The Apex Alliance's emergency meeting had been a battleground, but the real war was only beginning. Jhon Gray's bold stance on transparency had drawn attention—both as an innovator and as a threat. It wasn't just Viktor Lang and his corporate allies he had to contend with; the Obsidian Shadow's unseen hand was clearly at work.
Echoes of Power
The day after the meeting, Marcus reviewed the aftermath with Jhon. "Most of the Alliance is cautiously optimistic about your proposal, but Lang still has his claws out. He won't back off until he finds a way to shut you down."
Jhon leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. "Lang's resistance was predictable. His influence depends on secrecy. What's surprising is how easily some of the others sided with me—or at least didn't oppose me outright."
Marcus nodded. "Eleanor Savoy's support made a big difference. She's got enough pull to sway a good chunk of the Alliance. But she's playing a long game, same as you."
