3. Adventurers Are People Too

Jason arrives at the Adventure Society’s fifth floor, greeting Albert at the new reception and briefly reflecting on Gilbert’s suit and Farrah’s foundational text he has been studying. He considers the advanced dimensional-transgression books delivered via Gabrielle, which Clive believes move them far closer to interworld travel.

Meeting Inspector Tabitha Gert and Director Elspeth Arella, Jason learns his demotion stemmed from suspected political promotions. Gert acknowledges his strong reports, judgment, and restraint but insists he demonstrate respect for his current iron rank. Jason proposes accepting a road-contract punishment publicly, showing deference while gaining real-world seasoning for his team. Gert agrees, making promotion restoration contingent on satisfactory completion; Arella will select a harsh route, and Jason requests a stop at North East Quarry Village Four.

Afterward, Albert remarks that Gert rigidly enforces Adventure Society authority while dismissing local laws, a stance that infuriates the Duke—useful intelligence for Jason.

With Valdis’s team soon returning to the Mirror Kingdom, both groups schedule a final mirage-chamber match. Jason’s team convenes: Neil wants a decisive win, Humphrey notes their opponents’ superior power and discipline, and Jason reframes strategy to consider personalities, not just abilities.

Jason identifies Valdis as the political core whose survival instincts drive the team, even though Sigrid is the tactical center. The plan is to open with an all-in assault on Valdis to trigger ingrained protection responses, then pivot fast to strike Sigrid during the resulting mistake. Expecting the enemy to regroup, Jason intends to pressure them into clumping and finally unveil held-back tactics to capitalize on that formation.