Julian Kane returns through the rain-soaked streets of Hollow City with the mission package intact and meets the warehouse woman, who takes him to the underground tunnels to face the Council of Shadows. Before the council, Julian recounts the ambush, betrayal, and lessons he learned about the underworld’s hidden forces. Impressed but cautious, the council reviews the package’s powerful intelligence and acknowledges his potential. They warn him that survival alone is not enough—he must understand, anticipate, and influence the networks of power. Leaving the chamber at dawn, Julian realizes he has crossed a threshold: the underworld has claimed his future, and he is now truly part of it.
