Page 34 of Mercy Written in Blood

"You too."

"I'm responsible for the site."

"And I'm responsible for preserving what is on that table."

Neither raised their voice, but for a moment the cold chamber seemed to hold the disagreement between them. Haruki stepped back.

"Tell me what you need."

"Stable temperature. Minimal airflow. No flash photography. No unnecessary movement."

Ken glanced at the open breach.

"We've got ventilation from the service tunnel."

"Reduce it if you can."

"We can shut the nearest fan."

"Do that."

Ken gestured to one of the workers, who disappeared through the opening. Kameda knelt beside her equipment case and began laying out tools on a clean cloth — soft brushes, tweezers, a magnifying lens, acid-free paper, small sealed bags with labels already attached — each object placed with exact care.

The procedure should have reassured Haruki. Instead, it made the chamber feel more dangerous. Not because Kameda was frightened, but because she was trying so hard not to show that she was.

Professor Takeda circled the table without crossing the line Kameda had established.

"Can you date the binding?"

"Not without examining the structure."

"The leather?"

"Same answer."

"The stitching?"

Kameda looked up.

"Emi."

Takeda stopped. Haruki watched the exchange — they knew one another well enough that a single name carried warning.

Minamoto had not moved. His eyes remained fixed on the white lotus pressed into the cover. Haruki folded his arms.

"You recognised the symbol."

No one answered.

"That wasn't a question."

Professor Endo cleared his throat.

"Recognition is too strong."

"You all changed the moment you saw it."

"That doesn't mean we know what it is," Takeda said.