Even when a lead came from a guilty man, the pursuit could not become a mission of atonement

Iwahashi volunteered to lead the way.

"There are three forks on the southern route."

"Kuriyama won't take the one marked on the map."

"I know where he used to hide people."

His request was entered into the record, but it was not immediately approved.

Some thought involving Iwahashi would be the most effective approach.

He knew Kuriyama and could also identify Gray Blade in person.

Others thought this was a chance for him to atone.

If Iwahashi brought the children back, Shuichi might see him differently.

Gen crossed out that last sentence.

Rescuing people was not a performance meant to change how the victims felt.

Nor could Iwahashi trade a single pursuit for forgiveness, teaching credentials, or reduced culpability in the old case.

The investigation team would accept only the routes, signals, and details of Kuriyama's habits that he provided.

Whether he accompanied the team would depend on practical necessity and risk.

Of the three forks, the northern one followed an abandoned Salt Road.

The southern one crossed a low-lying river flat.

The old post road in the middle was the shortest, but it passed a wooden bridge that had already been closed.

Iwahashi believed Kuriyama would take the maintenance path beneath the wooden bridge.

There was enough room there to hide twelve youths, and it was convenient for splitting the group among several merchant wagons.

He also provided two sets of old signals.

The first was used to check whether the group was being followed.

The second meant to scatter immediately.

This information could be marked on the operations map.

Iwahashi himself did not need to appear before the children.

The operations team still discussed the practical value of bringing him along.

If Kuriyama changed his signals on the fly, Iwahashi could recognize them immediately.

But he had left