Ted Riel's Visit

Lucretia came before Duncan carrying that eerie, horrifying rabbit doll. She sat down on the sofa beside him, while Laby cautiously wandered over to the side of the sofa and sat on the floor with a "plop."

"I've placed that 'Saint' in the containment chamber aboard the Brilliant Star. There are sealing facilities there specifically meant to handle all manner of borderland and Spirit World contaminants. He'll recover there slowly until he can meet the requirements of your 'ritual.'

"The surviving 'Sacrifices' have been placed in the city-state's relief center. I spoke with Sala Mel; Lightwind Harbor will take proper care of them and do its best to send them home... Some of them have suffered mental and memory breakdowns and can't explain where home is. Psychiatrists will step in afterward to help.

"As you instructed, I left the 'artificial beacon' aboard that ship. You should now be able to sense its condition through the beacon...

"Additionally, I took stock of the supplies aboard that ship that could still be useful. There's quite a lot, and we can haul it back when we get the chance—consider it a generous haul of spoils. A self-sailing ghost ship certainly won't need fuel or mechanical spare parts anyway..."

Lucretia reported the situation to Duncan point by point, clear and orderly in both her explanations and arrangements.

Clearly, she was quite experienced with this sort of "cleanup."

"Mm." Duncan nodded in satisfaction and did not stint on his praise. "Well done."

Lucretia opened her mouth, yet suddenly seemed somewhat hesitant.

Duncan noticed. "Is there anything else?"

"...I told my brother what happened here, and he asked whether we needed a fleet," Lucretia said. "Considering that the Annihilation Cultists' 'nest' may be a maritime fortress that has operated for centuries or even longer, and that