Soooooooo upon rereading the event details it looks like one thing got mixed up in my original interpretation of things.

"The Moonblessed the app has connected you to must answer the question truthfully. The longer they refuse to cooperate, the deeper you are pulled into the floor or walls. Once the Moonblessed has answered, the hands will disappear."

So... if Merc refuses to answer, it's bad for Kagura.