Logan kept his face neutral. But the smile was there underneath it.His father in law had just expressed a heartfelt desire to meet and personally thank the genius behind Springlife Healthcare Inc. The person whose timing and vision had positioned New Horizon City to resist exactly the kind of pressure Gordon Pilgrim was currently applying.That person was sitting directly to Kyle's left.Logan looked at the front of the room and said nothing.Stacy noticed the slight shift in his expression. "What are you smiling about?""Nothing," Logan said. "Just something I thought of.""You're always thinking of something.""Usually."Roman Carlisle had not moved from his position. He stood where he had been standing when Gordon issued the challenge.He scanned the room briefly. His eyes moved across the rows of seated attendees. What he found did not improve his expression.The crowd was watching him. All of it. The particular concentrated attention of people who had understood that something s

A man in the third row of the New Horizon City section stood up and pointed across the room at the Black Creek Falls group."Say one more word," he said. "Just one more."Another man jumped up two seats over, turning toward the stage where Roman was standing."Roman, we're with you," he called out. "Every single one of us. You show those people who built this city and who runs it."The rest of the New Horizon City section responded immediately. Voices rising together. Some in words, some in wordless sound.A woman near the front stood up. "We've been running this industry for decades. We don't need visitors to tell us how to do our jobs."Another voice from the back. "Tell them, Roman. Tell them exactly what happens to people who come to our city and try to take what's ours."A man in a dark suit. "You want a challenge? You've got one. But don't complain when you lose."The Black Creek Falls section responded immediately. Their voices were fewer but their tone was different. "Listen

Stacy leaned toward him. "You're thinking about something.""I am," Logan said."Want to share?""I was thinking about Springlife Healthcare Inc. About why it matters more than I initially thought."Kyle turned his head. "What do you mean?""I understood the financial aspect. The jobs. The investment. The revenue. But I didn't fully understand the symbolic aspect. The way a project like that changes how other cities see this one."Stacy nodded slowly. "That's what Gordon Pilgrim is exploiting. The perception of weakness.""Exactly. Astral Corp leaving didn't just cost money. It cost standing. And standing takes longer to rebuild than revenue.""Which is why Springlife matters," Kyle said."Yes," Logan said. "It matters in ways I didn't fully appreciate when I started it."Stacy looked at him. "When did you start it? You make it sound like you're involved."Logan didn't answer directly. He looked back at the stage.A woman from the Black Creek Falls section called out. "What's the matt

Richard Scar was young. Noticeably younger than Carl Jim. Younger than most of the significant figures who had featured in the afternoon's various confrontations. He moved with the loose, self-assured energy of someone who had stopped being intimidated by high-stakes situations long enough ago that the confidence had become entirely natural.He faced the room with a smile that had nothing humble in it."I accept," he said, before Gordon could add anything further. He looked at Gordon with a brief nod, then turned his attention to the broader audience. "Thank you for the selection." The smile sharpened. "I came here specifically to make sure these people understand who they're dealing with. Today New Horizon City is going to find out what it costs to have spent years thinking they were untouchable."He turned to the Black Creek Falls section and raised his voice."We're taking this city today."The response was immediate and loud. Voices rising in support. The charged enthusiasm of a

Stacy had stopped directing her frustration at anyone in particular. Her eyes were on the stage. Her jaw was tight, her hands were pressed flat against her knees."Gordon Pilgrim," she said quietly. "Coming in here like he belongs. Challenging Roman like he has the authority to do it." She shook her head. "The audacity of that man."Logan glanced at her. "What do you mean?"She looked at him. "Gordon Pilgrim is not originally from Black Creek Falls. He wasn't born there, didn't build his business there. He relocated there years ago because the tax environment suited his jewelry operations." Her voice had the particular flatness of someone recounting something that had bothered them for a while. "He runs his empire from that city now, so technically he qualifies. But he is not Black Creek Falls. He bought his way into relevance there."Logan's frown deepened. "And Richard Scar?"Stacy's expression shifted. "Also not Black Creek Falls born. He's from the eastern provinces. Pilgrim recru