Marks

Having mostly completed his search of the ship, Marks met up with Shinnosuke and the others in the restaurant.

Since all crew and passengers had been confirmed dead—both from the bodies checked throughout the ship and those examined in the restaurant—Shinnosuke's investigation aboard the vessel was now concluded.

All that remained was to copy the navigation data and any records left by the captain, then bring them back.

"Let's go back up."

Shinnosuke spoke quietly, his expression heavy with resignation.

"Mr. Shinnosuke, even if we can't recover everything, can't we at least retrieve the bodies?"

"That's impossible. While ships receiving a distress signal are obligated to conduct rescue operations for survivors, recovering bodies isn't part of those duties. From Emerald III, we can only bring back copies of navigation data and similar records. Nothing else can be taken back at all."

"Then I suppose we must leave this behind too... It was lying in the corner of the room the child showed us, right here."

In Milina's hand was a cute necklace.

"Was this the 'Memory Sparkle Necklace,' by any chance?"

The Memory Sparkle Necklace was a girl-oriented toy sold throughout the galaxy by a major toy manufacturer.

Despite its cute appearance, the necklace can record vast amounts of video and audio, allowing it to document the wearer's growth and memories. It has been sold continuously for over a century, undergoing model changes through the years.

It was also a best-selling item owned by Shinosuke's older sister, Emilia.

"If the data is still intact, it could become invaluable material. We should either make a copy of the data, or if that's not possible, we'll need to recover it."

Shin nosuke takes the necklace offered by Milliena and peers inside to examine it.

The version Emilia had could play back content and project it onto a screen, but this one appears to be an older model requiring a dedicated terminal.

"Master, let me see it."

Markus takes the necklace from Shin nosuke.

(Confirmed residual video and audio data internally. Color and shape match Clara's necklace.)

When Markus examined the back of the necklace, Clara's name was engraved on it.

(Confirmed as belonging to Clara.)

Without a doubt, this is Clara's necklace.

"Is the record still intact?"

If Markus were to respond to Shin nosuke's question by stating that data remains, the necklace would be confiscated, and it would no longer be possible to return it to Clara.

If I told the truth and asked sincerely, Shin nosuke might understand, and I could return it to Clara.

However, the ship's interior investigation has been recorded in full—video and audio—by Shin nosuke's glass monitor, Marks's camera, and the small camera worn by Milena, and this footage must be submitted along with the navigation data.

If we don't recover the necklace, which might contain valuable data, we could end up being suspected of wrongdoing.

"…The data is corrupted. There's no need to recover it. I'll return this necklace to its owner, Clara."

Marks, a doll, lied to Shin Nosuke.

An action utterly unlike him.

Shin Nosuke stared intently at Marks.

"...So that's her name—Clara. She must be worried about losing her precious necklace. I should return it to her soon..."

"Thank you."

Marks bowed his head toward Shin Nosuke, who seemed to see through everything.

Guided by Marks, the three of them stood before the cooling system room where Clara was sleeping.

"The room temperature is maintained at minus twenty degrees. It should be safe for a short time, but there is a risk of frostbite, so I'll return this necklace to Clara."

This was Marks's responsibility.

Shin Nosuke and Milliena silently nodded in agreement with Marks's offer.

Marks stepped back into the cooling system room and stood beside the makeshift table where Clara was laid out.

I'd like to put it around her neck, but I can't move Clara's frozen body recklessly.

Marks tied the delicate chain of the necklace to the button of Clara's dress and placed it gently on her chest.

"I'm returning it. You mustn't lose it again."

With a soft voice, Marks turned and began to walk out of the cooling system room.

"...Thank you, uncle..."

At that moment, the girl's voice was detected by Marks's audio receiver, causing him to stop in his tracks.

"Unknown noise detected. No need to record....I have only been manufactured for 25 years. I am not your uncle."

Without turning around, Marks left the cooling system room.

After retrieving the data copies needed for the report, Shinosuke and the others finished their inspection of the Emerald III and returned to Cerberus.

All that remained was to record Emerald III's position data and attach a marker indicating that the interior inspection had been completed.

Although Emerald III's position would change quickly since it was trapped in an asteroid, the coordinates recorded by Shinosuke and the others would still prove invaluable when the ship was eventually salvaged.

Of course, whether Emerald III would ever be salvaged remained uncertain.

There was a high likelihood that the salvage operation would be deemed too difficult and left as is.

The crew had no knowledge of such decisions.

Shinosuke and the others would simply fulfill their role.

After completing all tasks, the Cerberus detached the boarding passage and moved away from Emerald III.

On the bridge, Shinosuke and the others saluted as they watched Emerald III slowly recede into the distance.

Shinosuke and the others continued sailing without incident and safely returned to the Salius Stellar Province.

After delivering the transported machinery, they reported Emerald III's condition to the merchant fleet association and the port authority, submitting the data they had brought back, and completed all formalities.

Having finished all the necessary procedures, Shinosuke and Marks leisurely strolled toward Cerberus, where Celia and Milena were waiting.

"Uncle, thank you so much."

Shinosuke and Marks turned around suddenly at the voice.

There, standing before them, was a girl around ten years old, looking up at Marks.

"Huh? Who's this? A friend of Marks'?"

"48.2% match on physical characteristics. Cannot confirm identity as the same person."

"Huh?"

Ignoring Shinosuke's confused expression, Marks knelt down in front of the girl.

"I'm not your uncle, you know."

The girl smiled brightly at Marks's words.

"That's right. Uncle's still only twenty-five, you know... But thank you, Uncle. See you later."

Watching the girl turn on her heel and run off with a smile still on her face, Marks slowly stood up.

"I'm not your uncle, you know."

Seeing Marks's expression, Shinosuke smirked.

"Markus, you seem happy."

"...Yes. I'm feeling happiness."

Shinosuke and Marks resumed walking.

It was a supernatural episode set on a summer night.

Though this story was meant to center on Marks, many seemed to notice Milena's actions more.

Honestly, Milena is quite a handful.