Adam looked at the chips for a while longer.
Darien's work would need money.
Not small money.
If Adam wanted Darien to move in the market, prepare another branch, and later arrange a foreign cover, then fear alone would not be enough. A frightened man could obey orders, but a frightened man without funds could only make excuses.
Adam needed cash first.
He picked up a copied phone and called Bruno.
Bruno answered after several rings. His voice was lower than usual.
"Sir?"
"We need to talk," Adam said.
For a second, Bruno did not answer.
"Sir... if I move openly now," Bruno said. "If those foreign people find me, I am dead."
"They pulled back."
Bruno breathed in sharply. "Are you sure?"
"Sure enough."
That did not comfort him much. Adam could hear it in the silence. Bruno wanted a clean promise. He wanted Adam to say every watcher was gone, every threat had ended, and World Zone would not touch him.
Adam had no reason to give him that kind of lie.
