Location: Sector 7 – Reconstruction Zone
Time: 9:14 AM
Three weeks had passed since the final trigger.
The city was no longer governed by invisible hands or countdown clocks. No simulations. No perfect loops. Just real choices and real consequences.
But even freedom had a cost.
Kaen walked through the bustling reconstruction site of Sector 7, where a collapsed bridge had left half the sector inaccessible. Young volunteers hauled debris while local coordinators argued over resource distribution.
"Too many cooks," muttered a voice behind him.
Ezra arrived, brushing cement dust off his coat. "People have strong opinions when they think their decisions actually matter."
Kaen gave a half-smile. "Good. Means we did something right."
They continued walking past an argument between a nurse and a logistics manager—both trying to claim the last set of solar panels. Neither backed down.
Kaen didn't intervene. He knew better now.
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Location: City Forum – Open Assembly Floor
