Page 88 of Mercy Written in Blood

"Secure the tunnels. Recover the remains. Identify every piece of material removed from the chamber. Interview survivors. Contain knowledge of the event."

"And the killers?" Haruki asked.

"Locate them."

"Arrest?"

Kael looked at him.

"Where possible."

The words carried centuries inside them. Haruki understood. Some would not survive being found.

He should have been satisfied. The Accord possessed reach the Ishida Family did not — resources, intelligence and authority beyond Takamori. If anyone could pursue the attackers, it was them. But Kael had spoken first of the chamber. The material. The knowledge. The dead had come later.

Haruki had heard the order. He suspected the Unveiled would too.

"What happens to the evidence?" he asked.

"It is transferred to Accord custody."

"Everything?"

"Yes."

"The journal burned."

"We recovered fragments."

Haruki's attention sharpened.

"You went back inside."

"The fire was contained before it consumed the entire chamber."

"By whom?"

"Our retrieval team."

"So Accord officers were already near enough to respond."

Kael said nothing. Ken swore quietly. Haruki sat back — the movement pressed fire through his side, but anger made it easier to ignore.

"How long were you watching the site?"

"We were not."

"Then how did your people reach it before the city fire service?"

"We have access routes your Family does not."

"That wasn't the question."

"Your questions are no longer relevant to your recovery."

Haruki laughed once. It hurt. Reina put a hand on his shoulder. He ignored the warning.

"You mistake injury for obedience."