Alexander sat at his desk, his fingers steepled as he reviewed the latest updates on the situation in Ruthenia. The air in the chamber was heavy with tension as Julieanne entered briskly, holding a folder in her hand. She paused a moment before speaking, her voice steady but with a sense of urgency.
"Your Excellency, I have troubling news. Johannes Krieg has been captured by the Ruthenian authorities."
Alexander's masked face turned toward her, his posture stiffening. "Captured? When?"
"Two nights ago, in St. Petersburg," Julieanne replied. "He was detained by the Tsar's state police while attempting to relocate with the revolutionaries. They suspect him of espionage."
Alexander leaned forward, his tone sharper now. "Johannes is one of our best operatives. He carries sensitive information—details that cannot fall into the hands of the Ruthenians. If they extract even a fraction of what he knows, it could compromise our entire strategy."
