Chapter 72 - the blackout ultimatum
maya's fingers flew across the mechanical keyboard with blinding, cinematic speed, attempting to quarantine the invasive algorithm. but the zenith syndicate was not a conventional enemy. they possessed unlimited financial resources and deeply corrupt political influence. suddenly, the primary monitor in our subterranean bunker flashed a blinding, hostile red. a distorted, synthesized voice echoed through the cold, heavily fortified room, dripping with an agonizing, toxic arrogance. you eliminated our pawns, avery, the voice sneered, referencing the fallen vance family. but you cannot defeat the board of directors. you have exactly twenty-four hours to transfer the exclusive global patents for the sterling energy grid to our holding company. the voice dropped into a lethal, grating register. if you refuse, we will overload the central civic reactors, plunging the entire eastern seaboard into a permanent, catastrophic blackout. the screen went completely dark, leaving an incredibly suffocating tension in the air. they thought we would cower before their apocalyptic threat, entirely unaware that the sterling women never negotiate with terrorists. the absolute, bloody war had officially reignited.👉 read part 73 to witness the matriarch's fury.
