Isakov is seeking to utilize this as a propaganda event, his campaign going far better than planned, and so Arkady decides to go himself. Much to Arkady's dismay, Zhenya also makes his way down to Tver, enticed by tales of a legendary sea monster in a nearby lake. With the press flooding in, the main excavation begins. Seeking to make a big show of it, the diggers claim to have triumphantly dug up a mass grave of Russians massacred by the Germans. The circus atmosphere fades, however, when the on-site female Polish pathologist proclaims that the grave is actually Poles killed by the Russians. His name now in disrepute, Isakov's consultants quickly back out. Isakov himself, already uncomfortable with the tone of the campaign, departs. Urman, however, refuses to quit, and he goes out in search of some real Russian victims. Zhenya, having been befriended by Isakov, follows him - causing Arkday to run after them. Arkady and Urman exchange blows, with Arkady managing to gain an early advantage - only for Zhenya, his loyalties torn, to interfere with decidedly unfortunate results. Urman tosses both of them into the pit and begins to bury them alive. His careless shoveling, however, uncovers and detonates a buried explosive device.