Elm of the Secret Mobile Unit (SP) stayed close on the heels of the fleeing Garik Ash.
Garik untied the tethers of his carriage, leaped onto the driver’s seat, and urged the horses forward in a hurry.
Night had already fallen. Only the occasional magi-lamp streetlights punctuated the darkness, leaving the world around them mostly obscured. The carriage trundled along only slightly faster than a man could walk; for Elm, who possessed exceptional night vision, tailing it was effortless.
The carriage headed toward the outskirts of the city. Upon reaching the massive stone walls, it began to follow them southward.
Esaia, the capital of the Celuroa Kingdom, was a city fortified by five concentric layers of defensive walls. The innermost, the fifth wall, enclosed the Royal Palace itself. Just outside lay the fourth wall, which served as the primary defense for the town of Esaia. The space between the third and fourth walls was quite vast, housing military parade grounds and another residential district. Garik was currently driving his carriage along the length of this third wall.
Because the city gates were closed at night, no one could leave the capital without special permission.
(I wonder how far he intends to go,) Elm mused as he followed.
Eventually, the carriage came to a halt in a deserted, lightless area.
"…Damn it," Garik muttered, looking up at the night sky. "I never expected anyone to bring up the name Gunno Asher."
He scanned the shadows to ensure no one was watching, then climbed into the back of the carriage.
"I wasn't even sure if I’d be able to meet back up with Big Brother anymore…"
Muttering to himself, he hauled out one of the sets of armor. Judging by the ease of his movements, the armor was incredibly light.
"Well, it's still not quite ready, but I'll prepare at least one for now."
Garik pried the lid off a barrel filled with 'heavy liquid' and shoved the armor inside.
Just as Jin had theorized, it was now proven: the armor was made of foamed metal, designed to be primed for use by soaking it in fluid metal. Through Elm’s eyes, Laojun recorded every detail of the process.
The suit of armor absorbed nearly half a barrel’s worth of the fluid metal. As it did, its surface changed to a leaden, dull gray.
"That’s enough. 'Wake up.'"
Responding to the keyword, the armor began to move, climbing out of the barrel under its own power.
"I'm going to get some rest. Keep watch over the area."
After issuing the command, Garik wrapped himself in a blanket and curled up in a corner of the carriage bed. Silence settled over the area once more. Elm remained perfectly still in the shadows, waiting for the dawn.
『Now, if only I could determine the exact nature of that fluid metal…』
On Hourai Island, it was already the middle of the night due to the time difference. Both Jin and Elsa were fast asleep.
However, Laojun never slept. He was busy recording and analyzing the data sent from the field.
『I wonder if there is a legal way to acquire a sample of that fluid metal…』
As it stood, Garik Ash was not a criminal—at least not in the Celuroa Kingdom. In an era without a multinational organization like an International Security Guard, crimes committed in the Kingdom of Egerea could not be prosecuted across the border unless an international warrant was issued.
As there was no immediate crisis, Laojun preferred to avoid heavy-handed tactics, primarily to safeguard Jin’s reputation.
『There should be some movement once morning comes.』
Garik clearly had a connection to Jix, who was currently staying at the Guest House. Laojun decided to place his expectations on the developments of the following day.
The night of conflicting motives gave way to dawn, and the morning of August 1st arrived.
Daylight had long since reached Hourai Island. Jin and Elsa had already finished breakfast and were observing the situation. Given the uncertainty of the circumstances, they had decided to let their Doppels handle things on the ground in the Celuroa Kingdom.
Garik was the first to make a move. The time was roughly 6:00 AM, and the summer sun was already quite high.
"Ah, morning. It seems no pursuers came after me."
Many sections of the road were paved with cobblestones, making it difficult for a heavy carriage to leave recognizable tracks.
"Now then, how should I get back in touch with Big Brother?"
He pulled some jerky from his bags and began to chew on it.
"…Looking back, I might have been too quick to run. That man… Lucol, was it? He’s not an issue. But there was that man helping him…"
After draining the water from his canteen and wiping his mouth, Garik fell back into thought.
"…At any rate, I have to be at the designated spot to contact him."
Garik untied the horses and sat on the driver's seat next to the golem.
"Listen, you’re going to learn how to drive this carriage."
Without waiting for an acknowledgment, Garik started the team. After ten minutes of driving, he judged that the golem had sufficiently learned the movements. He then moved into the back of the carriage and pulled a blanket over his head.
"With this, no one should recognize me at a glance."
The carriage performed a U-turn and began heading back the way it had come the previous night. Its destination was the parking area for the Gonpetition.
Meanwhile, Jix—the "Big Brother" in question—was at the Celuroa Kingdom's Second Guest House. He was already awake and dressed.
"Now then, I wonder if Gunno is sticking to the plan."
Claiming he was going for a pre-breakfast walk, Jix stepped outside and made his way to the carriage parking area for the Gonpetition.
"Oh, you made it, Gunno."
"Big Brother. I managed. I got caught up in some trouble, but we’re mostly on schedule."
"I see. That’s fine, then.…Did you prepare one?" Jix asked, glancing at the leaden-colored golem in the driver’s seat.
"Yeah. I told you there was trouble, right? I had no choice but to activate it."
"Hmph. Well, no matter. It looks like you can make about ten more."
"Yeah. The barrels and the contents are both fine." The man Jix called Gunno—the one currently using the name Garik—patted a barrel to emphasize his point.
"Good. Then there’s no problem. I have an audience with the king of this country at nine o'clock. I’ll have someone come for you then, or perhaps shortly after."
"Understood. I’ll be waiting."
After that exchange, Gunno offered a word of caution.
"I'll wait until then.…Oh, by the way, that guy who claimed to be a friend of Jidan Casey is here. Keep your guard up."
"Hm. I see. I understand."
With that, Jix turned on his heel and returned to the Second Guest House.
Breakfast was just being served at the Guest House when he arrived. Jin and Elsa (or rather, their Doppels) were already seated and halfway through their meal. Jix joined them at the table.
"Good morning, Lord of Kunlun."
"Good morning, Mr. Jix."
After exchanging brief greetings, Jix sat down and began to eat. A flicker of resolve was etched into his features.
The time was almost here. Finally.