Jesper and Wylan remain at the Ice Court gate mechanism near eleven bells, exhausted from trying to weaken a massive steel chain. Jesper uses his Fabrikator ability on one link while Wylan saws at it with laundry shears, but the metal resists them and the deadline approaches.

As Wylan works through blistered hands, Jesper pushes to abandon caution and raise the gate immediately, hoping gunfire can finish the job. Their tense conversation turns personal: Wylan challenges Jesper’s attachment to guns, Jesper deflects by pointing out Wylan’s bomb-making, and Wylan admits he prefers music, numbers, and equations because words confuse him.

The exchange softens when Wylan asks whether Jesper only wants to talk to girls, and Jesper answers, “No. Not just girls.” The moment is cut short by the Elderclock striking eleven, forcing them to act before the rest of the plan collapses.

Jesper and Wylan turn the winch together and raise the ringwall gate just enough to trigger Black Protocol. The Ice Court’s alarm bells erupt across the island, confirming that the fortress has detected the breach and that the crew can no longer retreat quietly.

They release the winch, but the damaged link still refuses to break, leaving the gate mechanism intact and threatening the mission. In desperation, Jesper and Wylan hang their full weight from the chain until the weakened link finally snaps, disabling the gate as planned. Jesper sends Wylan to deal with the winch while Jesper takes up a rifle and prepares to defend their position.