The courtyard felt different after the stranger left.
Not calmer.
Just heavier.
Vanessa stood near the gate for several seconds after the man disappeared down the forest road. The floodlights illuminated the empty gravel path where he had stood moments earlier, but the air still carried the tension from the conversation.
Behind her, Marco finally let out a long breath.
"Well," he said slowly, "that might be the strangest enemy introduction I've ever experienced."
Vanessa didn't respond right away.
Her eyes remained fixed on the dark road stretching into the trees.
Marco stepped closer to the gate and leaned against the metal bars.
"You know what bothers me the most about that whole exchange?"
Vanessa glanced at him.
"What?"
Marco rubbed the back of his neck.
"He wasn't bluffing."
Vanessa nodded slightly.
"No."
Marco sighed.
"That guy walked up to a heavily guarded estate, had a conversation with the people trying to destroy his organization…"
He paused.
