The coalition returned to the map room with a proposal for a temporary anchor trial. Yan stood beside the barrier chart while Wei read the terms aloud. The Registry would publish its readings, allow local nodes to disconnect if they became unsafe, and suspend population-binding orders while the trial ran.
Wuchen listened without interrupting. “I can share some readings after review. I will not allow communities to withdraw from the central ledger.”
“Then they cannot consent to the test,” Qinghe said.
“They can choose not to join it.”
Yan set the overload chart on the table. The current barriers still functioned, but cracked relays caused surges that damaged districts before the central anchor could redirect them. If he became the permanent anchor, he could survive repeated surges and grow stronger. His strength would be spent holding a failing design together while crews tried to repair it.
Wei marked the damaged channels. Several repair teams had been assigned to ceremonial walls inside the capital.
Wuchen pointed to the walls’ position. “They are public safety structures. We cannot abandon them during a storm.”
“Could the crews have been split?” Wei asked.
