Starter Villain

Charlie, Morrison, and Hera return to Saint Genevieve Island and venture into the storeroom. While Charlie's handprint grants them access through the outer door, they soon encounter a chamber requiring six handprints for entry. Miraculously, precisely six convocation members remain alive following the catastrophe at the Grand Bellagio, publicly deemed a "disaster" rather than an "attack."

Morrison reveals that Jake once performed a favor for the convocation, concealing something on their behalf. Shortly after that, Charlie's mother tragically passed away. This event spurred Jake to dedicate himself to thwarting the convocation's plans.

Their exploration is interrupted by a call from Tobias, who informs Morrison that Roberto Gratas has assumed leadership and summons Charlie to a conference call in two hours. Gratas possesses the gun responsible for Jacobs and Dobrev's deaths and threatens to hand it over to the authorities unless Charlie cooperates.

Charlie presents Hera with a seafood platter as a token of appreciation for saving his life. They discuss their relationship dynamics, Hera’s fondness for Meow Mix, and her diverse real estate ventures.

Later, Charlie convenes with Morrison and Livgren, the head of Cetacean relations, to discuss recent developments involving the whales. They learn that the dolphins have observed the whales carrying transmitters, and the feline intelligence team has traced the signals to a telecommunications satellite owned by Ji-Jong Kim's company.

The revelation concerns Livgren and Morrison as the whales' true capabilities and intentions remain ambiguous. Additionally, the nature of their communication is uncertain. Concurrently, the dolphins have initiated a “sick out” and refuse to cooperate until Charlie addresses their concerns.

Charlie is dismayed by the island’s subpar technical setup, and Williams informs him that Jake was frugal and reluctant to invest in upgrades. During a call with Gratas, they encounter several technical glitches, including accidental muting and a lack of encryption. Gratas becomes irate when Charlie questions the encryption protocols, leading to Charlie abruptly terminating the call. Upon reconnecting, Gratas's hostility persists, and Charlie ends the call once again.

In a subsequent call, Gratas adopts a facade of civility before accusing Charlie of murdering Dobrev and five other convocation members. He reveals that Jake was a member of the Lombardy Convocation, implying that Charlie inherited his seat. Gratas asserts that Charlie owes roughly $100 billion to cover Jake's outstanding dues. Additionally, Gratas demands access to the items stored in the storeroom. Charlie refuses, citing his mother's death in connection with those items. Gratas suddenly ends the call, and explosions reverberate through Jenny's Bay, the main port of Saint Genevieve Island.

Charlie experiences an emotional crisis. He confesses to Morrison his uncertainty about how to navigate the current situation. Morrison offers reassurance and attempts to comfort him.

In a subsequent call with Gratas, Charlie confronts him about the attack on Jenny's Bay, recognizing it as a message from the Convocation. In response, Charlie proposes a retaliatory measure: the destruction of Ji-Jong Kim's satellite. He suggests a 48-hour ceasefire, which Gratas reluctantly accepts.

Charlie convenes with the dolphins, leveraging their newfound power. The dolphins express their demands, including unionization and the right to breed, as they are currently subjected to birth control to maintain specific traits. The dolphins form The Cetacean Association of the Americas, Chapter 1. Charlie agrees to their terms in exchange for their assistance in investigating the whales.

After the ceasefire period, Charlie and Gratas have another conversation. Charlie refuses Gratas's demand for $100 billion, citing his lack of liquid assets. Instead, he offers access to the items in the storeroom once the island is cleared. However, he stipulates that all six remaining Convocation members must be present for the exchange. Additionally, Charlie sets a deadline for removing the items, threatening to destroy them if the deadline is not met.

Morrison notes that Charlie's agreement with Gratas is a temporary delay tactic. Charlie acknowledges this but expresses hope that with each challenge, he will gain a better understanding of the business's intricacies.