Chapter 42 - Monday. The Devil’s Star.

Harry races through a storm to the student block after Waaler demands a meeting and threatens Oleg. He tapes a gun inside the lift door handle and discards the silencer, then frees Sven from the radiator to await Waaler. Waaler arrives with Oleg at gunpoint and orders them toward the room, but Harry swallows the keys to block that plan and bluffs about surveillance cameras and Otto Tangen recording the scene.

Waaler unmoved, argues he can frame Harry for kidnapping and murder without audio evidence, then herds them toward the lift to stage a fatal “scuffle.” When the lift arrives, Waaler has already found and discarded Harry’s planted gun. As the lift opens, Harry feints and drives a concealed chisel into Waaler’s shoulder, severing vessels and nerves so the gun falls away. Waaler rallies, kicks Harry down, and scrambles for the weapon.

Harry, Sven, and Oleg dive into the lift as Waaler fires through the door and then smashes the window, seizing Oleg by the hair through the grille to force compliance. Harry convinces Waaler the lift won’t move unless the grille is fully engaged; he frees his cuff with a key, has Sven hold the grille, and feigns surrender.

As the lift begins descending, Harry snaps the loose handcuff onto Waaler’s wrist through the window. Harry’s weight drags Waaler’s arm deeper as the grille and descending car turn into a slow guillotine. Waaler releases Oleg, panics, and begs for mercy while his trapped arm is crushed, the confrontation tipping decisively in Harry’s favor.