Casper Yulian looked more healthy today unlike before. He was broad-shouldered as usual, smooth-faced, and dressed with quiet luxury. Titan Crest Logistics controlled shipping, ports, agriculture transport, and food movement. During peace, he moved goods. During war, he continued to move survival itself.Unlike some members of the Khagan Council, Caspian did not speak with visible hunger for control. That alone made Ethan pay closer attention. In rooms filled with polished predators, restraint often hid either wisdom or something even more dangerous.“Food is not emotional,” Caspian said. “Food is movement. If roads fail, people starve. If storage fails, markets break. If distribution is uncontrolled, riots begin.”A few people nodded quickly.Logistics executives especially seemed relieved hearing someone speak in practical terms instead of financial abstractions. Food shortages were no longer theory in Verdanis. Entire districts had already experienced panic buying, ration fights, a

The announcer’s voice cut through the low conversations around the gold table.“All gold high-table members may now submit objections or amendments before the first recommendation is recorded.”All gold high table members had spoken apart from Ethan so the announcer had indirectly asked Ethan to speak.Assistants moved forward with tablets. Several powerful men leaned over their papers. Adrian Cole adjusted his cuff with quiet confidence. Verda remained still, his cold eyes remained on the draft as if he was studying a patient, not a country.Then Ethan stood.Several eyes immediately shifted toward him again. Some were curious. Others were openly irritated. To many people in the hall, Ethan was still nothing more than an oddly dressed intruder who had somehow wandered into a seat meant for giants.A man in the bronze section whispered, “This should end badly.”Another replied, “Good. Maybe we will finally learn how he got that gold card.”The movement was calm, but it drew attention

Ethan’s challenge sat heavily over the summit hall.For a moment, no one spoke. The gold table was quiet, the lower sections were tense, and even the soft sound of air conditioning felt too loud. Ethan’s hand remained on the policy draft, his eyes moving from Adrian to Verda.“You do not want citizens standing,” Ethan said. “You want them dependent.”Verda’s face stayed cold. “Dependency weather you like it or not is structure.”“And structure prevents collapse,” Adrian added quickly.Ethan turned toward him. “No. Structure protects people. What you are proposing protects control.”A few voices rose from the silver section.“He is twisting the argument.”“This is not the place for moral lectures.”Dale Truman leaned back with a faint smile. “There it is. The poor man’s sermon.”Ethan ignored him. “Your fuel policy will raise prices in rural zones within three weeks. Your medical distribution plan will trap hospitals under approved suppliers. Your emergency credit model gives banks the

Dale Truman did not need to raise his voice to make the hallway feel dangerous.He stood in Ethan’s path with both hands in his pockets, his heavy frame blocking the private exit lane. Behind him, two bodyguards waited near the wall, pretending not to listen. Their eyes told a different story.Ethan adjusted the handle of his outdated leather bag. “Is there a reason you are standing in my way?”Dale smiled. “You caused noise today. Or should I say trouble.”“Truth usually does cause a lot of trouble.”Dale’s smile widened a little, but his eyes stayed cold. “Truth? Is that what you call it? I call it reckless speech from a man who does not understand the price of order.”Ethan glanced past him toward the corridor. Guests were still leaving in small groups. Some looked in their direction, then quickly looked away. No one wanted trouble with Dale Truman.“I understand order,” Ethan said. “I also understand when powerful men use that word to hide greed.”Dale chuckled softly. “That coura

“For reality.”The voting began.Large digital screens illuminated the summit walls as percentages updated in real time. Every increase in Adrian’s numbers drew louder applause from the hall. The summit was beginning to resemble a political theater more than an economic discussion.Some delegates had already stopped pretending to care about policy details. Every percentage increase on Adrian’s side brought visible relief to many faces in the room. Ethan noticed how fear and convenience had quietly replaced independent thinking.A man from the silver section whispered to his colleague, “Nobody wants instability right now.”The colleague nodded quickly. “And nobody wants powerful enemies either.”One by one, the numbers climbed. Controlled Recovery took the lead almost immediately. Bronze, silver, and platinum sections voted heavily in favor of Adrian’s plan. A few supported Ethan, but not enough to matter.Casper Yulian remained silent throughout the voting process. Unlike the others