Impressed by Jesse's loyalty, Helena teased, "How many Scarlet Cardinals can you gather on such short notice?"

Jesse fell silent, realizing the impracticality of the suggestion. The 12-mile perimeter in the desert was too vast. It would require over 20 Scarlet Cardinals for complete coverage, and there were not even that many in all of Guneria.

Helene continued confidently, "Don't bother. No one who could overpower me exists yet, so let's not make a big deal of this. Neither Reagan nor that fa