Carl watches a “memory” of a homeless man in a shelter delivering a rehearsed daily speech. The man calls himself Paulie but says his real name is Goff, claims to be a “Residual” riding in a human body with the host’s memories, and warns that “memories” will matter in upcoming floors. He describes Residuals as surface infiltrators meant to pass information to a newborn system AI, then starts to mention a war among his kind and how to “shut off” something—before the scene abruptly cuts out.

Carl is yanked into Orren’s office at the (now-closed) Desperado Club. Orren admits he pulled Carl away before the speech finished, saying it was the fastest option and that the feed was not turned off. Orren dismisses the Residual’s message as recycled, long-debunked folklore, and says they are waiting for Carl’s attorney, Quasar, because Orren intends to seize the plastic bin Carl acquired—or have Carl killed—to avoid further provoking the system AI.

Orren explains what Carl took: a cache including Valtay neural enhancement pills and a communication device, which Orren says violate rules as found loot and would unfairly boost Carl if used before the floor ends. Orren reveals the flyer and setup were an “elaborate trap” by Carl’s terrorist sponsors, the Open Intellect Pacifist Network, who hoped either (1) yanking Carl out would enrage the AI into killing Syndicate personnel, or (2) letting Carl hear the information would trigger a Council failsafe that would effectively kill the system’s star, stalling the crawl. Orren says the plan failed, the sponsors are now fugitives with frozen assets, and the AI—annoyed at being misled—is removing protections for remaining Residuals so they will die before the floor collapses.

Quasar arrives and argues Orren cannot confiscate legally acquired loot, citing caselaw, but Orren insists the communicator is non-negotiable and the pills are prohibited. Carl chooses to trade the bin away rather than fight. The AI’s valuation is low, and Carl receives a wand recharge scroll, three “Cracker Jack” scrolls, and Orren agrees Carl’s team can keep four cretins for the remainder of the ninth floor; Orren also refuses to return the Gate of the Feral Gods because it would let Carl bypass the floor’s final segment.

With the deal done and Quasar dismissed, Orren offers to teleport Carl back to Princess Donut’s area or to the shelter (warning against returning). Carl asks instead to be sent to a gas station where he previously saw a memory-ghost dog, wanting to visit it briefly before rejoining the floor. Left alone for the transfer, Carl lingers on the shelter’s sensory residue, but thinks most about the lonely dog guarding an empty station on Christmas.