Arthur's gaze lingered in contemplation, the weight of his decisions palpable as he released the glass and turned to face the room.
The study, typically a sanctuary of thought, felt constricted under the enormity of the choices before him.
Yet, he spoke with a measured calmness that belied the tension.
"Ask it plainly," he instructed.
Evolon's projection stabilized, its digital presence unwavering. "Do you suspect VULTURE is backed by a higher tier?"
"Yes." The response was devoid of embellishment. "They didn't grow; they appeared,ten years ago,fully staffed, fully funded, and fully insulated.
Since then, financial flows resemble a dense fog bank: hundreds of trillions funneled through invisible corridors.
We trace wires only to encounter a dead end, we track cargo only to hit diplomatic seals, we investigate boards only to find deceased individuals who never existed. This isn't clever laundering, it's authority. I had you run the loops a thousand times."
