Chapter 19

Carl witnesses a playback of the events surrounding his split body and Shi Maria's temporary takeover of his form. During a hearing, evidence of collusion between Stockade and Houston with outside parties is presented, but Houston is acquitted due to insufficient proof. Stockade is found guilty and suffers a mental breakdown, ultimately killing himself. As the hearing concludes, Houston attempts to assassinate Carl, narrowly missing before Carl teleports back to his base as the ceasefire ends and the faction war officially begins.

Carl is brought before a tribunal led by Panford, Victory, and Opiee to review the incident where he was split between two locations during an attempt to expel Shi Maria's presence. Victory explains that Stockade coordinated with an outside partner to trap Carl at the moment of expulsion, but Mordecai, realizing they were being observed, created a potion to violently expel Shi Maria instead of waking Carl. Stockade questions how they knew about his observation, and Carl realizes Juice Box's team—contrary to their stated exile—were actually embedded as spies and used their intelligence to save him by playing their hand early. The tribunal views footage of Shi Maria taking over Carl's body in the ballroom, massacring Lemig goblins while possessed by insanity, until Mordecai's temporary potion forces her back into Carl's body, leaving him covered in her blood. Panford reveals that Stockade and Houston conspired using secured messaging with Nurse Yugoslav of the Madness on the 18th floor, who relayed information via a third party in the Celestial Ascendency. Houston, though obviously complicit, is acquitted due to insufficient direct evidence, while Stockade is found guilty. Victory, Opiee, and Panford render penalties: a 25% reduction in force and removal of two tech slots for the Democratic Sortion. As the hearing concludes, Stockade experiences a delayed reaction to Shi Maria's insanity spell, brutally smashing his own head against the floor until he dies by suicide, causing the Democratic Sortion to be defeated and their assets transferred to the Madness. The ceasefire is shortened by 23.33 hours due to the voluntary withdrawal. As Carl prepares to teleport back to his base, Architect Houston reveals his true bug-like form with six arms and fires a rifle at Carl, hitting him in the shoulder before Carl escapes via teleport. Carl lands in the Princess Posse field hospital wounded but alive, and receives notification that the faction war has officially begun with weapons free.