Chapter 29

Carl and Katia debrief about Carl's encounter with Damascus, a mysterious figure in the Desperado Club who provided map updates in exchange for conversation. Meanwhile, Carl and Donut acquire and equip an enchanted tiara for Donut, then encounter a massive migration of giant land crabs moving toward the ocean to attack monk seals. Carl spots a meditating crab named Raul and prepares to flag him as a potential crew member.

Carl recounts his meeting with Damascus, a naga-voiced entity who added secret passages and hidden markets to his map of the Desperado Club in exchange for answering questions about his loyalty. Damascus forced Carl to limp when exiting to create the appearance of indiscretion, and Carl received a novelty button. Katia had a similar experience and confirms Damascus gave her the same treatment. Donut danced at the Penis Palace on the middle floor with a dancer named Gluteus Maxx while Li Na watched her. Carl and Donut then travel south toward Samantha's location, passing through marshlands and a nature preserve. Along the way, Donut acquires a new tiara with a citrine jewel that provides potion cooldown reduction, intelligence bonuses, poison protection, and a Hover skill limited to five daily uses. Donut is delighted with the hover ability and practices it repeatedly despite Carl's warnings about conservation. As they approach the southern coast, Donut's map alerts them to hundreds or thousands of large ground-based mobs approaching. Carl takes an invisibility potion and scouts ahead, discovering a massive migration of giant red and black armored land crabs, each pig-sized with enormous claws, moving south toward the ocean. The crabs are headed to attack monk seals in what is called the Chowder War. Among the migrating swarm, Carl spots a single meditating crab named Raul, a Level 70 Sun-Kissed Cloud Rank Warrior practicing the Juego de maní fighting style, attempting a breakthrough to Heavenly Rank. A quest notification updates them on the conflict and asks them to choose a side. Carl decides to attempt flagging Raul as a crew member and begins planning a crab trap using the nearby box truck.