Page 315 of Mercy Written in Blood

"We need your blood."

"Then the canisters are not intended to kill me."

The man's smile vanished. Haruki looked towards Renji. Renji continued.

"They are intended to incapacitate me."

He listened. A faint mechanical hum beneath the roof noise. Ventilation. The depot's old extraction system had been activated. It would draw the aerosol across the full building. The Unveiled had masks — he could now see the filters tucked beneath their collars.

"Haruki," Renji said.

"I know."

He had seen them too.

The man with the detonator raised his thumb.

"Put down the weapons."

Haruki did not.

"Now."

One of the hostages sobbed. Ryota stared at Haruki, terrified, trying not to show it.

Haruki lowered his pistol first.

"Kick them forward."

Haruki obeyed. The weapons slid across the floor. The man holding the detonator smiled again.

"You see? Every system is built on the same thing."

"What?" Haruki asked.

"Deciding who is acceptable to sacrifice."

Haruki straightened.

"No."

The man tilted his head.

"No?"

"A system would have left them."

Haruki looked towards the hostages.

"I came."

Something changed in Ryota's face. The man behind him struck him again.

"Quiet."

Haruki's gaze moved to the detonator.

"Release them."