Lord Vahn's influence no longer moved like a conquering army. It moved like gravity.
It was not domination by force.
It was dominance by inevitability.
Within half a year, Astralis Border Seven had become an echo chamber. Even worlds technically outside Vahn's jurisdiction began structuring their defense, economy, and administration based on Crimson Hawk frameworks. Some did it out of admiration. Others did it out of fear. Most did it because resisting the current felt pointless.
Renka reviewed the compiled reports late into the night, her expression unreadable.
"Direct command covers only three continents," she said, projecting the data into the air. "But indirect influence now touches nine worlds and counting. Trade dependency alone puts at least twelve more in your shadow."
Zutian whistled softly. "That's not a lord anymore. That's a gravitational well."
