Page 370 of Mercy Written in Blood

"Renji," Haruki said through the radio.

"I can hold him."

"Not much longer."

"I can."

Sota looked back towards the camera. As though he heard them despite the distance. He moved one hand from the contractor's wrist to the dead-man switch. Placed his own fingers over it. Took the pressure. The contractor's hand came free. Sota now held the trigger alone.

Renji immediately stopped the man's heart. The contractor collapsed. Sota remained standing over him. His hand closed around the switch.

Mori's specialist swore.

"He transferred control."

"Can he release it safely?" Haruki asked.

"No."

Sota looked down at the device. Then towards the tunnel wall. He began walking deeper.

"Stop him," Mori said.

Renji did not move.

"Renji."

"He knows."

Sota reached the final bend before the river channel. The camera could see only part of him. One shoulder. The side of his face. He lifted his free hand. Not a wave. Perhaps simply balance against the wall.

Then the feed vanished.

The explosion reached them as pressure before sound. The road above the tunnel lifted. Concrete cracked. Every remaining Casino window shook. The entrance lights failed. A deep concussion moved through Haruki's body and opened pain along every wound.

Ken held him upright. Renji stood at the service ramp. Motionless. Rain fell around him.

For several seconds, no one spoke. The tunnel had contained most of the blast. Smoke rose through the drainage grates near the river. No second explosion followed. The crowd beyond the road remained alive. Mrs Okada sat beneath an awning holding her brother's photograph against her chest.

Sota did not return. Haruki knew before the specialist entered the tunnel. Before Mori ordered recovery teams. Before Renji lowered his hand. Some deaths announced themselves through absence. The space where a person should have emerged remained empty long enough to become fact.

Isao began shouting inside the Casino. Not grief. Denial.

"He betrayed us."

Mina turned on him.

"He saved them."

"He gave them his death."

"He saved them."

"He made himself their martyr."

Mina looked towards the smoke.

"No." Her voice broke. "They will make him one."