The digital counterstrike began exactly two hours later. Vionna released a brief, urgent press release confirming the 'Architect's' attack and announcing an immediate, aggressive overhaul of the Jodah Legacy Systems to restore data integrity. The market reacted immediately, with a minor dip, but Anthony was focused elsewhere.In the VEXO penthouse, the command center was dark, lit only by the blue glow of monitors. Anthony, Fenrick, and Ronan sat hunched over the network hub, waiting for the digital whisper.“The statement has been online for thirty minutes,” Vionna whispered, her tension almost visible. “The Architect knows we’re hunting him. He knows the legacy system is his vulnerability.”“He won’t move immediately,” Fenrick muttered, watching the network traffic flow like a river of light. “He’ll wait for the optimal moment, when he thinks we’re focused on South America or the D.C. political fallout. He needs to communicate the new coordinates for his malware.”Ronan pointed to a

Fenrick initiated the digital lockdown instantly. The 47th floor of VEXO Tower went silent, all communication lines severed. The physical security doors locked, trapping the employees—and the operative—inside.Anthony, Fenrick, and Ronan took the executive express elevator down to the 47th floor, accompanied by three of Ronan’s most elite, silent security operatives.The atmosphere on the 47th floor was frantic. Analysts were staring at their suddenly dead monitors and locked doors, confusion giving way to alarm.Anthony scanned the large, open office floor, his eyes instantly finding Terminal 47-B. A middle-aged man with thick glasses and a nervous demeanor—a senior systems analyst named Walter—was frantically trying to access the security override panel on his keyboard.“Secure the exits, Ronan,” Anthony commanded, speaking low. “I want him contained, but I want him to know exactly who caught him.”They walked slowly toward Walter, the crunch of their shoes on the carpet the loudest

The atmosphere in the financial district at 8:50 a.m. was normal—a steady stream of suited workers grabbing coffee, oblivious to the high-stakes financial war about to erupt. Anthony, Fenrick, and Vionna were situated in a discreet, highly secured executive meeting room directly across the street from the Citywide Trust and Fidelity bank.The room's wall was a massive, high-resolution screen displaying the global market feeds, focused intensely on the regional exchange where Jodah's energy holdings were traded."Nine minutes to market open," Fenrick murmured, his fingers hovering over the terminal that controlled the Ghost Account liquidity injection. "The bank's light is on. Vance's team is in position."Vionna was on a secure line, ready to drop the tip to the press the moment the action began. "The media is primed for something. There's too much chatter about 'market volatility' right now."Anthony, his face expressionless, was watching the clock. "Vance will move precisely at the

The Omega Protocol—the Jodah Empire’s ultimate contingency plan for existential threat—was initiated instantly. Anthony’s composure remained steel-like, but the reality was absolute: a warrant for his arrest was imminent, and the U.S. government was moving to seize the assets of the entire Jodah Empire.Anthony spoke rapidly into his comms as he walked out of the Citywide Trust boardroom, leaving Ezekiel Vance to the arriving federal marshals."Fenrick, the warrant is coming. Shut down the VEXO penthouse command center. Scramble all digital footprints. Redirect all core servers to the secure, remote location. Vionna, initiate the 'Digital Ghost' press protocol—leak the full, unredacted testimony of Walter and the entire Ezekiel Vance conspiracy. Turn this into a political persecution narrative."Back at VEXO, Fenrick worked with frantic, surgical precision. The penthouse monitors flickered and died. The core Jodah data streams, containing centuries of financial history, were instantly

Fenrick was pacing the secure command center in the safe house when the heavily guarded Jodah transport finally arrived. Liora emerged, exhausted but resolute, having landed hours late due to the high alert status across the country."Fenrick! Status report!" Liora demanded, stripping off her protective gear. "Anthony? Where is he? The arrest warrant is about to be issued!""He's safe, Liora, but he's gone rogue," Fenrick explained rapidly, pointing to the track. —-----------------The secure command center in the Jodah safe house was locked down, focused entirely on the International Court of Justice. Liora, pale but fiercely resolute, was directing the legal defense from the terminal, while Fenrick monitored the political and physical threats."The Treasury Department's argument is terrifyingly simple, Fenrick," Liora explained, rubbing her temples. "They're claiming the 'Ghost Account,' by operating outside conventional regulatory oversight, represents a 'Sovereign S