/* Aperture Research Works V169 commercial translation layer - 11 Sep 2026
   Additive layer only. V168 layout/content remains authoritative underneath. */
:root{
  --v169c-ink:#102131;
  --v169c-muted:#5d6b78;
  --v169c-line:#d6e0e8;
  --v169c-soft:#f4f8fb;
  --v169c-warm:#fff7ef;
  --v169c-accent:#b35a13;
  --v169c-navy:#0d2134;
}
.v169c-gateway,.v169c-insert{padding:clamp(42px,6vw,78px) 0;background:#fff;border-top:1px solid var(--v169c-line);border-bottom:1px solid var(--v169c-line)}
.v169c-gateway.soft,.v169c-insert.soft{background:var(--v169c-soft)}
.v169c-eyebrow{margin:0 0 10px;color:var(--v169c-accent);font-weight:850;letter-spacing:.12em;text-transform:uppercase;font-size:.76rem}
.v169c-title{margin:0;max-width:980px;color:var(--v169c-ink);font-size:clamp(1.75rem,3.7vw,3.2rem);line-height:1.02;letter-spacing:-.035em}
.v169c-lead{max-width:900px;margin:15px 0 0;color:#435463;font-size:clamp(1rem,1.8vw,1.18rem);line-height:1.65}
.v169c-route-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(3,minmax(0,1fr));gap:18px;margin-top:28px}
.v169c-route-card,.v169c-product-card,.v169c-ladder-card,.v169c-trust-card{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--v169c-line);border-radius:16px;padding:22px;box-shadow:0 10px 28px rgba(15,36,54,.045)}
.v169c-route-card{display:flex;flex-direction:column;min-height:245px}
.v169c-route-label{color:var(--v169c-accent);font-size:.76rem;font-weight:850;letter-spacing:.11em;text-transform:uppercase}
.v169c-route-card h3,.v169c-product-card h3,.v169c-trust-card h3{margin:9px 0 8px;color:var(--v169c-ink);font-size:1.22rem}
.v169c-route-card p,.v169c-product-card p,.v169c-trust-card p{color:#526271;line-height:1.55}
.v169c-route-card .v169c-question{font-weight:800;color:#243341;margin-bottom:8px}
.v169c-route-link{margin-top:auto;padding-top:12px;font-weight:850;text-decoration:none;color:#075c9d}
.v169c-route-link:hover{text-decoration:underline}
.v169c-two-col{display:grid;grid-template-columns:minmax(0,1.15fr) minmax(320px,.85fr);gap:20px;margin-top:22px;align-items:stretch}
.v169c-finding{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--v169c-line);border-radius:16px;padding:22px}
.v169c-finding h3{margin:4px 0 16px;font-size:1.25rem;color:var(--v169c-ink)}
.v169c-finding-row{padding:11px 0;border-top:1px solid #e8eef3;color:#394b5a;line-height:1.5}
.v169c-finding-row:first-of-type{border-top:0}
.v169c-finding-row strong{display:block;color:#657482;font-size:.72rem;letter-spacing:.09em;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:4px}
.v169c-impact{margin-top:12px;background:var(--v169c-warm);border:1px solid #efd2b7;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 15px;color:#2e3943}
.v169c-ladder{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr));gap:12px}
.v169c-ladder-card{box-shadow:none;padding:17px}
.v169c-ladder-card strong{display:block;color:var(--v169c-ink);font-size:1.08rem;margin-bottom:4px}
.v169c-ladder-card span{display:block;color:#60707e;font-size:.9rem;line-height:1.45}
.v169c-products-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,minmax(0,1fr));gap:16px;margin-top:24px}
.v169c-product-card{box-shadow:none}
.v169c-price{margin-top:12px!important;font-weight:850;color:var(--v169c-ink)!important}
.v169c-process{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(5,minmax(0,1fr));gap:10px;margin-top:24px}
.v169c-step{position:relative;background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--v169c-line);border-radius:14px;padding:17px 15px;min-height:120px}
.v169c-step b{display:block;color:var(--v169c-accent);font-size:.72rem;letter-spacing:.08em;margin-bottom:7px}
.v169c-step strong{display:block;color:var(--v169c-ink);font-size:.96rem;line-height:1.35}
.v169c-step span{display:block;color:#62717e;margin-top:7px;font-size:.86rem;line-height:1.45}
.v169c-inline-note{margin-top:20px;padding:16px 18px;border-left:4px solid #2674b8;background:#f5f9fc;border-radius:10px;color:#374957;line-height:1.55}
.v169c-cta-row{display:flex;gap:12px;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-top:22px}
.v169c-cta-row .button{margin:0}
.v169c-compact-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,minmax(0,1fr));gap:13px;margin-top:22px}
.v169c-trust-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr));gap:12px;margin-top:20px}
.v169c-trust-card{box-shadow:none;padding:18px}
.v169c-role-note{font-weight:800;color:var(--v169c-ink)}
.v169c-secondary-note{margin-top:16px;color:#657482;font-size:.92rem;line-height:1.55}
/* Keep the new buyer-facing layer visually subordinate to the established V168 system. */
body .v169c-gateway .shell,body .v169c-insert .shell{max-width:1180px}
@media(max-width:900px){
 .v169c-route-grid,.v169c-products-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr))}
 .v169c-two-col{grid-template-columns:1fr}
 .v169c-process{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr))}
 .v169c-compact-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr))}
}
@media(max-width:620px){
 .v169c-route-grid,.v169c-products-grid,.v169c-process,.v169c-compact-grid,.v169c-trust-grid,.v169c-ladder{grid-template-columns:1fr}
 .v169c-route-card{min-height:0}
 .v169c-gateway,.v169c-insert{padding:38px 0}
}


/* V169 entry-channel router layer — additive, 14 Sep 2026 */
.v169c-entry-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(4,minmax(0,1fr));gap:16px;margin-top:26px}
.v169c-entry-card{display:flex;flex-direction:column;min-height:275px;background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--v169c-line);border-radius:16px;padding:22px;box-shadow:0 10px 28px rgba(15,36,54,.045)}
.v169c-entry-card.featured{border:2px solid #c87327}
.v169c-entry-card h3{margin:9px 0 8px;color:var(--v169c-ink);font-size:1.22rem;line-height:1.25}
.v169c-entry-card p{color:#526271;line-height:1.55}
.v169c-entry-card .v169c-route-link{margin-top:auto}
.v169c-entry-secondary{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr));gap:16px;margin-top:18px}
.v169c-entry-secondary article{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--v169c-line);border-radius:14px;padding:20px}
.v169c-entry-secondary h3{margin:0 0 8px;color:var(--v169c-ink)}
.v169c-entry-model{display:grid;grid-template-columns:repeat(5,minmax(0,1fr));gap:10px;margin-top:24px}
.v169c-entry-model article{background:#fff;border:1px solid var(--v169c-line);border-radius:14px;padding:16px;min-height:150px}
.v169c-entry-model b{display:block;color:var(--v169c-accent);font-size:.72rem;letter-spacing:.08em;text-transform:uppercase;margin-bottom:7px}
.v169c-entry-model strong{display:block;color:var(--v169c-ink);line-height:1.35;margin-bottom:7px}
.v169c-entry-model span{display:block;color:#62717e;font-size:.88rem;line-height:1.45}
.v169c-channel-detail{padding:clamp(42px,6vw,72px) 0;border-top:1px solid var(--v169c-line)}
.v169c-channel-detail:nth-of-type(even){background:var(--v169c-soft)}
.v169c-channel-detail .shell{max-width:980px}
.v169c-channel-detail h2{margin:0 0 12px;color:var(--v169c-ink);font-size:clamp(1.55rem,3vw,2.5rem)}
.v169c-channel-detail h3{color:var(--v169c-ink)}
.v169c-channel-detail ul{color:#425464;line-height:1.65}
.v169c-boundary-note{margin-top:18px;padding:16px 18px;border-left:4px solid #2674b8;background:#f5f9fc;border-radius:10px;color:#374957;line-height:1.58}
.v169c-referral-programme{margin-top:28px;padding:22px;border:1px solid #e3c7a7;border-radius:16px;background:#fff9f2}
.v169c-referral-programme h2,.v169c-referral-programme h3{color:var(--v169c-ink)}
.v169c-referral-programme .button{margin-top:8px}
@media(max-width:1000px){.v169c-entry-grid{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr))}.v169c-entry-model{grid-template-columns:repeat(2,minmax(0,1fr))}}
@media(max-width:620px){.v169c-entry-grid,.v169c-entry-secondary,.v169c-entry-model{grid-template-columns:1fr}.v169c-entry-card{min-height:0}}