The fused seizure document waited over the Citadel at sunrise. Its six seals no longer hovered apart. They had been pressed into one circular claim, each crest taking one-sixth of the outer ring.
Vasa projected the terms in the route room while the food clock continued beneath them. The document did not ask Nox to surrender. It announced that the claimants had already divided the Citadel's future value among themselves.
{ Shared provisional ownership: Ironvale, Mercy Spire, Crowncast, Ascendant Hall, Meridian Yard, and Directorate Spear each receive one equal interest in the disputed territorial asset. }
The first paragraph sounded like a negotiation. The second explained the actual arrangement.
{ Current territorial holder remains solely responsible for resident protection, corruption containment, dungeon failure, casualty expense, infrastructure maintenance, and all emergency response pending final seizure determination. }
