Page 303 of Mercy Written in Blood

"And I would make them again."

Silence followed. Not because the statement was unexpected. Because he meant it.

Renji felt something within him settle. Not agreement. A loss. The Accord had protected him at times — given him authority to practise medicine across territories, intervened when younger vampires drew attention, prevented human governments from learning enough to begin hunting indiscriminately. It had also concealed crimes. Suppressed history. Protected order by deciding who was entitled to truth. Renji had tolerated those contradictions because he believed the alternative was catastrophe. He still believed catastrophe was possible. That no longer made tolerance feel wise.

"You knew my family's history was false," he said.

Mori looked at him.

"I knew portions had been altered."

"You allowed me to believe they practised predatory Hemomancy."

"We did not know the techniques in the Archive."

"You knew the accusations were politically useful."

"Yes."

"You allowed my bloodline to remain disgraced."

"Yes."

The answer was softer this time. Renji hated him for that softness.

Haruki looked at Renji.

"What did they tell you?"

"This is not relevant."

"It is to me."

Renji did not answer. Mori did.

"The official record described Takahara Hemomancy as coercive. It alleged their human population had been conditioned through blood."

Haruki's face changed.

"And you let him carry that."

Mori looked at him.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because clearing the Takahara name would have required reopening the coalition records."

"Then reopen them."

"The bloodlines involved still hold power."

"That is precisely why."

Mori's gaze sharpened.

"And what follows? Purges? Retaliation? Human governments discovering their predecessors helped eliminate a mixed society? Modern families held responsible for ancestors they never knew?"