"So this is Kunlun Island? It’s a lovely place."
Count Kuzuma stood on the sprawling lawn of the garden, looking up at the Mansion with admiration. This was Beena's second time visiting, but she seemed just as moved as her husband.
"Ah, it brings back memories. I was here with Elsa last time..."
Jin turned to the couple. "Well, this isn't all of it. I’ve built some new things specifically for the World Conference."
"Eh? You built more?"
"That’s right. I’ll explain the details later, but I’d love for you to see them now."
With that, they all piled into a barrier cushion car and headed toward the coast.
"Wh-Wh-What is this?!" Beena cried out.
"It’s called a barrier cushion car," Jin explained. "It generates a barrier beneath the frame to make the vehicle float."
Beena, however, wasn't satisfied with that alone. "If it’s just floating, how does it move forward?"
The fact that she grasped the mechanical problem so instantly reminded Jin that Beena truly did have a natural gift for engineering.
"Now, now. I’ll explain the whole thing to you slowly later," he said, soothing her for the time being.
While the Count was surprised by the vehicle itself, he was more impressed by the speed and the remarkably smooth, vibration-free ride. In about fifteen minutes, they reached the coastline.
"Look, that’s the Jade Pavilion."
"..." Beena was speechless.
The Count, however, managed to voice his thoughts. "...It’s literally made of jade. It may not be a particularly popular stone, but what a lavish way to use it."
On Ars, jade was not nearly as prized as it was on modern-day Earth. This was partly because transparent gemstones were preferred in this world, and partly because the natural yield of jade was higher here than on Earth.
"And over here is the Hall of Five Virtues."
Jin led them through a small grove and into a traditional Japanese garden.
"Oh, look at this!"
"It’s incredible!"
As expected, both were struck with wonder.
"The garden is designed for strolling... This rest house here is called an azumaya. And this is an irori—a sunken hearth. Though, of course, we don't light it during the summer."
The two of them listened to Jin’s explanations with their eyes sparkling like children.
By the time they finished the tour of the Jade Pavilion and the Hall of Five Virtues, it was already three in the afternoon. They had eaten lunch at the Pavilion, where Jin had carefully noted their feedback. Their opinions were highly insightful, and he planned to reflect them in the final preparations for the upcoming World Conference.
"Now then, evening is approaching," Jin said as they sat drinking tea in the azumaya within the garden of the Hall of Five Virtues. "I’m sorry for doing nothing but surprising you today, but there’s actually more I have to show you."
"Oh, come on... what is it now, Jin?" Beena asked.
"Since you're going out of your way to warn us, I assume it's something truly extraordinary?" the Count added.
They both braced themselves.
"Well, in a sense, it might be quite extraordinary," Jin replied.
"Then stop teasing us and just spit it out already!" Beena urged.
"Beena is right," the Count agreed. "Please, let us hear it."
Both of them leaned forward, hanging on his next words.
"Alright, here it is. This island isn't actually my main base of operations."
"What?"
"My true home is Hourai Island, located in the ocean much further to the east."
"Hourai Island?"
Jin nodded. "Yes. I’d like to invite you both there now. Will you come?"
"Of course we will!" Beena answered without a moment's hesitation.
"Indeed, we would be honored to visit," Count Kuzuma added with a firm nod.
"Alright, let's go."
Jin led them to the Warp Gate installed in the basement of the Hall of Five Virtues. From there, they traveled to Hourai Island.
"Wh-What is this place?!"
"Are... are all of these Warp Gates?!"
This time, they didn't travel directly; they went via Shinkai. The sight of the arrival and departure Warp Gates lined up in a spectacular row left the couple completely stunned.
"This is a relay base built to guard against potential intruders. We’ll teleport one more time to reach Hourai Island proper."
Then the four of them—Jin, Reiko, Beena, and Count Kuzuma—made the final jump to Hourai Island.
"Well, we’ve arrived."
They climbed the stairs and walked outside the laboratory.
"Welcome to Hourai Island."
It was Jin’s standard greeting. The two newcomers stared at the laboratory in disbelief.
"Jin... is this the place?"
"Yeah. This is the base of the Magi Craft Meister."
"So you've arrived, Louis."
Reinhard called out to them as he approached.
"Reinhard! Is that you?"
"It is. My apologies, but Jin invited me here a little ahead of you."
"No, that’s quite alright, but..."
Count Kuzuma trailed off, his attention drawn to the group of people standing behind Reinhard.
"Let me introduce everyone," Jin said. "These are the members of the Jin Family. You already know Elsa, of course."
Elsa gave a graceful nod.
"And this is Mine, Elsa's biological mother."
Mine bowed politely.
"This is Saki Eschenbach. And beside her is her father, Toa Eschenbach. They are both alchemists from the Shouro Empire."
Saki and Toa bowed in unison.
"You know Stearena, right? She defected from the Celuroa Kingdom and is now married to Toa."
"It has been a long time, you two," Stearena said with a smile and a bow.
"Beside her is Stearena’s friend, the storyteller Vivienne. She also defected from the Celuroa Kingdom to the Shouro Empire."
"I am Vivienne. It is a pleasure."
"And here we have the shipwrights from the Kingdom of Elias, Marcia and her father, Rodrigo."
"Nice to meet ya!" Marcia chirped, and both of them bowed.
"And finally, Reinhard's wife..."
"I am Berche Geist von Scarlett," she said, lowering her head slightly. Because she was in the later stages of pregnancy, Jin had insisted she avoid deep curtsies.
"And these are our guests..." Jin turned back to the family.
"I am Louis Waltz Kuzuma, a Count of the Kingdom of Egerea."
"A-And I am his wife, Beena Lauff Kuzuma."
After the two finished their introductions, Jin began to explain his greatest secret—the truth of his origins.
"There is something I need to tell you both. I..."
Beena and Count Kuzuma could do nothing but listen in stunned silence as the story unfolded.