POV: Kareem Blackwood — Vault Tier Officer
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The moment Kareem saw it, he froze. The screen didn't blink. It didn't glitch. It simply changed.
The blinking request line—previously waiting for High Seat Authorization—was now stamped in crimson imperial ink, a seal no mortal in the empire dared forge or replicate:
[AUTHORIZED BY: EMPEROR CHRIS BLACKWOOD]
NOTE: "Loan approved. Transfer immediately to Account: EMPIRE EXPANSION CORE—Lord Veyron Blackwood. All activity monitored."
The digital signature pulsed with heat. Kareem swore the console vibrated, just slightly.
"God above..." he whispered, staring at the screen like it had just slapped him. "He signed it… Himself."
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SYSTEM NOTIFICATION
> Transfer in Progress...
₿50,000,000,000.00 → Account: #VY-113-CROWNSTRIKE
Recipient: Lord Veyron Blackwood
Purpose: Southern Industrial Wall Project / Classified Attachments Included
Processing through 17 Central Empire Banks
A high-pitched beep signaled the finality of it.
"All done," Kareem muttered, slumping back. "The most dangerous signature in the world... and I just watched it happen in real time."
His assistant blinked. "What now?"
Kareem didn't answer immediately. He just stared at the screen. The numbers were already flowing, traced through encrypted pathways—moving like fire across dry grass.
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Meanwhile... deep in the Southern Sector...
Lord Veyron stood watching the military rail crawler unload its newest shipment of reinforced steel beams and AI defense drones. A young aide rushed to him, tablet in hand.
"It's in, my lord," the aide said, breathless. "All fifty billion. Approved by... the Emperor himself."
Veyron didn't smile. He just gave a single nod.
"Prepare the engineers. No delays. Tell the war architects this will be a monument."
"To the Empire?" the aide asked.
Veyron turned his eyes toward the horizon. "No. To His wrath."
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