Page 275 of Mercy Written in Blood

Haruki stood.

"The people who join you because they want answers become protection for those who want blood."

Sota looked at him.

"And the people protected by the Ishida Family lend legitimacy to every crime committed under its name."

Several people glanced between them. The reference meant little to most. Enough to Haruki.

"I know what my organisation has done," he said.

"Do they?"

Sota gestured towards the room. Haruki felt the trap close. Truth for others. Secrecy for his own.

"The Ishida Family has enforced the First Law," Sota said. "It has redirected investigations and removed evidence."

Mrs Okada looked at Haruki. Fear returned. Different now.

"You're one of them?" she asked.

"No."

The answer sounded insufficient.

"What are you?"

Haruki held her gaze.

"The head of an organisation that has worked with vampires."

A murmur passed through the room. The delivery driver stood.

"You brought him here?"

Sota did not turn.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because he needs to hear you."

"And we need to hear him," Haruki said.

The man looked towards him. Haruki continued before Sota could.

"My Family has concealed crimes."

Renji looked at him. Not surprise. Concern. Haruki kept speaking.

"Some concealment prevented panic. Some protected innocent vampires from exposure. Some prevented retaliation against humans who knew too much."

"And the rest?" the woman in scrubs asked.

Haruki felt the weight of every inherited record — every operation authorised before he was born, every decision he had chosen not to revisit because the present required enough of him.

"The rest protected people who did not deserve protection."