately, when the protagonist successfully completes the task or solve the problem, the reader may trust the protagonist more and think that he is a more trustworthy character. This process of trust is an important element in the plot of the novel. It can help readers better understand the protagonist's behavior and decisions and deepen their understanding of the plot of the novel.