With invaders closing on Palnu and his armies still unable to capture an enemy treasury, Cerebus is running out of options. He authorizes one more attack on a neighbor state, which fails, leaving Palnu's army with no mercenary support. So, Cerebus decides to threaten rebellious citizens with places on the front lines if they don't start coughing up money. Just when things seem they can't get any worse, Jaka tells Cerebus that she loves him, and she begs him to leave the city with her. It's more than he can handle and he slaps her. Despondent, he returns to his office to await the end.