"Are you sure about this?" Franz asked. Video call. Final Council business. "You've built so much. Influenced so much. Walking away completely..."

"I'm sure," Dante said. "I've given enough years to this. Time to focus on what actually matters."

"What about advisory? Just occasional calls when we need strategic guidance?"

"No. I'm done. Completely. Find someone else. Build without me. You'll be fine."

Franz was quiet. Then nodded. "Understood. Thank you. For everything you've done. For building this. For giving us direction."

"You're welcome. Now take what I built and make it better. Make it clean. Make it something that helps instead of hurts."

"We will. I promise."

Dante ended...