The wall of sound hit me like a physical force as we stepped away from the plane. What had seemed manageable from the aircraft steps became overwhelming as we moved into the crowd. The security barriers created a narrow corridor toward the waiting vehicles, but the press of bodies on either side made it feel like walking through a canyon of voices and flashing lights.
"Mr. Reynard!" A reporter thrust a microphone toward me, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Sarah Martinez, BBC News. What's your response to President Valeska's statement that you pose an existential threat to democratic governance?"
I paused, caught off guard. Valeska had made public statements about me? "I... I wasn't aware of any specific statements," I said, immediately regretting the admission of ignorance.
