"Build an army. Not just a guild. Not a task force. An army capable of total eradication."
That alone was troubling. What followed was worse.
"Their main stronghold is hidden in the capital," she continued. "Buried beneath layers of legitimacy—political, economic, and legal. By the time anyone notices, it will be too late."
The capital.
I let out a slow breath. "You're telling me to wage war in the heart of the country?"
"Yes. And to win before next year."
I stared at the table, then laughed—short, humorless. "You really don't aim small."
She met my gaze. "Neither do they."
I tapped the table, once. Twice. "I'm all in when it comes to saving the world. I don't want monsters ruling over us either."
My gaze locked on her. "But do you really expect me to become that strong within a year?"
She didn't answer right away. The veil shifted as her head tilted, as if she were looking past me—past the room—into timelines only she could see.
