Chapter 75

Carl examines the prize counter at the pet show and negotiates purchases with Chaco the Bard while encountering Zabit the Atoll hunter, who reveals the survival pressures driving hunters to kill crawlers. The pet show continues with various crawlers displaying their pets, and Carl considers purchasing a mysterious memorial crystal that once belonged to the queen.

Carl approaches Chaco's prize counter and encounters Zabit, an Atoll hunter with four arms who killed 25 crawlers this season using night weasel mobs. When Carl questions why Zabit hunts crawlers, Zabit explains his people are not considered citizens and must earn money through hunting to maintain their habitat and avoid indenture. Zabit purchases items—a drop shield and invisibility potions—for 23 of his 25 scalps.

Chaco refuses to explain why Mordecai hates him, only saying they would all be dead if they hadn't done what they did, and cryptically warns that the dungeon forces everyone to betray their party members eventually. Carl begins reviewing the prize counter's offerings while commenting to Mordecai via their mental link. The items range from potions and scrolls at lower costs to spell books and armor at higher costs. At 100 hands (the maximum cost), there is a memorial crystal—a gem created by a fallen god, filled with god-tier knowledge—that normally belongs to the queen and is offered as part of the butcher spell. Carl cannot afford it with his 66 hands but purchases a shrink wand, the Eighth Floor Book of Lore, sheet music for "Song of Skedaddle" for Donut, and potions.

The pet show continues with various crawlers presenting their pets. Elle briefly leaves to interrogate a hairless human hunter about something she witnessed. As Mongo is about to be presented, the ballroom lights dim and Louis's voice comes over the loudspeaker, suggesting the performance will be more elaborate than Carl requested.