Chapter 10

Carl and his group arrive at the Desperado Club for a wedding, only to discover it has new management under the name Hamed—revealed to be the Night Wyrm, leader of the Guild of Suffering. After being banned from the club by the bouncer Clarabelle, the group encounters Ferdinand the cat and negotiates a trade: Ferdinand's mayorship of Shanty Town in exchange for a magical bowler hat. Louis and Juice Box then have a small, private changeling wedding ceremony at the club bar, which is the legally binding first part of their marriage; a larger Confirmation ceremony will occur in a month. Afterward, Carl receives a flood of new recruit notifications and a message from Florin indicating something significant has happened at their headquarters.

Carl, Donut, Louis, Britney, Arief, and Juice Box arrive at the Desperado Club's entrance vestibule to attend a wedding. Bouncer Clarabelle informs them that all crawlers have been banned by the new management to ensure smooth operations during his first days. Carl learns the new manager's name is Hamed—which Carl recognizes as the real name of the Night Wyrm, the leader of the Guild of Suffering and husband of the deceased Astrid. Before Carl can process this revelation, Drick emerges from the club carrying a tablet, with Ferdinand the cat perched on his head wearing a makeshift tissue hat. Ferdinand and Donut bicker about their relationship status and Ferdinand's lost items. After Ferdinand requests his hat and rhinoceros mount back, Carl proposes a trade: Ferdinand transfers his mayorship of Shanty Town to the Princess Posse in exchange for a magical bowler hat from Quan's inventory that can decapitate enemies and return to its owner. Ferdinand accepts after Carl places the hat on his head. The trade is completed, and the truce between the Princess Posse and Team Retribution is renamed "The Good Guys." The group then moves to the bar for Louis and Juice Box's small wedding ceremony, the first legal part of a changeling marriage that normally includes a Confirmation ceremony one month later. Louis and Juice Box exchange whispered vows in front of a small group including Drick and Ferdinand. Immediately after the ceremony, Carl receives numerous new recruit notifications and a message from Florin directing him to headquarters, where a large group of people are waiting to meet him.