The Man With No Name

[Praetyre]

Chapter 2: De Jury
Arthur Whymper awoke. A vague feeling brushed against his forearm, a dull ache permeating his entire body. He could vaguely feel a conspicuous thrum and a blast of medical light, wondering if he had been hallucinating in the last throes of death.. then, he saw a vague face.. a masked face, thin, pointed, Kusari.. the face seemed larger than all the worlds.. then, all came into perspective. Arthur Whymper opened his mouth, uttering a precious few words;
Where..
Mr Whymper passed out again. All went black.

Mr Whymper seemed to drift in a strange land. All that was visible was his own body in a bleak darkness that seemed to stretch to infinity. Then, a shape became visible in the darkness. A phone, and a stand. Only one button lay upon the phone. Mr Whymper pressed that button, a voice immediately emanating;
Hello again, Mr Arthur Whymper. This is your benefactor speaking. I apologise for the danger I put you in back there, and for the strange circumstances which you have been lead into, but the interference of Ingsoc complicated things. Anyway, I am sure you are hungering for answers.

Within the Bretonian government, there is a small, insidious inner circle of high ranking figures in numerous fields, including Prince James. They are dedicated to the ideal of total control over thought for the insidious purposes of their superiors, a small group of businessmen known as the who desire this control in order to build a hegemonistic empire for their own mutual gain. My organization is in direct opposition to this group, as their selfish, materialistic, heartless propaganda is a disgrace to all house values.

You may ask as to why I did not previously inform you of this. Well, often the mind is hesitant to accept the harsh truth of reality, even when it is staring it in the face. Ergo, I manipulated the situation so that you would come into contact with the enemy. You undoubtedbly, even in your slumber, now suspect me of deception, but there is no deception here. I choose not to reveal some details, but I never deceive. I am a teacher, like the gurus of Kusari. Fare well, Arthur.

Arthur Whymper awoke in a daze, his eyes rapidly adjusting to meet the sight of an anonymous medical room. No windows were apparent, but on the roof, a metallic air conditioner provided the rooms air with an unnatural healthiness, like purified water.
Nearby, a Kusari medical droid removed something underneath Arthur Whympers pillow, a human doctor speaking in near-perfect English;
Hello, Mr Whymper. It is most excellent to see you in good health. Would you care for a shot of medicinal tea? Or would my new therapeutic sake be more amiable for ingestion?
Well, doc, its a pleasure to see someone here who isnt trying to kill me or manipulate me into some bizarre conspiracy. I am truly grateful for your help. If what that strange chap told me is true, you just saved me from some traitors.
What strange man do you speak of? inquired the doctor, an inquisitive gaze playing across his aged features.
Oh.. never mind. Id best discuss it with the administrator or captain of this ship or facility..
You, honourable sir, are aboard the KNF Takoshima, one of the fastest cruisers in the fleet. It is commanded by Daisa Towa Tanaka, brother of the famous Rheinland stage director Fai Tanaka. Currently, we are inbound to the Kyushu jump gate for clearance to proceed into Kusari for a meeting with one of Daisa Tanakas contacts on Planet Honshu. Ordinarily, we would be able to receive priority clearance, but honourable Mitsuhirato, leader of the Kusari narcotics division, has increased security around western entrances to Kusari due to suspected Outcast smuggling through that area. Everyone is to be inspected, even military ships. Nowadays, brother turns against brother in Kusari, and you never know if there is a traitor in your midst.
Hold on.. how did I get here?
The KNF Takoshima launched an attack upon the Bretonian battleship BAF MacDuff. We heard you were in danger.
Who did you hear this from?
The Daisa, honourable sir.
Ive never really known many chaps from Kusari.. how could he have known I was in danger.
The Daisa would prefer to discuss that with you once we arrive at Honshu.
I see. Sorry about this, Im just feeling a bit flustered. I mean, I get shot point blank in the chest, then I find Im in perfect health. Is this some kind of revolutionary overnight medical treatment?
The Daisa has unfortunately forbidden me to tell you what I used. Suffice to say, however, it is not in any way scatological nor does it involve an animal.
Arthur Whympers senses considered whether to be disgusted or relieved by this statement. They decided on ambiguity. Arthur Whymper stood up in his medical gown, venturing gently over to the door of the medical bay;
May I speak to your captain, sir?
Yes, Mr Whymper. He is waiting for you on the bridge.
The doctor wandered over and entered in a 5 digit code, the medical bays door sliding open. Mr Whymper walked out through the halls of the destroyer, within merely 3 minutes coming to the bridge door. He gazed at the strange Japanese symbols on the door, pressing a red one that looked like a signalling device. A loud ring emitted, a female Kusari voice speaking over the intercom;
New visitor detected. Bretonian male, age 70-85. Appears to be wearing a standard issue Kaigun medical gown.
The door then slid open, slamming shut behind Mr Whymper as he entered onto the bridge. Numerous Kusari Naval officers and technicians stood at the deck, monitoring strings of strange symbols and numerous readings around the ship. Near the centre of the beautifully draped room was a moderately tall man in an elaborate military uniform. This man turned around, and spoke in perfect English to Mr Whymper;
Hello, Mr Whymper, I am Daisa Tanaka, your host on the KNF Takoshima. It is a pleasure to see you. I understand that you have many questions you wish to ask of me, but I must first talk to a subordinate of mine about an upcoming operation.
Alright then, old boy. Mr Whymper replied. The Daisa then turned to an aide, and began speaking about the pursuit of a Golden Chrysanthemum terrorist. Eventually, Daisa Tanaka turned back to Mr Whymper, beckoning him to come closer. Mr Whymper walked nearer to the centre of the bridge, looking quite peculiar in a Kusari medical gown. Daisa Tanaka then spoke;
Perhaps we should speak in my private quarters. The information we will be discussing is quite sensitive, too sensitive for some of the lower rankings officers to hear. Also, your clothes are back in the medical bay. You may wish to talk to me in a more respectable manner.

Within a few minutes, the two men sat comfortably in elaborate chairs lined with golden dragons in the Daisas private quarters. Mr Whymper was dressed in his old suit, which had somehow been repaired from a point blank shot and the undoubtedly high levels of blood spilled upon it. The two men had just sat down, and Daisa Tanaka was the first to speak;
We are going to Planet Honshu to meet my contact, a man called Shimoda Yamamoto. He is the director of Morgue 17, one of the oldest morgues in all of urban Honshu. I am meeting him to discuss burial arrangements for several of my men, who died recently in an expedition. They were religiously devoted to the goddess Muki, which prohibits them from autopsy. They must also be bured underneath 3 layers of 3 different kinds of rock, one from space, one from a spring and another underground. Many of my men are followers of Muki, which, as you might have guessed, makes arrangements difficult. We are not discussing this remotely due to the fact I also need to talk about a more.. discreet matter, involving one of Yamamotos hobbies, so to speak.
Oh my goodness.. he isnt one of these Kabuki doll freaks, is he? I heard there was a scandal involving a ring of Kabuki designers and a Coalition representative, not to mention these awful Bonsai Kittens..
You dont seriously believe all that nonsense, Mr Whymper? Have you been watching the Moon?
Err.. yes, I have. Its the only news I generally pay for, because its refreshing to get a report that doesnt wallow and pull punches after a long time of doing just that.
That is most interesting. A lawyer who does not enjoy being a lawyer.
Well, its more that Ive been meaning to take a sabbatical in the country for a while. Maybe on the Shetland or something. Its a high stress job, and Im often forced to be the closet where the bobbys keep their skeletons.
I can understand that. You should join the military, nowadays we often end up the skeletons, if we arent careful. Anyway, it was a pleasure talking to you. I advise you to get some rest now, for our visit to Yamamoto may become.. turbulent. Cheerio.
Mr Whymper spoke;
Cheerio, old bean. Hope to come along with you on your little meeting, Id really rather like to get back to me job.
You will, Arthur. You will said the Daisa, as Mr Whymper exited the room.

7 hours later, a nondescript Kusari shuttle carrying Tanaka, Mr Whymper and their guards opened its bay doors in a shadowy docking bay, numerous armed guards standing around the otherwise vacant lot. The shuttles occupants walked out, greeted by a tough looking Kusari security man almost completely covered in ninjitsu armour. The man spoke;
It is a pleasure to see you, Daisa Tanaka. Dr Yamamoto is waiting for you. Shall I escort you there?
No, honourable Akita. I have my own guards, and will be able to find my own way in your facility.
Very well then. The code is Grey Lotus.
Ah, so the Dr has some Outcast guests?
Yes. More than that the Dr has forbidden me to say.
Ok, I shall take my leave.
Please do, honourable Daisa.
The shuttles occupants all filed out of the small craft, walking towards a seemingly invisible door in the wall. Then, Daisa Tanaka bent over, feeling for some unknown ridge. He pressed a bump in the floor, speaking;
Grey Lotus
The door then slid open, revealing a ramp leading down to a plush room of some kind. The shuttles occupants moved down, consisting of 5 armed guards, Arthur Whymper and Daisa Tanaka. As they went down, they could see numerous shady looking figures discussing with each other. One appeared to be an Outcast senior smuggler of some kind, the other a Junker. Mr Whymper was surprised, for Junkers had been nearly totally unable to operate in Kusari, due to the influence of the Hogosha crime syndicates. Both men were dressed in dark red trenchcoats, enjoying some form of genetically modified sushi and speaking in thick Italian. Among the rooms other occupants included representatives and leaders of the Hogosha, Samura Industries, the Golden Chrysantheneums, the Farmers Alliance, the Blood Dragons and even the Lane Hackers.

A Golden Chrysantheneum boss and Blood Dragon leader enjoy a meal.
In the midst of it all, a youthful chef stood serving out meals to the rooms sinister occupants. This chef gave a signal to an elderly waiter, who walked forwards to greet the shuttles occupants;
Good evening, Mr Tanaka and Mr Whymper. You do not need to ask for a reservation, for lets just say you have got a managers invitation. Take a seat.

The man elaborately furnished one of the more dusty tables within a mere few minutes. The shuttles occupants all took their seats, looking somewhat out of place in this environment. Daisa Tanaka spoke;
I apologise, honourable waiter, but I am not feeling hungry at the moment. I have taken a fast in union with the Buddha, and thus I would rather we skip right to dessert.
Ah, I see. Well, have it your way, but you are missing out on some of the finest teriyaki in all of Kusari.
The old man smiled, then went over to the cook;
Special order from table 3. Give them the Liberty mud pie.
The chef then hit a button underneath the oven, causing the 3rd table to gently float down into the earth. No one else in the room seemed to notice or care, for they were too distracted in their own business and conflicts, and by the delicious cooking of the chef.

The table came to a stop several metres below, revealing a small Kusari man in a white lab coat, flanked by 2 hulking bodyguards. The shuttles occupants arranged themselves in a line not unlike that of a chorus line, though no musical mirth was in the agenda for tonight. Daisa Tanaka spoke, in thick Kusari tones;
Hello, Dr Yamamoto. It is a pleasure to see you.
Both men bowed.
It is also a pleasure to see you, Daisa Tanaka. I trust the data I require..
Yes, Dr. The mens autopsy reports were all signed personally by our medical staff. I have them here.
Daisa Tanaka signalled to a thickly armoured guard, who passed a tiny flashlight merely the size of a human thumb to Tanaka. Tanaka quietly muttered, the device pulsating a light light upon his thumb and extending an acid like green gel over it. The device then shut down after a split second of processing, Dr Yamamoto checking his neural net account. He stood for 2 minutes, reading over a small display on his wrist, then looked up, a feeling of satisfaction in his eyes.
Excellent, Daisa. Bring down the bodies after our meeting and me and my men will perform the autopsy by the next day. Now, to business. I trust that you will be including an extra bonus from one of your other vessels to my rooms?
Yes, Dr. We recovered these from a raid we made on a GC base. All healthy speciments, except for one diseased liver, which I am sure you can fix yourself
And what of the investigations of the Naicho? I trust that your meeting with Councilman Fukuda has gone well.
Indeed it has. We had an extended conversation about the numerous earthly and supernatural ethical volitions of your business, and came to an agreement.
Even at this shadowy level, it seemed like Daisa Tanaka was hiding something even the Dr did not know about. He turned to Mr Whymper;
Now, my Bretonian friend, I may explain. Dr Yamamoto is a professional medical practitioner, but he is also a provider of vital organic supplies to the needy and to those who supply to the needy.
Hes an organ marketer?
Well, if you wish to put it so harshly.. yes, Dr Yamamoto takes organs from the corpses of the dishonourable, as one might take the teeth of some evil dragon in your Bretonian mythology and put it to good use. His beliefs prohibit the taking of organs from the living, even the dishonourable living. He is merely making good use of what would otherwise be a waste of flesh.
I see.. in Bretonia, we do things differently..
Well, to paraphrase an ancient Liberty film, Arthur, you are not in Cambridge anymore.
Mr Whymper nervously laughed, like an audience member of a madmans show.
Now, Arthur. Dr Yamamoto is about to make a very large shipment to an Outcast. He is a neutral party among the various cartels, operating occasionally for the largest cartel of all, the Blue Lotus Syndicate, and other, rather different Outcast groups. If it goes well, then all is good. I will later be speaking to a powerful underboss in the Syndicate, a man known only as Golden Sun. He is a powerful operative for them, and has many connections to the upper echelons of Kusari government. I want you to accompany me, for if this negotiation goes sour, I will require your services as legal counsel for Dr Yamamoto.
Its what Ive been doing for decades, Mr.. Daisa Tanaka. I will be happy to assist. However, I would like to ask. Does Kusari law allow the use of translator devices within the context of criminal trials if the counsel happens to not be able to speak the language of Kusari?
Do not worry, Arthur. In time, you shall.. learn.
Daisa Tanaka said his goodbyes to Dr Yamamoto, then the shuttles occupants rode up the hidden elevator, subtly settling back in to the environment of the restaurant as silent as a thief in the night.

Several hours later, within the confines of a well lit Honshu penthouse, the shuttles occupants and many, many brutal-looking Kusari men with knives and guns larger than some wild animals stood centred around a small neural net speaker, where the distorted voice of an upper class Kusari citizen rang out;
Hello to you, Whymper-san and Tanaka-san. This is Golden Sun, and it is my most enormous pleasure to speak to you. Tomorrow, our mutual friend, Enrique Corleone, shall be meeting the honourable Dr Yamamoto on a larger-than-usual business transaction. Understandably, such transactions are dangerous, and as Daisa Tanaka has already explained, you should represent Dr Yamamoto as his legal counsel if it goes wrong.

Now, this is the more classified part. Daisa Tanaka informs me that his superiors wish him to make sure Yamamoto is put on trial, but that he succeeds. I am told that the reason for this is due to extensive Naicho suspicion against the good Dr, which I can assure you is quite genuine. This is indeed a clever ploy, and as a long time friend and ally of the good Daisa, I trust him and his superiors to deliver well on our little deal.
Who are the noble superiors of Daisa Tanaka, honourable sir? said Mr Whymper nervously, sweating and attempting to put up a veneer of a Kusari gentleman.
The Kaigun, of course. A specific group within them.
This.. this group doesnt have.. doesnt have anything to do with that Ingsoc group in Bretonia, does it?
Ingsoc? No, no, no. Daisas circle would never ally themselves with these vile, House-loving traitors. In any case, these questions are on a need to know basis, Mr Whymper, and I do not believe you really need to know everything about this. Not out of secrecy, more out of the fact your profession depends heavily upon context and relevancy.
Indeed it does, honourable sir. Mr Whympers forehead was still lined with beads of sweat, the reality of being surrounded by men who could all kill him in 10 different ways within seconds pounding in his head like a jackhammer.
Arthur, your voice clearly signals to me that you are in distress. Do not be afraid, for all I ask of you is to do your job, and to do it well. You may consider me a mobster, a vagabound, but there is honour among thieves, and even your own culture acknowledges ours as a society based upon structure and loyalty. You have two options. You accept my offer and do your duty as best as you can, or you can reject it and we shall attempt to make the best of it. There is no use coercing you, for that would be the equivalent of claiming the curtain was lifted when it was down, then stating it was down. Im sure you do not understand, but you will in due time.
Arthur Whymper sighed;
Fine. Just get this whole thing over with so I can return to my life.
Life as you know it is over, Arthur. But what lies beyond?

NOTED DOCTOR ARRESTED IN STING OPERATION!

Famed mortician Dr Shimoda Yamamoto and notorious Outcast boss Enrique Corleone were arrested today at an undisclosed location in the Sigma systems on charges of illegal organ marketing as part of a recently disclosed sting operation by the Naicho. Security recordings from Naicho agents showed the two men meeting under armed guard in preparation for a later meeting at an unknown Outcast base. Dr Shimoda, known primarily for his decades long career as a respected mortician who often tended to the wounded men of the noble Kaigun, had allegedly been taken into custody on his own shuttle and escorted to a secure facility for questioning, where he stated that he had been coerced into meeting Corleone by a henchman who had infiltrated the Naicho.

Black Market Departmental Prefect of Honshu Affairs Yamato Yuko had no comments in this matter, as did Internal Affairs Departmental Commisioner-General Han Taisho. The arraignment of Dr Shimoda shall take place in 1 week at Honshu Arraignment Court 1432. The 1st defendant declined legal counsel, stating that he has plans for his selected counsel. The arraignment shall also decide whether Corleone and Dr Shimoda will be tried as co-defendants.

Arthur Whymper lay in the quarters of his shuttle, feeling drained in some sense. His communicator rang. He received the call, and that same familiar voice said;
Thank you for receiving this, Arthur. It is my pleasure to assist.
Then, Mr Whymper screamed. It was though 1000 voices were screaming in his ear, and his brain was rattling out of his skull. He tried to concentrate on something else, but he then passed out.

Mr Whymper then awoke, the same events proceeding again, though the voice changed slightly every time. Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, he truly woke up. A Kusari medical assistant stood nearby;
Earl Grey, Whymper san?
That would be splendid, old chap.
Mr Whymper found strange words proceeding from his mouth. They were not of the tongue of Bretonia, but of Kusari. And fluently too, with a neutral accent. What had the strange man done to him? What was happening?

Mr Whymper took his Earl Grey tea, and drank it, sitting in thought as it rolled down his gullet.

HONSHU ARRAIGNMENT COURT 1432, 1 WEEK LATER

The Honourable Judge Hoshi Ibuka banged his gavel, his words echoing through the sophisticated sound system;
This court is now in session. Please be seated.
A nearby clerk spoke into her communicator;
Criminal Case 99887-15678-C, People v. Dr Shimoda Yamamoto and Enrique Corleone. Will counsel please note their appearance for the record.
Good afternoon, your honour. Akita Iwo and Hideki Miyagi for the People
Good afternoon, your honour. Arthur Whymper and Matsukata Ito for Dr Shimoda Yamamoto and Enrique Corleone.
The charges are desecration of the dead, black marketeering, conspiracy to commit desecration, money laundering and attempting to pervert the course of justice. Would the defendants like to enter a plea?
Both defendants rose;
Not Guilty on all charges, your honour.
Dr Shimoda, set your communicator to the courts frequency.
The Dr complied, fiddling with the communicator on his wrist until he was able to speak to the whole court.
Dr Shimoda, did you receive a copy of the indictment filed?
I did, Your Honour.
Did you carefully read over said indictment?
I did, Your Honour.
Very well. No further questions. Mr Corleone, set your communicator to the courts frequency.
The mobster punched in a code into the small device, resetting its frequency.
Mr Corleone, did you receive a copy of the indictment filed?
I did, Your Honour.
Did you carefully read over said indictment?
I did, Your Honour.
Very well. No further questions. Bail recommendations, counsellors?
Due to the severity and magnitude of dishonour of the crimes charged against the defendants, the People believe that a bail of 600,000 credits would be appropriate.
Mr Whymper spoke;
Your Honour, my client is a respected and honourable pillar of the community with no previous criminal record who has assisted the noble Kaigun countless times and towards which none but charges of desecration of the already dishonoured has been filed and there is no evidence whatsoever he presents a flight risk beyond the typical ability of shuttle mobility the majority of highly honoured citizens possess. I move that he be released on his own recognizance.
Your client is being charged with active conspiracy with an unlawful organization known to pose a significant threat to the health and welfare of the Kusari people. Motion denied, counsellor. Do you have anything to say, Son Matsukata?
No, your honour
Bail is set at 500,000 credits. Do the People have anything to say?
We have no objections to the bail levied upon both defendants you have set, Your Honour.
In which case, based upon the evidence provided by the People against the defendant, I move a formal criminal trial be held at the Sector 3 Supreme Court. Court is adjourned
The courtrooms occupants filed out, gathering documents and quietly discussing amongst themselves.

That night, a well dressed Kusari businessman sat in a darkened meditation chamber, guards watching over the elaborately made yet thin laser matte walls as Cardamine smoked near a nearby Buddha statue. This businessmans communicator rang, and seeing its frequency, he immediately rose to turn off the background audio system and stood to attention;
Yes, Aquilar?
Greetings, honourable student. I trust the latest shipment went as planned, or as some in Bretonian might have put it, a blessing in disguise? replied a Kusari voice.
Indeed it did, honourable master Aquilar. I managed to make sure operatives were in the area, and Son Shimoda and that Hogosha-loving slime Corleones trial has gone ahead. Shall I speak to our mutual friends and ask them to move for a public interest immunity?
No, leave it be under the supervision of the Honshu division. All the blame shall fall on them, and in turn Internal Affairs will be in the throes of watching each other and appearing before imperial committees. We need to count on a partial victory, as the judge will undoubtedly take interest in the honour motions of Son Shimodas lawyer. If a similar tribunal can be heard from the Kaigun, our friend Tanaka can also be moved up the ladder and we could potentially gain a foothold to the western border.
Yes, honourable sir. I shall see to it that my operatives leave them alone. In the meantime, I shall continue to manage the project on Ryuu you assigned me.
Most excellent, Golden Sun. Kusari shall soon be in our grasp.
The cardamine continued to burn, and the two men continued to discuss, while beyond the penthouse Golden Chrysantheneums fought a furious gang war with Hogosha thugs, with more bullets and tanks than a full Kaigun armoury.

SECTOR 3 SUPREME COURT, 1 DAY LATER

All rise spoke the heavy set, fat faced Kusari clerk. The messages recipients obeyed the order. This court is now in session. Please be seated.
Criminal Case 99887-15678-C, People v. Dr Shimoda Yamamoto and Enrique Corleone. Will counsel please note their appearance for the record.
The same events played out again;
Good morning, your honour. Akita Iwo and Hideki Miyagi for the People
Good morning, your honour. Arthur Whymper and Matsukata Ito for Dr Shimoda Yamamoto and Enrique Corleone.
The prosecutors will now make their case.
Dr Shimoda Yamamoto was a man who had originally come from the noble backgrounds of Honshus honourable class, but none are incorruptible bar the Emperor-under-the-sun Himself. He was seduced by the lure of money and the foreign corruptions of the unenlightened houses of Bretonia and Liberty into a materialistic separation in disharmony with our noble House.

This disharmony lead him to make bed with the vile organized crime syndicates of Sirius, among them the notorious Outcasts and more specifically, the dishonourable Blue Lotus Syndicate. This led him into a partnership with Junker elements in an attempt to overthrow the noble Hogosha, and Kusari society itself. Noble men of the jury, I shall prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant has been involved in organ smuggling operations and crimes against the dead, who may be criminals, noble men, but they are also formerly honoured ones, deserving of mournful respect, not of desecration.

I shall prove to you beyond any reasonable doubt that he had contact with the co-defendant, Enrique Corleone, in conspiracy to deliver illegally and immorally harvested organs for both mens mutual and immoral gain at the expense of the Kusari people for the favour of vile looters and degenerate addicts.

The second defendant, Enrique Corleone, was born into a society of drug runners and criminals who have not been enlightened by the spirit of the Emperor-under-the-sun and therefore did not lead him towards the proper order. He worked for and organized countless organized crime operations, all the while thumbing his nose at the justice system with bribery, corruption and disrespect for Kusari herself.

I hope that you, noble men of the jury, will today make your decision based not upon feeling, but upon what has been appointed to you, that of truth, justice and the light of the Emperor-under-the-sun. The defense calls..
Mr Whymper spoke;
Your Honour, I believe it would be a miscarriage of justice for my client to be tried alongside Mr Corleone due to his honour status within society. The obvious association the jury will make with the class of thieves the defendant has been accused of association with in terms of the innocence of my client will prejudice the case, the jury and will be a disgrace to the ancient systems which have held the House of Kusari under the light of the Emperor for centuries.
Counselor, why did you not see fit to bring up this matter earlier? replied the ancient tones of Judge Mitsubishi Togo
In politeness and deference to the prosecutor, your honour. I do not believe that it would be appropriate to interrupt him before he has had a chance to establish an initial foothold as mandated by Kusari tradition.
Counselor, please do not try and play games with me. In my chambers, as well as you, Son Matsukata.
The two lawyers and the judge filed out of the courtroom into the judges elaborate chambers, which were decorated by much ancient pottery and well conditioned, in addition to being guarded by two faceless, heavily armoured court officers in ceremonial garb. The judge took his seat and spoke;
Counselor, your argument, as I recall, was in relation to the honour status of your client and the co-defendant unduly impacting upon and influencing the jury. Does Son Matsukata have any response?
Your Honour, I believe that my colleague here is attempting to drive a wedge between us to better facilitate the obtaining of a plea barg..
Counselor, you are making very serious allegations against Son Whymper and his client. Due to the status of Son Whympers client in both honour and privilege, and the nature of the allegations which you raise, can you offer any corroborating evidence towards your allegations? If not, Im going to dismiss it, and its fairly possible you will be charged with slander of a respected person.
My intuition, Your Honour. I have spent years defending clients within the courts of our noble nation, and this Bretonian..
Son Whymper is not the one on trial here, Son Matsukata, and his client is not on trial for any of the charges you raise. Assumption of good faith is a critical component we must take as judges to avoid undue, even accidental besmirching of legitimate and respected persons, which would cause them much damage. I am protected from such charges, but I am fair, and I have no desire to cause this to fall upon a respected Dr such as Son Whympers client. However, I did in past observe a certain level of theatrics from Son Whymper, who while not on trial did commit such a thing in the process of court.

However, these legal tactics, while they may irritate me, are not grounds for any legal prosecution. Therefore, please do not act like a house fighting amongst itself, and please keep this foray honourable. That goes for both of you. Now, to the matter of the structure of the house.
Your Honour, under the Kusari constitution, each and every person has the absolute Emperor-gifted right to a fair trial by a jury of his or her peers. The differing honour and class statuses of my client and Son Matsukatas client provide circumstances I believe can only result in a miscarriage of justice. Furthermore, the inherent credibility of my client and his natural standing under the Emperors system is impugned by association with a man who has himself confessed to former membership of the Outcasts.
You raise a valid point, Son Whymper. However, due to the small nature of the ex-Outcast community of Maltan stock within Kusari, such a close knit community does not lend itself to an efficient and impartial trial. Equally, this applies to the upper classes of Kusari, who, blessed as they are by the knowledge of the Emperor, are occaisionally blinded and corrupted by their status. Therefore, the current jurorship stays, but due to the nature of this case, charging with association with criminals, the codefendancy of your client with Son Matsukatas may indeed prejudice the jury towards his guilt and force your hand into a miscarriage of justice the Emperor would not approve of.

Therefore, your client is separated from Son Matsukatas and they will be tried separately. Now, return to your positions in court.
The judge and the counsellors both filed back in to the large courtroom, taking their seats.
Judge Togo Mitsubishi spoke;
This court rules that Dr Yamamoto and Son Corleone are to be tried separately due to the strong possibility of a miscarriage of justice in the case of the two defendants being tried together and being taken together as one case. The prosecution may choose which case it wishes to pursue first.
We will, your honour. The People believe that it is more pertinent that Son Corleone be tried first, and we move to start our opening statement to the jury again on the matter of Son Corleone.
Sustained. Carry on, counsellors.
Son Corleone has previously.. the prosecutors began.

4 days later, in a court anteroom, Mr Whymper spoke with his client;
Ok, so theyve pretty solidly established Enrique used to be an Outcast who smuggled in Cardamine. However, theyve totally failed to establish he ever smuggled in organs. This may be key to our case, so I want you to tell me whether you would like me to try and disprove that notion. I dont know what intelligence the Naicho has, so you make the decision here. Understood?
Indeed. I believe you should lean upon this as a legal crutch to discredit Enrique and his story, and I think we can afford to take a gamble on this one. I also believe we should attempt to focus this to the Naicho and their frankly outrageous practices as of late.
From what I understand of Kusari culture, the Naicho are considered to be the eyes and ears of the Kusari Admiralty..
They are the eyes and ears, but they are only middle in the overall rung of honour. I am considered as a doctor to be a near-unimpeachable moral presence, and therefore any charges of poor conduct would appropriately fall towards them. Off the record, I have heard rumours that the Peoples Justice Office is more concerned with my alleged association with Mr Corleone than my organ business.
Ok Dr, I shall proceed to defend and represent you to the best of my ability. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me via the privileged communications channel.
What about the Peoples witness regarding Corleones personal life?
Do you want me to cross examine him regarding how well he knows Corleone? His Honour or the People may accuse me of acting like his lawyer, when Im trying to discredit Corleone and build a case painting you as the victim.
Sir.. Mr Whymper.. I.. I am the victim. I am levelling with you here. I truly and sincerely did not wish to deal with the Outcasts. I wish only to help the.. the unity of us. He.. threatened me. He threatened to expose me and to kill me.. but I cannot admit this. I would be charged and considered.. dishonourable.
What approach would you like me to take with this, sir?
Try and handle it slowly and gently. Gradually build up sympathy in the jurys mind then release this information as part of a cross examination so that justice may be done to that dishonourable enemy of the Great Unity.
If I may ask, what is the Great Unity?
The friendship between the Houses of Rheinland and Kusari against the atrocities and decadence of.. listen, I pay you to defend me.
Apologies sir, I was merely curious, so that I may better coordinate your legal strategy, and curious.
Anyway, take it roughly initially, then gently, then drop this bomb, shall we say, upon the jury. I want nothing to do with the machinations of the Outcasts, but I do wish this to proceed as the Kaiguns circle has dictated. Discredit them, and the truth will, ultimately, vindicate me.
Okay.. Im going to do as you instructed, sir. Are you absolutely sure you want to go ahead with this?
Yes.
Very well then. Here we go back into court..
SEVERAL HOURS LATER, WITHIN THE CHAMBERS OF JUDGE MITSUBISHI TOGO
You cannot allow this to enter as evidence, Your Honour. Kusaris national interests are integral to this..
Your Honour, we have no desire to compromise the security of the Naichos secure facilities. No naming or describing of anyone or anything else at the facility will take place. Its the psychological and individual treatment of my client that is in question. We only need the interrogation videos of my client, not of anyone else..
Important aspects may be compromised by leaks from another interrogatee..
A fault on your part, counsellor, not on mine or on the part of Son Whympers client. I will review these tapes myself and you will both have my decision as to whether any alleged leaks have taken place within these halls, in which case I will most certainly be writing to the prefect of your area for such compromisement of our national security through incompetence. However, Son Whymper, if I approve this, it will only be for the interrogation itself. If I see a single mention of anyone but your client and the interrogators I will declare you in contempt.
Thank you, Your Honour.
Gentlemen, I think it is time for the Defense to call its next witness..
Several hours later, the clerk spoke again;
Call Akira Takei.
A well dressed yet nondescript man went up to the stand, handing in several pieces of electronic equipment to the bailiff. Mr Whymper approached the stand;
Please state your name, age and occupation for the record.
Akira Takei, 38, Washi in the Emperor-under-the-suns Naicho.
Please review Defense Exhibit T.
On a courtroom screen, the interrogation of Dr Shimoda Yamamoto played out in a dark room. Several times, the interrogating officers accosted the Dr, and at one time passed him a strange looking liquid.[/i] Mr Whymper silently watched and then, after the screen had faded, turned to Takei;
Were you the primary interrogator in this Naicho operation?
Yes.
Did you have oversight over the operations of this interrogation?
Yes
Can you please identify to this court the liquid passed to Dr Yamamoto?
It is water.
Son Akira, are you aware of the concept of perjury? I present to you, Defense Exhibit S, a section of interrogatory record detailing my clients interrogation by the Naicho, which shows a tick over the use of the drug..
The prosecutor rose;
Objection! To have this matter in the public record may impede the overall effectiveness of national security matters and..
Your Honour, the prosecutor is making a mountain out of a molehill. I never said anything about the overall operations. For all..
You are correct, but dont make this any worse. Overruled. Strike these past 2 remarks from the record. Judge Mitsubishi Togo replied. The stenography system obediently complied.
Mr Whymper continued;
.. known as Carcofilium AOR. Can you explain this discrepancy?
The prosecutor again rose;
Objection! For Son Akira to answer that question would compromise and impede the flow of police operations!
This court is henceforth in a closed status and its proceedings classified under penalty of contempt. Overruled.
Its a placebo. We sometimes use the actual drug, which is a mix of several ingredients from many different sources, and we sometimes use simple water. In this case, it was simple water.
So you and your partner, under the evidence available to you, attempted to psychologically use my client, an upstanding member of this community, in a closed setting?
It was a smuggling operation we were investigating. We are accorded that prerogative by the Emperor-under-the-sun.
The Emperor-under-the-sun also accords protection to the higher members of society, such as prefects, holy men and doctors. Did you acquire the approval of a court for the original incarceration of my client?
No. But this was a matter of national security.
Not in the eyes of the Emperor, sir. National security pertains to foreign military threats or the direct funding of hostile nations. The activities you were investigating, as stated by the prosecution, were towards the investigation of profit oriented, non nationalistic smugglers at the time you had made proceedings. Did your objectives change before or after the fact of interrogation?
Akira Takei remained silent. Judge Mitsubishi spoke;
Answer the question, Son Akira.
It was.. after.
In the eyes of the Emperor, sir, you wrongfully used Imperial resources on an upstanding pillar of the community in defiance of His law and of your own directorate.
Objection! Argumentative!
Withdrawn! Mr Whymper stated. Judge Mitsubishi spoke;
Does the prosecution wish to cross examine this witness?
A defeated looking Akita Iwo replied;
No, Your Honour.
You may step down.
The witness stepped down and returned to his seat.
Call Yuki Yamamoto.
A well dressed woman rose and took to the stand. Mr Whymper approached again;
Please state your name, age and class for the record.
Yuki Yamamoto, 93, ledisu.
Are you the wife of the defendant, my client Dr Shimoda Yamamoto?
Yes I am, his wife of 50 years.
Do you have much knowledge of your husbands work life?[i]
[i]Well, yes actually. I occasionally visit his Morgue as a follower of the Buddha in honour of the festival of the New Year, the Vesak and the Magha Pudja.
Has your husband ever acted in an unusual or immoral way?
No. Shimoda is a good doctor and a good husband. He is not a criminal.
Has your husband ever indicated that he might be in some sort of trouble?
No, not legal trouble if that is what you mean.
Has your husband ever indicated to you at all, during your entire 50 year marriage to him, that he had any criminal associations or even any subversive tendencies?
No, not at all. As I said, he is a good doctor and a good husband. He is observant and provides for me and honours the Emperor and the noble Kaigun.
No further questions, Your Honour.
Do you wish to cross examine this witness?
Yes, Your Honour.
Proceed.
Akita Takei stepped towards the stand;
How extensive was your experience with the preparation facilities of the defendant?
We walked past them several times in our parade.
Did you actually enter these specific facilities?
Yes, once when there had been an incident involving two youthful vandals who had sabotaged the light system.
Were the preparation facilities at that time, months ago, operational?
No. We wouldnt have gone into a room full of corpses.
Have you ever seen the preparation rooms of your husbands facility in operational status?
No.
No further questions, Your Honour.
Suddenly, Yuki Yamamoto shouted;
He is not an Outcast ally! That beast, he threatened us, he threatened to kill us both!
You may step down.
Order! Madam, return to your seat! sternly commanded Judge Togo.
The witness stepped down and returned to her seat.
Call Dr Goku Hirai.
A younger scientist rose and walked up to the stand. Mr Whymper approached;
Please state your name, age and occupation for the record.
Goku Hirai, 43, vice director of the Morgue 17.
Son Hirai, in your term as vice director of the Morgue 17, has my client ever shown suspicious behaviour regarding the activities of the preparation room?
No.
As handler of the Morgue 17s financial documents, have you ever noticed any irregularities in my clients earnings?
No. I handle the majority of the Morgues documents, with the exception of those for religious amenities, which are handled by the Officer of Religion and pertain to the specific burial rites.
Do these burial rites involve the treatment of the deceased body and/or organs?
Yes, they do.
Do any of these rites involving the removal of organs for preservatory purposes?
Yes, they do. The Furya cult is just one of over 150 religions and cults which practices the removal and preservation of organs for spiritual purposes and occasionally as part of larger rituals.
Isnt it possible that the organs which had been taken from the Morgue were transported and accredited under Morgue supervision by someone who had access to my clients financial accreditation, as the senior Morgue staff do, given your lack of financial notice on the Morgues documents?
Objection! Counsel is leading the witness and asking him to speculate on matters which he could not possibly have had knowledge and does not possess expertise in, not being an exchequer of the defendants financial dealings!
Your Honour, the prosecution has failed to establish that Son Goku is not an exchequer of my clients finances.
Sustained. Lets move on, counsellor.
No further questions, Your Honour.
Does the prosecution wish to cross examine this witness?
Yes, Your Honour.
Proceed
Akita Takei approached the stand, as Mr Whymper returned.
Son Goku, do you have a status of exchequer over the financial dealings of the defendant, Son Yamamoto?
No, I do not. I handle the financial documents of the Morgue.
Thank you, no further questions Your Honour.
You may step down.
The witness stepped down and returned to his seat.
Call Haruna Kaz.
A man draped in a grey robe stood up and slowly rose to the stand. Mr Whymper approached;
Please state your name, age and occupation for the record.
Haruna Kaz, 103, prime exchequer of Son Yamamotos financial dealings.
In your time as the prime exchequer of my clients financial dealings, have you noticed any irregularities among my clients personal financial documents?
Yes, I noted several.
What were those?
Well, for one, he had made a large purchase to a Samura security division auction, and I noticed several occasions of donations to a group known as the Grey Goods Group.
What classification was the transferrance of funds towards this group classed under the Triangle System?
Blue triangle, which applies to the purchase of commercial goods.
Does any employee of the Morgue have any affiliation with this group?
Objection! The personal lives and preferences of Morgue staff lie in the boundaries of personnel management and not financial records!
Your Honour, this witness is also responsible for investigation of financial irregularities under his charter. If an employee..
The defense has failed to establish..
Ill allow it for now. This is legitimate within the context of prosecutory burden and inquisitorial questioning.
Thank you, Your Honour. Do any of the employees which you have contact with have any known affiliation with this group?
Yes, 3 among my staff.
Do you know of the nature of this group?
It is an open commercial wing of the Unity movement, which is a political movement promoting the alliance of House Rheinland and Kusari.
Why did you consider this transferrance unusual when affiliation with this movement was commonplace among your staff?
Because the size of the transfer exceeded the usual spending pattern of my employer. I suspected employee fraud.
Mr Whymper received a private message from his client via his communicator. He turned to the Judge;
Your Honour, the defense would like to enter the employee records of one Dr Watanabe Aki into evidence as pertinent to this case and request that proceedings be adjourned for today.
So ordered. Present these records to me for review in my chambers within 1 hour. Court is adjourned.
THE DAY AFTER, IN A COURT CONFERENCE ROOM
Son Akita, your entire case has been exposed even with only 1 character and 3 major witnesses thus called by us as on the thin edge between public apology and a mere dismissal. To be frank, lets avoid this whole mess and make it easier for all of us, the family of my client included, and drop these charges and make a deal in exchange for not seeing this to civil court.
Takei Akita remained stalwart;
No. The cards are not stacked yet, Bretonian, and your clumsy and churlish abuse of our honour system will fall completely soon. No deal, no dropped charges, and your client is making a huge mistake if he believes that he can spin this confidential dispute into a civil case.
Takei Akita and his partner left the room, leaving Mr Whymper and Dr Yamamoto to privately discuss various matters;
What do you think? Have they got a rebuttal witness?
I dont know sir, but I think its possible their original mission might have a few more surprises in its specifics we dont know about. Unfortunately, he called our bluff on the civil case thing.
I saw Son Akita earlier, after you finished cross examining Son Akira. He looked genuinely despondent. Do you think hes pulling out a backup plan?
I dont know, sir. I didnt see him at the time, but in my experience, a defeated looking prosecutor generally means hes going to do something that might involve sacrificing something politically valuable to his superiors. But in my experience as a hired prosecutor, you never let yourself look defeated in a major trial, even when you dont win a gamble. Whatever he has, its going to be big. When I call you, dont directly mention anything incriminating regarding your alleged activities. That way, we can make a deal if we need to without the prosecutor getting a free ride from your testimony.
He threatened me over my payments to the Group and the Orange Council not over..
Ok.
Lets call it a day, shall we?
As you wish. Mr Whymper replied.
Several hours later, Mr Whymper placed a call to Judge Togo.
THE DAY AFTER
This court rules the employee records of Dr Watanabe Aki admissible as evidence for the defence under the designation of exhibit U. Please proceed, counsellor..
The judges tones again rang throughout the courtroom, prompting Mr Whymper to proceed;
Thank you, Your Honour. Son Haruna, please review Defense Exhibit U, the Morgue 17 employee records of one Watanabe Aki. Have you previously examined this document in your function as a financial inquisitor and advisor in the employ of my client?

Haz Karuna replied
Credits to Court Records (free use)
Yes, my underinquisitor flagged it as suspicious after an apprenticeship session we had both engaged in. I had him work on his own with a dummy copy of my clients finances, upon which he noticed an irregularity while running a routine SpendCheck to detect fraud, some of which I had deliberately placed in the document for him to find. However, I always remember every puzzle I set up for him, and this particular I had not set up. It was inconsistent with the puzzles me and my fellow financial overseers had also discussed while on a self-given seminar at the Jonouchi Institute. In my function as an inquisitory officer I procured several employee documents from our personnel department, filtering through to find employees who had shown affiliations or interests in the recipient group. San Watanabes file had previously been earmarked by our Human Resources department for attempting to fundraise for a political cause on company property. She also had an associates degree in computer science, which would have made her one of only 3 people in our entire Morgue to possess the necessary means and expertise to have hacked into my clients account.
Who were the other two people?
One of them is Dr Itokawa Norihito, who had been on an ascetic pilgrimage through the Mukden Mountains at the time of access. The other was Murakami Yuri, who had died in an unfortunate incident involving fugu fish in a New Tokyo restaurant a week earlier.
Did you ever investigate the possibility of outside involvement in this event?
Yes, I and my officers did. We hired an independent technical analyst who determined the access had been made from a particular model of neural net computer, namely a medical one only found, within the bandwith of the signal he had determined from a coding trace kit, in this Morgue.
Did you examine the computers of this facility?
There would be no point in doing so. They are company property, and even if we could match the individual computer which did it, which was beyond the scope of the analysis we could afford at the time, there would have been no point scanning for prints or irregularities, as a good portion of our aesthetics budget had gone into new, streamlined computers a year ago, and they were chaotically and interchangeably exchanged between employees.
Thank you, no further questions.
Does the prosecution wish to cross examine this witness?
No, Your Honour.
You may step down.
Kaz Haruna stepped down from the witness stand and returned to his seat.
Your Honour, the defence would like to call a surprise witness.
Proceed.
Akira Takei looked bewildered.
Call Dr Watanabe Aki
A young Kusari woman was let into the courtroom by two bailiffs and proceeded up to the witness stand. Mr Whymper approached;
Please state your name, age and occupation for the record.
Dr Watanabe Aki, 33, Master Technician at Morgue 17.
Dr Watanabe, can you explain the circumstances around the hacking of my clients neural net account?
Objection! This is a complete and utter mockery of the right of any citizen to not be called as a witness against himself!
I have done no wrong, Your Honour. I can explain, and I do not object to this questioning. stated Dr Watanabe.

Judge Togo Mitsubishi replied
Credit to Court Records (free use)
Overruled. You are building a case against the defendant, not defending Dr Watanabe.
I did it. And it was not hacking, it was at Dr Yamamotos request.
Why did my client allegedly ask you to access his account?
He asked me because he had been intimidated by entanglements with that Outcast, Corleone.
Please tell the court the first name of the Outcast which you speak of.
Enrique.
Thank you, no further questions.
Akira Takei was standing, wide eyed and open mouthed, as Mr Whymper walked away from the stand. Judge Togo spoke;
Does the prosecution wish to cross examine this witness?
No, Your Honour. a defeated looking Akira Takei stated.
Call Dr Shimoda Yamamoto.
Dr Shimoda Yamamoto finally rose and took to the stand. His solicitor approached;
Please state your name, age and occupation for the record.
Dr Shimoda Yamamoto, 95, Administrator of Morgue 17.
Is Dr Watanabe Akis testimony regarding the hacking of your account, which directly relates to you, true?
Yes.
Please describe to this court the events as you had witnessed them.
I had been a supporter of the ideology of the sponsors of the Grey Goods Group. I had instructed her to do this covertly due to the orders of Enrique Corleone, who had threatened to kill me and my wife if I made any incriminating references towards him and his group.
Is the Enrique Corleone you and Dr Watanabe Aki speak of the Enrique Corleone who is currently on trial?
Yes.
So you were coerced into paying tribute to this group, which had Outcast associations?
Objection! The defense has completely failed to establish that the Grey Goods Group has any Outcast associations whatsoever!
Sustained.
Why did Mr Corleone want you to covertly donate to the Grey Goods Group?
Because he had an indirect stake in it. His organization, the New Pact, has links to the sponsors of the Grey Goods Group.
Thank you, no further questions.
Akira Takei looked steely eyed and nervous as Mr Whymper took his seat. Judge Togo spoke;
Does the prosecution wish to cross examine this witness?
No, Your Honour.
You may step down.
SEVERAL HOURS LATER, IN A COURT ANTE ROOM
Mr Akira, I must honestly implore you to drop this case. You have established that my client removed organs, yes, from people entrusted to him by the Kaigun for such a purpose, yes, but you have completely failed to establish that he marketed them at all, let alone voluntarily. Not only does reasonable doubt remain here even from an optimists perspective, the actions of the Naicho might bring down another fine representative of my client upon your friends!
Akira Takei continued to look steely eyed and resilient, with a certain degree of anger and contempt towards Mr Whymper;
You have not won yet, Bretonian. The rebuttal shall come soon, and your case shall be exposed, crushed, demolished and your client laid before the swords of the Emperors arbiters!
Bold words. But can you back that up at the rebuttal? Well be watching.
Mr Whymper closed the door, and saw his client listening to a news broadcast, showing a Rheinland shuttle having recently docked on Honshu.
That man.. I believe that I know him. stated Dr Yamamoto.
SEVERAL DAYS LATER
Your Honour, the prosecution would like to call a surprise witness.
Proceed, counsellor. replied Judge Togo.
Call Dagmar Eckstein as a consular witness.
A tall, thin and vulture-faced man in a green and black uniform with a large peaked cap adorned with a large and metallic golden eagle that marked his consular status entered the room, walking towards the witness stand. Akira Takei triumphiantly approached the stand;
Please state your name, age, occupation, nation of origin and mission for the record.
Dagmar Eckstein, 103, Regie of the Kommission zu dem Abfangen und einer Verhinderung der unerlaubten Verhandlungen, the Holy Republic of House Rheinland, to provide intelligence information towards the facilitation of criminal justice in conjunction with the Kusari Naicho and prosecutorial offices.
Son Eckstein, can you please explain to this court the nature of the organization which you come here today as leader and representative of?
The Bureau der Marineintelligence is the intelligence division of the Rheinwehr, and within it lies the Kommission zu dem Abfangen und einer Verhinderung der unerlaubten Verhandlungen, which is tasked with, of course, preventing and intercepting illicit transactions such as the activities of Outcast cardamine smugglers or in this case, the illicit commercial transportation of human organs.
Can you please describe to this court the recent activities your commission has conducted in relation to the two defendants?
Within Kusari society, there is a group of alleged former Outcasts who have been heavily inoculated with experimental Cryer Pharmaceuticals products. These groups have infiltrated and corrupted an already existing political movement known as the Great Unity, which is most widely represented by the Orange Council, the major party supporting this political ideology. This ideology orients itself towards a unity of the Empire of House Kusari and the Holy Republic of House Rheinland against the heretics of Liberty and Bretonia, which as all undoubtedly know are heathen, corrupt cultures.

These so called ex Outcasts are in fact still addicted to the vile drug cardamine and not brought to the light. They are merely pawns of the larger Outcast organization, particularily the Blue Lotus Syndicate. They infiltrate the Orange Council in order to finance their operations as it provides a convenient vantage point from which to smuggle organs from Kusari into Rheinland, as the physiology of Kusari and certain..situations in Rheinland create this as a profitable criminal market. Recently, our organization has discovered this arrangement has created peculiariaties of one hand not knowing the activities of the other, in this case the influence of the Corsairs upon the Rheinland end. The Corsairs were, and today, though to a lesser extent thanks to the efforts of the Gottkanzlers forces, still embezzling from these criminal transactions for supposedly feeding their starving citizens on an unknown homeworld. One of their more major operators within that area, and of Corsair operations in general, was arrested about a month ago in the Kronski Morgue, as was co-embezzler and organ smuggler Dietrich von Schmidt.

The organs seemed to have been coming from a major supplier, and when we learned of this latest affair, it correlated with our data.
Please describe how it correlated with your data.
Our biological analysis of the seized shipments all bore a similar packaging pattern and surgical stylus, and the chemical and mechanical analysis of the packaging led us to conclude it had been located in Kusari. Therefore, we sent them to the Kusari Naicho for analysis, and we received word back, which I would be happy to produce as a relevant document to the court, that it had been matched to a particular area of Honshu. And, of course, your own investigators looked at the morgues in that area and found Morgue 17 to be the prime suspect.
Could you produce that document to this court?

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