Map of the Desperado Club

Carl and Donut encounter Shi Maria, the Bedlam Bride—a powerful reaper spider minion and city boss—in the swamp realm of Shi Maria. After Samantha's attempt to secure a body fails, Carl negotiates with the spider to join their party as a flagged card in exchange for transporting her to Larracos, where she seeks a mage who can restore Samantha's body and free her from the card.

Carl and Donut reach Shi Maria's swamp realm, finding it covered in sticky spider webs and debris. They navigate the webbed area and encounter Shi Maria herself—a massive, terrifying reaper spider minion with eight long legs, a swivel neck, and four bulbous eyes, plus a hidden fifth eye in her forehead. Samantha has been communicating with Shi Maria and enthusiastically introduces her as "MaeMae," describing elaborate plans for the spider to join their adventures. Carl retrieves Princess Lunette, the incomplete naiad flesh golem body meant to house Samantha's consciousness through a resurrection spell. However, Shi Maria reveals she lacks the necessary supplies and magic to perform the spell herself. When Carl threatens to kill Shi Maria's mother to pressure the spider, she breaks down emotionally and collapses. After Samantha comforts her, Carl attempts to negotiate. Shi Maria reveals she can speak perfectly and proposes a bargain: she will join the party as a flagged card if they transport her to Larracos, where a master pulpmancer can both restore Samantha's body and free her from the card prison. Carl accepts, noting the spider's intelligence and manipulation tactics mirror his own. A new quest appears: escort Shi Maria to Larracos. The chapter concludes with Carl punching Shi Maria to trigger the card-flagging process.