Chapter Three: The Museum of Harm

Its failure condition remained unchanged: the target must cease to constitute an error. Lin had no weapon. Nor could he deny that the system considered him an error. But he could change the definition of *target*. He caught the hound by its porcelain mask and slammed his badge against its forehead. “New anomaly report: correction process entered an uncertified trial and destroyed core exhibits, causing premature seal release.” All six of the hound's eyes contracted. “I'm not the responsible object,” Lin said. “The system that sent you is.” 【Target definition conflict.】 【Source of correction overlaps source of error.】 The hound shrieked and bit its own shadow.