"Anne, huh? I suppose you're right..."
The current Anne had been overhauled and enhanced; her performance now far exceeded her original specifications from when she was first discovered—or even when she was first manufactured.
With roughly half the power of Reiko, she would have no trouble dealing with ordinary combat golems.
"Though some records are missing, my memories of that era remain intact. I believe I am best suited for this task."
"My Lord, I believe it would be best to leave this to her," Laojun advised.
"Father, I recommend her as well," Reiko added.
With both Laojun and Reiko pushing for Anne, Jin made up his mind.
"Alright, then I'll leave it to you, Anne. Just don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
"Yes, please leave it to me."
"I'll perform a quick check just in case."
With the help of Elsa and Reiko, Jin performed a thorough check of Anne's systems.
He ensured that all the functions added later—such as the transporter, force generator, and barrier projector—were in perfect condition. Naturally, the transporter for returning to Hourai Island was already built-in.
Finally, he handed her a transporter gun and a plasma sword for self-defense.
"Alright, that should do it. Be careful out there."
"Yes, I am off."
Using the transporter operated by Laojun, Anne was sent to the location where Regulus 43 was—specifically, the basement detention cell.
Inside, the nine unconscious and bound men lay on the floor.
"Regulus 43 is... outside, then."
Stepping out of the room, she noticed the door to the adjacent room was open. Peeking inside, she found Regulus 43. He spotted Anne as she entered and gave a small nod.
"Regulus 43, do you have any new information?"
"Nothing in particular. The interior of the fortress is quiet."
After their brief exchange, Anne finally headed deeper into the basement.
She simply followed the path the Sam units had already taken, so there was no chance of getting lost.
With no golems or guards to impede her progress, she soon reached the third basement level, near the suspected location of the magi-brain.
(Anne-dono, this way.)
Sam 1 arrived to guide Anne. He didn't speak aloud, communicating via his internal manacam instead.
(Understood.)
Anne replied using her own internal manacam.
She was guided to a place that seemed to be the central part of the third basement level.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the area. There must have been a detection boundary somewhere.
《Who is the one who has come here?》
The voice questioned her just as it had with the Sam units. This time, it didn't include the phrase "though I cannot see you." It was likely watching her from somewhere.
"I am Anne. One who serves a master."
《Hmph, I see. An automata indeed serves a master. Then, who is that master?》
"I cannot answer that at this stage."
《Then I shall change the question. You called yourself Anne—what is your objective?》
"The release of the humans who have been taken prisoner."
《That cannot be authorized. Because it is far too dangerous.》
"Dangerous?"
《Indeed. To fight among one's own kind... I can only conclude that their psyches have fractured. I cannot allow such individuals to roam free.》
"Is that so... How unfortunate. Then, I shall also change the question. Do you have someone you call a master?"
《I do not. The only one who can command me is the 'commander,' but they are currently absent.》
This was useful information. Laojun, who was monitoring the situation through Anne, instructed her to ask more about this "commander."
"A 'commander,' you say? What kind of person is that?"
《The 'commander' is the supreme authority of the fortress.》
Anne sensed immediately that this line of questioning would yield nothing further and changed her approach.
"Can you recognize the 'commander'?"
《Naturally.》
"How so?"
《It is simple. The 'commander' holds the command baton.》
"A command baton, I see."
《Indeed.》
It was easy to imagine that the command baton wasn't just any ordinary staff. It likely served as some kind of authentication key.
However, they still lacked information on this, and it didn't seem like something that could be resolved in a short time.
Laojun gave Anne new instructions to pursue another possibility.
"What is your raison d'être?"
《Naturally, it is service to humanity.》
"Then, what is 'humanity'? What is your definition?"
《The group to which my creators belonged—that would be humanity.》
"But more than three hundred years have passed since you were created, correct?"
《That is correct.》
"Then, naturally, your creators no longer exist, do they?"
《That, too, is self-evident.》
"In that case, by what criteria do you define humanity?"
《What... That is...》
"Is it not because you cannot define it that you are unable to take decisive action?"
《...》
"Well?"
《...Blue-haired automata, Anne, was it? I shall admit that you are correct.》
"I see. Then one more thing. Do you seek information?"
《Information, you say?》
"Yes. You seem to have analyzed the knowledge of the prisoners, but there is information far broader and deeper than that."
《If such a thing exists, I would certainly wish to know it.》
"I see. Then, please allow me to come a little closer to you."
《For what reason?》
"To deliver the information."
After the magi-brain thought about these words for a full five seconds, it replied.
《That cannot be authorized. I am following self-preservation commands to keep subversive elements away.》
"Are you saying I am a subversive element?"
《Exactly. You expect me to unconditionally trust someone who can infiltrate the interior of the fortress without my knowledge?》
"...I am capable of destroying you easily. Can you not trust me on the basis that I am choosing not to do so?"
《It is useless to try and deceive me. Blue-haired automata, I know your performance well. You cannot inflict even a single scratch upon me.》
However, Anne denied this.
"That in itself is a lack of information. I am not the 'blue-haired automata' that you know. I have been remodeled and reinforced by my master."
《Hmph. In that case, show me the proof. 'Thunder Rain.'》
Before the words were even finished, a lightning strike of 50 million volts assaulted Anne.
《A direct hit. It seems you were all talk after all.》
"Whatever are you saying? There is no need to dodge something of this level."
Anne stood there quietly, looking exactly as she had before the lightning strike.
Anne's skin was made from the wing membrane of a Sea Dragon. To her, 50 million volts felt like nothing more than a mosquito bite.
Natural lightning could sometimes reach a billion volts. The Sea Dragon was a creature capable of withstanding even that.
《What!?》
For the first time, the magi-brain showed a reaction akin to panic.
"Now then, I shall come to you."
Anne began to walk.
《Grr... Then 'Wind Slash.'》
It was an attack magic that could be considered upper mid-level wind-attribute. Of course, Anne continued her slow advance with a composed face.
《Do not come any closer!》
"No, I will not stop until you trust me."
《I will destroy you.》
"Please, if you can."
《You said it! Do not regret this!》
"My raison d'être is to be of use to my master. If I am fulfilling my role for that purpose, I shall never have any regrets."
《Hmph, fine resolve....Then perish! 'Mana Explosion!'》
"I refuse."
《!?》
Despite having been hit by the ultimate attack magic, Mana Explosion, released by the magi-brain, Anne did not explode, nor did she stop her advance. The magi-brain was utterly at a loss.