Chapter 37 - Daniel's Final Instruction
Back inside the secured operations room, every recovered piece of evidence surrounded the unopened envelope.
Dana photographed it from every angle.
Arthur said nothing.
Eleanor quietly wiped tears from her eyes.
Marcus carefully broke the aging wax seal.
Inside rested three folded pages.
A small brass token.
And a cassette labeled simply:
Play Last.
Marcus unfolded the first page.
Daniel's voice seemed almost alive in the careful handwriting.
> If Samuel is standing beside you, then every promise we made has survived longer than I expected.
No one interrupted.
Marcus continued reading.
> Before you trust anyone in this room, remember one thing.
Dana exchanged a glance with Arthur.
Marcus turned the page.
> By now, at least one person present already knows more than they have admitted.
Silence settled across the room.
Marcus slowly lowered the paper.
Every person instinctively looked at someone else.
Victor watched through the interview-room window without blinking.
Arthur folded his arms.
Dana remained expressionless.
Even Samuel looked uncertain.
Marcus continued.
> Do not waste time searching for the traitor.
> They are no longer the greatest danger.
He unfolded the final page.
Only one sentence had been written beneath Daniel's signature.
> The moment Samuel arrives, the investigation stops being about the past...
> ...because someone else has already begun writing the future.
At that exact moment, the legacy archive terminal emitted a single soft tone.
Every monitor refreshed automatically.
A new message appeared.
PHASE THREE INITIALIZED.
May you like
Beneath it, for the first time since the investigation began, a progress bar slowly appeared.
Identity Verification: 1 of 5 Complete.
