After the gunshot in the Twice Lucky, Kaul Hilo senses the painful surge of uncontrolled jade aura as Bero flees. Maik Tar intercepts Bero, hurls him back through the broken screen door, disarms him, and recovers the stolen jade while Maik Kehn drags out Sampa. Shon Judonrhu, drunk and humiliated, threatens to kill both thieves in the dining room.

Hilo steps in to protect the restaurant from scandal and to assert No Peak authority. He calms Mr. Une, orders Shon Ju to put away his talon knife, and publicly handles the recovered jade. When Shon Ju realizes Hilo could judge him as well as the thieves, he submits to Hilo’s authority as Horn. Hilo returns the jade but warns Shon Ju to drink less and guard his jade better.

Hilo turns the spectacle into a public display of No Peak control, encouraging the diners to resume eating and reassuring Mr. Une. Hilo understands that the Twice Lucky’s reputation and tribute matter to the clan, and that loyal Lantern Men like Mr. Une depend on No Peak’s protection but will ultimately side with whoever can keep them safe.

Before leaving, Hilo asks Mr. Une about trouble from other clans. Mr. Une reports that Mountain clan men have been intimidating a bar in the Armpit district and claiming the area as Mountain territory. Hilo recognizes that this talk signals a serious territorial challenge and tells Mr. Une to report anything else he hears.

Outside by the water, Hilo has Kehn and Tar beat Bero and Sampa severely but carefully. Hilo reflects that jade without training, blood, and clan discipline does not make someone a Green Bone. He judges Bero as hopelessly consumed by jade fever, but questions Sampa, who reveals that a new black-market jade carver killed Three-Fingered Gee, took over the river-divers’ trade, and now buys raw or cut jade at reduced rates.

Sampa’s information changes the situation. The murdered carver was a tolerated criminal under No Peak’s eye, so his replacement represents someone willing to defy the clan. After Sampa describes the new carver, Hilo orders Kehn to bring the car around and decides to take both boys to see the Pillar.