The next day, after finishing breakfast, Jin headed for the Imperial Palace. He brought Elsa, Goose, Tenkunhan, Keith, and Toy along with him.
Reiko and Edgar served as their escort.
When they parked at the usual landing pad, the Chancellor, Jung Fowles von Kebsler, came hurrying out once again.
"Welcome, Lord of Kunlun. Her Majesty has been asking after you, wondering if you would ever arrive."
It seemed he had spotted Konron 3 from the window and had been eagerly awaiting Jin’s arrival.
"She also mentioned that since it is a visit from the Lord of Kunlun, there must surely be many interesting things in store."
"I see."
With a wry smile, Jin introduced his companions to the Chancellor.
Bypassing Elsa and Goose, who were already known to the official, he introduced Tenkunhan, Keith, and Toy. The trio looked utterly bewildered to be presented so suddenly to the Chancellor.
Accompanied by two royal ritters, the party proceeded to the Empress’s presence.
"Your Majesty, it has been a long time."
Once they were shown into the office, Jin offered his initial greetings.
"Welcome, Lord of Kunlun. Please, raise your head."
When he looked up, he saw the Empress watching him with a broad smile.
"I wonder what good news you have brought for me today?"
In the Empress’s mind, it seemed to be a settled matter that whenever Jin visited unexpectedly, he brought good news.
"Well... first, please look at this."
From the luggage he had entrusted to Reiko, Jin pulled out a sample of ground spider silk (GSS).
The Empress took it, stroking and squeezing the fabric to test its quality before handing it to the Chancellor, who was watching with keen interest beside her.
"It has a wonderful feel. It is like silk, yet not quite silk."
It appeared the Empress immediately recognized the excellence of the material.
"Thank you. Before I explain the fabric, allow me to introduce these people. Their names are Tenkunhan, Keith, and Toy."
"Tenkunhan? I have heard that name before. I grant you leave for a direct audience."
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty. I expect I was once known as a magic artisan."
Tenkunhan spoke for the first time.
"Ah, yes, I have heard that name."
"I am honored."
"Your Majesty, this fabric was discovered in Mitsuho by Tenkunhan-dono and brought back to this country."
"Oh, is that so? Then you have worked hard."
"I am deeply honored, Your Majesty."
Next, Keith and Toy introduced themselves, though they were not yet granted the privilege of a direct audience.
"They are..."
Tenkunhan hesitated for a moment, then decided to speak plainly.
"They are people from Mitsuho."
"..."
After a brief silence, the Empress spoke.
"So they are messengers who have come to introduce excellent materials? You have done well."
Hearing that, Jin was impressed; as expected of Her Majesty. By establishing that pretext, she had provided a face-saving justification for their presence—given that official diplomatic ties had not yet been opened—even if the excuse was a bit of a stretch.
"We shall overlook the fact that you took a wrong turn and were late arriving at the Imperial Palace."
Then, the Chancellor gave a brief explanation of the diplomatic situation to Tenkunhan and the two men from Mitsuho.
He stated that a formal treaty was scheduled to be signed this autumn. After that, checkpoints would be established at the border; as long as travelers registered there, anyone would be able to come and go freely. Naturally, things like dangerous goods, quantities of materials large enough to cause economic chaos, and criminals would be stopped, but those were the two main points.
Afterward, Jin explained that this fabric was woven from thread produced by ground spiders and that Mitsuho had a region where these spiders were indigenous.
"Jin-kun, thank you for the good news."
She no longer addressed him as the Lord of Kunlun, returning to her usual friendly tone.
"Also, the state will pay a reward to Elsa for treating the messenger who was seriously injured."
The Empress declared it was only natural, as Elsa was a Reichsarzt.
"Furthermore, regarding those who attacked you," the Chancellor added, speaking next. "It appears there is no doubt they were remnants of the Unifilar. It seems they were near the border when the Unifilar was destroyed and entered the country illegally, bringing combat golems with them."
Jin and Elsa nodded silently. Since Tenkunhan and his associates didn't know what the Unifilar was, the Chancellor gave a brief explanation before continuing.
According to his report, the attackers were part of the 'underworld' and would take on any dirty work for money.
"However, thanks to this incident, we were able to flush out their organization. For that, I thank you," the Chancellor concluded.
So even the Shouro Empire has a side like that, Jin thought, feeling a little disappointed by the depths of human frailty.
"Now then, Your Majesty."
Since the immediate administrative talk was finished, Jin moved on to the future prospects he had planned.
"Please look at this."
Jin produced and showed them a plate and a mug made of ground spider resin (GSP). They were a milky-white, translucent material, differing in appearance from the samples produced on Hourai Island.
"Oh, what is this?"
"Tableware made from ground spider thread."
"You can make things like this as well!?"
It was the fabric he had received from Tenkunhan, transformed into resin. Tenkunhan’s eyes had nearly popped out of his head in surprise when he first saw the transformation.
"It's light and feels wonderful."
"Yes. And even if you drop it, it won't break. It's also resistant to stains."
"What a wonderful application!"
"That is not all."
From the luggage Reiko carried, Jin pulled out a bearing. In modern Earth, polyacetal resin is used for plain bearings in light-load applications. If used correctly, it could be used for carriage bearings—and for the engines Jin had provided.
Perhaps sensing the potential, the Chancellor summoned the Magic Technology Minister, Degauss Fruit von Manischras.
"Hmm..."
"Well, Degauss?"
"I can say with certainty that this has a wide range of applications. It could even be called a material revolution!"
"Finally..."
"There is more!?" the Empress exclaimed, her voice a mix of shock and delight.
"Yes, please look at this."
The last thing Jin produced was the communicator.
"When you press the button on this transmitter, the magi-crystal on this receiver lights up."
"Oh!"
"Hmm, it depends on the range, but it could serve as a substitute for signal fires," Magic Technology Minister Degauss remarked, immediately grasping the tactical utility.
"This is a magic tool that Tenkunhan-dono brought back from Mitsuho."
From what Jin had heard, this was technology that had been preserved in western Mitsuho. Because John Dini had put that region on the back burner during his own travels, it was a technology Jin hadn't noticed before.
"If we correspond the flashing patterns to letters, I believe short messages can be sent," Jin added.
The Chancellor was so happy he nearly jumped for joy.
"Exactly! Jin-dono, Tenkunhan-dono, you have my thanks!"
In essence, it was a form of Morse code. If this technology were developed further, it would eventually be possible to transmit voices, but Jin chose not to suggest that just yet.
In this way, it was discovered that Mitsuho-produced ground spider silk (GSS) could also be used as ground spider resin (GSP), which would eventually develop into a massive industry. Furthermore, the communication technology named the Blinking Communicator would also evolve from this point.
The name Tenkunhan Terries would be passed down to future generations as the magi engineer who pioneered this field. The man himself continued to insist that it wasn't his own achievement, though his protests were largely ignored by history.
"Haha, Jin-dono, business is booming thanks to you."
The merchant Eckart Techles was also one of those who benefited from this resin.
"When I request a specific item, that gentleman makes it exactly to my specifications."
Tenkunhan had chosen not to involve himself in the development of the Blinking Communicator. Instead, he chose to live as the exclusive magi engineer for the Techles Company. In his own words, he 'no longer had any ambition.' Having traveled the wide world, he had apparently attained a certain sense of enlightenment.
Thus, the commotion surrounding the ground spiders reached a tentative conclusion.
'I see. The ground spiders in the deep mountains of Ritto are indeed a different species from the ones on Hourai Island.'
Laojun, having obtained the information, had immediately secured samples for analysis. According to his data, the Mitsuho species of ground spiders were at most thirty centimeters in length. They consumed not only ether but also moss and mushrooms.
'Eventually, the Shouro Empire will likely begin farming them as well.'
Laojun mused that it might also lead to the effective utilization of abandoned mines.