Kael did not respond to Evelyn immediately.
---
Of course he didn't.
---
Because offers like that—
weren't accepted.
---
They were—
tested.
---
By the next morning, he had already made his decision.
---
"We expand."
---
Dren grinned.
---
"Again?"
---
"Yes."
---
A pause.
---
"But not here."
---
That changed everything.
---
Liora stepped forward.
---
"You're leaving the region."
---
"Yes."
---
Elara's smile widened.
---
"Oh, now this gets interesting."
---
Because this—
was the next stage.
---
Not control.
---
Not dominance.
---
Expansion beyond known systems.
---
Into something—
larger.
---
More dangerous.
---
More real.
---
Kael looked at the map.
---
Then beyond it.
---
Then at Evelyn.
---
And said:
---
"Show me."
---
Because now—
the empire wasn't just growing.
---
It was—
entering the world.