Near term’s end, Griffin resurfaces and lectures Robin on silver’s history: New World extraction enriched Europe, but Britain’s tea-fueled trade with China now drains silver east. He argues Britain’s wealth relies on coercion and that pressure at historical tipping points—like slave revolts eroding profitability—can force change. Individual choices, he insists, can help break the Empire’s machinery.

Griffin’s requests multiply, mostly mundane texts and charts quietly copied from Babel. The work feels bureaucratic rather than romantic, and secrecy remains airtight. During winter walks, Griffin reminisces about Oxford, refuses charity for a coat, and gifts Robin Oliver Twist. Robin longs to bridge his two worlds but knows he cannot bring Griffin into daylight.

Hilary term opens with armed police at Babel: a grimy intruder triggers the wards and is shot. Anthony explains the tower’s lethal protections, frequently updated by Playfair. The episode unsettles Robin. Soon after, Griffin schedules a “routine pickup.” Robin warns about new wards; Griffin dismisses the risk and, under pressure, admits he cannot reliably activate Chinese bars because he no longer dreams in Chinese, having been removed from China too early. He tells Robin he is indispensable.

That night, Robin admits two Hermes operatives, who seize tools and a chest of silver. As they step back out, a hidden mechanism screams and the exit trap fires. Robin bolts and is grazed in the arm by a bullet. In pain, he fails to invoke the invisibility bar. Playfair encounters him on Broad Street, cheerfully attributing the ruckus to finicky wards and calling the trap his “little idea.” Robin feigns innocence and slips away.

Alone in his rooms, Robin cleans the wound with brandy and, after consulting medical texts, stitches his arm himself. Griffin goes silent, likely underground. Resentful that his warning was ignored and unable to confide in his friends without implicating them, Robin confronts his isolation for the first time since arriving at Oxford.