"The City Magistrate orders an immediate investigation, threatening to arrest Cassandra for unauthorized maritime warfare."
The notification glowed on the handheld terminal, a harsh blue light illuminating the dark, cramped interior of the carriage as it rattled toward the Magistrate Palace. Cassandra sat opposite Richter, her knuckles white as she gripped the handle of her reticule. Her face was a mask of rigid defiance, but her eyes betrayed the tremor of a woman who had finally realized the sheer weight of the precipice she was standing upon. The city streets outside were filled with the distant sounds of shouting and the rhythmic marching of city guards, a city that was rapidly spiraling into total systemic collapse.
Richter remained silent, his gaze fixed on the passing gaslights.
