Mao's ability to read people's minds proves to be a deadly obstacle for the Paladins. Can they defeat him and save C.C.?
- Didn't Think This Through: Mao suffers this big time.
- He argues with Lelouch when the latter contacts him from the Castle of Lions, forgetting about Rover, who can project holograms and is immune to his Geass.
- He assumes that C.C. actually told the Paladins her real name when the person telling him this is a Consummate Liar (granted, Lelouch was telling the truth about this in canon).
- Finally, he's completely dumbstruck when it turns out the Green Lion is at Clovis Land. Lelouch points out that if Mao had read Rai's memories, then he should know that the Green Lion has the ability to turn invisible.
- Evil Matriarch: Downplayed, but it's made clear that Milly has this view of her mom, who has regularly attempted to force her into an Arranged Marriage to restore the Ashford name or reveal Lelouch to his family. Sayoko only got Mrs. Ashford to stop by threatening to slit the former noble's throat if she ever did anything to harm Lelouch or Nunnally. In her notes, Naruwitch states that she imagines Mrs. Ashford as an Expy and Composite Character of Chloe Bourgeois and Lila Rossi from Miraculous Ladybug, both of whom are notorious Alpha Bitches and Hate SinkS.
- Out-Gambitted: Mao gets hit with this big time. His plan to isolate C.C. for himself sees him thoroughly humiliated by the Paladins (who even manage to smuggle in one of the Lions to Clovis Land without him realizing it) and then ventilated by gunfire. He only survives because Haggar intervenes.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: The Paladins converse with each other and their friends and family during this chapter, during which they all assure each other they are better people than Mao makes them out to be.
