CHAPTER 136 — THE WEIGHT OF CHOICE
The morning did not bring relief.
It brought consequence.
Elena sensed it before the first report reached her terminal. The city moved differently now—not louder, not faster, but heavier. Every decision carried weight, because silence was no longer a shield. People had seen what happened when someone acted without permission and survived.
Worse for the old order—they had seen respect follow.
Power was no longer abstract. It was personal.
And that terrified those who had hidden behind process for years.
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By 7:06 a.m., the first retaliation arrived.
Subtle. Legal. Polite.
A review notice was issued against the coastal emergency unit—not disciplinary, just "procedural clarification." The language was careful, almost gentle, but the intent beneath it was unmistakable.
A reminder.
We are still watching.
Marcus slammed the file shut. "They said they accepted responsibility."
