Location: Emergency Council Chamber, City Core Tower
Time: 8:00 AM
The chamber reeked of tension. Five of the seven council seats were filled. Screens blinked with endless alerts—food riots in Sector 12, grid instability, system leaks.
Councilor Grayson slammed his fist down. "This is a coordinated attack. Someone wants to bring the city to its knees!"
Councilor Vora's voice was quieter but more dangerous. "No… someone already has."
A screen flickered. Static. Then clarity.
Kaen's face.
He didn't speak—yet. Just stared through the camera, like he was watching them from somewhere far too close.
The feed cut to a new scene: them, in their own rooms. Surveillance from within their homes, conversations they thought private.
A message scrolled across the screen:
> "You ruled with fear.
I ruled with patience.
You are out of time. — TRY_100K"
The chamber went dead silent.
---
Location: 5th Sector Alley – Hidden Access Point
Time: 8:05 AM
