Page 307 of Mercy Written in Blood

Mori looked at both men.

"Find the descendant before the others do."

"And then?" Renji asked.

"Bring them to the Accord."

Haruki's answer came immediately.

"No."

Renji turned towards him. Haruki met his gaze.

"They are not evidence," he said. "And they are not a key you get to store."

"They will be targeted," Renji replied.

"I know."

"The Accord can protect them."

"The Accord imprisoned Sota's mother."

"We do not know what the Shibata interests will do."

"We know what the Accord will do. It just told us."

Mori did not object. Renji felt the disagreement deepen. Haruki was right to distrust them. He was wrong to dismiss what protection required. Or perhaps Renji needed him to be wrong because the alternative left no institution capable of holding the danger.

"We cannot protect someone from every faction alone," Renji said.

"No."

"Then refusing Accord support is irresponsible."

"Handing them over is worse."

"You do not know that."

"Neither do you."

Their eyes held. No one raised a voice. That made the distance clearer. Haruki had always challenged Renji's caution with patience. Renji had always trusted Haruki's judgement even when it differed from his own. Now trust remained. Agreement did not.

Mori stood. The meeting was over because he had decided enough had been said.

"I will give you forty-eight hours," he said.

"For what?" Haruki asked.

"To choose whether you will cooperate."

"You assume we need permission to continue."

"No."

Mori's gaze moved towards Renji.

"I assume Doctor Takahara understands what happens when institutions conclude they are being excluded from a threat."