Fais.
The collapse.
Everything.
The room gradually became quieter.
Alice stopped joking.
Raj stopped interrupting.
Even the officials stopped writing.
When Eric finished—
Silence lingered.
Alice rested her chin on her hands.
Thinking.
A habit Kai hadn't noticed before.
"So."
"The cult has a sewer network."
Nobody replied.
"The blueprint is gone."
Nobody replied.
"And the giant bald man is still alive."
Eric nodded.
"Very alive."
Alice sighed.
"I hate hearing those words."
Raj folded her arms.
"What about the sewers?"
Alice looked toward the window.
"The collapse changed everything."
"Sending soldiers blindly underground now would be suicide."
Kai looked down.
Andre's face flashed through his mind.
The smile.
The jokes.
The shouting.
Then the collapse.
Alice noticed immediately.
She always seemed to notice.
For a moment—
The Queen's expression softened.
Only slightly.
"We'll investigate."
Kai looked up.
"But not tonight."
The softness disappeared.
Replaced by authority.
"You."
She pointed directly at Kai.
"Go sleep."
Kai blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"I'm fine."