"I've been asked to form a small team," he said. "One person, embedded. Get close to the Epics. Watch how they move."
His tone didn't change, but his focus didn't shift either.
"See how they talk. What they do. What they think matters."
The room stayed quiet.
"They want someone without a shard," he added. "No interference. No signature. Easier to pass under."
Kikaru's arms were still crossed. "Without a power? You expect someone like that to walk in and not get killed?"
Geras didn't flinch. "They wouldn't be walking in to fight."
He tapped the panel. The screen flickered to life again.
"One more clip. Then we move forward."
—
The broadcast cut in mid-sentence.
"...not a power vacuum. It's deliberate. Targeted. And cruel."
The camera panned to the Commandant, standing in front of a military-grade podium. Same black suit. Same white tie. Behind him, only gray wall panels and a static display of regional sectors.
