Chapter 95: #809

The encrypted phone slid across the mahogany table, stopping inches from Evren’s coffee cup.

"Everything is inside," Zephyra said, stepping out of the shadows by the study doorway. "Briefcase was opened. Nothing was moved. No alarms."

Mikay grabbed the phone and plugged the cable into the central terminal.

Twelve high-resolution documents populated the wall monitor.

Beside Evren, Amber leaned closer to the display, while Attorney Sean Cole pushed his wire-rimmed glasses up his nose, zooming straight in on the first page: High Court Confiscation Decree #809.

"Look at the cryptographic docket hash," Cole said with a smile spreading across his face. "Registered at the Capital Central Judicial Registry on Wednesday morning at nine-fifteen. That was seven hours before Meles ever handed you the audit notice in Mayor Henderson’s office."

"The audit was decided before he even packed his bags," Amber said coldly.

Mikay brought up the second document. "It gets worse. Or better for us. Look at this."

On the screen was the asset transfer deed selling Apex’s mines, foundries, and shipping docks to the Caldwell Imperial Mining Consortium for twenty-five million dollars. Below it was the offshore wire receipt from Iron-Vault Trust for five million dollars.

"Iron-Vault Trust is Elder Brandon Caldwell’s primary offshore shell corporation," Mikay reported, tapping his keyboard. "And the escrow memo on the wire specifically says: Release funds upon official execution of High Court Decree Eight-Zero-Nine."

Cole stood up, straightening his pinstripe vest.

"Under imperial law, seized commercial assets must undergo a mandatory thirty-day public appraisal and an open state auction," Cole said firmly. "Selling them privately behind closed doors is grand embezzlement. Taking an offshore kickback conditioned on a specific decree number is high treason."

"Can we arrest him?" Evren asked in a level voice.

"We don’t just arrest him," Cole replied. "We let him walk into his own trap. Tomorrow morning, Mayor Henderson and I will take these transaction codes to Chief Inspector Flores at Central Internal Affairs. We’ll have Flores issue an emergency judicial subpoena for the official bank records from the Imperial Clearing House."

Cole locked eyes with Evren.

"When Meles walks in to enforce the seizure tomorrow afternoon, he won’t be presenting an audit. He’ll be delivering his own confession."

—

TICK. TOCK.

Inside the executive conference room of the Metropolis Commerce Bureau, the grandfather clock was the only sound in the room.

It was 4:59 PM on Friday.

Evren sat calmly at the center of the long table with Amber, Sean Cole, and Mikay. At the head of the table, Mayor Henderson and Director Bennett Keller had their eyes fixed on the doors.

BONG.

The first chime of five o’clock echoed off the walls.

On the fourth chime, the double doors were pushed open with authority.

Senior Auditor Jonathan Meles strode into the room, flanked by Advocate Henry and four armed federal marshals. Meles carried his black leather briefcase, looking as arrogant as always.

"Five o’clock has struck, gentlemen," Meles announced, his voice echoing off the wood-paneled walls.

Meles walked to the center of the table and unlatched his briefcase with a sharp click.

"Forty-eight hours have elapsed," Meles said, looking directly down at Evren. "Chairman Evren has failed to produce certified corporate ledgers or acceptable proof of capital origin. Under Article Nine of the Imperial Financial Code, Apex Sovereign Conglomerate is officially seized."

With a dramatic flourish, Meles pulled out a crisp, red-sealed parchment and slapped it onto the center of the table.

IMPERIAL HIGH COURT ASSET CONFISCATION DECREE #809

"The decree is signed, sealed, and effective as of this second," Meles sneered. "Federal marshals are already en route to lock down your mining elevators, foundries, and harbor cranes."

Evren stayed calm and didn’t even look at the paper.

Beside him, Attorney Sean Cole slowly reached out and picked up the parchment.

"Thank you, Auditor Meles," Cole said calmly, adjusting his glasses. "We were hoping you would formally submit this into the official record."

Meles’s eyes narrowed slightly. "What are you babbling about, Cole? The decree is authentic."

"The decree is fraudulent," Cole stated clearly.

Cole turned the parchment toward Mayor Henderson and Director Keller, tapping his finger against the bottom margin.

"Auditor Meles claims this decree is the result of a rigorous forty-eight-hour forensic audit in Veridia," Cole’s voice rang through the room. "Yet the Capital Central Judicial Registry barcode right here proves this exact decree was logged and approved in the capital on Wednesday morning at nine-fifteen."

Advocate Henry blanched. "That’s... that’s just a procedural pre-registration..."

"A pre-registration for a seizure order before the audit notice was even delivered?" Cole cut him off sharply. "That is not procedure, Advocate. That is premeditated judicial extortion."

Meles scoffed, though his jaw tightened. "A registry filing error changes nothing! Chairman Evren still cannot account for his billions..."

"And how do you account for this, Auditor Meles?" a new, commanding voice boomed from the doorway.

The side entrance swung open.

Stepping into the room was Chief Inspector Flores of Central Internal Affairs, flanked by six elite marshals wearing silver badges and carrying iron mana-suppression handcuffs.

Meles’s smug smile vanished instantly. All the color drained from his face.

"Flores?" Meles stammered. "What is the meaning of this? This is an Imperial Treasury matter..."

"It became an Internal Affairs matter the moment you accepted five million dollars to murder a provincial economy," Inspector Flores said coldly.

Flores dropped a thick stack of certified bank documents onto the table.

"Two hours ago, under emergency judicial warrant, Central Internal Affairs subpoenaed the Imperial Clearing House records for Iron-Vault Trust," Flores stated, looking directly at Meles. "Five million dollars was wired into your offshore accounts on Tuesday. The escrow release condition specifically named High Court Decree Eight-Zero-Nine."

Flores pointed at the black briefcase sitting on the table.

"And inside your briefcase right now is an illegal private sale contract assigning Apex’s mines and deep-water docks to the Caldwell Imperial Mining Consortium for twenty-five million dollars, without a public auction."

Advocate Henry took two steps back, his hands shaking as he threw his briefcase onto a chair. "I had no knowledge of this! I was only assigned to courtroom procedure!"

Meles stood frozen. Sweat broke out across his forehead, and his hands trembled violently against his trousers.

"This is a setup..." Meles rasped, his voice cracking. "You can’t touch me! I answer directly to the High Chancellor of the Treasury! Elder Caldwell will have your badges by morning!"

"Elder Caldwell isn’t here to save you, Jonathan," Flores said evenly.

Flores stepped forward and tore the gold imperial auditor badge straight off Meles’s lapel.

"Jonathan Meles, you are under arrest for high treason, judicial extortion, and state corruption," Flores commanded. "Cuff him."

Two Internal Affairs marshals shoved Meles forward against the table.

CLANG.

The mana-suppression cuffs snapped around his wrists, neutralizing any latent energy in his veins.

"Take him to the Central Penitentiary," Flores ordered. "Put him in the maximum-security sub-vault."

Meles was dragged out of the conference room in silence, his head hanging in total defeat.

Director Keller let out a long breath, wiping his brow. "Good god. That was close."

Mayor Henderson turned toward Evren, a broad, triumphant smile on his face. "The High Court injunction is dismissed with prejudice. All Apex accounts are completely cleared, Evren."

Evren stood up, fastening the front of his dark bomber jacket.

He turned toward Amber, a warm smile touching his lips. "We still have twenty-six days before that imperial summons, right?"

Amber smiled up at him. "Twenty-six days exactly. Why?"

"Are you up for a vacation?" Evren asked.