The grand staircase of the Capitol became the site of a historic surrender. Standing there, Ethan looked down at a sea of desperate faces. Ten Gold-rank organizations, 129 Silver-rank groups, and over 2,500 Bronze-tier clans—the literal backbone of the East Coast's economy and defense—were kneeling before him.
"We offer everything, Lord Ethan!" shouted Marcus, leader of the Iron Tide, a Gold-rank maritime militia. "Our docks, our refined ores, our lives! Just grant us the protection of Royal. The Union has abandoned us!"
Ethan looked at them, his expression unreadable. Beside him, Anne Blackwood leaned against a marble pillar, watching the scene with a skeptical brow.
