Mud from the East had fallen onto the floor of the Audit Office.
Even that stood out clearly against the white stone floor. A Temple clerk glanced at it without thought, then turned his head away. His face showed that he could not decide whether he should clean it up or record it.
Kael looked at Theo's boot.
The numbers on its sole and the numbers in the Temple Healing Account were still connected.
[Actual Debtor: Record Pending]
Record pending. It did not mean that it was empty.
It meant that someone had left it blank.
"Auditor."
Kael spoke.
"We need to inspect the temporary custody records for the Temple Healing Account."
Vernon's face looked more like dry paper than it had moments earlier.
"Those are internal records."
"The receipt trail for the missing bottle leads to that account."
"An account trail alone does not permit the inspection of internal records."
"Then summon the person responsible for the account."
"The person responsible for the account is not a direct party to this audit."
"There are four doors, but this time there is not even a doorkeeper."
The marquess gently raised a hand.
"Everyone, calm down. What is needed now is not to expand responsibility, but to send the medicine."
The words were right, and dangerous. With the single suggestion to send medicine, he could cover up the recipient, the party responsible for the disbursement, and even the custodian of the missing bottle.
Kael looked at Theo.
Theo was anxious. The medicine mattered more than responsibility. Someone was dying.
"You are right."
Kael spoke.
"We need to send the medicine."
The marquess's smile widened slightly.
"I am glad you understand."
"But we need to write down who is sending it."
The smile stopped.
Kael held out his hand to Edric. Edric was already taking out a form.
"Emergency Treatment Supply Disbursement Confirmation for Eastern Outpost No. 7."
"Recipients: Nelson Pike and other treatment recipients. On-site handover officer: Theo Varan. Transport preservation: Revan Checkpoint. Provided by: Seradin and Hyrun."
Vanessa Karn immediately raised her head.
"Hyrun is not a provider of the medicine. There was merely a labeling error during transport."
"Then should Hyrun be removed?"
Vanessa could not answer.
If Hyrun was removed, it would give up its good deed as well. If it remained, it would enter the line of responsibility.
The marquess did not look at Vanessa. Mira did not miss it.
"The trading company has taken a seat of honor, but the marquess is pulling the chair away from beneath it."
"It might mean that if it falls, the trading company is meant to fall alone."
Kael looked at the form again.
"And the responsibility for the disbursement."
Edric asked carefully.
"Shall I write it as joint sponsorship?"
The marquess immediately spoke. "That phrasing would be good."
"No."
Kael spoke.
"Write joint responsibility."
The air in the Audit Office froze.
Only Theo looked as if he did not understand.
"What is the difference?"
Mira leaned forward slightly. "Sponsorship means it is a good thing. Responsibility means they can be held accountable again."
Theo thought for a moment. "Then responsibility is right."
He said it too easily. The smile vanished from the marquess's eyes. Vanessa and Vernon both looked at him.
"Young Master."
The marquess asked.
"The phrase 'joint responsibility' places a burden on Seradin, Hyrun, and the Temple alike."
"The phrase 'joint sponsorship' grants honor to Seradin, Hyrun, and the Temple alike."
"Do you dislike honor?"
"Honor without responsibility is expensive."
Kael pointed to the blank space on the form. "The six bottles will be sent immediately. But write that this is temporary preservation, not closure."
Vernon spoke.
"It is difficult to apply temporary preservation before the Temple's examination."
"Then summon the Temple inspection officer."
"The inspection officer is currently occupied with other duties."
"Who is that person?"
Vernon's lips stopped moving.
Kael did not miss his silence.
"Tell me who the inspection officer is."
"That is an internal personnel record."
Rowan turned his head. "Will the people in this room die if they say a name?"
Vernon's face reddened.
"Sir Rowan."
Kael called him in a low voice.
Rowan closed his mouth.
The marquess smiled gently.
"Is there any need to become so sharp over a single inspection officer?"
"The custodian of the missing bottle is a single name as well."
Kael spoke.
"This room keeps avoiding one name."
At the back of the Audit Office, a Temple clerk who had been turning pages stopped his hand. It was a very small movement. The Eye of Settlement reacted first.
[Custody Record Access Authority]
[Temporary Access Holder: Archivist]
[Most Recent Access: Audit Office Assistant Clerk]
Assistant clerk.
Kael shifted his gaze. At the back of the Audit Office, beside a tall bookshelf, stood a young clerk. There were thick wax stains at the ends of his sleeves.
They were not hands that wrote records, but hands that opened and closed seals.
"Who is that person?"
The young clerk's face stiffened.
Vernon immediately spoke.
"He is an assistant clerk in the Audit Office."
"That assistant clerk's name."
"That question is unrelated to this matter."
Without answering, Kael lifted Theo's boot.
Over the numbers on the sole, a red line connected itself again.
The young clerk beside the bookshelf.
The Temple Healing Account on the table.
The small inner door of the Audit Office.
[Temporary Custody Approved]
[Subject: 1 Bottle of Fever-Reducing Distillate]
[Custodian: Archivist's Assistant Carmin]
Carmin. A name appeared.
Kael looked at the young clerk.
"Carmin."
The young clerk's lips went white. His reaction came faster than the name.
Vernon's hand pressed against the table.
"Young Master Riorden. Do not casually single out a Temple employee."
"I did not single him out."
Kael set Theo's boot down on the table.
"The record buried him."
Carmin tried to step back.
Rowan moved.
He did not even draw his sword. It was enough to stand between the door and Carmin.
"Where do you think you are going?"
The marquess was still seated. But this time, he was not smiling.
For the first time, Vanessa Karn looked at the marquess.
"Clerk Carmin."
Vanessa spoke.
"Your name does not appear in Hyrun's transport records."
Carmin looked at Vanessa.
"If you remain silent now, Hyrun does not know you. Neither will Seradin. The Temple will say that you broke the regulations."
It was not kind. But it was precise.
Vanessa was not betraying anyone. She was merely calculating the cost that her trading company would have to bear.
"Carmin."
Kael spoke.
"Where did you store the missing bottle?"
"I do not know."
His voice cracked.
"Why would someone who knows nothing try to run?"
"I was not trying to run."
"Then where were you going?"
Carmin looked at Vernon. Vernon did not answer. The marquess did not answer either. A person could be abandoned through silence as well. Carmin saw it.
His shoulders collapsed.
"I... only stored it."
Every pen in the Audit Office stopped.
Edric spoke low. "Record that."
This time, it sounded like an order.
Vernon's jaw stiffened.
"It is being recorded."
A clerk picked up his pen with a trembling hand.
Kael asked Carmin again.
"Whose instructions were you following?"
Carmin opened his mouth, then closed it.
"If you do not speak."
Kael spoke quietly.
"You will be the custodian of that bottle, and it will end with you."
Carmin's eyes widened.
"I only followed orders."
"That is why I am asking."
"The Audit Office archivist."
The blood drained from Vernon's face.
"Which archivist?"
"Archivist Elvas."
But Ramun reacted.
He had been standing quietly in the corner of the Audit Office.
Ramun, the internal clerk, spoke low.
"Elvas Roen."
Kael looked at him.
"Do you know him?"
"Elvas Roen. He is the Central Temple's Offering Archivist. He handles both the Healing Account and the offering records."
Vernon spoke sharply.
"Clerk Ramun, do not state unverified information."
Ramun lowered his head.
"I stated only his confirmed position."
Mira muttered softly.
"I thought there were four doors, but one person was holding two keys."
Kael asked Carmin.
"Where is Archivist Elvas now?"
Carmin's lips trembled.
"He should be... in the Audit Office."
Edric looked around.
"He is not here."
Rowan looked at the inner door.
"He has fled."
"No."
Carmin hurriedly spoke.
"He went down after receiving a summons a moment ago."
"Where?"
Carmin looked as though he did not want to answer.
But it was already too late.
The moment one name appeared, the next blank space became larger.
"The Underground Offering Chamber."
The Audit Office fell completely silent.
The Underground Offering Chamber.
The Temple door borrowed by Seradin led below it.
The marquess slowly rose.
"Auditor. At this point, an internal review should come first."
His tone was gentle. But the meaning was clear. He wanted to end the game.
Kael rose as well.
"No."
He picked up Theo's boot.
"The audit has only just begun."
Theo looked at Kael.
"What about the medicine?"
Kael immediately answered.
"The six bottles will go out now. Edric, prepare the disbursement confirmation. The priority recipients are Nelson, Carman, and Julie. Sir Dorne Havel will be responsible for transport preservation. The Temple inspection officer will accompany the delivery to the site."
Vernon tried to object. Kael spoke first.
"If the inspection officer is underground, there is no reason for the medicine to go underground as well."
Rowan smiled.
"This time, I will stand in front of the door."
Mira looked at Vanessa.
"Is Hyrun leaving, or is it staying?"
Vanessa looked at the marquess for the briefest moment. The marquess still did not look at her. That was enough.
Vanessa slowly spoke.
"Hyrun will sign the transport records for the confirmed six bottles."
"Under joint responsibility?"
Mira asked.
Vanessa's lips stiffened.
"Under transport responsibility."
"Not bad for the first day."
Theo cautiously raised his hand. "Then can I go now?"
No one answered at once.
Theo hurriedly added.
"I have to take the medicine. Nelson is waiting."
Kael looked at Edric.
"The disbursement confirmation."
Edric was already writing.
On the paper, the words that everyone had avoided until then found their places.
Recipients.
Transport responsibility.
Examination escort.
Temporary preservation.
Not closed.
Edric wrote the final line, then lifted his pen.
"There are four signature lines."
"Five."
Kael spoke.
"Theo Varan will sign as well."
Theo's eyes widened. "Me?"
"Not because you are receiving the medicine, but as a witness that the medicine traveled with you."
Theo nodded.
"I cannot write very well."
"You only need to write your name."
"What if I cannot write my name either?"
Dorne Havel stepped forward.
"Leave a handprint. I will write it beside it."
Theo looked at Dorne.
"The checkpoint captain will?"
"I could read the numbers on your boots. Do you think I cannot read a name?"
Theo smiled faintly for the first time. It was a smile that did not belong in the Audit Office.
Holding Theo's boot, Kael looked at the inner door.
A cold scent of incense flowed from beyond it.
Below.
The Underground Offering Chamber.
Archivist Elvas.
The missing bottle.
[Unconfirmed Diversion: 1 Bottle]
[Temporary Custodian: Elvas Roen]
[Current Location: Underground Offering Chamber]
Kael returned the boot to Theo.
"Theo Varan."
"Yes."
"The medicine goes up."
He walked toward the inner door.
"We are going down."
The ledger went down with them.