Chapter Four: Every Malice Leaves an Echo

In twenty-four hours, the newly named Spark Community would hold its first public security audit. Anyone could challenge Xiezhi. Anyone could also follow the evidence and see who had tried to blow up a hospital. Ten minutes later, DeepVault requested an injunction, alleging exposure of trade secrets. A court summons arrived at the ward. The plaintiffs were all nine members of Dome Alliance. Tang laughed without humor. “They couldn't bury you in the hospital, so they'll bury you in court.” Lin closed his laptop. Xiezhi sank into his shadow while thousands of evidentiary threads lit above the city. “Good,” he said. “Tomorrow the world can see what they're afraid to reveal.”