"You think Alister's gonna be the next Union President now?" the first one asked, eyes still flicking back toward the smoldering epicenter. "I mean, with a stunt like that, the people might actually want him in charge."
The second officer scoffed, shaking his head as they passed a collapsed barricade.
"Pfft. Not a chance. The other Union Directors would never answer to him. They've spent years keeping people like him in check. Guy's dangerous—too dangerous. He's not one of them. He's…"
"…something else."
As their voices faded down the alleyway, lost in their little chat—
Back in the van—
The body bag moved.
Barely perceptible at first: a slight twitch beneath the reinforced fiber.
Then a shimmer—veins of red-hot light began threading faintly under the black fabric, like molten metal seeping through cracks in stone. The rune lamp above flickered violently, responding to the surge of mana. Sparks danced across the roof.
The glow intensified.
Zzzrrppppp…
