diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fa1c8581..62d677da 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ The rule is:
 - rescue good work from legacy Matrix
 - rebuild inside `the-nexus`
 - keep telemetry and durable truth flowing through the Hermes harness
-- keep OpenClaw as a sidecar, not the authority
+- Hermes is the sole harness — no external gateway dependencies
 
 ## Verified historical browser-world snapshot