The room remained still after the heavy silence of Ethan's warning. Ethan had set aside the address of Aaron Jenkins but continued to scan the thick folder Congressman Thompson had provided, particularly the section dedicated to Celestial.

"What can you tell me about Celestial?" Ethan asked, looking up from the documents. "The file on Olympus is extensive, but this section feels deliberately sparse."

Congressman Thompson sighed, a genuine note of apprehension in his voice. "Celestial is a different beast entirely, Ethan. Unlike Olympus, which is largely European organized crime, Celestial has deeply entrenched Jewish roots and connections. After I realized they were your enemies, I became genuinely worried, if I'm being honest."

"Worry isn't a strategy, Thompson," Ethan said, taking a measured sip of his whisky. "Detail their power."

"Their power isn't measured in muscle; it's measured in influence," Thompson explained, pacing slowly. "They don't run drugs or engage in petty extortion. They deal in geopolitical positioning and corporate leverage. They have deep connections with major financial investment firms—think of 'Aethel Partners' or 'Solomon Holdings'—firms that move trillions globally."

Old Falcon, who had remained silent during the Olympus discussion, finally spoke up, lending his weight to the warning. "Their connections reach the core of the government, Ethan. They are masters of neutrality. On the surface, they fund both sides, ensuring they always have an ally in power. But below the surface, they are fiercely dedicated to their agenda."

"Give me specifics, not theories," Ethan demanded.

"Specifics are everywhere," Thompson replied. "Consider the state governments. Governor Stern in New Canaan—publicly non-partisan, but Celestial funds every major charity he endorses. Governor Levine in South River—same deal. They secure the support of key state treasurers and judges, creating legislative and legal firewalls that make them untouchable."

"They ensure that certain financial regulations are passed in key states, regulations that quietly benefit their associated corporations," Vincent Halbert added, desperate to prove his continued utility. "If you tried to audit 'Aethel Partners,' the paperwork would take five years, and three different state governors would coincidentally find reasons to block the required federal cooperation."

"They wield soft power," Mr. Stone noted. "They are masters of perception. Any investigation targeting them would instantly be framed in the media as an act of anti-Semitic discrimination, regardless of the evidence. That kind of public backlash can break careers faster than any criminal charge."

"And the political connections?" Ethan pressed.

"They operate through congressional lobbying groups—fictional ones, but powerful," Thompson explained. "They funnel millions into specific districts to ensure Congressmen who vote against their interests disappear at the next election. They don't need to bribe the top dog; they only need to control the middle management of the entire political machine."

"It's a shadow government," Max whispered, wide-eyed, finally understanding the true scale of the opponent.

Ethan finally closed the Celestial file, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "So, Olympus is the punch; Celestial is the shield," Ethan summarized. "And that shield is backed by the full financial and political weight of the establishment."

"Exactly," Thompson confirmed, relieved Ethan understood the gravity. "Fighting them is not fighting a mafia; it's fighting the system itself."

"This is serious, truly serious," Ethan admitted, running a hand over his shaved head. "I thought I was dealing with a large corporate entity, perhaps a highly organized international mafia. But fighting the government itself... this is a league I wasn't prepared for. It feels like a beetle trying to lift an elephant."

"That's why caution is key," Thompson stated, nodding firmly.

"Chief," Lena Rossi began, stepping forward with Cassandra. "There's something we need to report that happened while you were consolidating power here. It involves Celestial."

"They came looking for explanations for the attack on their people," Cassandra confirmed, her voice tense.

"When was this?" Ethan asked, his attention immediately focused.

"The day of the Lexington incident, before the news broke," Lena explained. "Old Falcon was not available, so Cassandra and I had to handle the delegation. We knew the general situation, but not the whole truth, so we had to pretend we were fully informed to maintain our cover."

"Fortunately, they didn't link the attack directly to you or Jason," Cassandra added. "They treated it as an invasion into a contested zone."

"Celestial initially came in very aggressively, demanding answers," Lena said, recalling the tension. "We defended our position, telling them that since we were currently at war with Olympus, we had no way of knowing their people were from Celestial. We claimed we were acting purely defensively against any perceived attack on our territory."

"And how did they react to that?" Mr. Stone asked, intrigued.

"That's the strange part," Lena replied, frowning. "After we mentioned Olympus, their entire attitude shifted. Celestial apologized for having entered our zone without our explicit permission. They then offered compensation, stating they would give us five million dollars."

"Five million dollars?" Thompson exclaimed, surprised. "For an apology?"

"We were stunned, too," Cassandra confessed. "But we accepted it. Our operating funds are currently under heavy scrutiny due to your situation, Ethan, and we didn't want to make large movements to purchase more equipment that could be linked back to you and put more pressure on you in prison."

"Why the immediate reversal of attitude?" Ethan asked Lena directly. "Why did they become compliant the moment you mentioned Olympus?"

"We don't know, Chief," Lena said, shaking her head. "But the name Olympus seemed to make them incredibly agreeable."

"Incredibly agreeable is an understatement," Cassandra spoke up, exchanging a look with Lena. "They offered us an additional fifty million dollars to reinforce our position and help us annihilate Olympus. They explicitly stated we would be doing them a favor.

A heavy, confused silence fell over the room. Why would a power as immense as Celestial offer millions to a smaller, local group to fight their apparent rival?

Old Falcon, who had been listening with his hands clasped tightly, began to shift uncomfortably. His face was etched with a mixture of nervousness and perhaps shame.

"I... I have to confess something," Old Falcon finally announced, his voice surprisingly soft. He looked down at the floor before meeting Ethan's eyes. "I know why Celestial acted that way, why the name Olympus changed the conversation."

"Then tell us," Ethan commanded.

"I have to first tell you how I know them," Old Falcon insisted, breathing deeply. "You need the context to understand. I wasn't always just Old Falcon. I was part of another organization I founded years ago. It was a private security and protection company. We called ourselves... Eternal."

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