The hundred-million-dollar contract on Kaelen’s life was accepted within two hours of its revision. The Obsidian Throne, the dark web exchange where global intelligence and mercenary services were traded, reacted with immediate lethal interest. The initial response came not from Magnus Marlowe’s local hitmen, but from three distinct international syndicates, each recognizing the immense valuation as a sign of a critical, systemic vulnerability. They were not seeking a quick payout; they were seeking the secrets Kaelen possessed.
Kaelen monitored the inbound traffic from the secure office in the Marlowe penthouse. The city outside, usually a chaotic, predictable tapestry of wealth and ambition, had suddenly become a hunting ground. His network flagge
