In this chapter, we are introduced to Lieutenant karim, who is returning to the battlefield after being wounded in battle. He tells us that he is on his way to visit his old friend at the hospital, and that they have come to exchange information. He says that they are hoping to help each other in the future, and he asks silburo to get back his hat, which was given to him by vulcan. . They discuss the fact that the impostor who attacked vulcan is believed to be a member of company 3, and they wonder if they can trust him. They wonder if the new recruits of company 8 are as good as the old ones.