Roman arrives at Jefferson Run's city hall for an eleven o'clock meeting with Mayor Melvin Gravely, briefly glimpsing Jealousy at her desk and planning to take her to lunch afterward. After the mayor keeps him waiting fifteen minutes as a power play, Roman is finally admitted and begins his rehearsed pitch on behalf of JCR Investments and its new partnership with Guardian Construction.

Mayor Gravely cuts through the pretense, revealing his office is bug-proof and that he has already spoken with both Mike Handler and Torrent about the takeover. He lays out the deal directly: Guardian will get the revitalization contract, demolition starts in three weeks, and he expects $100,000 in campaign donations split among four donors, with Roman responsible for hiding the trail. Roman pushes back, accusing Gravely of orchestrating the project to siphon state surplus money and profit from properties he likely owns in the Skids. Gravely warns him to stop questioning how the sausage is made, deepening Roman's disgust at the corruption fueling the city's decline.

Afterward, Roman takes Jae to lunch at Los Plaza de Callao, where their easy banter contrasts with the lies Roman is maintaining about his work. As they sit by the window, Roman spots D-Train's distinctive fuchsia Bonneville pulling up across the street.

Four men in skull masks emerge with MAC-10-style weapons and unleash a sustained barrage into a vape shop, shattering it. One attacker spray-paints a skull-in-top-hat tag on the adjacent wall before the crew speeds off. A woman staggers out of the shop missing most of her left arm and collapses in the street while bystanders film instead of helping. Jae clings to Roman, repeating that she cannot take it, while Roman holds her and reassures her, even as he recognizes the violence as part of the world he has chosen to operate within.