–Livana–
Knight Ox placed the drives from the Nest into my gloved hands—the ones recently seized by the government. The plastic felt cold even through the barrier, as if it already knew it was no longer protected. I sifted through them carefully, methodical, leaving no trace of myself behind. Then I reached the drive marked with a distinct sticker—quiet, deliberate, chosen.
"Thank you, Sir Ox."
He inclined his head in a respectful bow. Commander White gathered the remaining drives and handed them to our agents for inspection, ensuring there would be no data breach, no whisper of leakage. Precaution is not paranoia—it is survival.
I slipped the marked drive into my pocket and shook Knight Ox's hand. Commander White followed as we returned to the car. Together, we headed toward the apartment registered under one of our pawns' names—the caretaker of this particular property. A place that existed only on paper and silence.
