Chapter 191
Due Diligence
Maximilian held a hand toward Logan. “Allow to reintroduce him. Logan is the Throne of Scales’ Lead Predictive Analyst.”
Logan stared at Alexander the sa way he had been since they sat down. Unblinking. Eyes lidded.
Alexander glanced between them. He had a feeling he knew where this was going, but decided to play along. “And what exactly does a Lead Predictive Analyst do?”
“I provide Logan with information,” Maximilian said. “He constructs probability models from it. Highly accurate ones.”
“So he’s your version of a diviner.” Alexander looked at Logan. “Just more boring.”
Sothing shifted behind Logan’s eyes. The faintest tightening around his mouth. It was the first sign of life the man had shown since they’d t. He still didn’t speak.
Maximilian shook his head. “I will not permit my guild’s future to balance on the unpredictable nature of powers that see the future.”
Alexander almost rolled his eyes. “Yeah, okay, Max. You summon dragons. But sure, you draw the line at precognition.” He gestured toward Logan. “anwhile, Calculus over here is the very picture of reliability.” He leaned forward. “That still doesn’t answer my question. How did you know about the Royals?”
Logan spoke.
His voice was a slow, flat monotone, each word delivered with the sa chanical weight as the last. “We did not know with certainty. Binomial distribution placed the likelihood at ninety-nine point one percent. Normal distribution at ninety-two point seven. Uniform distribution at eighty point four.” He paused, though not for effect. More like a machine cycling to its next output. “Likelihood was therefore sufficient for inclusion in the initial proposal. The intent was to prompt a response.” He blinked. “You have now confird it.”
Alexander listened to the entire, painful explanation. When it was over, his left eyelid twitched.
“I knew I didn’t like you,” Alexander said. He turned to Maximilian. “And you. Bringing him here is an offense to my gentle sensibilities. It makes want to spend the rest of this diation proving that your pet calculator can’t predict everything.”
Maximilian smiled. A rare, genuine kind that reached his eyes. “I thought it would be beneficial for Logan to et you in person. For exactly that reason.”
“To offend ?”
“To remind him that so people are far less predictable than he believes.”
Alexander studied Maximilian for a mont, then sighed. He turned to Jasmine. “Save from tedium. Are there any egregious issues we should address today, or shall we adjourn until tomorrow to give you more ti with Maximilian’s first published novel?”
Jasmine looked up from her binder.
Pages of sticky notes marked sections throughout. She’d been ready before Alexander asked.
“Several issues require imdiate attention before we can discuss the substance of any section,” she said. Her voice carried the sa composed neutrality she’d worn since entering the room, but there was an edge beneath it now. “I’ll address them in order.”
Brandt visibly readied himself. His pen ca up, poised over a fresh legal pad.
“Section One. The definition of supervillainry as the basis for cessation is drawn from the UEG’s classification frawork. An external body controls that frawork with the unilateral power to and it at any ti. My client cannot agree to terms defined by a system he has no control over. Mutual agreent between the parties must establish the definition, specific to this compact, and frozen at the ti of signing.”
She didn’t pause for acknowledgnt.
“Further, the obligation in Section One is entirely one-directional. Grimnir ceases specific operations, but the Throne of Scales and its affiliated guilds make no reciprocal commitnt. If my client is expected to stop operating as a villain on the West Coast, then every mber of this compact must agree to stop treating Grimnir as one completely. That ans no pursuit of bounties. No cooperation with AEGIS enforcent actions against Grimnir personnel. No participation in any designation frawork that classifies Grimnir or its mbers as hostile actors.”
Brandt was writing quickly. Rashid was also taking notes, recording careful, neutral shorthand from what Alexander could make out.
“If Section Four proceeds to agreent, these protections must extend to Grimnir’s allies and their personnel operating within these sa cooperative fraworks. Additionally, Section One requires precise geographical boundaries. ‘West Coast’ is colloquial, not legal.”
She turned a page.
“Section Two. The Superhuman Training Cooperative’s charter was drafted without Grimnir’s input. Twelve guilds have already signed letters of intent for a structure my client had no role in designing. If Grimnir’s participation is to be frad as a requirent rather than an invitation, then Grimnir requires founding partner status with veto authority over cooperative governance decisions.”
Brandt stopped. “Veto authority would undermine the cooperative’s decision-making frawork entirely.”
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“Then I’d suggest your client reconsider framing mandatory participation alongside zero institutional authority,” Jasmine said. “Veto power may be negotiable, but Grimnir will not join an institution it cannot influence. That is not negotiable.”
Brandt held her gaze for a mont, then resud writing. The faintest nod accompanied it.
“Additionally, the knowledge-sharing provisions require a tiered disclosure frawork. Information exchanged between mber guilds cannot be unshared. Grimnir requires the ability to classify certain techniques and operational thods as proprietary, with controlled access determined at our discretion.”
She looked at Rashid. “I want it noted that arbitration on the remaining sections cannot aningfully proceed until the governance structure of Section Two is resolved. Everything that follows depends on the institutional frawork in which it operates, and the Throne of Scales have indicated Grimnir’s acceptance of section two is mandatory for any agreent on their part.”
Rashid inclined his head. “Noted, Ms. Sharp.”
“Section Three.” Jasmine’s pen tapped twice against the page. “The term ‘all competent superhuman combatants’ is undefined, unbounded, and unacceptable as drafted. Additionally, the operational command structure references in this section lack sufficient detail regarding authority over Grimnir personnel in the field. We will not offer a counterproposal on these points today. If my client chooses to pursue agreent on Section Three, we will return with one.”
Brandt wrote without looking up.
“I have no comnts on Section Four at this ti.”
She moved to the final tab.
“Section Five. The proposal requires Grimnir to facilitate negotiations with our allies, the Royals. To be clear, Grimnir cannot commit the Royals to any action. We do not speak for them. At best, should Mr. Rooke choose to pursue agreent on this section, Grimnir would act in good faith to propose participation. Nothing more.”
Alexander watched her work. Her version of a poker face was on full display. She was carving through a forty-page docunt she’d read once and finding flaws while he was still processing the implications. And she was doing it without context on what was driving the negotiation in the first place.
It had been the right call to hire her.
“Furthermore,” Jasmine continued, “we require full disclosure of the two unnad guilds referenced as mbers of the Joint Preparatory Leadership Body alongside Throne of Scales and the Northern Shield. My client will not join an organization alongside unknown parties. We also require specific language protecting against scope creep under the current threat definition, which as written could justify virtually any directive. And we require a clearly defined exit chanism. The agreent as drafted contains no provisions for voluntary withdrawal from the leadership body.”
She closed her binder. Set her pen down beside it.
“Finally, two cross-cutting concerns. The agreent contains no ti commitnts or duration provisions for any section. That absence is notable and must be addressed. And I would challenge the Throne of Scales to return tomorrow with counterproposals addressing the issues I’ve raised. We will do the sa. My client will not even begin to consider acceptance or refusal on any of these sections until all points have been addressed.”
Silence settled over the table.
Brandt finished writing. He reviewed his notes for a mont, then looked at Maximilian. Sothing passed between them. The older lawyer turned back to Jasmine.
“Founding partner status is a conversation worth having. Ms. Sharp raises valid structural concerns that deserve proper consideration.” He smiled politely. “We will prepare responses to each point and present them tomorrow. I would also note, for the record, that the absence of ti commitnts was deliberate. We felt it appropriate to establish scope before duration, but we’re prepared to address both.”
Rashid looked between the two sides of the table. “Are both parties agreeable to adjourning for today and reconvening tomorrow morning at the sa ti?”
Maximilian nodded.
Alexander glanced at Jasmine. She gave him the smallest nod.
“Works for ,” Alexander said. “I could use so air. And lunch.”
Rashid straightened his notepad and cleared his throat. “Before I dismiss myself, standard procedure requires both parties to review my summary notes. These will be the only record that leaves this room, and will be available to the original for administrative and continuity purposes only.”
He slid the notepad to the center of the table.
Alexander leaned forward to read. The shorthand was precise and deliberately sparse. No nas beyond guild affiliations. No details about the Sheikha’s ssage. No ntion of prophets, alliances, or murder in the desert. Just clean, procedural language. Party A raised concerns regarding definitional fraworks, reciprocal obligations, institutional governance, terminology scope, command authority, and withdrawal provisions across multiple sections. Party B acknowledged concerns and committed to preparing formal responses. Both parties agreed to adjourn and reconvene the following morning.
He pushed it toward Jasmine. She scanned it twice and slid it back.
Brandt reviewed it next, Maximilian reading over his shoulder. The older lawyer raised no objection.
“Both parties are satisfied?” Rashid asked.
Everyone agreed.
“Then I will leave the notes at my seat for the original to collect once you’ve exited.” Rashid folded his hands on the table. “It has been a pleasure facilitating today’s session. I wish both parties a productive evening.”
He closed his eyes.
His body went limp. His head dropped forward and hit the table with a heavy, wet thud that made Jasmine flinch. His arms slid off the edge, hanging loose at his sides. For a long, uncomfortable mont, he looked exactly like a dead man slumped over a conference table.
Then the dissolution began. His form lost cohesion like smoke in a breeze, edges blurring, features softening, the shape of him coming apart and fading into nothing. Three seconds, maybe four, and the chair at the head of the table was empty. The notepad sat where he’d left it, the only evidence he’d ever existed.
Alexander stared at the vacant seat for a mont. “That was genuinely unsettling. I feel like he could have at least leaned back in his chair or sothing first.”
“You get used to these things.” Maximilian rose, straightening his jacket. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Alexander. I sincerely hope you will consider accepting the proposal, even if andnts need to be made first.”
Logan was already heading for the door without a word. Maximilian and Brandt followed.
Alexander nodded, but said nothing. His attention shifted to Jasmine, still packing away her things.
“I appreciate you preparing for that, Mr. Rooke. You were right to imply I would have a lot of questions afterward.” She closed her briefcase. “I will take you up on your offer now.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“To answer them,” Jasmine added. “You can start by explaining what Mr. de Castillo ant by ‘the world is ending.’ Then we can turn our attention to more important matters.”
Alexander chuckled softly.
“That’s fair.” He stood and gestured toward the doorway. “But let’s grab so food before we begin. This is going to take a while.”
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