After destroying Ptolemy’s research facility on Zenith, Manford Torondo feels both exhilarated and disturbed. Erasmus’s warning that humans might someday recreate the thinking machines still haunts him, so Manford decides not to rest on Lampadas. Instead, Manford orders his followers to Salusa Secundus to pressure Emperor Salvador Corrino directly.

Manford’s ships land at Zimia Spaceport without clearance, and the Butlerians march through the capital toward the Imperial Palace, disrupting traffic and business. Manford rides in a palanquin with Anari Idaho guarding him, and he passes the old Suk Medical School headquarters, which he views as another symbol of humanity’s dangerous faith in advanced medicine and machines.

At the Palace, the guards delay Manford, so Manford lets his hungry followers spread into nearby cafés and markets, taking food and drink while intimidating merchants into compliance. After an hour, Emperor Salvador agrees to a private meeting with Manford, while the mass of Butlerians waits outside as an implied threat.

In the conference room, Salvador tries to limit the meeting and rebuke Manford for the disruption, but Manford demands action. Manford insists on another Landsraad vote against advanced technology and warns that, if the Emperor does not choose righteousness, the Butlerians will act for him. Salvador, visibly uneasy and without Roderick present to advise him, tries to stall but is intimidated.

Manford then demands a public gesture: closing the original Suk School headquarters in Zimia as a sign of Imperial support for the Butlerian cause. Salvador reluctantly agrees in principle, hoping to avoid further unrest. Manford presses further and asks for two hundred mothballed Army of Humanity ships so his followers can take their crusade elsewhere; Salvador accepts, relieved to send the Butlerians away from Salusa Secundus for the time being.