Donut updates Carl from FUPA: the new wall is progressing, the castle has been painted pink, Jamal has broken his replacement legs again, and Katia and Li Na are nearly finished with the clock tower project. Donut also asks about King Rust’s ring and necklace, but Carl says the extra Ring of Divine Suffering cannot stack with his current one and that the remaining gear can be distributed later.

Carl examines a reward from his 1914 box: a living, terrified spellbook that leaks black fluid, grows centipede-like legs, and begs not to be read. After a cleaner bot deposits the mess into Carl’s arms, Carl inventories it and learns that it contains Run, Little Günter, Run, a strange summoning spell that creates a fragile childlike creature able to carry and later trigger a stored attack. Carl initially doubts its usefulness, then realizes it could become a delivery system for powerful attacks.

Katia arrives and continues transferring buffs from Donut’s drained hats into Donut’s tiara. The tiara gains more enhancements, including Constitution, Dodge, and Intelligence buffs. While Carl explains the Little Günter spell, Katia notes that recent spells have become increasingly bizarre, and Carl learns the spell despite not yet knowing whether someone else, such as Donut, could store an attack in Günter.

Katia then prepares to tattoo Carl using ink made from Li Na’s freely given blood and a potion. Carl worries about Li Na because of his guilt over having eaten Li Jun’s eye while controlled on the previous floor, but Katia reassures Carl that Li Na blames herself, not Carl, and that the transfer only temporarily cost Li Na levels. Because the skill being copied is level 13, Katia must make a large, permanent tattoo, and Carl chooses a chain shaped like a dragon for his right arm. Edgar cannot help because Edgar is already scouting naga territory with movement-sensing abilities that will be crucial to the coming operation.

After Carl showers, Carl returns to find Louis, Elle, Imani, Katia, Mordecai, and Mistress Tiatha present amid heavy tension and preparations. Zev announces that the Syndicate tried to cancel the warlord council, but the AI is forcing it to proceed and broadcast live. Carl, Donut, and the other warlords will be transported to randomized rooms in the production facility, while Juice Box attends virtually because dungeon-born entities are barred from entering. As teleportation begins, Carl recognizes that Operation: Snake Pit has officially started.