Morning arrived without bringing peace.
The Presidential Estate had never been this quiet. Not after an attempted assassination.
Not after the discovery beneath Parliament.
Not even after Chairman Elias disappeared.
The silence felt different now.
Heavier.
As though every corridor carried secrets.
Inside the Crisis Operations Room, no one had gone home.
Coffee cups littered the conference table.
Computer screens glowed beneath tired eyes.
Maps of the capital still covered one wall.
Another displayed the Foundation's financial network.
Every hour seemed to uncover another impossible truth.
Hayes entered carrying a thin black folder.
His expression alone made everyone stop working.
Sebastian looked up.
"What happened?"
Hayes didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he placed the folder on the table.
"I asked Intelligence to perform a complete security review."
Magnus frowned.
"Because Elias disappeared?"
Hayes nodded.
