Page 118 of Mercy Written in Blood

"He answered the wrong question."

Reina nodded slowly.

"I noticed that too."

Haruki looked between them.

"He didn't say he'd never heard of the White Lotus."

"No."

"He said he'd never seen evidence confirming it."

"Which assumes prior knowledge."

Ken frowned.

"Could've been wording."

"It could."

Haruki picked up one of the printed photographs.

"But Kael doesn't choose words accidentally."

No one argued. They had all spoken with him now. Precision defined everything the Accord representative said.

Haruki laid the photograph back down.

"If he knows something…"

"He isn't sharing it," Reina finished.

"No."

Professor Emi Takeda arrived shortly after midday. She looked healthier than when Haruki had last seen her. The bruising along her forehead had darkened into shades of yellow and purple. Her left wrist remained splinted, but she walked without assistance.

"You shouldn't be working," Haruki said.

She looked around the archive room.

"Neither should you."

"That answer seems popular."

"I imagine doctors keep repeating it."

Haruki chose not to comment. Takeda removed her coat. Ken offered tea. She accepted. Only after sitting did she notice the photographs spread across the tables.

"You found more."

"Only images."

She adjusted her glasses, moving immediately into professional focus, her fingers hovering above the photographs without touching them.

"You've grouped them."

"By object."