The Situation Room felt colder than the Oval Office.
No windows. No sunlight. Only screens and steel and quiet power.
Ethan Cole sat at the center of the long table, fingers interlaced, listening.
Around him were people who had shaped the world long before he existed.
General Marcus Hale leaned forward first. "The assassination attempt was domestic in execution, but not in origin."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
"Meaning someone wanted plausible deniability," Hale said. "Money trails point offshore."
Director Evelyn Ross tapped her tablet, projecting a map onto the main screen.
Red markers bloomed across the globe.
"China," she said calmly. "Russia. One private European banking syndicate. And two Middle Eastern intermediaries."
The room went silent.
Alexandra Pierce crossed her legs slowly. "So everyone," she said lightly.
Ethan glanced at her. "You seem unsurprised."
She smiled. "Markets hate uncertainty. You are uncertainty."
The system flickered softly in Ethan's vision.
[Global pressure increasing.]
[Diplomatic hostility detected.]
[Authority strain: Moderate.]
A man across the table cleared his throat. "Mr President," he said carefully, "this transition violates every known expectation of power transfer. Allies are nervous. Enemies are curious."
Ethan nodded. "And the public?"
Evelyn replied. "They like you. Right now. You look calm. You survived an attempt. That buys goodwill."
"But not time," Ethan said.
"Correct."
The system chimed again.
[Decision window opening.]
[Multiple national interactions available.]
The main screen changed.
Live feeds appeared one by one.
A stern man in a dark suit. Moscow.
A composed woman with sharp eyes. Beijing.
A smiling diplomat masking calculation. Brussels.
A royal representative from the Gulf.
They were all waiting.
Ethan straightened in his chair.
"Patch them through," he said.
The first face spoke immediately.
"President Cole," the Russian representative said, voice smooth. "Your sudden rise is… remarkable."
Ethan smiled faintly. "So I've been told."
The woman from Beijing leaned forward slightly. "Stability is important," she said. "Unpredictability invites consequences."
Ethan met her gaze. "So does interference."
A flicker of interest passed through her eyes.
Alexandra leaned closer, whispering softly, "Careful. They test tone as much as words."
The system chimed.
[Romance proximity detected.]
[Buff active.]
[Effect: Negotiation clarity.]
Ethan continued evenly. "The United States remains open to cooperation. But understand this."
He paused deliberately.
"We will not be managed."
Silence.
Then the European diplomat chuckled. "Direct. Refreshing."
The Gulf representative spoke next. "Power respects power. What do you offer?"
The system responded before Ethan did.
[Alliance negotiation unlocked.]
[Proposed incentive available.]
Ethan glanced briefly at the translucent prompt only he could see.
[Offer limited military cooperation.]
[Offer financial partnership.]
He chose.
"We offer stability," Ethan said aloud. "And access."
Eyes narrowed across the screens.
The Russian representative smiled thinly. "And if we decline?"
Ethan's voice did not change. "Then you watch."
The call ended shortly after.
The room exhaled collectively.
General Hale let out a slow breath. "That could have gone worse."
Evelyn nodded. "Or much better."
Alexandra studied Ethan openly now. "You didn't flinch."
"I didn't know I was supposed to," Ethan replied.
She smiled. This time it was genuine.
The system chimed again, quieter.
[Romance bond deepening.]
[Trust threshold approaching.]
A junior aide entered hurriedly. "Mr President, domestic issues are piling up."
"List them," Ethan said.
"Markets want clarity. Governors want reassurance. Congress wants to test you."
"Of course they do," Ethan said.
Another screen lit up.
Protest footage. Support rallies. Media debates.
The system updated.
[Public approval: 72 percent.]
[Elite resistance: Rising.]
Ethan leaned back.
"So this is the real game," he murmured.
Evelyn nodded. "Welcome to power. No villains. Only interests."
Another alert appeared.
[Hidden quest unlocked.]
[Objective: Secure long term legitimacy.]
[Requirement: One decisive action.]
[Failure consequence: Fragmented authority.]
Ethan's fingers tightened slightly.
"What kind of action?" he asked aloud.
The system did not answer.
Instead, a new message appeared.
[Incoming request.]
[Sender: Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.]
Ethan looked up.
"Well," he said quietly, "let's see who blinks first."
Outside the Situation Room, the world waited.
Inside, a man who had been invisible yesterday prepared to decide its direction.