The silence in the room had transformed into something denser, not merely stillness, but a space where two sides measured each other without the need for lengthy words.
Sophia remained standing before the screen, her eyes locked on the single message that had just appeared.
A simple word, yet carrying meaning far deeper than what was visible.
She knew this was not just a reaction. It was a statement.
Beside her, Adrian Blackwood did not move immediately.
He read the situation calmly, assessing every possibility that could unfold after this.
"He will not stop there," he said softly. Sophia nodded slightly.
"He is waiting for our response."
Daniel stared at the screen without blinking, his fingers hovering over the keyboard without touching it.
"If we do not answer, he will try another way," he said.
Leonard Graves's voice came through the comms, lower than usual.
"And if we answer, we expose ourselves."
The choice was not simple.
