"Everything looks acceptable."
Cedric Valehurst slowly lowered the contract after reading the final page.
For a few seconds, nobody inside the room spoke.
The sounds of Atlas continued outside the administrative building like they always did. Rifle fire echoed faintly from the training grounds while engines rumbled somewhere deeper inside the compound. Boots struck dirt in organized rhythm as squads moved between buildings.
Atlas never truly felt quiet anymore.
Cedric noticed that from the moment he arrived.
The entire compound moved with purpose.
Even now, while sitting inside an office discussing contracts, he could feel the energy outside. Men trained. Vehicles moved. Orders traveled across the camp constantly.
It felt less like a mercenary base and more like a living machine.
Elaina calmly slid the metal pen across the table toward him.
