He let her go. Then he let Corin go. Then Jaya. Then Mira.

The infraexams still run in Veridia. Every morning, seven percent of the population still sees that blue light. But now, when the grey vans arrive, some people say no. They close their doors, open their tablets, and show the officers the memo.

She didn't get angry. She got methodical.

The conclusion was brutal: A society with zero perceived risk ceases to consume risk-mitigation products. Therefore, an optimal level of UNSTABLE designation (7-9% of the population) must be maintained, even in the absence of genuine biomarkers. The infraexam algorithm shall be adjusted quarterly to meet this target.