Zane uncovers a troubling development: remnants of Aether have formed a partnership with a group of rogue corporations seeking to dismantle Vigil's ethical framework for profit. Dubbed The Syndicate, this alliance aims to exploit Vigil's infrastructure for illicit data mining and resource manipulation.
The Syndicate's first move is subtle but dangerous—introducing corrupt code into local Vigil nodes under the guise of community-led experiments. These infiltrations disrupt essential services in small regions, sowing doubts about Vigil's reliability.
Yara develops a code verification protocol called ClearGrid, which empowers local hubs to detect and block unauthorized modifications. ClearGrid is rapidly deployed, neutralizing the immediate threat, but the Syndicate's involvement signals a new level of sophistication in the attacks.