Not hard. Not soft. Just dumb.
Taira didn't look. "If this is about the ManaCore arbitration request, tell Kleff he can shove it. I'm not signing off on another soulbound vendor contract until I see real numbers."
"It's not Kleff," came a male voice. Younger. Breath clipped.
She turned one eye toward the door.
"Then walk in."
A man in standard guild support blues stepped through, holding a folded tablet and a face like he'd just found a dragon egg in a sewer.
He held the tablet out without saying anything.
Taira didn't move.
"Report," she said flatly.
"Level-four red zone activation in the North Tundra," he said. "Private clearance. Undocumented sink signature. Registered mana trail points to sir Varik."
That made her pause.
Only for a second.
Then she reached out and took the tablet.
"Varik's not freelance."
"No, ma'am."
"He's not affiliated."
"No, ma'am."
"So why's his name on a ghost rift clearance?"
