Page 300 of Mercy Written in Blood

"The evidence?"

"Destroyed."

"Why?"

Mori's gaze moved between them.

"Because the disclosure would have occurred during a period of active conflict between seven vampire houses. Human governments had no preparation. Several military departments already possessed partial intelligence and proposals for mass detention."

"You could have prepared them," Haruki said.

"Preparation requires disclosure."

"To selected people."

"Selected people become factions. Factions become leverage. Leverage becomes pre-emptive violence."

"That is fear."

"Yes."

Mori did not soften it.

"Fear based on evidence."

Haruki leaned forward.

"You took Sota's proof. You took his witnesses. You erased his work. Then you act surprised that he built a movement outside your control."

"I am not surprised."

"You created him."

"No."

Mori's answer was quiet.

"We helped shape him. That is not the same thing."

"It is close enough."

"Perhaps."

Renji watched them. Haruki's anger was not only for Sota. It was for the people in the community centre. For Kenta. For Mrs Okada. For every family turned away from the truth. Mori represented the structure that made those choices. Renji had represented it too. That knowledge sat uncomfortably beneath his ribs.

"The Archive proves the First Law was never inevitable," Haruki said.

"Yes," Mori replied.

"You buried that proof."

"Yes."

"You would do it again."

Mori looked at him.

"Yes."