Chapter 45

The voyage begins with Anya racing between the ship's attractions: a pool, a circus, a game room. Her enthusiasm crashes when she sees the cramped third-class cabin she will share with Loid, briefly mistaking it for a jail cell, though the novelty of a bunk bed wins her back. Loid guesses that Yor's party is berthed in first class alongside the dignitaries.

He is right. In the first-class suite, Matthew McMahon presents himself as Berlint City Hall's Director of Policy, flanked by bureaucrats Heymann and Vides, with Yor completing the delegation. Their guests introduce themselves as Furseal Grey of Arhaus Department Stores and his wife Shaty. Yor recognizes "Shaty" as Olka Gretcher traveling incognito, her look wholly changed from the briefing photo. Furseal eyes Yor's slender build and openly doubts she can guard anyone, but Matthew vouches for her strength as the others depart for a tour.

Left alone with her client, Yor maps the suite's entry points while Olka opens up: Furseal is not her husband but a loyal crewman playing a role, and she dreams of shedding the gangster life to raise her son quietly. Olka asks for a brief walk outside, arguing the enemy cannot recognize her face. Yor hesitates, checks the corridor nervously, and admits her own family happens to be aboard.

Down in the atrium, Anya loudly demands they explore before the ship sinks, mortifying her father. Scanning the wealthy passenger list, Loid privately flags the liner as a plausible terrorism target, then recalls Sylvia's order to treat the trip as a mission and pivots to pursuing optimal recreation, starting with a show.

Yor reassures Olka that her family's presence is pure coincidence and that they know nothing of her true trade. Disguised in borrowed clothes, the two women take the baby out for air, where Olka reflects wistfully on the life she is leaving. Moved by Yor's promise to see the job through, Olka shares that her son is named Gram after her late father and lets Yor hold him. A planted bug captures every word, and an informant aboard uses it to pinpoint Olka's room.

Yor formally meets her clients: Olka Gretcher, disguised as "Shaty Grey," her baby Gram, and the crewman Zeb posing as her husband Furseal. Olka reveals her hope of escaping the mafia world for a quiet life with her son.

Loid assesses Princess Lorelei as a potential terror target before committing himself to enjoying the vacation as instructed. A listening device relays Olka's conversation to an informant, who locates her cabin, compromising the protection operation on its first day.

Matthew McMahon's name is spoken for the first time in the series. The chapter also marks the debuts of Zeb, Olka, Gram, and the informant Snoops.

These events are adapted in Episode 30 of the anime. The chapter opens Volume 8 despite continuing directly from the Volume 7 finale.