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Chapter 44 - Daniel's Message

The recording quality was imperfect, but Daniel's voice remained unmistakably calm.

> "If Harold is hearing this..."

Everyone instinctively looked toward Harold.

> "...then events unfolded differently than I hoped."

The room remained perfectly still.

Daniel continued.

> "You will eventually believe someone betrayed us."

Harold slowly lowered his head.

> "Do not let suspicion become your final memory of our work."

Samuel whispered,

"He knew."

The recording went on.

> "The First Promise was never broken by greed."

Michael frowned.

"Then by what?"

As though hearing the question across time, Daniel answered.

> "It was broken by fear."

Silence filled the chamber.

Daniel explained no further.

Instead, his voice became softer.

> "There is one person who knows everything."

Elena leaned closer to the recorder.

> "Do not search among the Eight."

A pause followed.

> "Search for the person who refused to become the Ninth."

The tape suddenly ended.

The machine clicked.

No further explanation remained.

Arthur slowly removed the cassette.

May you like

"We've spent thirty years asking the wrong question."

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