Chapter 29

During a live broadcast, Carl reveals to the goat council that they've been ignoring messages about a critical situation, triggering mass panic among the caprid herd. Gamori, the Matriarch of the Plenty, confronts Carl about his recklessness, then breaks down emotionally. Harbinger, her son, teleports into the studio with a massive pulse rifle, declares his intention to protect the herd, and is immediately executed by the AI before he can fire on Carl.

The chapter opens with Botis and the gathered goats learning from Donut that they've been ignoring crucial messages about a major issue. The revelation sends the goat council into panic; they begin screaming about the Epicure and a coming stampede. Carl and Donut exchange words with Prime Minister Victory and Orren via message, with Carl pointing out they're all equally in the dark. The situation escalates as most of the goats, including invisible technicians, bolt from the studio in a stampede, leaving only Gamori (the Matriarch and lead engineer of the Plenty Tunnel Project) and two fainting goats behind. Gamori judges Carl as dangerous and too reckless, criticizing his unpredictability. When Carl pushes back by asking why they invited him if they didn't want the truth revealed, Gamori breaks down emotionally, confessing they wanted to do something special for him and Donut because the kids love them, but she was too scared to inform the herd about ongoing developments. Suddenly Harbinger, Gamori's son and the giant goat liaison, teleports into the room behind Carl carrying a massive pulse rifle. Harbinger confronts his mother about her failure to prepare the herd, revealing he has long suspected danger and warned her repeatedly about Residuals in the dungeon, the AI's instability, and its favoritism toward Carl. Despite Gamori's commands for him to leave, Harbinger turns his weapon toward Carl, declaring his intention to protect the herd and universe. The AI immediately intervenes by violently disintegrating Harbinger's body from the inside out. Gamori accepts this as a casualty of the stampede and vanishes. Lexis, who had drawn her own weapon in response to the threat, surveys the gore-covered studio and comments that the viewer ratings are at an all-time high.