On the morning of May 16, Laojun informed Jin that three mysterious golems had activated near Lake Aoba in New El.
"New El, huh? That’s where our investigation was cut short, wasn’t it?"
Jin recalled the mission. They had turned back mid-expedition because the locals were extremely exclusionary, most of the towns were on the verge of ruin, and they had simply run out of time. Since the area was in the northern reaches of the Lauren Continent, Jin conceded that it wouldn't be surprising to find ancient ruins there.
"So, what about these golems?"
"Yes, My Lord. They are currently sprinting eastward at approximately 300 kilometers per hour."
"What!?" Jin blurted out, stunned. The word "sprinting" was what caught his attention. "Laojun, you mean they’re actually running on the ground?"
"Yes, My Lord."
"I see..."
Anyone who has ever ridden a motorcycle on a highway can appreciate the risks of high-speed travel. Even at a mere 100 kilometers per hour, hitting a flying beetle is incredibly painful. Many have also experienced the surprise of playfully kicking a styrofoam box in the street, only to be shocked by the force of the impact. The higher the relative velocity, the greater the shock of a collision.
Jin was appalled by the idea of something moving at such speeds on the ground, where obstacles were everywhere.
"Why aren't they flying?"
Indeed, the Quinta known as Regulus 19—more commonly called Shaun—was currently shadowing the trio from the air. He used a force generator to fly while remaining hidden by Invisible.
"It is possible they are incapable of flight," Laojun suggested.
Jin agreed; that seemed like the only plausible explanation.
"Even so, they must be incredibly sturdy."
At 300 kilometers per hour, even a grain of sand—let alone a pebble—could cause significant damage. For them to be running on the ground meant they either had exceptionally durable bodies or were maintaining a barrier.
"They do not appear to be using barriers. They must simply be that durable," Laojun concluded, analyzing the magnified footage from the observation satellite, Watcher. "The data suggests their exterior is at least as hard as adamantite."
"Then we can't afford to underestimate them."
Jin stared at the screen. Clouds obscured the view, preventing him from seeing their exact appearance, but their movements were clear. Even at high speeds, they skillfully navigated around large obstacles like rocks and trees. Their reaction speed and agility were remarkable.
"Where are they heading, though?"
"The way they run suggests they have a specific destination in mind," Laojun replied.
The three golems were homing in on a specific "marker": the mana waves emitted by certain materials.
The stolen materials intended for magical muscle were derived from magical beasts that had once lived in Hale. These materials emitted a weak but unique magical frequency. After detecting these waves, the "Mysterious Ten" had dispatched the three units to the site.
<Gee, can you tell how much further it is?>
<Umu. At this speed, roughly six hours, Mono.>
<So what we seek is there? Mono.>
<Exactly, Teto.>
The three golems exchanged information in a high-speed language that humans could never hope to mimic.
<Mono, do you have information on the site?>
<None. It appears the indigenous people have built settlements... no, towns.>
<Then is it possible the indigenous people were the thieves?>
<That is a possibility, Teto.>
<Hmm. If it is the indigenous people, does that mean they are not targets for elimination?>
<That is correct, Gee. Our enemies are only those of the other factions. The indigenous people are not our concern.>
<Mono, what if they show hostility?>
<I doubt the indigenous people can do anything to threaten us... but if they do, you are permitted to counterattack, Gee.>
<Understood.>
As they conversed in their high-speed ultrasonic code, Shaun—the tracking Regulus 19—intercepted most of their dialogue. Though he missed about ten percent of the transmission due to the distance, it was more than enough to understand their intent.
"I see. So they truly are golems belonging to the invasion faction."
However, true to the nature of the Hale people, they didn't seem to favor indiscriminate slaughter.
"But if they are pursuing stolen materials... could their target be those bandits from the other day, or someone associated with them?"
Laojun mused on the unexpected connection.
"It may be best to let them do as they please without interfering too much."
It wasn't exactly a matter of fighting fire with fire, but Laojun intended to use the three mysterious golems to help wipe out the roots of the Bandit Group.
"Still, the fact that I cannot detect the mysterious entities that deployed these three is quite troubling..."
After running east for some time, the three golems suddenly banked south.
They crossed near the border of the Klein Kingdom and the Kingdom of Franz, entered the Kingdom of Egerea, and finally arrived in the Kingdom of Elias by following a route that avoided human eyes. They had covered a distance of 2,000 kilometers in just ten hours, maintaining an average speed of 200 kilometers per hour.
Throughout the journey, Shaun continued to observe them from a safe distance.
<Is it around here, Mono?>
<Yes. Gee, can you perceive it yet?>
<Umu. Indeed. It is very close.>
They were currently in the Toves Province in southern Elias, near the Dosa Mine.
<Do you see that mountain with the flat summit over there?>
<Umu.>
<Our objective is somewhere on that mountain.>
Gee noted that they would need to be closer to pinpoint the exact position.
<Very well. Let’s go.>
<Umu.>
The trio set off again. Within thirty minutes, they entered the Zaus Province and stood atop the summit of the mountain the locals called Mount Flathead.
<The target location should be a stone’s throw from here, Gee.>
<Umu. According to my measurements, it’s deep within a mine on the mountainside, Mono.>
<I see. Teto, will you investigate?>
<Leave it to me.>
The three units each possessed slightly different specialties. The unit called Teto excelled in stealth. This information was immediately relayed to Laojun via Shaun.
The golem known as Teto deployed a concealment barrier equivalent to Hourai Island’s Invisible and began a silent approach toward the target. Because of this, even Regulus 19 could no longer see the details of its movements.
He was only able to intercept the fragments of their communication:
<30 meters to destination.>
<This is Mono. Acknowledged. Proceed with caution.>
<Teto. Acknowledged.>