Ephraim wakes concussed, bound to a chair in an unfinished high-rise. A bonesaw lies on the table. A charismatic Pink, attended by leather-clad thorns and the massive Obsidian Gorgo, questions him about a stolen sword, while Ephraim tries deflection and humor.

The Pink frames a moral divide between thieves and presses Ephraim’s identity and history, then reveals himself—via a crown tattoo and Latin oath—as the Duke of Hands, a Syndicate Royal. He recounts the looting of Hyperion and claims he recovered treasures for return, including the Sword of Silenius, which has now been stolen again. He demands the sword’s whereabouts.

Though Gorgo calls out lies, the Duke decides Ephraim didn’t know whom he robbed but declares a debt is still owed. He orders Ephraim to choose a hand for amputation. With a garrote at his throat and the bonesaw buzzing, Ephraim refuses to betray his broker, holding to his code.

The Duke laughs, wins a wager from Gorgo, and reveals the ordeal was a final audition. On Oslo’s recommendation, he orchestrated the museum heist to find a “thief of chaos.” Ephraim realizes he stole the sword from the Duke himself.

When Ephraim refuses Syndicate service, the Duke presents the Queen’s Kiss and makes the debt explicit, threatening Ephraim and his associates—Volga (Obsidian), Cyra (Green), and Dano (Red). Cornered, Ephraim agrees. The Duke promises the job targets “the most valuable thing in all the worlds.”