"My brainwaves, pulse, every physiological response of this body—all of them prove that I exist as a human being. They consider this the behavior of a sound, kind person."
"Don't... save me... save me..."
The man weakly cried for help. If Akane Tsunemori did not save him now, he would undoubtedly die.
Why?
Why was he so unlucky? He had only done a few dirty things, then fled to this area, never expecting to encounter something so cruel.
"So you're Akane Tsunemori? That mushroom haircut of yours. The Sibyl System cannot calculate my crimes. If there is anyone who can punish me, then it can only be—someone capable of killing by their own will."
"R-right now, release that hostage! Otherwise..."
"Otherwise, I'll be killed. According to your judgment, your intent to kill, I will die. What a precious ending that would be."
Akane Tsunemori's hand holding the Dominator trembled.
Without the Dominator, Akane truly did not know how to deal with the insane serial killer before her. Was she really supposed to watch this hateful man slaughter innocent citizens in such madness while she could do nothing?
"See? Your index finger can feel the weight of a human life now, can't it? This is the weight of judgment and will that Sibyl's puppets can never experience."
Those words shook Akane even more. She did not know what to do.
Her trembling grew worse.
There was no way out, no choice to make. She could not put down the Dominator, nor could she abandon her duty. Those were things an Inspector must never do. The Dominator truly ruled people's lives; even Akane Tsunemori, as an Inspector, could not defy the Dominator or the Sibyl System. If the Dominator did not authorize firing, then even if the person was a criminal, she