The interference didn't return.
That worried Lin Chen more than if it had.
Silence After Contact
Systems that failed came back loudly.
Systems that succeeded—
Waited.
The trace remained dormant, buried deep within a neutral routing layer.
Someone had backed off.
Deliberately.
Secondary Core Analysis
[Behavior Pattern: Strategic Withdrawal.]
[Inference: Observer Testing Boundaries.]
"They weren't hacking," Dr. Hart said slowly.
"They were measuring your response."
Lin Chen nodded.
"And now they know I noticed."
A Message Without Words
Minutes later, a public bulletin appeared across the emergency network.
Not addressed to him.
Not confidential.
A policy update.
"Pilot medical coordination frameworks will be reviewed for scalability and compliance."
Lin Chen read it once.
Then smiled.
The Meaning Beneath
No system names.
No accusations.
But the timing was perfect.
"They're moving through bureaucracy," Dr. Hart said.
"Not force."
"That's smarter," Lin Chen replied.
"And slower."
Which meant he still had time.
System Suggestion
[Proposal: Demonstrative Deployment.]
[Objective: Establish Indispensability.]
[Risk Level: Elevated.]
Dr. Hart turned to him.
"If you do this," she said,
"you won't be ignored again."
Lin Chen's gaze hardened.
"I'm not trying to be ignored."
Decision
He approved the proposal.
A controlled rollout.
Public metrics.
Transparent outcomes.
No secrets.
Just results.
Closing Line
Observers preferred leverage.
But the world respected proof.
And Lin Chen was about to give them both something they couldn't dismiss.
End of Chapter 75