[Minakami's expression and tone don't change at Van Zieks's comment, though he does sit a little straighter.]

Perhaps. I have read that certain places in Europe had similar rituals, when erecting buildings... not humans, but animals and bones buried under walls. Perhaps our customs are not so different?

[Next to Tamamori's enthusiastic recognition of someone in the same time period maybe (!!!), the mention of Zieks's Japanese contemporary doesn't slip by Minakami.]

You have some familiarity with our nation, then. Have you ever visited it, in your time?