Carl and Donut return from the council with separate assignments: Carl appears in the saferoom and must reach Shanty Town to meet Li Na and Katia, while Donut returns to the castle to board Party Planner with Louis. Carl immediately sees that the plan has gone wrong, though the officer list shows everyone alive.

Elle reports that most of the naga army is already dead, with corpses rotting in the barracks, and Edgar discovered the slaughter during his scan. Prepotente has reappeared, level 99 and furious, having apparently killed much of the army himself. Prepotente does not attack Carl’s allies, but after insulting Imani, the protective sluggalos abandon their coverage duties to chase him, with some even stealing a cart and driving it badly through naga territory.

Carl checks with Baroness Victory about whether Prepotente can act independently while outside Carl’s army. Victory explains that Prepotente’s independent actions are legal, but Carl cannot directly coordinate with Prepotente unless Prepotente joins the Princess Posse. Carl then reads Prepotente’s message and pieces together what happened: Prepotente attacked the nagas for revenge over his mother’s death, the nagas accused him of acting for Carl, Prepotente won the ruling, but he threatened the quorum so aggressively that he was put in timed penalty stasis.

Carl realizes Prepotente’s interruption may have accidentally saved the operation, because the nagas’ complaint removed Prepotente before he could drive the Blood Sultana into hiding. Carl also understands that Prepotente is now a dangerous complication: Carl either needs Prepotente in the army or needs another way to stop him from interfering. Carl sends another message to Prepotente and prepares to continue the assault without the sluggalos.

Carl coordinates the scattered forces. Tran’s team approaches the Shanty Town border without resistance, Louis and Donut take off in Party Planner, Florin advances cautiously through former Operatic territory while sweeping non-magical traps, and Katia confirms that the wire is ready. In the saferoom, Mordecai warns Carl that the potion balls could provoke gods if used carelessly, especially against multiple followers of the same religion. Carl, tense but grateful, gathers the potions, thanks Mordecai, and brings an excited Samantha along.