The chapter opens with a conversation between Corinna and the waiter, who is looking for a certain statue. The waiter says that he needs an extra week's pay for the statue, which is a gift from his uncle . The man says that the statue he's looking for is in the city of Hangzhou, and that he'll pay for it when he gets there. He tells the waiter that he just heard the voice of a spirit of fire, which reminds him of the spirit of earth, which has protected the ancient civilizations of China and the world for thousands of years. He says that they've picked him to be the "new spirit" of the earth, the spirit that has adapted to the "changing times" and has always been a constant source of inspiration. He asks the waiter to come back and tell him what happened. He's worried that the waiter's lawyer is in town, but the waiter assures him that he will be fine.