The private lounge on the upper floor of East Horizon headquarters was quieter than the press hall. Alexander sat on the long sofa. Olivia stood near the window reviewing reports. Vanya occupied a chair in the corner, smoking. Tianya remained seated with perfect posture, sipping tea.
Alexander looked at the latest numbers on the tablet. "Support in the capital is holding. The refugee districts are solidly behind us. The problem is still the older industrial cities."
Olivia turned from the window. "Those cities depend on Alliance contracts. The factory owners are being pressured. Some of them received quiet visits last night."
"What kind of visits?" Alexander asked.
"Warnings," Olivia replied. "If they publicly support you, their supply of flux crystals will be delayed. The Alliance is already using economic pressure."
Vanya exhaled smoke. "Then we cut their alternative routes. East Horizon controls most of the eastern resource lines now. If they want materials, they deal with us."
Alexander nodded. "Do it carefully. I don't want open conflict before the registration period ends. Just enough pressure to make them think twice."
Tianya set her cup down. "The council will not stop at economic threats. They will try to damage my image next. Some of them still claim I am an illusion."
Alexander looked at her. "Can you handle another controlled appearance?"
"I can," Tianya answered. "But it should be different this time. Not a giant form in the sky. Something closer. Something the people can feel directly."
Olivia considered it. "A public blessing ceremony. Open to civilians. If ordinary people experience your flux up close, the rumors will collapse."
Vanya frowned. "That's risky. If the Alliance sends high-level hunters to disrupt it—"
"They won't dare," Tianya said calmly. "Not after what they felt last time. Cowards prefer shadows."
Alexander leaned back. "Then we schedule it. Three days from now, in the central plaza. Olivia, handle the security with our own people. No Alliance guards."
Olivia already began typing notes. "Understood. I'll also prepare statements from eastern survivors. Real voices. Not scripted ones."
A soft knock sounded at the door. A staff member entered and handed Alexander a sealed message. He opened it, read the contents, and gave a short, humorless laugh.
"The Alliance just announced an emergency session. They're proposing new restrictions on 'unverified high-level entities.' Meaning Tianya."
Tianya's expression did not change. "Let them propose. Paper has never stopped light."
Alexander crumpled the message. "We'll answer them after the plaza event. For now, keep the campaign focused on results. More supply convoys. More protected zones. More visible presence in the middle cities."
Vanya stood up. "I'll take a team to the southern industrial belt tomorrow. If the owners want to stay neutral, I'll give them reasons to choose sides."
Alexander met her eyes. "Don't start a war. Not yet."
"I won't start one," Vanya replied. "But I won't let them quietly strangle us either."
The room fell into a brief silence. Outside, the city lights stretched across the western capital. Campaign posters with Alexander's face were already appearing on walls. Counter-posters from Alliance-backed groups were being put up just as quickly. The first real battle of the election had moved from speeches into the streets and the supply lines.
Alexander looked at the three women in the room. "We move carefully, but we don't slow down. Every day we wait, they try to dig the ground out from under us."
No one disagreed. The next phase of the campaign had already begun.