The _Iwọ̀n_'s waters lapped against Makoko's piers, a relentless beat echoing Kemi's pulse. The Council of Chiefs' summons arrived, wrapped in a silk _Aṣó Oke_ cloth, delivered by a silent youth in mirrored shades.
"Lagos waits," he said, vanishing into the alleys.
Kemi, Juwon, Naomi, and Tade gathered at the Old Kings' Hall, Council elders in _Aṣó Oke_ robes.
Chief Oluwasegun spoke, measured: "The _Agbára_ Games shifted Lagos. Consortium's grip weakens. But power abhors a vacuum."
Kemi leaned forward. "What does the Council propose, _Oloye_?"
Oluwasegun nodded. "We recognize _#LagosUnbound_ as a legitimate voice. Consortium will cede control of key grids. But—"
A younger chief, Ajayi, cut in, "This isn't charity. Lagos needs stability. The _Iwọ̀n_ can't run wild."
Naomi bristled. "The people won't settle for—"
Kemi raised a hand. "What are the terms, _Oloye_?"
Oluwasegun unfolded a parchment. "Joint governance: Council, _#LagosUnbound_, Consortium. Equal shares. Elara Rao to mediate."
Juwon whistled low. "Consortium won't like that."
Tade frowned. "Elara's gone dark."
Kemi's _gẹ̀gẹ̀_ thrummed. "Find her."
*Part 1: The Mediation*
Elara Rao emerged from shadows, Consortium phone discarded. In a hidden _ọba_ palace, she faced Kemi:
"I brokered this deal. But Consortium won't yield easily."
Kemi's eyes narrowed. "What leverage do we have?"
Elara's smile was thin. "I have Consortium's dirty secrets. Projects they hid, deals they broke. The _Iwọ̀n_...isn't just water."
Kemi leaned in. "What do you mean?"
Elara's voice dropped. "Consortium seeded the _Iwọ̀n_ with tech. Control its flow, control Lagos."
Naomi cursed. "They weaponized the lagoon."
Juwon shook his head. "No wonder it went wild."
*Part 2: The Joint Governance*
The Council ratified the deal. Consortium begrudgingly agreed. Elara mediated the first joint meeting—Council elders, Kemi, Naomi, Juwon, Consortium execs.
Amara Rao sneered. "This isn't over."
Kemi smiled. "The threads are loose."
Grids transferred. Techs rewired Makoko's hubs. The _Iwọ̀n_'s hum synced with new patterns—_Ọ̀nà_ weaves, spirals of unity.
Lagos pulsed—markets hummed, buses ran on solar, piers bloomed. But shadows lingered—Consortium loyalists, rogue factions.
Elara approached Kemi, eyes haunted. "I did this. But at what cost?"
Kemi's _gẹ̀gẹ̀_ thrummed. "The music's playing. Play it right."
*Part 3: The Cost of Power*
Night fell. Makoko's _gẹ̀gẹ̀_ drums beat. Consortium HQ's servers crashed—Tade's hack.
A message pinged—_Unknown_: "The tide turns. Abule-Egba, dawn."
Kemi's gut twisted. "It's a trap."
Naomi nodded. "We walk in. Prepared."
Dawn broke. Abule-Egba market buzzed. Consortium agents closed in. Elara waited, alone.
"Consortium's price," she whispered.
Kemi's _gẹ̀gẹ̀_ surged. "No deals."
Agents fired. The _Iwọ̀n_ roared—water walls slammed, Consortium agents swept away.
Elara stumbled. "I...I had to—"
Kemi caught her. "We'll face it. Together."
The _Iwọ̀n_'s waters calmed. Kemi stood, _Adire_ cloth whirling:
"Lagos speaks. We listen."