At 4:00 PM Kunlun Island time on July 9th, every participant for the World Conference had finally arrived.
From the Kingdom of Egerea came Chancellor Galueri and Minister of Magic Kelichdore. They were escorted by royal ritter vice captain Bruno Thales Bright, along with Lianna and Kate from the Royal Secret Maids, who served as both guards and personal attendants. The delegation was rounded out by four servants—two men and two women.
From the Celuroa Kingdom came King Cesar Valois de Celuroa and Latant, the Chief of the First Technology Agency. Their escort included Captain of the Royal Guard Kirk-at and two others, as well as four servants.
From the Kingdom of Franz arrived King Rotaro de Lafayette, Chancellor Ardalc de Hegle, and Captain of the Royal Guard Khalid Fanfard, who was accompanied by two additional guards and four servants.
The Klein Kingdom was represented by Second Prince Arthur and Chancellor Powell. Their escort was Gloria Allstatt, vice-captain of the Female Ritter Order, and one other member. They also brought four servants.
And then, there was a surprise.
"..."
Jin was stunned to spot a familiar face among the servants from the Kingdom of Egerea.
"...Your Highness."
"Jin, it’s been a long time!"
Prince Ernest, the Third Prince of Egerea, was indeed standing among the group.
"Jin-sama, thank you for all your help back then."
One of the female servants accompanying him was Lyla Soluce, a former member of the Royal Secret Maids.
At that moment, Elsa approached, leading a young girl with her.
"Jin-nii."
"Elsa, what is it... wait, Lieschen!?"
"‘Lord of Kunlun’ Jin-dono, Prince Ernest, it has been quite some time."
It was Lieschen, the Third Princess of the Klein Kingdom.
"I see. So you two are here as observers rather than official delegates?"
"Exactly. That was the arrangement," Ernest replied.
Though Jin hadn't been informed, the various nations had agreed that while each country would have two official participants in the conference, there were no specific restrictions on others. As a result, Prince Ernest and Princess Lieschen had come along as observers.
The other nations seemed to be holding back for now, watching how things developed. Jin reflected that if this conference proved successful, the number of such observers would likely increase. He hoped that in the future, other next-generation leaders—such as Ernst Shouro, the heir to the Shouro Empire whom he had yet to meet—would also attend.
"Please, let us show you to your accommodations."
Jin and Elsa personally guided the delegations.
"O-ho! This architecture...!"
"A truly magnificent achievement!"
"I have never seen this style before."
"The gardens mimic nature, yet somehow surpass it!"
Their reactions upon seeing the Jade Pavilion and the Hall of Five Virtues were exactly as Jin had anticipated. It was at this point that "Deus Ex Machina" made his planned appearance.
With brown hair, brown eyes, and an intentionally unremarkable face, the Body Double (Double) stepped forward. Naturally, it was Laojun who was remotely operating the unit, not Jin.
"Welcome, everyone. I see some new faces among you. I am Maquina. I go by the name Deus Ex Machina."
Jin wanted to reinforce the idea that he and Maquina were entirely separate individuals. Since the concept of "Deus Ex Machina"—a god from a machine—did not exist in this world, no one found the name odd or looked for hidden meanings within it.
"Oh, Maquina-dono!" Gloria called out.
Coming face-to-face with the man who had saved her life multiple times, Gloria’s expression brightened with a hint of excitement.
"Thank you again for your assistance."
"You have our deepest gratitude for your many interventions."
"Knowing you are present makes us feel even more secure."
The various leaders offered their greetings and thanks. Every one of them was well aware of his capabilities.
"I personally guarantee the safety of this World Conference," Maquina declared to the assembly, gesturing toward the Land squad. "These golem units are under my direct command. I believe their prowess has already been sufficiently demonstrated. Please, set your minds at ease."
The members of the Egerean delegation, who had been rescued by these very golems during the Unifilar attack, nodded in remembrance.
"I intend to provide Jin, who shares my master, with my full cooperation. I pray for the success of this World Conference."
With that, Maquina withdrew. A sense of relief spread among the international representatives.
"Hmm, I suppose when golems are made by the same master, they really do end up looking quite similar," Prince Ernest remarked. He was the only one whose take was slightly wide of the mark.
Dinner was served with all the delegations gathered in a single hall, though they were seated at separate tables. The menu featured signature dishes from each respective nation.
"O-Oh? This... this might actually be superior to the food at the Royal Palace."
"I was thinking the same thing, Brother."
As the Prince and Princess of the Klein Kingdom stared at their plates in shock, King Cesar of Celuroa voiced his agreement.
"Indeed. This has the refinement of court cuisine, yet it somehow exceeds it."
This was hardly surprising; the recipes had been meticulously researched by the Quinta units stationed across the continent. Perido and her team had then taken those palace-style dishes and applied their culinary expertise to refine the flavors even further.
The only part of the meal shared by everyone was the dessert: perfectly ripened Persica. While it was the fruit's natural season, these specimens from Hourai Island were on a different level than anything found in a standard market.
"This is incredible...!"
"I don't think I can ever go back to eating ordinary Persica."
The flavor was superlative, and because the fruit was rich in ether, it possessed a faint restorative property. While not a full recovery medicine, it was remarkably effective at relieving fatigue.
"I feel as though my digestion has improved instantly."
True to that observation, the fruit's properties helped settle the stomach even after a heavy meal. To finish, traditional drinks from each country were served: Peruhya tea for Klein, Kuhe for Elias, green tea for Shouro, and Te-e for the others.
"I am thoroughly impressed, ‘Lord of Kunlun.’"
"A truly magnificent reception."
"Everything was quite delicious."
As his guests voiced their satisfaction, Jin finally felt himself relax. The World Conference was set to begin the very next day.