Page 363 of Mercy Written in Blood

Mori's gaze moved towards Isao.

"No evidence yet links you directly to the depot order."

"Because I did not give it."

"That remains to be established."

Sota nodded. His face had become tired. Not physically. As though the distance between intention and consequence had finally acquired weight.

Isao knelt near the ruined baccarat table with his hands restrained behind him. Blood wrapped his destroyed hand. He watched Sota with open contempt.

"You came to surrender," Isao said.

Sota looked towards him.

"I came to stop you."

"You came after we had already acted."

"Yes."

"Because you were afraid."

"Yes."

Isao laughed. Several Unveiled members looked at Sota. The admission unsettled them. Leaders were not supposed to confess fear after followers had mistaken certainty for permission.

Sota crossed the floor until he stood in front of Isao.

"I was afraid you would do exactly this."

"Then you should have stopped us before."

"I tried."

"No. You gave speeches."

Sota absorbed the accusation. Isao leaned forward.

"You told us humanity had a right to know. You told us every day of silence protected monsters. Then when we acted, you called us extremists."

"I told you disclosure without evidence would become fear."

"We had evidence."

"You had captives."

"We had leverage."

"You had civilians."

Isao's expression tightened.

"Civilians are already dying."

"Yes." Sota's voice lowered. "That did not make them yours to use."

The words travelled beyond Isao. To Mori. To Haruki. To every person in the room who had justified control using the language of necessity.