The helicopters arrived first.
Their sound rolled across the old government district like distant thunder.
Inside the National Archives, soldiers moved quickly through narrow corridors while security officers checked every entrance again. No one spoke much.
Not because they were calm.
Because everyone understood the same thing. The Foundation was moving.
And they were moving fast.
Sebastian stood beside the black leather case recovered from Archive Nine.
The old letters remained spread across the table. The Three Keys. The Ravenscroft family. Vault C.
Every discovery had answered one question and created three more.
Magnus looked toward the basement entrance.
"How long before they reach us?"
Elena checked her tablet.
"Our outer checkpoints haven't reported movement yet."
Hayes sighed.
"That isn't comforting."
Dorian remained near the bronze plaque, studying the three circular locks.
His eyes moved slowly across the old metal.
