Page 88 of Cold Ignition

Kael’s expression hardened.

“So, we didn’t just shut something down,” he said. “We exposed something bigger.”

Luca nodded once. “Exactly.”

Rangi pushed off the table, pacing once before stopping, gaze locking onto the screen.

“Good,” he said.

That got a look from Keanu.

Rangi didn’t soften it. “Because now they know we’re here.”

Silence.

Then Keanu exhaled slowly.

“Yeah,” he said. “They do.”

Luca shifted the display again, bringing up the Directorate overlay—cleaner, tighter, far more controlled than anything Crucible had been.

“These movement patterns,” he said. “They don’t react the same way Crucible did. They don’t panic. They adapt.”

Victor’s voice came from the back, low and certain.

“They’ll already be moving.”

“Yes,” Luca said. “Repositioning assets. Closing gaps. Locking down anything we just exposed.”

Rangi’s mouth curved slightly. “Let them.”

Kael’s gaze snapped to him. “You’re assuming they’ll come at us.”

“I’m not assuming,” Rangi said. “I’m counting on it.”

Because this—this wasn’t quiet anymore. They hadn’t just interfered. They had executed leadership. Destroyed critical funding routes and infrastructure.

And taken everything that mattered on the way out.

Kael turned back to Luca. “Timeline?”

Luca didn’t hesitate. “They’ll feel the loss of the node within hours. They’ll understand what it means shortly after that.”

Keanu’s jaw tightened. “And then?”

Luca met his gaze. “Then they start looking for who did it. And they won’t miss us.”

Rangi felt it settle under his skin—cold, sharp, familiar.

Alexios folded his arms. “They will not respond like Crucible.”

“No,” Luca agreed. “They’ll be cleaner. More precise and a shit load more patient.”

Keanu glanced between them. “And more dangerous.”

“Yes,” Luca said simply.

Kael straightened, decision already made. “Good.”