Carl and Princess Donut leave the now-cleansed ghommid village and push southwest through ghost Havana, intent on getting out of the city, collecting cards, and locating both Sister Ines and a Desperado Club. Donut worries about bypassing Katia’s tiara rules, and she reports that Samantha is alive but trapped in a spider’s web; she also says Prepotente is lonely and wants Carl to read to him.

As they travel, Donut presses Carl about what to do when they find Sister Ines, and Carl insists they need a conversation rather than a killing. Carl learns Donut already antagonized Sister Ines over chat and has been blocked, raising the risk that Sister Ines will hide or attack. While staying alert for threats, Carl reflects on a new Emberus boon that would ignite Carl’s past footsteps if Carl’s health drops low enough, and Carl worries about the danger it could pose to allies.

They fight only low-level monsters and avoid loading their deck with too many utility cards that would reduce totem draws. After finding a clear stretch of freeway, Carl uses the royal chariot to speed south, but they are forced off the road by heavy traffic and a sudden bus. In the suburbs, Zev warns them to prepare for an imminent planning meeting for the ninth-floor Faction Wars, and Carl and Donut enter a nearby saferoom disguised as a house.

Inside, an NPC proprietor named Vitasy sells them food and drink, and Vitasy points them toward a Desperado Club farther south. Zev also reveals that Odette has arrived in Earth orbit and will summon Carl and Donut in a couple of days, warning that Odette intends to ask something of them live on air; Carl privately suspects it is about Odette becoming their Faction Wars Adjutant.

Back in their saferoom, Carl and Donut discover Mordecai wearing a pink bow and smeared lipstick. After Carl notices modified game controllers and other signs, Mordecai admits he used their funds to hire the maximum six “room attendant” slots: vulnerable changelings suffering compression sickness, including the armless orphan Ruby, so they would not be forced into dangerous combat. Zev’s transfer countdown cuts the confrontation short, and Carl postpones the argument until after the meeting.