The episode begins with a "welcome party" for Rudo at the Cleaners' headquarters, which however cannot conceal his ongoing despair over his failing vital instrument and his general helplessness. The supporter Gris speaks with him and encourages him not to lose sight of his own path and his original goal, instead of trying to meet the expectations of others.

Meanwhile, the mysterious figure Jabber interrogates and kills a kidnapper to learn more about Rudo.

Semiu gives the team around Zanka a new mission: The recovery of a living sphere dweller who was kidnapped by a trash beast from the cargo of a merchant woman. Since this could be a rare opportunity for Rudo to learn more about the ascent, he joins the mission, despite his doubts about his abilities.

The alleged merchant woman leads the group into a building, where the situation turns out to be a trap. The floor collapses and the "merchant" reveals herself to be a mud puppet. Two "raiders" (Raiders) – a group of sadistic bandits – appear and explain that they specifically targeted Rudo to learn more about the sphere and how he crossed the "border".

While Rudo, Gris, and the supporters flee, Zanka stays behind to fight the two raiders. Despite their superior numbers and the woman's ability to create mud puppets, as well as the man's camouflage ability, Zanka manages to overpower and defeat them with his deep understanding of his own staff as a vital instrument.

At the moment Zanka relaxes, the true mastermind of the attack, Jabber, appears behind him and ends the episode with a threatening cliffhanger situation.