No one rushed to speak.
The curves still hung in the air.
Unforgiving.
The Shift
A council member finally cleared his throat.
"These outcomes are… compelling," he said carefully.
"But procedure exists for a reason."
Lin Chen looked at him.
"Procedure," he replied,
"exists to prevent responsibility from being personal."
The words landed harder than accusation.
The Unspoken Question
If intervention saved lives—
Who accepted the cost of waiting?
System Log
[System Log: Ethical Frame — Reversal Achieved.]
[Institutional Stress Level — Rising.]
The system had no recommendation.
There was nothing to optimize here.
A Subtle Pressure
Another member spoke.
"If your data is accurate, then some deaths might have been avoidable."
Might.
Lin Chen didn't let it stand.
"Were avoidable," he corrected.
Softly.
The Line Crossed
That single correction shifted the burden.
Silence again.
This time, it felt heavier.
Dr. Hart's Thought
They weren't judging Lin Chen anymore.
They were calculating exposure.
End of Chapter