Chapter 431

The moment the order was issued, the city came alive, like a waking beast baring its fangs. At the airport, several international flights about to take off were abruptly grounded. Passengers, caught off guard, watched in shock as squads of fully armed SWAT officers stormed the planes with K9 units, combing every corner. At the train station, all departures were delayed. The electronic bulletin screens flashed the glaring red words "Restricted," while dense crowds were held back behind layers of police tape. At the docks, ship horns blared as departing cargo and passenger ships were all turned back for inspection by the coast guard. Above, the roar of police helicopters drowned out the city’s usual noise. Drones hovered low over winding streets, their cameras scanning every nook and cranny. Meanwhile, Calliope Godfrey lay unconscious in the trunk of a van. Her hands and feet were tightly bound, a strip of tape silencing her mouth. The vehicle screeched to an abrupt halt, caught in a tra