But . . . I also . . . [How to put this.] If I am going to commit to trying to find the culprit, it will not be as I have done, as a judicial assistant.
I'm thinking that we all want to think the best of one another. We want to believe in one another. And that is . . . a very good thing for people to do.
[. . .]
But in a place like this, that sort of kindness is poisonous. And someone has to be able to set those tender feelings aside and examine only the evidence.
[ it's a hard lesson to learn, and a hard one to hold onto for himself - xie lian is a person of great kindness, who has always assumed the best in others, but...
... susato's right. in a way, it is a kindness of its own right - the little hitch in her voice earlier said it all. ]
I understand. [ ... ] We must be thorough with everyone. Even those who came back with injuries.
I don't want to take away anyone else's ability to believe in others. To me, that is a very precious thing.
[. . .]
Say what you will of him, but Lord van Zieks would always shoulder that burden of cruelty for many of us. Except, even he . . . [Well, maybe even he had blind spots when it came to certain people.]
[ he thinks back to a conversation with van zieks earlier in their time here, after the trial with qi rong. about accusations, about difficulty and family, and.. ]
... In his image, then - let us ask the hard questions.
[ a sort of strength in its own right. ]
Very well, Susato. You have my support, no matter what the case may be. I think... if there is anyone who can strike that balance - [ of righteousness and justice, of kindness and firmness ] - it will be you.
While we wait for the others, shall we go over the lyrics of the song, and the place where everyone rested? We may as well approach tomorrow as prepared as possible.
in such a storm, with nowhere to go, it's only two and their foe. and with a fierce brawl, there came a great fall. first, alone, then another, with them both left to suffer. but one, in such haste, has found themselves sweetly embraced.
but where the world is haunted by the spectre, one of your own has become their nectar. the reaper has met with a terrible fate, and, there, he's fallen under the greatest weight.
The last stanza refers to Lord van Zieks. And then the rest. . . I suppose it sounds as though Yelena and Sheba were killed by the same person, doesn't it?
[ he's coming over to read over her shoulder now that he's packed up some medical supplies. ]
...That brings the question of who the 'foe' is, too. It could be that two people were working together to try and kill one, and then something happened to the second person - perhaps an accomplice, whether on purpose or on accident.
Or, perhaps, that two intended victims were working together against someone who targeted them.
Initially, I had wondered if it might have been a case like yours.
[ if that meant that one person was still... somewhere. but - he doubts that's the case, so. ]
But... perhaps it could be more literal - as if held by something. [ he mimes a gesture of being 'embraced' on himself, arms wrapped around his shoulders. ] Though, I'm not sure what it could be.
Then, we should get to that the very first thing, and send a team of people out to track her down right away.
[ it's a start. ] We can look for strange 'hints' like people have woken up with in the meantime, and create a list of feasible locations to explore - so as to streamline and gather as much information as we can.
Which - we should start looking in tall places, I believe. 'A great fall' may perhaps lead us to the ramparts.
Just before she . . . Sheba told me a story, of how she was thrown from a lighthouse. Fell nearly to her death, but was saved just in time by the friend who jumped after her.
[ this would be the single most britt thing to have ever happened. ]
...It's possible. [ bad. bad! ] We... should ask again, if our killers are all alive, this week. Would this system that we're in still consider it to be the fault of whoever survived...?
Xie Lian . . . in the event that whatever happens tomorrow. . . in the event that whatever we discover is impossible for everyone to live with, the way it was with Okumura-san. . . there is something only you can do that would help everyone.
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[ that's good, at least - and, frankly, no? not allowed? xie lian won't let it happen?
he's quiet, for a moment, thinking of how to word what he wants to say. ]
...In a situation like that, is it crueler to leave someone unfound, or to catch them? What is the way of the most mercy?
[ it's a question he doesn't really know the answer to, either, honestly, though, there's a side he leans towards. ]
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Crueler, I think, not to be found.
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...Then we'll find them. [ like it is a simple truth. ] However many there are.
Like always, I will rely on your intelligence and clear-headedness as we move forward through the trial. Alright?
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[That logic is sound, so she'll agree to it.]
But . . . I also . . . [How to put this.] If I am going to commit to trying to find the culprit, it will not be as I have done, as a judicial assistant.
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What are you thinking?
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[. . .]
But in a place like this, that sort of kindness is poisonous. And someone has to be able to set those tender feelings aside and examine only the evidence.
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...Like the note said - anyone can be a suspect.
[ it's a hard lesson to learn, and a hard one to hold onto for himself - xie lian is a person of great kindness, who has always assumed the best in others, but...
... susato's right. in a way, it is a kindness of its own right - the little hitch in her voice earlier said it all. ]
I understand. [ ... ] We must be thorough with everyone. Even those who came back with injuries.
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I don't want to take away anyone else's ability to believe in others. To me, that is a very precious thing.
[. . .]
Say what you will of him, but Lord van Zieks would always shoulder that burden of cruelty for many of us. Except, even he . . . [Well, maybe even he had blind spots when it came to certain people.]
I will try, in his stead, to carry that burden.
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[ he thinks back to a conversation with van zieks earlier in their time here, after the trial with qi rong. about accusations, about difficulty and family, and.. ]
... In his image, then - let us ask the hard questions.
[ a sort of strength in its own right. ]
Very well, Susato. You have my support, no matter what the case may be. I think... if there is anyone who can strike that balance - [ of righteousness and justice, of kindness and firmness ] - it will be you.
While we wait for the others, shall we go over the lyrics of the song, and the place where everyone rested? We may as well approach tomorrow as prepared as possible.
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[She takes out her notebook and reads - ]
in such a storm, with nowhere to go,
it's only two and their foe.
and with a fierce brawl,
there came a great fall.
first, alone, then another,
with them both left to suffer.
but one, in such haste,
has found themselves sweetly embraced.
but where the world is haunted by the spectre,
one of your own has become their nectar.
the reaper has met with a terrible fate,
and, there, he's fallen under the greatest weight.
The last stanza refers to Lord van Zieks. And then the rest. . . I suppose it sounds as though Yelena and Sheba were killed by the same person, doesn't it?
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[ he's coming over to read over her shoulder now that he's packed up some medical supplies. ]
...That brings the question of who the 'foe' is, too. It could be that two people were working together to try and kill one, and then something happened to the second person - perhaps an accomplice, whether on purpose or on accident.
Or, perhaps, that two intended victims were working together against someone who targeted them.
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[ if that meant that one person was still... somewhere. but - he doubts that's the case, so. ]
But... perhaps it could be more literal - as if held by something. [ he mimes a gesture of being 'embraced' on himself, arms wrapped around his shoulders. ] Though, I'm not sure what it could be.
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[. . .]
If Lieutenant Kitsuragi had Sheba's other walkie talkie, then couldn't we possibly. . . go about playing it until we hear it on the other end?
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...Is that how they work? [ help ] If so - that would not be a bad idea at all! We could find her quickly.
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[ it's a start. ] We can look for strange 'hints' like people have woken up with in the meantime, and create a list of feasible locations to explore - so as to streamline and gather as much information as we can.
Which - we should start looking in tall places, I believe. 'A great fall' may perhaps lead us to the ramparts.
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[. . .]
Just before she . . . Sheba told me a story, of how she was thrown from a lighthouse. Fell nearly to her death, but was saved just in time by the friend who jumped after her.
[Is it only a coincidence?]
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...If that is a coincidence, then it is certainly an odd one.
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. . . The lyrics. Is it possible that . . . Sheba was trying to kill someone, but fell to her death instead?
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...It's possible. [ bad. bad! ] We... should ask again, if our killers are all alive, this week. Would this system that we're in still consider it to be the fault of whoever survived...?
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[She pauses a moment.]
Xie Lian . . . in the event that whatever happens tomorrow. . . in the event that whatever we discover is impossible for everyone to live with, the way it was with Okumura-san. . . there is something only you can do that would help everyone.
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Only me? What is that?
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[. . .]
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[ it's a little reproachful. no. bad. VERY bad.
calmly, though: ] Do you think that is an outcome everyone would be able to live with, instead?
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