Outside the Redbloom Tavern, Trystan pins Malcolm against a wall, demanding to know if he partnered with whoever is trying to sabotage him or if Malcolm is behind the entire operation. Malcolm insists he only sold a clock without knowing its intended use. When Malcolm appeals to their bond as brothers, Trystan releases him, and in a surprising moment of tenderness, turns to drape Evie's cloak over her shoulders, fastening the buttons under her chin against the cold.

Trystan asks Evie whether she believes Malcolm is telling the truth. Evie confronts Malcolm directly, telling him the clock nearly killed her and would have left her sick father and little sister without support. She asks him point-blank if he knew, and Malcolm denies it, looking her in the eyes. Satisfied, Evie asks him to share whatever he does remember. Malcolm recounts that a hooded man came to his tavern while he was drunk, bought one of his "special clocks" for cash, and disappeared before Malcolm could identify him. The next morning Malcolm regretted the sale but could learn nothing—no patron or worker saw past the man's hood.

Evie presses for any small detail, and just as she is about to leave, Malcolm calls after her with a crucial clue: the buyer had bright blue glowing ink around his fingernails when he took the clock. Malcolm tells Trystan they both know who sells that ink, implying it is not a coincidence. Trystan acknowledges the lead is slim but meaningful, and hints that the glowing ink "makes sense, all things considered," though he declines to elaborate.

As they part ways for the night, Trystan asks if Evie will be safe getting home and thanks her for coming. Evie walks home feeling as though he may be watching over her from a distance. Once in bed, however, her thoughts darken: the enemy deliberately used someone close to Trystan—his own brother—to strike at him. Evie is left with a chilling question: could she be the next person used against The Villain?