[Jake's POV]
The silence from the Imperial Mountain lasted for three days.
It was an unnatural kind of quiet.
No encrypted chatter. No movement on the access roads. No eyes on the street. The Song Dynasty compound just went dark. Like someone had pulled the plug and was waiting to see what we'd do next.
During that time, the Golden Koi solidified its grip on the Outer Harbour.
The repairs to the parlor were underway. Contractors in dust masks. Hammers. The sound of saws. The jagged hole in the front was framed in new steel. The vendors paid their envelopes without complaint. They handed them over with both hands and didn't meet anyone's eyes.
The laundering operation at the Jade Palace processed millions in clean revenue. The books were perfect. Too perfect.
