Next, the other passenger who had dazzling blond hair walked out of the machine with her sunglasses on and arched her back. Rinko also stretched her arms wide to enjoy the air that had the scent of the tides. The man who was waiting on the floating ship showed a serious look on his tanned face and immediately saluted Rinko. “Professor Koujiro. Welcome to the Ocean Turtle. And this is?...” The man looked over at the passenger, and Rinko nodded as she introduced. “This is my assistant, Mayumi Reynolds.” “Nice to meet you.” The co-passenger spoke in fluent English and reached her hand out to clasp the hand in a somewhat clumsy manner. The man then introduced himself. “I’m First Lieutenant Nakanishi, assigned to lead both of you. The attendants will deliver your luggage later on. Then, please come this way—” The man waved his right hand to a flight of stairs that could be seen on the heliport and continued, “Lieutenant Colonel Kikuoka is waiting.” The air inside the bridge had the heat of summer and the salty tang of the Pacific Ocean, but after flowing through the elevator, the long passages and through the Ocean Turtle itself —the thick metal doors of the inside of the black pyramid, a cold and dry air blew at Rinko’s face.