The email arrived at 9:06 in the morning.
Alexander saw it first.
He sat at the terminal station near the operations wall reviewing outbound timing reports when the notification appeared across the top corner of the screen.
Municipal Compliance Office.
Request for Historical Permit Verification.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Elena."
She looked up from the dispatch table.
"What?"
"You need to read this."
Julian rolled his chair closer before Elena even stood.
"That tone already sounds expensive."
Alexander opened the file.
A formal request letter filled the screen.
Historical drainage approvals.
Structural amendment permits.
Floodplain reviews.
Trust-linked property transfers.
Supporting compliance records requested for all restored industrial sites connected to the Vale Corridor network.
Elena read the page silently.
Then again.
Marcus leaned against the side desk.
"What's that?"
"Municipal compliance review," Elena answered.
Marcus frowned.
"Random?"
