Chapter 67 - CH 66 - The Geometry of a Shared Life

The turning of the key in the shop's heavy lock, the final, resonant thunk of the deadbolt sliding home, had evolved from a simple security measure into a ritual of profound satisfaction. It was the sound of a world, complete and self-contained, being sealed for the night, a sovereign state whose laws, economy, and borders they had defined through sheer force of will and integrity. The success of the Chimera, the seismic acquisition of the Gullwing commission, the vibrant launch of the Covington Grant these were not isolated victories but interconnected continents on the ever-expanding map of their new lives. Now, the work shifted from exploration to governance, from claiming territory to building the infrastructure that connected it all: the roads, the power grids, the communication lines of a sustainable and enduring future.