Ral's phone buzzed with incoming message from unknown number while he stood amid the c*****e: *Kozlov's death activated automated protocol. Secondary network assumes control in 15 minutes. All targets remain active. You killed one head of hydra. Three more are rising. -M*
"Marcus says killing Kozlov triggered backup leadership structure," Ral reported, the brief hope of victory evaporating into renewed dread. "Fifteen minutes until secondary oligarchs assume control and reissue the kill orders."
Katarina swore in Russian with creative profanity that would have impressed soldiers. "Of course he had succession planning. Oligarchs always maintain redundancies. We need names, locations, operational details to intercept them before transition completes."
Elena was already accessing Kozlov's
