Chapter 36

Carl is yanked into Orren's office covered in King Rust's blood, still reeling from recent deaths. Orren interrogates him about an illegal implant in his head and what it does, revealing that the Syndicate leadership knows Carl used it and suspects it relates to stopping Princess Formidable or triggering a failsafe. Orren creates a zero zone outside the AI's influence to pressure Carl for answers, but is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Growler Gary.

Carl arrives in Orren's office disoriented and traumatized from witnessing King Rust's beheading and the Operatic faction's defeat. He struggles with conflicting emotions about his sister Rosetta killing Rust and stealing billions in credits from him. Orren is on a call with the Syndicate prime minister discussing the stolen funds and Formidable's actions when Carl arrives. After dismissing other liaisons and Harbinger, Orren confronts Carl about an illegal non-Valtay implant in his head, revealing the Syndicate has monitored his conversation with a residual entity. Orren explains the AI would never grant Carl's demands to end the crawl and free crawlers, claiming the situation is about survival. He reveals the Syndicate knows Carl used the implant and suspects it can stop Formidable or trigger a failsafe, but they don't know its actual function. When Carl refuses to cooperate, Orren creates a zero zone using his ball—an area outside the AI's influence—to interrogate him directly with only ten minutes before Harbinger arrives. Carl refuses to help kill everyone, but before resolving the standoff, Growler Gary, the hyena bartender from the fourth floor, unexpectedly appears in the doorway with vodka in hand, announcing he must intervene.