The joy of this declaration has reached the hearts of the crowd.
Amid the cheers, more and more masks are cast aside.
Ms. Grace: You never cease to amaze me, do you?
Vertin: Manus Vindictae have failed.
Ms. Grace: It would appear that way to you, wouldn't it, Ms. Vertin?
Ms. Grace: How shall I congratulate you?
A Manus messenger emerges behind Grace.
Manus Messenger: Ma'am, we've arrived at the target location.
Manus Messenger: We've gathered all the remaining shells and are ready to activate the teleportation ritual at any time.
Ms. Grace: Well, well. Time does fly, as they say. Be seeing you and sooner than you think!
Grace opens her pocket watch one last time before casually tossing it aside.
Ms. Grace: But before I go, consider this a parting gift from your captain, for old time's sake.
*boom*
An explosion booms from the ship's depths.
Grace gives an elegant bow.
Ms. Grace: Goodbye, my dear guests. From the bottom of my heart—
Ms. Grace: Thank you all for this unforgettable journey.
Helmsman Esam: ...!
*rumble*
Helmsman Charlie: That came from the engine room!
Helmsman Charlie: Those tin-headed bastards, they must have done something to it.
Helmsman Esam: Go see what you can from the deck, Charlie!
The seasoned helmsmen hurriedly make their way to the deck.
Helmsman Charlie: Damn it all! They've blown a hole straight through the starboard hull!
While the helmsmen pace anxiously, Barcarola suddenly realizes the gravity of the situation.
Barcarola: Gentlemen, you can't possibly be saying that the "Free Breeze" is going to sink?!
The ship's tremors again. It's as if they're on a battlefield.
Helmsman Esam: What's worse, that explosion came from over by the lifeboats!
Helmsman Esam: These bastards are hellbent on making sure we all end up at the bottom of the sea!
The sound of tearing waves, humming steel plates, and crying guests pours into the cabin through shattered portholes.
The pitch-black sea stretches as far as the eye can see, its surface alive with turbulent, inky swirls.
There is another wave of panic as the ship tilts once again.
Guest I: Help us, Ms. Barcarola! You promised to keep us safe!
Guest II: And you, Miss!
Guest II: Aren't you from the Foundation or whatever?! You said you'd protect us!
The guests are desperately clinging to any chance of salvation.
Vertin: Please line up, everyone. My suitcase should be able to temporarily shelter some passengers.
Vertin: Ms. Barcarola, do you know how many passengers are aboard?
The musician clearly knows every detail about the "Free Breeze."
Barcarola: About 1600 in total. But I think many of them will be injured. I don't know how well they can move.
Vertin: My suitcase alone won't be able to transfer that many people in time.
Suddenly, the communicator clutched in Sonetto's hand makes a sharp sound.
Communicator: Beep beep! Beep beep!
Sonetto: The signal's back, Timekeeper!
Vertin: Just as we suspected, they were jamming our signal.
Vertin: But how did they know our internal frequency?
She quickly brushes this question aside. There are more urgent matters to attend to.
Vertin: This is Vertin. Please come in.
Vertin: We're currently aboard the cruise ship "Free Breeze," at coordinates 55.35°S, 65.01°W.
Vertin: The engine has been destroyed by Manus Vindictae, and the ship is taking on water fast.
Vertin: There are more than 1600 passengers aboard. But we won't be able to evacuate every passenger through my suitcase alone before the ship goes under.
Vertin: We're in need of immediate rescue.
Communicator: Understood. We will dispatch rescue resources and personnel from the nearest branch as soon as possible. Before their arrival, please do everything possible to minimize casualties.
Sonetto: Ms. Barcarola, could you point me towards the radio room? I believe our friends may be in need of help.
Barcarola: Of course.
Sonetto jogs away in the pointed direction.
The creaking of the ship's planks grows louder, and its railings and rigging groan painfully. Their sound carries on the freezing wind, and whips at the ears of the crowd.
Shivering from the cold, Barcarola remembers something.
Barcarola: Wait. Ms. Grace wasn't the captain for long. It's possible she didn't know about the ship's backup lifeboats. They might still be intact.
Helmsman Esam: Good thinking, Ms. Barcarola!
Helmsman Charlie: You're a natural-born captain!
Barcarola: Everyone, follow me!
