The place where the accusation happened was not close.
Tyler realized that almost immediately when the alert appeared in his glasses and the distance marker shifted on the edge of the AR display. The system showed that the voting site was happening somewhere deeper beyond the fruit-gathering zone, near one of the eastern forest paths.
Too far to reach before the opening exchange finished.
So instead of wasting breath immediately, Tyler slowed just enough to watch the live feed projected inside his AR glasses while moving through the trees.
The display opened in front of him like a transparent floating screen.
The system updated.
[Who is the Jobless?]
Then the names appeared.
[Chosen No. 5 — Vivi]
[Chosen No. 53 — Tansy]
Tyler's eyes sharpened.
Not Dale this time.
The live visual expanded.
He saw Tansy standing in a clearing surrounded by participants already gathering around the vote zone. Her posture was steady—arms folded, shoulders relaxed, no visible panic.
