Carl, Donut, Mordecai, and their allies retreat into the guildhall to gather supplies and address the bait shop saferoom entrance. Mordecai argues that the enemy could still drop a nuclear weapon or other catastrophic attack through the door, especially now that the mage-killing plan has failed, so the entrance must be destroyed or disabled before the castle is wiped out from within.

Outside FUPA, the northern enemy army masses in overwhelming numbers: orcs, slimes, Reavers, elves, trolls, gnolls, armored mercenaries, and siege equipment. Donut uses her new Targeting skill and discovers that the ornate orc leader is not Prince Stalwart but King Rust, Stalwart and Maestro’s father. Victory confirms the identification, and Tipid explains that Rust’s unusually high level and many spells likely come from brutal magical items tied to killing crawlers.

Inside the guildhall, Rosetta and Donut rush through last-minute base upgrades before Rosetta is forced out by her blood bar limits. Donut grudgingly buys costly defensive upgrades, including hangar access and a new mobile anti-air gun, while also ordering banners meant to provoke Rust into attacking before his armored reinforcements arrive. Carl notices Donut’s shifting behavior: she is becoming more commanding in battle but more stubborn and volatile in private.

The group debates how to handle the bait shop entrance without permanently losing saferoom access. Carl dislikes cutting off the closest safe route, but Mordecai warns that merely collapsing it leaves it vulnerable to repair by enemies. Carl decides to disable the structure, keep it guarded, and preserve the option of restoring it in an emergency, while Justice Light cryptically assures Carl that layered contingencies are already in place.

Rosetta leaves to warn everyone before the saferoom is closed. As Donut prepares final purchases, Colonel Boomer reports that King Rust is approaching alone, and Victory explains that Rust has requested an official registered parlay, which will protect both sides from attacks or tricks but block chat during the meeting. Donut immediately asks whether Rust is mounted and calls for Kibben to prepare the howdah, signaling that she intends to meet Rust with spectacle of her own.