Dominic’s fingers stopped beside the table.
“Substituted?”
Constantine waved one hand.
“Standard precaution.”
Amelia turned the journal slightly toward the light.
“There is another line underneath that one.”
Arthur leaned closer.
“I don’t see another line.”
“It isn’t written underneath physically.
It’s encoded in the numerical sequence.”
She read it once silently to be certain.
Then aloud.
“Russo confirmation triggers replacement protocol.”
Nobody moved.
Dominic’s eyes went to Constantine.
“What is replacement protocol?”
Constantine laughed, but there was strain behind it now.
“Nothing.
She is inventing phrases from numbers.”
Arthur reached for the book.
Amelia shifted it toward him and showed him the repeating sequence.
“Every fifth figure corresponds to the compressed verb beside it.
Reverse the paired fragments.”
Arthur stared for several seconds.
Then his face changed.
He whispered, “She’s right.”
Constantine stood.
Silas moved at the same instant.
No weapon appeared.
None was necessary.
The message was obvious.
Dominic did not raise his voice.
“Sit down.”
Constantine looked toward the door, then toward Silas, then back to Dominic.
“This is becoming insulting.”
“You brought the book.”
“I brought legitimate terms.”
“Then you should be eager to hear them.”
Constantine remained standing for another second before lowering himself into the chair.
The room had reversed without anyone noticing the exact moment it happened.
Amelia was no longer background staff.
Constantine was no longer controlling the information.
Dominic pointed at the journal.
“Continue.”
Amelia read the next encoded instruction.
“Upon acceptance, eastern access remains open until the Russo delegation commits personnel and capital.”
Dominic said, “And underneath?”
Amelia decoded the hidden layer.
“Once committed, access closes.”
Gabriel straightened near the wall.
Arthur took off his glasses.
Constantine spoke immediately.
“That could mean customs access.
Temporary restrictions.
You have no context.”
Amelia examined the next cluster.
