i thought martin’s reasoning for being the one to kill elias sounded weird and didn’t really make sense, so i went back and read the transcript of mag 193 and i can confirm it’s dumb because
1)
Text ID:
ARCHIVIST
I could kill his body, sever the link, break The Eye’s power, and Jonah Magnus would die.
MARTIN
Okay, that sounds good but…?
ARCHIVIST
But, that wouldn’t actually harm The Eye itself. And with him gone it would… it would choose a suitable replacement.
“With him gone” / “If we kill Jonah Magnus” : there is no indication that it’s jon killing jonah that will make him take his place, in fact it seems pretty clear that it’s more about jonah being dead and leaving a void that needs to be filled
2)
Text ID:
ARCHIVIST
His body is vulnerable. At least to me.
“At least to me” : the probabilities are high that jon is literally the only one who can kill jonah? i honestly don’t think martin could do it and as they need to be perfectly coordinated they really can’t afford to take that risk
And finally
4)
Text ID:
MARTIN
You’re not listening. I mean, if he kills Jonah, then knowing our luck he’s just going to end up taking his place in the Panopticon, isn’t he?
GEORGIE
[Sighs] Good point.
MARTIN
He can come up with me, but when it actually comes to Jonah…
BASIRA
You’ll have to be the one to do it.
MARTIN
Yeah.
ARCHIVIST
Martin… I don’t –
BASIRA
Have you got this? We can trade if you don’t think you can do it.
jon immediately raises an objection, but i guess we will never know what it was because everyone just ~looves~ ignoring his imput on decisions that directly affect him :))))