The sun had not yet risen, but the air around the Apex Summit crackled with unease. After Lin Feng's emergency midnight vote, the Council chamber had emptied with tense murmurs and wary expressions. No dramatic walkouts had occurred, but the lines were drawn.
The second-tier founders were officially fracturing.
By 7:00 a.m., Lin stood in a secure room below the summit lodge, where the Apex Circle's inner command team had convened. Jian Xue, Cheng Yue, Riya Malhotra, Wen Xinya, and Han Zixian formed a silent semi-circle around the central table. The lights hummed faintly overhead. A large digital map displayed Council engagement patterns and vote alignment simulations.
"Keller didn't just test our systems," Lin said. "He tested how far we'd let him walk into our structure before pushing back. He now knows we'll act decisively. But so does everyone else."
Riya, arms crossed, asked, "Do we think he's actually backing the Founders Autonomy Network?"
