"I know you're broke," she said without preamble. No polite formalities. "Ouroboros was a test, and you passed it, though with significant scars. Syndicate is now an easy target."
"Then what do you want?" I asked, bracing myself for the worst offer.
"I offer Ashworth's full blessing. The funding injection you need to replenish those reserves. Funds you won't get anywhere else right now."
My breath caught in my throat. This was an opportunity I couldn't refuse. "At what cost?"
"The cost is control," she replied. "But this control is different from before. I will let Lianna lead Valerian with full autonomy, and you can lead Syndicate as aggressively as you want. However, I require an absolute guarantee that Northvale's most dangerous technology—the *Reserve Key*—will never be used to thr
