The wall display kept cycling through angles that all showed the same thing from different distances. Aurex club sealed behind layers of armored cordons, drones hovering in fixed patterns, heavy units holding streets that had already been emptied. The anchors talked in careful tones, repeating confirmed facts and avoiding speculation, while text scrolled beneath them faster than any voice could keep up.
Arlen stood close to the screen, arms wrapped around herself inside Xavier's jacket, eyes locked on the footage like she might miss something if she blinked.
"That's him," she said finally, voice tight. "That has to be him."
Rin didn't look away from the screen. "Yeah," he said. "Pretty sure it is."
Klatos turned toward them sharply. "You're saying this like it's normal," he snapped. "Why would he do this now? We planned to settle and handle everything quietly tomorrow night. So why would he do something so reckless?"
