To step back in time briefly: in mid-November 3457, the Shouro Empire exported ten tons of desiccant to the Klein Kingdom using five of their "Golias" giant golems.
These five giants marched along the highways, and after navigating several twists and turns along the way, they reached the Klein Kingdom at the end of December.
Upon receiving the ten tons of desiccant, the Klein Kingdom naturally moved to deploy it to their warehouses immediately.
As it happened, the deployment of these Golias units served a secondary purpose: leveling the highways. Thanks to five giants, each weighing five tons, treading the path, the ground had been packed firm and the uneven surfaces smoothed out.
This meant that the passage of carriages and other vehicles would become significantly easier.
The officer responsible for leading these five Golias units was Major Fritz Randol von Grosch, Elsa’s elder brother.
A major turning point in his life was fast approaching.
January 1, 3458.
The customary New Year’s audience ceremony was held at the royal castle of the Klein Kingdom.
"My people, as we welcome this new year, I intend to move forward with policies that will see our Klein Kingdom reborn."
King Alois III of the Klein Kingdom began his address once the formal greetings were finished. His complexion was now healthy; though he remained lean, the shadow of illness had vanished from his face.
"First, I intend to proceed with the investigation of the Former Leonard Kingdom, which has been under planning since last year. It has been made clear through information from reliable sources that the nation has perished. Consequently, as the neighboring state, we bear the duty of maintaining and managing that territory."
To put it bluntly, the speech was a declaration that they were going to scavenge for anything useful while the opportunity lasted.
"I hear that honey and fruit can be harvested in that land. Furthermore, it is said to be rich in mineral resources, including Elradrite. Our objective is to first investigate and then secure those resources."
The Klein Kingdom was truly standing on a precipice.
The Shouro Empire, the Kingdom of Egerea, and the Kingdom of Elias had all acknowledged the plan. Furthermore, the word had been passed along to the Kingdom of Franz and the Celuroa Kingdom as well.
"Arrangements have been made to receive the cooperation of five giant golems provided by the Shouro Empire."
The Golias units would lead the march, easily clearing through minor stretches of wasteland or thick brush. They were also more than capable of handling threats like wild beasts.
The plan was for the Golias units to continue all the way to the Kingdom of Egerea if possible, carving out a Klein-Egerea Highway that would bypass the Celuroa Kingdom entirely.
"Fall in!"
On the morning of the 2nd, a dignified voice echoed across the plaza in front of the royal castle.
These were the members of the Former Leonard Kingdom Investigation Team.
The captain was Viscount Bernardo Nephra Foster, commander of the Klein Kingdom's Second Ritter Order. He had dark brown hair and light brown eyes, stood 180 centimeters tall, and weighed 72 kilograms. At thirty-nine years old, he was regarded as quite capable.
He was accompanied by five elite subordinates.
The vice-captain was Gloria Allstatt. As the well-known vice-captain of the Royal Female Ritter Corps and a master of the sword, she participated leading three of her own knights.
As a guide, Roland from the Raglann Company joined as a civilian. His experience traveling to the Former Leonard Kingdom as a peddler was highly valued, as was his proficiency in self-defense.
"Master Roland, we shall aim for Zeo Village first. Is that correct?"
"Yes, Commander."
Finally, there was Major Fritz Randol of the Shouro Imperial Army and two of his subordinates. Even after the exploration concluded, they would not return to the Klein Kingdom, instead proceeding through to the Kingdom of Egerea.
It had already been coordinated between the three nations that an investigation team from the Kingdom of Egerea would be dispatched to the Former Leonard Kingdom at almost the exact same time.
"Major Randol, I look forward to your cooperation."
"Viscount Foster, the pleasure is mine."
Since they could use the five Golias units to carry their food and equipment, the team members were able to travel quite light.
On the return trip, they would have to carry their own gear, but their food supplies would be halved by then, and they only needed to follow the path leveled by the Golias units' heavy footsteps, making it incomparable to the difficulty of the outward journey.
"Commander, preparations are complete!"
"Good. We depart!"
"Golias units, move out!"
And so, the joint investigation team of the Shouro Empire and the Klein Kingdom departed the capital, Alban, on the morning of the 2nd.
Jin, Reiko, Elsa, and Edgar first traveled to Kalts Village via a Warp Gate.
"Reinhard, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year, Jin....Wait, was that the greeting used in your home?"
In the Allied Kingdoms and the Shouro Empire, it was more common to say something like, "The new year has come, I look forward to working with you again."
"Jin-sama, Elsa-san, Happy New Year."
Berche welcomed Jin and the others with a radiant smile.
"Thanks to you, I was able to spend a few quiet days alone with my husband."
"I’m glad to hear that."
Seeing Berche's happy expression made Jin feel warm as well.
The group moved to the living room of Reinhard’s home, Rankenhaus.
"Man, I really wish we could reach a point where we didn't have to deceive people about how we travel..." Jin muttered as he sipped the tea that had been served.
"Jin-nii, to do that, you would need to make the Warp Gates public," Elsa pointed out.
"Yeah, I know."
If Warp Gates became commonplace, there was a chance that the ships, hot air balloons, and airships they had developed would become obsolete. It would lead to a very distorted technological culture.
Even Jin could deduce that much. That was why he refrained from making them public.
"But they were more widespread before the Great Magic War, weren't they?" Berche asked curiously.
"Yeah. Even then, however, they were apparently under state control and couldn't be used freely," Jin replied.
This was knowledge he had obtained from Anne.
It seemed they were more common 1,000 years ago during the time of the Predecessor, but what happened during the intervening years remained a mystery for now.
"I suspect it was an energy problem," Reinhard suggested, voicing his thoughts.
"Because the free ether became scarce after the Ether Stampede... Ah, no, that doesn't explain it either."
Indeed, even in the world before the Ether Stampede, the Warp Gates had already been under state control.
"...It seems likely it was a military issue," Elsa offered.
Her guess was that because Warp Gates could be used for strategic military purposes, control had shifted from the civilian state to the military.
Everyone present agreed that this was the most likely possibility, and they decided to change the subject.
"I intend to arrive at Port Rock first thing tomorrow morning, but where should we say we departed from today?" Jin asked.
"Wait a moment, Jin. Arriving first thing in the morning would be strange no matter how you look at it."
"Ah, right."
The idea of being able to fly through the middle of the night was unthinkable by the common sense of this world.
"In fact, arriving this evening would be easier to explain."
"I suppose you're right..."
It was currently around noon in Kalts Village, making it roughly 3:00 PM in Port Rock.
"Shall we do that, then?" Jin decided to follow Reinhard’s lead.
"Yes, I think that’s best. Don't you, Berche?"
"Indeed, dear. Normally, you wouldn't have even been able to come home like this."
Berche also agreed.
"Understood....Reiko, contact Laojun."
"Yes, Father."
Since the airship was being piloted by Steward and had returned to Hourai Island, they needed to follow a specific procedure: use a transporter to warp the ship near Port Rock, then enter the vessel via a Warp Gate.
It was a convoluted process, but it was necessary for the sake of concealing technology and, ultimately, for the peace of the world.
"It seems preparations are complete," Reiko reported ten minutes later.
"Alright, let's go."
"Dear, please take care. I shall await your safe return."
"Right. Berche, I’m leaving things here in your hands."
While the devoted couple shared a hug and a light kiss, Jin, Reiko, Elsa, and Edgar stepped through the Warp Gate one after another to board the airship.
"From Kaina Village, it wouldn't be strange to say we reached here in eight hours."
Since no one else knew the actual distance, they would claim to have departed Kaina Village that morning.
"Now then, to Port Rock."
At 4:00 PM on January 2nd, Jin and his companions set foot on the soil of Port Rock once again.