The location was a supply depot for the remnants of Unifilar, an organization connected to the bandits who had been arrested recently. It was a warehouse constructed deep within the recesses of a repurposed abandoned mine.
Abandoned mines were particularly useful for such purposes. Since they were no longer operational, they were often ignored or relegated to the bottom of investigation lists, providing those in hiding with plenty of time to prepare or flee. Additionally, because a small amount of ore could still be obtained from them, they were—as previously mentioned—extremely convenient for certain needs.
Of course, using such a place required the effort of reinforcing the tunnels to prevent cave-ins and camouflaging the entrance. It was toward this warehouse that the three golems were headed.
<This is Teto. There appear to be no humans present.>
<This is Mono. Proceed with caution nonetheless.>
<Understood.>
Teto moved forward with even greater care. However, that diligence proved unnecessary; there was no one further inside.
<This is Teto. I have arrived at the destination. No one is here. No traps, no resistance. Only the materials have been left here.>
<Acknowledged. Ji and I will join you now.>
With no immediate threat detected, Mono and Ji headed toward the storage area and met up with Teto.
<I see. No one at all. It is a relief that we encountered no trouble.>
<However, is the quantity not less than expected?>
<Some of it has likely been used already.>
<That is logical.>
<There is no need for us to recover the portion that has been consumed.>
For them, the fact that the materials had been stolen at all was the insult they were here to rectify; they were not strictly obsessed with recovering every single scrap.
<Then let us begin the transport.>
<Agreed.>
They set about moving the metal materials, which had been cast into ingots, as well as the materials for magical muscles. There were approximately 300 kilograms of ingots; Mono and Ji carried 150 kilograms each. Teto took charge of the magical muscle materials, which weighed about 100 kilograms and were packed into specialized bags found on-site.
The structural data for maintenance was nowhere to be found, but since it wasn't particularly important to them, they chose to ignore its absence. The three units shouldered their respective loads and began their departure.
However, the fact that they lowered their guard on the return journey was the beginning of a tragedy.
The Dosa Mine, located in Toves Province in the southern Kingdom of Elias, was one of the few high-yield mines in the country. As a peninsular nation, Elias possessed few mineral resources, making this site—with its rich deposits of gold, silver, copper, and steel—vitally important.
To prevent illegal mining, security guards patrolled the area constantly. It was these guards who happened to spot the trio of golems.
"Hey, look at that."
"Hmm? Are those... golems? They're carrying something out. Are those ingots?"
"Whose units are they?"
"Don't be stupid. Have you ever seen golems shaped like that in our country—or anywhere in this world, for that matter?"
"True enough. No heads, and four arms... What country could have built such things?"
Just as the guards noted, the three units each possessed four arms and lacked anything resembling a head.
"Let's be safe and send a golem to intercept them."
This decision likely saved the guards' lives.
"Go, Golem No. 23. Stop them."
"UNDERSTOOD."
The Kingdom of Elias possessed its own golems, though most were purchased from the Kingdom of Egerea or the Celuroa Kingdom. Golem No. 23 moved to block the path of the three deformed golems.
"PLEASE WAIT."
<Hm? What do you want?> Ji was the one to respond.
"PLEASE WAIT."
<I am asking what you want.>
<Teto, you must speak slowly, or this golem will not be able to comprehend you.>
<I see. A primitive model, then. Fine, I shall ask again. What. Do. You. Want?>
"LEAVE. THE. ITEMS. IN. YOUR. HANDS. BEHIND."
This was a total misunderstanding of the situation.
<"I refuse.">
"LEAVE. THEM. BEHIND."
<"I told you, I refuse.">
"THIS. IS. THE. FINAL. WARNING. LEAVE. THEM. BEHIND."
<"My answer remains the same no matter how many times you repeat yourself. I refuse.">
"I. SEE. THEN. YOU. ARE. DEEMED. CRIMINALS."
<How arrogant for a mere indigenous golem.>
Ji’s final remark was delivered in their native high-speed language. A sharp, metallic sound suddenly echoed through the Dosa Mine.
"Whoa!"
"You... You've got to be kidding me..."
The security guards' voices were filled with disbelief. And with good reason—the security golem they had sent out, Golem No. 23, had been reduced to scrap metal in a heartbeat.
The one responsible was the golem called Ji. While still clutching the ingots with two of its arms, Ji had used its two free arms to hammer Golem No. 23 into the ground from above.
Adding the 150 kilograms of ingots to its own weight, Ji currently weighed nearly 600 kilograms. In contrast, Golem No. 23 weighed only about a third of that—roughly 200 kilograms. Between that massive weight advantage and Ji’s immense physical strength, Golem No. 23 had been crushed until it was unrecognizable.
"Th-This is bad!"
"Y-Yeah!"
The security guards were only human, and they valued their lives. Opposing an enemy that human strength could never hope to defeat was the height of folly.
"Run for it!"
No one could blame them for fleeing.
"But... I'll at least send the report!"
One soldier, more faithful to his duty than the rest, managed to open the hatch of a coop containing an emergency pigeon. Because it was for emergencies, the pigeon didn't even need to carry a message; its return alone would signal that "something had happened."
<What is that?...Shoot it down, Ji.>
<Understood.>
Ji snatched up a pebble from the ground and hurled it at the pigeon. The stone flew toward the bird at 500 kilometers per hour—only to be deflected just before impact.
<Hm?>
<Something is there, Mono.>
<Indeed. Be on your guard.>
Sensing that someone with power comparable to their own must be present to have deflected the stone, Mono alerted Ji and Teto.
(Now, what should I do? At this rate, they're going to find me.)
Regulus 19 of the Quinta—better known as Shaun—had deflected the stone simply because he didn't want to see the pigeon killed before his eyes. He was currently using Invisible to hide his presence, but since the three deformed golems could deploy similar barriers, he knew they likely possessed sensors that could detect him.
Shaun quickly ascended to a higher altitude to avoid being spotted while he contacted Laojun for further instructions.