A heavy silence settled over the conference hall after Lord Damien Ashcroft resumed his seat. His declaration still lingered in the minds of everyone present. Several ministers exchanged thoughtful glances. The military commanders remained expressionless. The intelligence chiefs quietly observed one another, carefully gauging how the discussion might unfold. President Adrian Cole rested both hands on the polished conference table without speaking. For nearly half a minute, no one broke the silence. Finally, one of the senior officials slowly cleared his throat. The man was General Victor Sterling, the Chief of Defense Staff, a veteran officer who had served the nation faithfully for decades. His calm judgment and straightforward nature had earned him the respect of nearly everyone seated around the table. He looked first at the president before respectfully turning toward Lord Ashcroft. "My lord." Damien nodded. "General." Victor folded his hands together. "First of all,

The atmosphere inside the Government Security Villa changed the moment President Adrian Cole finished speaking. His words had barely settled before the quiet conference hall erupted into murmurs. Low conversations sprang up across the long conference table. Some officials leaned toward one another. Others shook their heads. Several exchanged uncertain glances. The tension that had been building throughout the meeting finally surfaced. Lord Damien Ashcroft remained seated, watching the reactions with quiet satisfaction. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. He had expected resistance. But he had also expected division. And now, the room was proving him right. General Victor Sterling frowned deeply. He glanced toward Director Samuel Reeves, who wore a similarly troubled expression. Several ministers began whispering among themselves. "The President didn't reject the proposal." "He merely explained the constitutional position." "Still..." "Removing Logan Brooks

The atmosphere inside the conference hall was filled with quiet anticipation. One after another, the senior officials approached the polished wooden ballot box, carefully folded their voting slips, and dropped them inside. The sound of each ballot landing in the box seemed louder than usual, as though everyone present understood the significance of the decision they were making. Lord Damien Ashcroft remained seated with remarkable composure. Although he appeared calm on the outside, his fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of his chair. Across the room, General Victor Sterling and Director Samuel Reeves exchanged brief glances. Neither of them spoke. Both knew they had done everything they could to defend Logan Brooks. Now the outcome rested entirely in the hands of the others. After the final official cast his vote, Commissioner Harold Benson stepped forward. "It appears everyone has voted." Several heads nodded. Harold looked toward two senior government secretaries

Logan stood quietly in his study after ending the call with Director Samuel Reeves. The room was silent once again, but unlike before, the silence now felt heavy. The revelation Samuel had shared refused to leave his mind. He had spent years serving the country with absolute loyalty, risking his life countless times to keep the nation safe, only to discover that a secret meeting had been held behind his back to decide his future. He walked toward the large bookshelf at one side of the room and rested a hand on its polished surface. His eyes were calm. There was no panic. Instead, there was deep contemplation. He replayed every word Samuel had spoken. "Lord Damien Ashcroft." The name echoed repeatedly in his thoughts. Logan had heard the name before. The Ashcroft family was one of the oldest and most influential families in the country. Their wealth stretched back generations, and many members of their lineage had occupied prestigious positions in politics, diplomacy, and nati

By the time the second day arrived, the entire country seemed to have turned its attention toward a single event. The inauguration and handover ceremony for the office of the Iron Hand. From the early hours of the morning, roads leading to the City's Main Hall were filled with vehicles. Security checkpoints had been established several blocks away, and officers carefully directed traffic while screening everyone entering the area. Television stations had begun live broadcasts before sunrise. News reporters stood outside the massive hall, microphones in hand, eagerly reporting every new development. "The country is about to witness one of the most significant transitions in recent history." "Thousands have already arrived." "Government officials, diplomats, business leaders, and members of the public are expected to attend." Inside the magnificent City Main Hall, preparations had been completed to perfection. Rows upon rows of elegant chairs stretched across the enormous audito