The second death came before nightfall.
Same pattern.
Different target.
---
This time—
a node worker.
Inside the station.
---
Dren was furious.
"They got inside."
"Yes."
---
That mattered more than anything else.
---
Liora moved through the station like a blade.
Silent.
Fast.
Checking every angle.
---
Elara didn't move at all.
She stood still—
watching people.
---
"That one," she said.
---
A young runner froze.
Too late.
---
Kael was already in front of him.
---
"Who sent you?"
The boy smiled.
---
That was the worst part.
---
"Too late," he said.
---
Then bit down.
---
Dead.
---
Poison.
---
Clean.
Prepared.
---
Elara exhaled slowly.
"Well."
---
Kael's eyes darkened.
---
"Now we know."
---
This wasn't disruption.
---
This was—
assassination.
---
System-level.
---
Liora looked at him.
"This isn't Virel."
"No."
---
"Then who?"
---
Kael turned.
Looked south.
Past Virel.
Further.
---
"Someone who doesn't want systems to exist at all."
---
And that—
was worse.