George is on the brink of ruin, and Bertha is facing the possible destruction of all her hopes and dreams. If these were people we knew, it would be very sad, but since this is fiction, I am delighted.
The revelation that Proteus is actually a neurological weapon, developed to cause untraceable traumatic brain injuries from a distance, adds a chaotic layer to the conspiracy.
The emergence of the Reapers rattles George, challenging his self-control and complicating his moral stance in the face of domestic threats to his authority.