Xuan Ming spent the night trying to find a version of obedience that did not kill anyone.
He could warn the Court that the passenger car would be empty. He could damage the collar after the ascent. He could claim the order was unlawful while still following its purpose.
Every excuse failed on the same fact: the order told him to endanger mortal workers and passengers to protect the Tribunal’s power.
At dawn, he took the black shard to Lian.
She did not thank him. She called Austin, sealed the locker, and kept both hands where Xuan could see them.
“Show me the collar,” Austin said when he arrived.
They went to the north cable station with guards and two mortal inspectors. The locking assembly had already been disturbed. A tool mark matched the access key issued to Adjudicator Shuang’s kitchen crew before her detention.
The fast-damper control line carried a hidden command rune. It was set to release during the treaty ascent.
