The chapter is narrated from Callum's perspective as he assesses the shifting social dynamics among the six candidates. Parisa has grown deeply suspicious of Callum after a prior incident, and her refusal to conceal her mistrust signals to him that she has drawn a firm line against any alliance. Callum recognizes her as a formidable enemy—a better medeian than himself and immensely calculating—but resolves to neutralize her influence quickly rather than attempt reconciliation.

With Libby, Nico, and Reina effectively closed off to him as allies, and Parisa now hostile, Callum identifies Tristan as his best remaining prospect for an alliance. During the day's lecture, Libby and Nico demonstrate another cosmological feat—modeling a black hole—while Callum dismisses it as an impressive but impractical parlor trick. Tristan is visibly awed by the demonstration, but Callum methodically chips away at his admiration, arguing that such scientific achievements are meaningless without practical human application and that all breakthroughs eventually become weapons or footnotes.

At dinner, Callum escalates his campaign to win Tristan over. He demonstrates his empathic insight by reading Tristan's emotional loyalties with precision: Tristan feels he owes Libby his life from the installation, wants to be loyal to Parisa after their single sexual encounter, and—despite his better judgment—finds Callum appealing. Callum shares his sensory experience of emotions, describing how being liked is bland while being desired, feared, or envied each carry distinct and intoxicating flavors.

Callum then lays out his strategic calculus openly. He argues that Tristan is the linchpin of the group's alliance structure: Libby listens to Tristan, Nico listens to Libby, and Reina listens to Nico—meaning Tristan's support effectively protects Callum from elimination. He contrasts his own empathic abilities favorably against Parisa's telepathy, claiming emotions are harder to shield against and cheaper to manipulate than thoughts. He formally offers himself as Tristan's unconditional ally.

Throughout, Callum privately schemes beyond what he reveals. He views Libby as a nonfactor he could psychologically destroy with minimal effort, plans to amplify Tristan's latent resentment of Libby into outright hatred, and senses Tristan's deep hunger for power—stronger than anyone else's in the group. As the evening concludes, Callum invites Tristan for a nightcap, deliberately engineering the departure so that Libby witnesses Tristan following him, further isolating her. Callum savors the small manipulation, internally noting how easily people can be played.