Cyprian presses his palm to the scanner.
The door hisses open.
And I step into his private study.
It's smaller than the main living area, but no less impressive.
One wall is dominated by floor-to-ceiling windows.
The others are lined with sleek black shelves holding books, files, and what looks like high-end security equipment.
In the center of the room sits a massive obsidian desk.
And above it, suspended in midair, are multiple holographic displays.
Data streams.
Security feeds.
Encrypted files.
"This is your command center," I say.
"Yes."
He walks over to the desk and gestures for me to join him.
I do.
The holographic displays shift as I approach, reorganizing themselves into a more readable format.
"I want to show you something," Cyprian says. "And I need you to understand that I am not doing this to frighten you. I am doing this because I trust you. And because I need your help."
My stomach tightens.
"Okay."
He taps the desk.
The holographic displays expand, filling the air between us with data.
Financial records.
Corporate structures.
Personnel files.
And at the center of it all:Sentinel Dynamics.
"This is the firm that tried to use your debt as leverage," Cyprian says. "They are a mid-tier corporate security contractor specializing in hostile acquisitions and industrial espionage."
I lean forward, scanning the data.
"They're not very good at it," I say.
Cyprian's lips twitch.
"No. They are not. But they are persistent. And they have recently begun utilizing illegal bio-engineered enforcers to pressure their targets."
