Page 302 of Mercy Written in Blood

The words struck hard. Haruki stepped closer.

"You think we don't understand consequences?"

"I think Sota understands them and has decided future casualties belong to history rather than to him."

"And you?"

"I sign their names."

Mori opened a drawer. He removed a black ledger and placed it on the table. No title marked the cover. He opened it. Pages of names. Dates. Locations. Renji did not need to ask.

"Every death directly connected to a secrecy order I authorised," Mori said.

Haruki looked down at the pages.

"How many?"

"Three hundred and twelve."

The number entered the room and remained. Mori rested one hand beside the book.

"I know what my choices cost."

"Do their families?" Haruki asked.

"No."

"Then this ledger is for you."

"Yes."

"Not them."

"Yes."

"Private guilt is not justice."

"No."

Haruki looked at him. Mori did not look away.

"What do you want us to say?" Haruki asked. "That this makes you honourable?"

"No."

"That you suffered too?"

"No."

"Then why show us?"

"Because you believe I made these decisions without understanding their weight."

"You made them anyway."

"Yes."

Mori closed the ledger.