July 8, 3458. Two days remained until the World Conference.
On this day, the representatives from the Shouro Empire and the Kingdom of Elias were scheduled to arrive at Kunlun Island. The remaining nations were set to arrive the following day, the 9th. Since this was the first conference of its kind and the invitation had been sudden, the schedule had been arranged this way to accommodate everyone’s travel needs.
While Jin would have preferred for them to arrive a bit earlier, he consoled himself with the thought that if they took a liking to the island, they were more than welcome to stay after the conference concluded.
"First the Shouro Empire, then the Kingdom of Elias on the way back," Jin murmured to himself, confirming the plan as he oversaw the final launch preparations for Konron 3.
Because there was a four-hour and twenty-minute time difference between Kunlun Island and the Shouro Empire, he aimed to arrive there around 8:00 AM local time. The crew consisted of Jin, Elsa, Reiko, Land 99 and 100 as nominal guards, Butler 11 and 12, Soleil and Luna as stewards, and Anne. Edgar served as the pilot.
They would be using the transporter for the outbound trip, making the journey instantaneous. As a result, "preparations" mostly consisted of giving the interior a final cleaning.
Jin and Elsa dressed in their formal attire and boarded Konron 3.
"Alright, let's go."
The time was 1:00 PM Hourai Island Time. Konron 3 soared into the sky above Hourai Island and was teleported to the Shouro Empire via the transporter. Since the device’s existence was a closely guarded secret, they emerged high in the atmosphere, well out of sight of the Imperial Palace, and began a gradual descent.
"Ah."
Looking down, they could see that an honor guard was already lined up in the Imperial Palace plaza. The preparations for the ceremony to welcome the Lord of Kunlun and see off Her Majesty the Empress were already complete.
"They're early..."
"Her Majesty is that kind of person," Elsa noted.
"True enough."
Konron 3 descended slowly toward the landing pad. The moment it touched down, a band began to play.
Unaccustomed to such grand displays, Jin felt a flicker of hesitation, but Elsa took his arm and guided him toward the gangway. Regaining his composure, Jin quickened his pace to step onto the gangway half a step ahead, offering his hand to Elsa to assist her as they descended.
They were followed by the squire Reiko, then Soleil and Luna.
"Welcome, Lord of Kunlun."
The Empress of the Shouro Empire, Gerhardt Hilde von Rubiss Shouro, stood ready to receive them, flanked by her female knights.
Elsa stood to the left of Jin, the Lord of Kunlun, while his squire, Reiko, stood to his right. Soleil and Luna followed close behind. This was the first public appearance for the golden Soleil and silver Luna. Though they were roughly the same height as Reiko, their exquisite craftsmanship and the refined, matte finish of their gold and silver frames drew the eyes of everyone present.
"We have come to escort you, Your Majesty," Jin said, offering a Japanese-style bow while Elsa performed a graceful curtsy.
"Thank you."
Following the Empress's greeting, the Chancellor introduced the final list of participants.
"Accompanying Her Majesty is the Magic Technology Minister, Degauss Fruit von Manischras."
Minister Degauss stepped forward.
"For her protection, the female royal ritter, Flora Hecherat von Melante."
Flora stepped forward and bowed.
"And Lieutenant Colonel Fritz Randol von Grosch."
Fritz also stepped forward and gave a respectful nod.
"To attend to Her Majesty's personal needs, two male servants and two female servants will also be joining the delegation."
Jin had been notified of these details in advance, so everything was in order.
"Then, Your Majesty, have a safe journey. Lord of Kunlun, I leave Her Majesty in your capable hands."
The Chancellor, Jung Fowles von Kebsler, bowed deeply.
With those brief formalities concluded, Jin and the Empress's party boarded Konron 3. As a point of interest, this event established the tradition of the World Conference departures involving only these brief, informal ceremonies—a trail blazed undoubtedly by the Empress herself.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable inside the craft."
"Indeed. Formality is for the conference itself. Everyone, do as you please!" the Empress declared. The one who seemed to crave that freedom most was likely the Empress herself.
Accompanied by the music of the band, Konron 3 rose into the vast sky.
"Oh, we're flying!"
The Empress was practically glued to the window, staring out at the world below.
"Your Majesty, that is unbecoming," Minister Degauss rebuked her, though it had no effect. He looked toward the female royal ritter Flora for support, only to find that she was just as glued to the window as the Empress. Even the servants were mesmerized.
Fritz, meanwhile, was deep in conversation with Elsa, catching up after their time apart.
The Magic Technology Minister worried that even though the Empress had told them to relax, they were perhaps taking it a bit too far. However, hesitant to be too persistent with the Empress himself, Degauss turned to Jin with a pleading look.
"Lord of Kunlun, can you do something about this?"
"Let's see..."
Jin decided to open the floor window he had originally added for Milowina's sake.
"Your Majesty, please look here."
"What is it, Jin-kun?"
The Empress turned around and let out a delighted cheer when she saw that a section of the floor had become transparent.
"Oh my! This is a window too?!"
"Yes. This way, you can observe the ground while remaining comfortably seated."
"I see! Thank you! You truly are remarkable!"
Finally settling down, the Empress took her seat and gazed at the earth passing beneath her through the floor window.
Fritz, for his part, was busy peppering his sister Elsa with questions.
"What's the top speed of this airship?"
"How many people can it actually carry?"
They were exactly the sort of questions one would expect from a military man. Elsa answered them as best she could without revealing anything sensitive.
In roughly two hours, Konron 3 reached the Kingdom of Elias. Inside the ship, Jin had explained the concept of time differences to the Shouro delegation, a phenomenon they accepted with great curiosity.
They arrived at Borgia at 1:00 PM local time. A short while earlier, a hot air balloon owned by the kingdom had spotted their approach and reported it, so by the time Konron 3 landed in front of the Royal Palace, the welcoming committee was fully prepared.
"Lord of Kunlun, Lord Jin Nidou, we are in your debt."
The delegation from the Kingdom of Elias consisted of the Chancellor, Marquis Godfar de Toves Rossi, and the minister of general affairs, Marchioness Dominic de Zaus Firenziano. Their escort was the vice-captain of the royal guard, Noust Valin. They were accompanied by four servants, two men and two women.
The King, Blitzen Skala Elias XII, had declined to attend due to his declining health.
Inside Konron 3, the leaders of the Shouro Empire and the Kingdom of Elias exchanged formal greetings.
Though to varying degrees, the members of the Elias delegation also found themselves enchanted by the experience of flight, staring intently at the landscape below through the floor window. After about an hour and a half, Konron 3, carrying the combined delegations, reached Kunlun Island.
"Welcome to Kunlun Island."
With Jin's familiar words of greeting, the formal reception of the international delegates began.