"A global debut without capital is mathematical suicide."
Victoria Price gripped the edge of the mixing console. She stared at the discarded marketing budget resting in the metal trash can. Her breathing was shallow and erratic.
"Elysium just deployed a hundred million dollars to block our visibility," Victoria warned. "They bought the front page of every digital storefront. They bribed the algorithmic curators. If we launch a standard track with zero marketing dollars the algorithm will bury it in minutes."
Ryan Parker did not argue. His laryngeal muscles remained paralyzed by the System neural block. He could only speak in a harsh stripped whisper.
"Then we do not launch a standard track," Ryan whispered.
The lack of his sovereign baritone sent a chill through the control booth. He
