Wax enters the governor’s mansion, briefly checking in with Marasi and asking her to check on Steris. He goes to the governor’s study and breaks open the door with Allomancy, surprising the governor in the middle of practicing his speech. They verify their identities with the pass phrases, and then the governor continues to practice. Wax half listens as he thinks. When he sees some of Wayne’s gum on the windowsill and thinks about how inflammatory the governor’s speech is sounding, he realizes the governor was already killed—and Bleeder is impersonating him.

They both turn, guns raised. Wax can tell that for some reason, Bleeder does not want to kill him. He calls the guards in for help, but they assume Wax is the threat and shoot him, forcing him to take cover. Bleeder shoots them all. MeLaan is able to grab Bleeder by the feet, but Bleeder evades Wax’s attempt to use the syringe. Bleeder grabs the syringe and uses it on MeLaan before fleeing through the window.

Wax makes sure MeLaan will be alright before he searches the room and finds Wayne, tied up and stripped of his metalminds. Wayne tells Wax to take Ranette’s bullet from his pocket and to chase after Bleeder.