Trading vessels bring news of the annexation of Zuflucht to the general population of the Serendip Belt. The governments of several miniworlds complain to the Board of Shareholders that they were not consulted in this matter. Lord Soth refers them to the passage in their contracts which turns over all of their foreign relations responsibilities to the Corporation.

In spite of this, the majority of the Belt public is solidly behind the annexation, which will “extend the benefits of Serendip Belt civilization to even more people.”