"There is an emergency passage there. Proceed up one floor."
"The next junction is to the right."
"Go straight through the narrow passage, then turn left."
Deciding there was no longer any need for restraint, Vulcan was using its Peeping Telescope, the Peeper, to investigate the interior of the satellite Kuna. Based on that information, Jin D and Reiko were making their way toward the core.
"There is a barrier near the center that even the Peeper cannot penetrate. Please be careful."
"Understood. Thank you."
Jin D and Reiko soon reached the center of the facility.
"A barrier, huh?"
"They must be shut away inside here."
Standing before them was a wall consisting of a barrier emitting a faint silver light.
"It’s likely a reflection-type barrier."
The silver color suggested it reflected visible light. It likely also bounced back ultraviolet rays and heat rays.
"I wonder about physical attacks?"
Jin D took a fragment of a golem he had salvaged earlier from his pocket and tossed it toward the barrier. It traced a parabola, struck the barrier, and fell straight down to the floor.
"I see."
It appeared to have absorbed all of its kinetic energy, Jin thought. It was a barrier with a rare effect.
"In a case like this, we either have to apply enough physical energy to exceed its absorption capacity, or..."
Just as Jin D began to speak, Reiko gave the barrier a light tap. Then—
"Oh, it truly does kill all momentum."
No sooner had the words left her mouth than she unleashed a full-swing straight punch. Reiko’s fist sank halfway into the barrier. A sharp cracking sound echoed through the corridor.
The barrier fluctuated... and vanished.
"That was only twenty percent of my power," Reiko said, quite matter-of-factly.
＊ ＊ ＊
"As expected, the Haleans must be poor at conflict."
On Hourai Island, Jin was analyzing the data collected so far alongside Laojun.
"Yes, My Lord. Even the magic attacks used in that hall showed nothing novel."
They were not significantly different from the attacks of the enemies Jin, Reiko, and Hourai Island had faced before. In fact, some were even inferior.
"If there are no enemies, then military force doesn't develop, I suppose."
"I believe that is the case."
For better or worse, the world of Ars was plagued by conflict; out of necessity, combat technology there had advanced.
"But I feel like the group on Onogoro Island was a bit stronger, wasn't it?"
"Could that not be the result of them gathering data on Ars?"
"That might be it."
It was only natural for things to change depending on the environment. The Halean faction that had spent centuries on Ars could already be considered something entirely different.
"Alright, let’s move forward."
＊ ＊ ＊
Beyond the vanished barrier lay a brightly lit corridor.
"The air smells different here, somehow."
"Yes. It feels... cleaner, perhaps."
If the Master was ahead, Jin speculated the environment was being meticulously maintained for their sake. Their objective lay just beyond this passage.
"I’d like to ask them all sorts of things once we meet."
A pure-blooded Halean. What did they think about? What was their perspective?
"And it would be great if we could coexist."
While Jin himself had some reservations, to the humans of Ars, the Haleans were undoubtedly kin—descendants of the same ancestors. Since he held no grudge, he felt they could establish a friendship.
The floor was spotless, without a single speck of dust, and the soft material absorbed their footsteps. However, there was no reaction from the satellite.
"At this rate, Agente will just stay cooped up inside. What should we do..."
＊ ＊ ＊
"My Lord, I have a proposal."
"Yeah, let’s hear it."
"Yes. We should send Helente."
"I see. That makes sense."
Helente was a golem from Onogoro Island. Since Onogoro Island was originally a base built by the Haleans, if a golem like Helente made contact, they might be able to communicate more effectively.
It might have been ideal to bring Marikka along, but the situation was still filled with too many unknowns. Jin couldn't justify sending her in when he hadn't even set foot there in person. Helente was the perfect candidate for the role.
"I’ll send an envoy and bring her here immediately."
"I—Laozi—shall go."
＊ ＊ ＊
《I see. That is an interesting development.》
Laozi used a Warp Gate to travel to Onogoro Island, where he immediately entered discussions with Testa and Helente.
《You are saying that this may cause the situation to progress, then?》
"Precisely."
《Hmm. Very well. Let us go.》
Through a brief discussion, both Testa and Helente understood the situation and agreed to the plan.
＊ ＊ ＊
The journey back to Hale was brief. Helente and Laozi emerged from the Warp Gate inside Pegasus 1.
"Now then, let us go."
《Indeed.》
Laozi had memorized the route by watching through Reiko’s eyes and the Peeper. He began to lead Helente through the satellite, accurately tracing the path Jin D and Reiko had taken. They bypassed the elevator section using the emergency stairs he had observed earlier.
《Hmm. An interesting design. It certainly shares commonalities with Onogoro Island.》
Helente observed her surroundings as they walked. The "voice"—Agente—showed no reaction to their presence. Eventually, they arrived in front of the hall where Jin D and Reiko had been attacked.
Naturally, the door was sealed.
"Time is precious, so let us open it by force."
Laozi’s strength was approximately one-fifth of Reiko’s. Placing his hands on the door and exerting about eighty percent of his power, he forced the door to groan and distort until it finally gave way.
"Come. Reiko and the others should be waiting just ahead."
《Understood.》
Laozi and Helente hurried into the heart of the satellite.