Chapter 85: The Inner Circle

I could feel the tension in the air the moment I stepped into the war room.

The usual atmosphere of quiet confidence had been replaced by something far more unsettling—unease, suspicion, and a sense that everything was on the brink of unraveling.

My inner circle—Julian, Maxim, Marissa, and the others—were already gathered around the table, their faces grim.

I took my place at the head of the table, the weight of my responsibility pressing down on me like never before.

The events of the past few days had shaken Silverwood to its core, and the theft of the artifact was just the latest in a series of blows that had left us reeling.

But what haunted me the most was the knowledge that someone in this room—someone I had trusted—might have played a part in it.

"Thank you all for coming," I began, my voice steady but cold. "We have a serious problem on our hands, and it’s time we address it head-on."

Maxim’s eyes met mine, his expression unreadable. "You think one of us is the traitor, do