While the JSA regroups and organizes its search for Stargirl, Arthur Pemberton tries to up his price for turning Courtney over to Johnny Sorrow, resulting in a war between Pemberton's Strike Force and Sorrow's Injustice Society. Soon after the JSA arrives on the scene, Stargirl frees herself and the Injustice Society beats a hasty retreat. Meanwhile, Sand fights the pull of sleep as long as he can, but finally succumbs, and witnesses the rise of The King of Tears.; Hourman and Liberty Belle head to Istanbul to buy an antique book that they hope will lead them to a magical staff called a tachophixyl, but find Tigress and Icicle in the book-dealer's office, the book-dealer and his assistant dead, and the book missing. After the villains head off in search of the book-thief, Hourman finds a clue that sends Liberty Belle off to Venice in pursuit of the prime suspect.