Veligrad had changed.
Or maybe it was Artyom who had.The city looked the same from the tower window.Snow melting into neon reflections.Glass buildings cutting through the grey sky.But now, when he looked down, he didn't feel small.He felt… aware.Every moving car.Every dark alley.Every window that might be hiding eyes.This city was alive.And it was watching him.Behind him, the soft sound of footsteps.Viktor."You haven't slept," Viktor said.Artyom didn't turn."Neither have you."A low silence settled between them.The kind that had started becoming familiar.Dangerously familiar.Viktor stepped closer.Close enough for Artyom to feel the shift in the air."The Sokolovs are moving," Viktor said quietly.Artyom's eyes stayed on the city."Father?"Viktor's gaze darkened."Sergei. Pavel. Makar."A pause."They're trying to recover allies."Artyom finally turned."And Morozov?""Building."That single word carried weight.Andrei wasn't reacting.He was preparing.Which somehow felt worse.Artyom exhaled slowly."They all want something."Viktor's eyes locked on him."Yes.""And what do you want?"For a moment, the room went still.Viktor's answer came low."You already know."The air changed.Not soft.Not romantic.Something sharper.Like a blade being unsheathed.Artyom looked away first.Dangerous.Because part of him did know.And that was exactly what made it complicated.A knock interrupted the silence.Nikola entered.His expression unreadable."We have a problem."Viktor turned."Speak."Nikola's eyes shifted briefly to Artyom."Yelena intercepted a private network transmission."A pause."Someone is placing a bounty."Silence.Artyom's jaw tightened."On me?"Nikola's voice remained calm."No."He looked directly at Viktor."On both of you."