Normally, this is when Monica would come out and put people at ease. I think that’s what lots of people are still expecting, even though Monica hasn’t been seen in months.

But it’s not Monica or Eric who appears on the stage.

“Is that…Mayor Coleman?” says Mr. Baird.

“Who?” I ask with a frown.

“The mayor of Toronto,” he replies.

Zora and I exchange a look. “What’s the mayor doing at the launch of a Moncha product?” I ask.

“Not just at the launch. Introducing it,” Zora says.

We turn our attention back to the announcement. Sure enough, Mayor Coleman is kicking off the speech. At first, I barely take in what she’s saying, my brain is whirring as to what it could all mean.

But then it becomes crystal clear in an instant. “The city of Toronto has been proud to be a part of the Moncha journey, supporting Monica from her very first steps as a tech entrepreneur into the multinational corporation we see in front of us. We were delighted when Eric approached us with an exciting new venture, which will see the city partner with Moncha Corp to provide bakus for all of our residents, to serve as a model for all cities of the future. And, in an act of tremendous generosity, Moncha have donated level one bakus to anyone who hasn’t purchased one so far. Merry Christmas, everyone!” Video flashes up behind her of postal workers in Moncha-branded uniforms delivering brand-new shiny insect bakus throughout the city. There are lines around the block for free leash-installation clinics. And then a montage plays of how harmonious life is when people and bakus work together: City workers cleaning up the streets with their loyal retriever bakus, maintenance workers fixing streetlights with magpies and—worst of all, for us—the Toronto police with brand-new, shiny, sharp-toothed panther bakus.

While we’ve been away, Monchaville has expanded.

And as the mayor speaks, a baku appears from beside her, a beautiful level three Great Dane. There’s a huge burst of applause from the audience, which the mayor bows to receive, placing one hand on her Great Dane’s back. Then Eric walks on to the stage, reaches out, and takes the mayor’s hand. He looks so smug, as if all his chickens have come to roost at the same time. He’s the man who’s laid the golden egg: he’s managed to get rid of his partner and secure the biggest deal in Moncha history, all in one fell swoop.

With a single update.

If every person in the city has now been given at least a level one baku…that means millions of people will now be updated.