Sunday, 8:00 PM - 15 hours remaining
The representatives filed out one by one.
Volkov paused at the door. Turned back.
"Kurosawa-san. You remind me of someone."
"Who?"
"Your mother." He said it simply. No flattery. Just observation. "I met her once. In the late nineties. She had the same... way. Of making the room belong to her without raising her voice."
He nodded once—respect, genuine—and left.
Park followed. No words. Just a slight bow of the head as he passed Hanae.
Ito was the last to leave. He stopped in front of Reina, who was still standing by the door.
He looked at her for a long time. His face was completely blank. Hers was completely blank.
Two masks staring at each other.
Then Ito turned to Hanae.
"Your people are interesting," he said. "Keep them close."
He left.
The door closed.
The conference room was empty except for Hanae, Reina, and the echoes of what had just happened.
Hanae's legs gave out.
