Ethan straightened his posture, the weight in his voice shifting from tired to assured. There was still exhaustion in his eyes, but the fire behind them had returned.
"I mean that everything we've built—and everything we will build—is secured. Layered. Reinforced beyond standard protocols."
David raised an eyebrow, voice cautious. "Including Quick?"
Ethan nodded, calm and certain. "Quick is just the beginning."
That line alone drew everyone's attention. The room leaned forward—literally and figuratively.
Ethan paused, letting the moment settle before he continued. "I've implemented protocols that would make even top-level tech firms sweat. Not just code-level defenses, but system-bound contingencies. Traps. Signals. Reactive chains."
Jessica crossed her arms, her voice firm but not confrontational. "You can't be that sure, Ethan. No system is unbreakable. Not forever."
Ethan turned to face her directly. His tone didn't rise. It didn't need to.
