The second loss came quieter.
---
No contracts.
No headlines.
---
A person.
---
Daniel didn't say the name at first.
He didn't need to.
---
Evelyn saw it in his face.
---
"Who?" she asked.
---
Daniel swallowed once.
"Internal advisor. Finance branch. He resigned this morning."
---
"Why?"
---
Daniel hesitated.
Then—
"He didn't say."
---
Silence.
---
Evelyn understood immediately.
---
"He didn't resign."
---
A pause.
---
"He was removed."
---
Daniel looked at her.
---
"You think Leon—"
---
"I don't think," Evelyn said.
"I recognize patterns."
---
Cassian's voice came low.
"He's cutting support lines."
---
Damian stepped forward.
"That doesn't make sense. That man had no strategic value."
---
Evelyn looked at him.
---
"That's why he mattered."
---
A beat.
---
"He's removing stability."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
"He's not breaking the system," she continued.
---
"He's breaking the people inside it."
---
The words settled.
Heavy.
Precise.
---
Damian's jaw tightened.
---
"That stops now."
---
Evelyn didn't respond.
---
Because she already knew—
It wouldn't.