"Please come again soon."
The following day, Jin and Elsa took their leave of the Randol Mansion, though not without a touch of reluctance.
"Well, things are about to get busy."
"Mhm."
"But Elsa, don't push yourself, okay? It’s a delicate time for you."
A report party was scheduled for that evening on Hourai Island. The entire Jin Family was expected to attend.
"...Mhm."
Elsa nodded, looking a little disappointed at being told to take it easy.
＊ ＊ ＊
Upon returning to Hourai Island, Jin told Elsa to rest and gave instructions to mobilize the Five-Colored Golem Maids to prepare for the party.
"Jin-nii, let me... at least give the instructions."
It seemed she couldn't stand doing nothing. After a moment's thought, Jin gave his approval, albeit with conditions.
"Hmm... I suppose that’s fine. Edgar, make sure you support her properly."
"Yes, I understand."
"And Luna, Soleil, you two stay with her as well."
"Yes, Father."
"Leave it to us, Father."
Relieved by that arrangement, Jin headed to the command room to hear Laojun's report.
"My Lord, I have been waiting for you."
"Let’s get right to it. I’d like the detailed report."
"Yes. The point of origin was on Ars's orbital path. If we take Sun Celane as the center of a clock face and set the current position of Ars as zero degrees, it occurred at approximately seventy degrees in a counter-clockwise direction."
Given the astronomical distances involved, a certain margin of error was unavoidable.
"I am curious as to what kind of observation results No. 700672's Space Monitor has produced."
"You're right... Should I go ask him immediately?"
"I believe that would be best."
As was his custom, Jin took Reiko as his companion and traveled to No. 700672's location via Warp Gate. Naturally, he had Laojun inform Elsa that he would be heading out.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Welcome, Jin-dono."
It seemed No. 700672 had also been expecting Jin's visit.
"You wish to know the observation results from the Space Monitor, I assume?"
"Yes."
No. 700672 immediately began his explanation.
"This vibration lasted for seven-ten-thousandths of a second. It is becoming slightly longer."
"I see... Do you think the duration is gradually increasing?"
At that question, No. 700672’s expression turned solemn.
"Since there have only been four occurrences so far, it is difficult to derive a pattern from that data, and any probability would be low."
"However, the greatest problem lies elsewhere."
"Eh?"
Sensing No. 700672's increasingly grim demeanor, Jin braced himself.
"The primary issue we must focus on is that the matter present at that location was annihilated."
"What!?"
This was the first Jin had heard of it. However, he realized that this fact could only be known because No. 700672 had sent Space Monitors into the void.
"By chance, one of the Space Monitors I sent out was annihilated in an instant."
"Annihilated... you say?" Jin asked, wanting to be absolutely sure.
"Yes, annihilated. Not destroyed. It was not just the main body; not a single atom remains. That is why I used the word 'annihilation'."
"Annihilation..."
They had identified a new threat.
"Since the Space Monitors were in a loose formation, I have a rough idea of the affected range. According to the data, it is somewhere within a radius of one hundred to one thousand kilometers."
No. 700672 added that the large margin of error was simply the nature of the observation.
"Is that... considered wide?"
"Indeed. From a cosmic perspective, it is extremely localized, though."
The real issue, however, was the effect itself.
"So it's not destruction caused by gravity?" Jin double-checked.
"Correct. Such a thing might happen depending on the scale of the space vibration, but the phenomenon observed this time was absolute annihilation."
"Meaning it’s not a mere fluctuation in gravity."
"That appears to be the case."
However, they still lacked sufficient information. No. 700672 stated that he would send out even more Space Monitors.
"For the time being, the points of origin have remained almost constant."
He explained that he would send out a large number of monitors centered around that specific sector of space.
"And how are things on your end?"
Jin guessed that "how" referred to the Space Isolation Barrier.
"Thanks to your help, the prototype is complete, and it’s demonstrating sufficient effectiveness. I am currently considering ways to make it more efficient and larger in scale."
After stating this, Jin proceeded to explain the detailed specifications.
"That is excellent."
"However, in the worst-case scenario, wouldn't it be dangerous if we don't prepare a barrier large enough to cover Ars?"
"That is a possibility."
"As I thought..."
Even though Planet Ars was smaller than Earth, its diameter was still about 2,400 kilometers. To cover the entire planet, a barrier with a diameter of 3,000 kilometers would be necessary. Jin believed it would also be necessary to deploy one around the Moon—Uni—at the same time.
And furthermore...
"If we're not careful, there's a possibility that Ars or Uni could be knocked out of orbit..."
"Yes. Because the barrier would be blocking gravity."
Ars's orbit was not a perfect circle. While a small amount of error would likely be absorbed by astronomical distances, it was still a major concern.
"I'd like to keep the duration of the deployment as short as possible."
"I imagine so."
In that case, rather than a spherical barrier that covered everything, it would have to be a hemispherical or disk-shaped barrier oriented toward the direction of the space vibration.
"But it seems like that would be difficult without knowing the point of origin in advance."
Jin's concern was clearly conveyed to No. 700672.
"Yes, that is quite right. I shall also do everything in my power."
No. 700672 promised to do his best regarding the collection of information.
"Please. I'm counting on you."
Jin felt he had no choice but to leave that part to him.
"I will devote all my efforts to the development of the Space Isolation Barrier."
"Mm. May I assume there are no longer any technical obstacles?"
"Well, for scaling it up this much, the problem of energy supply remains, but I should be able to manage that somehow."
"I see."
"In a worst-case scenario, I am also considering transferring energy from the Free Ether Cloud."
The Free Ether Cloud was a high-density region of free ether spread near Planet Hale's Lagrange point. From there, they could obtain what could be described as an inexhaustible supply of energy.
"I shall cooperate whenever I am able."
"Thank you. I'll ask for your help when the time comes."
Having concluded their meeting, Jin returned to Hourai Island.