No removal notice visible.
Ty kept coming back to that line.
The worker had seen an empty box. The owner had seen what came out of it. Between them sat a mask with a clean purpose and dirty timing.
Omina took time with the next question, and that mattered.
The room wanted a name. Ty wanted one too, badly enough that his wrist kept grinding under the skin. A name would give the anger a place to stand.
Omina kept the anger homeless.
"Mask authority class opens before operator identity enters."
Zunoder's face eased by a careful fraction.
"Routing masks often exist to protect sealed privacy during downstream work."
Heissman rubbed both hands together once, then put them flat.
"Privacy can cover a name. Privacy turns ugly when it makes a child into nothing for the person doing the work."
JJ leaned back.
"That sounded painfully useful, and I resent you for it."
Heissman looked at the paper rather than her.
"I will try to be less helpful next time."
