Finding Rulu's reasoning hard to argue with, Nana fell silent. At some point, a group of people in white coats entered the banquet hall, carrying in several rge white metal cases. At the same time, the music in the hall came to a stop.

  A man in his fifties or sixties, wearing a white cap and white coat with a rge white beard, stepped up onto the ptform at the front of the banquet hall, took hold of the microphone, and spoke in a clear, carrying voice:

  "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Sanctuary tour group. My name is Bir, and I am the captain of this vessel. I will be accompanying you all over the next few days, and I hope we will get along well. I now have some important matters to share with you, so please settle down, take a seat, and listen carefully."

  At the captain's words, the crowd throughout the banquet hall gradually stopped chatting and dancing, found seats, and turned their attention toward Captain Bir. He continued:

  "I'm sure you are all eager to reach the Sanctuary and experience its wonders. However, before you depart for the Sanctuary, there are certain things I must tell you.

  The environment of the Sanctuary is completely unlike the outside world. Powerful radiation exists everywhere within the Sanctuary at all times. For this reason, ordinary people simply cannot adapt to conditions there. A normal person who enters the Sanctuary will, within anywhere from a few days to two weeks at most, suffer rapid deterioration of bodily functions due to intense radiation exposure — and ultimately die."

  A wave of unrest swept through the crowd at these words. Some faces turned pale with fear, and a voice cried out, "Then I'm not going! I don't want to die — I want to go home!"

  "We've been deceived. The Sanctuary isn't anything like we imagined. It's no pce for human beings. I have no intention of exposing myself to radiation."

  The captain raised his voice. "Please calm down. There is no need for arm. In order to allow ordinary people to adapt to the Sanctuary's unique environment, the Sanctuary has specially developed an anti-radiation medication. Once you have received this injection, you will gain powerful radiation resistance and be fully capable of adapting to the Sanctuary's environment, free to explore it at your leisure."

  "Ah, I see. That puts my mind at ease."

  "I suppose we were worrying for nothing. I always said — the Sanctuary is the realm of gods. Of course it's not somewhere just anyone can enter. We really are lucky to be going."

  The fear on people's faces gradually melted away, and smiles returned.

  The captain continued: "However, please be aware — this anti-radiation medication pces considerable strain on the body. After the injection, you may experience a variety of adverse reactions. For those who are older or have weaker constitutions, the body may be unable to tolerate the medication and may develop severe rejection responses. Should this occur, your Sanctuary travel eligibility will be revoked for the sake of your own safety.

  Additionally, if any of you are Ultra-capable individuals, you will not require this injection, as Ultra-capable individuals naturally possess strong radiation resistance and are fully able to adapt to the Sanctuary's environment. Our medical staff will shortly begin administering the anti-radiation injections. Please cooperate fully and follow our instructions. Failure to do so may result in the canceltion of your Sanctuary travel eligibility."

  Once the captain had finished speaking, the white-coated personnel began moving through the hall. They retrieved syringes and medication from the cases and proceeded to administer the anti-radiation injections to everyone present one by one. Nana, being an ordinary person, received her injection as well.

  The captain's voice continued to echo through the hall: "After receiving the anti-radiation medication, you will likely experience considerable discomfort. This is normal, and there is no cause for undue concern. Those who have already received the injection are now asked to return to their cabins to rest. Professional medical staff will be assigned to monitor your condition. If you develop any severe adverse reactions, you must notify our medical personnel immediately. Furthermore, all events occurring aboard this vessel are entirely voluntary, and all consequences arising thereof are your own responsibility..."

  Not long after receiving the anti-radiation injection, Nana began to feel unwell. Her entire body burned as though she had a high fever; she was dizzy and disoriented, nauseated, and struggling to stay conscious.

  Rulu hurried Nana back to their cabin and had her lie down to rest. He soaked a handkerchief in cold water and pced it on her forehead to bring down her temperature, then gave her medication to ease her symptoms. After taking it, Nana felt a little better and drifted off to sleep in a daze.

  Over the following days, Nana remained bedridden as though in the grip of a serious illness, running a persistent high fever, too weak to do anything but lie still. The other passengers were in much the same state — the entire ship had fallen ill.

  The vast cruise ship was eerily empty, with no one moving about or enjoying its amenities. The ship's medical bay was overwhelmed. Some passengers whose bodies could not tolerate the anti-radiation medication had developed severe adverse reactions and were rushed to the emergency room for urgent treatment.

  Three days passed before Nana's condition finally improved. Her fever broke, and she was able to get out of bed and move around on her own. Throughout this period, the ship's medical staff had been closely monitoring every passenger's health. Those whose bodies could not adapt to the anti-radiation medication and remained in poor condition had their Sanctuary travel eligibility revoked. Of the several thousand people who had originally joined the Sanctuary tour group, only around two hundred ultimately qualified to make the journey.

  Five days ter, the day of departure finally arrived. That morning, hovering in the air near the cruise ship were roughly ten to twenty rge disc-shaped objects of silver-grey, each enormous in scale — the size of small aircraft — floating above the surface of the ocean.

  The ship's crew expined that these disc-shaped craft were flyers sent from the Sanctuary, piloted exclusively by Ultra-capable individuals. The members of the Sanctuary tour group would board these vessels to make the journey to the Sanctuary.