The message came at midnight.
I was in the war room with Selene, reviewing the latest network integration reports, when my phone buzzed with a blocked number. I answered it, my instincts already screaming that something was wrong.
"James." The voice was urgent, frantic. It was Olivia Chen. "They're attacking. The network nodes in the Core District. Someone's trying to destroy them."
"Who?" I asked, already on my feet.
"I don't know. But they're organized. They know what they're doing. They've already taken out three nodes. If they keep going, the network in the Core District will collapse."
"Where are you?"
"The Crimson Lotus. I'm safe for now, but I don't know how long that'll last."
"Stay there. I'm coming."
---
I gathered my allies in the war room.
"We have a problem," I said.
