Page 51 of Mercy Written in Blood

Haruki looked towards the passage. Minamoto and Takeda had disappeared inside. One engineer remained near the wall, frozen beside the bones. Haruki could not remember his name. The man stared at him.

"Move," Haruki said.

"I can't."

"Yes, you can."

"My leg."

Haruki looked down. Blood soaked the engineer's trousers. A blade had gone through the thigh. He would not make it alone.

Haruki crossed the chamber. The leader stepped into his path. Up close, the mask was different — a fine black line curved across the forehead, the symbol of an open eye.

"You were not part of this," the leader said.

The voice was male. Calm. Educated.

"You could have walked away."

Haruki bent and picked up the engineer. The man cried out as Haruki dragged one arm over his shoulders.

"People say that when they want permission for what comes next."

The leader's head tilted slightly.

"What comes next was decided before you were born."

"Then you've had plenty of time to find a better excuse."

The leader moved. Haruki twisted aside. The knife intended for his heart entered his upper arm instead. He grunted, but did not release the engineer. He drove his shoulder into the attacker's chest. They hit the table. The journal slid beneath its protective covering. The leader caught it with one hand before it fell — again, protecting the object.

Haruki saw the contradiction. They wanted it destroyed. But not carelessly. Not anonymously. This was not vandalism. It was execution. Evidence had to be erased correctly.

The leader withdrew the blade from Haruki's arm. Blood ran down to his fingertips.

"You cannot preserve this," the man said.

Haruki looked at the journal.

"I don't care about the book."

The attacker paused. Haruki drove his knee into the man's abdomen, shifted the engineer's weight and ran for the hidden passage. A blade struck the stone beside his head. He ducked through the opening.

Behind him, the chamber erupted into flame. The accelerant caught at once. Fire raced across the table, climbed the scattered paper and spread along the ancient shelves. The journal vanished behind orange light.

Haruki heard the leader say something. Not a command. A phrase.

"The lie protects the peace."

Then the stone door began closing.

The hidden passage was barely wide enough for two people. Minamoto held his phone ahead of him, the weak torchlight revealing walls lined with old timber supports. Takeda followed close behind. When Haruki emerged carrying the injured engineer, she turned back.

"You're hurt."

"So is he."

"Put him down."