Reinhard von Müsel attends a party celebrating Richard von Grimmelshausen's recent promotion to Admiral. In the party, he clashes with Hermann von Lüneburg and almost gets into a fistfight with him, if not for the timely intervention from Ulrich Kesler, who is appointed by Grimmelshausen to maintain the security of his residence for the party. After both Lüneburg and Reinhard depart, Grimmelshausen calls for Kesler and entrusts him with a task. Siegfried Kircheis reveals to Reinhard what he found out about Elisabeth von Lüneburg's former fiancé. Kaiser Friedrich IV settles on the Lohengramm countship as the one he plans to bestow Reinhard with. A military campaign beyond the Iserlohn Corridor is announced.