/* ========== INDEPENDENT STYLES ========== */
    /* carousel */
    .carousel {
      position: relative;
      height: 85vh;
      min-height: 650px;
      overflow: hidden;
      margin-top: 80px; /* space for fixed nav */
      background-color: #05111f;
    }
    .carousel-slides {
      position: relative;
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
    }
    .slide {
      position: absolute;
      top: 0;
      left: 0;
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
      opacity: 0;
      transition: opacity 1.5s ease-in-out;
      z-index: 1;
    }
    .slide.active {
      opacity: 1;
      z-index: 2;
    }
    .slide img {
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
      object-fit: cover;
      filter: brightness(0.5) saturate(1.2);
    }
    .slide-content {
      position: absolute;
      top: 50%;
      left: 10%;
      transform: translateY(-50%);
      color: #fff;
      max-width: 650px;
      z-index: 3;
      text-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.3);
    }
    .slide-content h2 {
      font-size: 58px;
      font-weight: 600;
      line-height: 1.2;
      margin-bottom: 20px;
      opacity: 0;
      animation: slideTextIn 1s forwards 0.3s;
    }
    .slide-content p {
      font-size: 22px;
      margin-bottom: 30px;
      opacity: 0;
      animation: slideTextIn 1s forwards 0.5s;
    }
    .slide-content .gold-line {
      width: 80px;
      height: 4px;
      background: #d4af37;
      margin-bottom: 25px;
      opacity: 0;
      animation: slideTextIn 1s forwards 0.4s;
    }
    @keyframes slideTextIn {
      0% { opacity: 0; transform: translateY(25px); }
      100% { opacity: 1; transform: translateY(0); }
    }
    .carousel-indicators {
      position: absolute;
      bottom: 40px;
      left: 50%;
      transform: translateX(-50%);
      display: flex;
      gap: 14px;
      z-index: 10;
    }
    .indicator {
      width: 12px;
      height: 12px;
      border-radius: 50%;
      background: rgba(255,255,255,0.5);
      cursor: pointer;
      transition: 0.3s;
      border: none;
    }
    .indicator.active {
      background: #d4af37;
      transform: scale(1.3);
    }
    .carousel-arrow {
      position: absolute;
      top: 50%;
      transform: translateY(-50%);
      width: 48px;
      height: 48px;
      background: rgba(10,25,47,0.6);
      border: 1px solid rgba(212,175,55,0.4);
      border-radius: 50%;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      color: white;
      font-size: 24px;
      cursor: pointer;
      z-index: 10;
      transition: 0.3s;
    }
    .carousel-arrow:hover {
      background: #0a192f;
      border-color: #d4af37;
      color: #d4af37;
    }
    .arrow-left { left: 30px; }
    .arrow-right { right: 30px; }

    /* services cards */
    .services-grid {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
      gap: 30px;
      margin: 50px 0 20px;
    }
    .service-card {
      background: #ffffff;
      padding: 32px 24px;
      border-radius: 16px;
      box-shadow: 0 10px 30px rgba(0,20,40,0.06);
      transition: transform 0.3s, box-shadow 0.3s;
      border: 1px solid #eef2f6;
    }
    .service-card:hover {
      transform: translateY(-8px);
      box-shadow: 0 20px 40px rgba(0,30,60,0.12);
      border-color: rgba(212,175,55,0.3);
    }
    .service-icon {
      font-size: 42px;
      color: #d4af37;
      margin-bottom: 24px;
    }
    .service-card h3 {
      font-size: 22px;
      font-weight: 600;
      margin-bottom: 16px;
      color: #0a192f;
    }
    .service-card p {
      font-size: 15px;
      color: #4d627a;
      line-height: 1.6;
    }

    /* about section */
    .about-section {
      background: #f8fafd;
      padding: 80px 0;
    }
    .about-wrapper {
      display: flex;
      gap: 60px;
      align-items: center;
    }
    .about-image {
      flex: 1;
      border-radius: 24px;
      overflow: hidden;
      box-shadow: 0 25px 40px -10px rgba(0,0,0,0.15);
    }
    .about-content {
      flex: 1;
    }
    .about-content h2 {
      font-size: 40px;
      margin-bottom: 30px;
    }
    .about-content p {
      color: #33475b;
      font-size: 17px;
      margin-bottom: 20px;
    }
    .about-highlight {
      border-left: 5px solid #d4af37;
      padding-left: 20px;
      background: rgba(212,175,55,0.03);
      padding: 20px;
      border-radius: 0 16px 16px 0;
      font-weight: 500;
    }

    /* advantages */
    .advantages-grid {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: repeat(4, 1fr);
      gap: 30px;
      margin: 60px 0;
    }
    .advantage-item {
      text-align: center;
    }
    .advantage-icon {
      background: #0a192f;
      width: 80px;
      height: 80px;
      border-radius: 50%;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      margin: 0 auto 20px;
      color: #d4af37;
      font-size: 34px;
      border: 2px solid #d4af37;
    }
    .advantage-item h4 {
      font-size: 22px;
      font-weight: 600;
      color: #0a192f;
    }
    .advantage-item p {
      color: #546e8a;
      font-size: 15px;
    }

    /* process steps (cyclic animation) */
    .process-steps {
      display: flex;
      justify-content: space-between;
      margin: 70px 0;
      position: relative;
    }
    .process-step {
      text-align: center;
      flex: 1;
      position: relative;
      z-index: 3;
    }
    .step-number {
      width: 70px;
      height: 70px;
      background: #0a192f;
      border: 3px solid #d4af37;
      border-radius: 50%;
      margin: 0 auto 25px;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      font-size: 28px;
      font-weight: 700;
      color: white;
      box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 rgba(212,175,55,0.7);
      animation: stepGlow 2.2s infinite;
    }
    .process-step:nth-child(1) .step-number { animation-delay: 0s; }
    .process-step:nth-child(2) .step-number { animation-delay: 0.55s; }
    .process-step:nth-child(3) .step-number { animation-delay: 1.1s; }
    .process-step:nth-child(4) .step-number { animation-delay: 1.65s; }
    @keyframes stepGlow {
      0% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 #d4af37; background: #0a192f; }
      25% { box-shadow: 0 0 20px 8px #d4af37; background: #1f3a5f; border-color: #fff; }
      50% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 #d4af37; background: #0a192f; }
      100% { box-shadow: 0 0 0 0 #d4af37; background: #0a192f; }
    }
    .process-step h4 {
      font-size: 22px;
      margin-bottom: 10px;
      color: #0a192f;
    }
    .process-step p {
      color: #5a6e85;
      font-size: 15px;
      max-width: 200px;
      margin: 0 auto;
    }
    .process-line {
      position: absolute;
      top: 35px;
      left: 10%;
      width: 80%;
      height: 3px;
      background: linear-gradient(90deg, #d4af37 30%, #e0e4e8 30%);
      z-index: 1;
      opacity: 0.4;
    }

    /* insights posts */
    .posts-grid {
      display: grid;
      grid-template-columns: repeat(3, 1fr);
      gap: 30px;
      margin: 50px 0;
    }
    .post-card {
      background: #fff;
      border-radius: 16px;
      overflow: hidden;
      box-shadow: 0 10px 30px rgba(0,0,0,0.04);
      border: 1px solid #eaeff4;
      transition: 0.3s;
    }
    .post-card:hover {
      box-shadow: 0 20px 30px rgba(0,20,50,0.1);
    }
    .post-thumb img {
      height: 200px;
      width: 100%;
    }
    .post-info {
      padding: 24px;
    }
    .post-info h4 {
      font-size: 20px;
      font-weight: 600;
      margin-bottom: 12px;
      color: #0a192f;
    }
    .post-info a {
      text-decoration: none;
      color: #d4af37;
      font-weight: 500;
      display: inline-block;
      margin-top: 12px;
    }

    /* responsive */
    @media (max-width: 992px) {
      .services-grid, .advantages-grid, .posts-grid { grid-template-columns: repeat(2, 1fr); }
      .about-wrapper { flex-direction: column; }
      .footer .container { grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; }
    }
    @media (max-width: 768px) {
      .nav-menu { display: none; } /* minimalist: hidden on mobile for cleanliness */
      .services-grid, .advantages-grid, .posts-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
      .process-steps { flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 30px; }
      .process-line { display: none; }
      .slide-content h2 { font-size: 36px; }
    }