"We have been expecting you, Master."
When Jin stepped outside, the gathered Fores golems greeted him in unison.
"I am Fores 1. These units are 101 through 110."
Fores 1 through 100 served as leaders for small squads, each commanding ten units, and were currently scattered across the continent.
The Fores were golems of the same model as the Land and Smith squads. Their 64 light silver exteriors were finished in a deep moss green, a clear indication of their forestry-oriented specialization.
"Good work. I suppose this is the first time you’ve met this version of me, but do you understand the situation?"
"Yes, we have received an explanation from Laojun. We understand that while the current Master is undoubtedly the man himself, you are a Body Double."
"I see. That’s fine then."
Laojun was nothing if not thorough.
"Now then, can you give me a status report?"
"Understood. Please, come this way."
Indeed, there was little greenery near the spaceport, and consequently, not much to see. Fores 1 led Jin toward a six-wheeled vehicle parked nearby—the same model as those used on Hourai Island.
"Let us depart."
Once Fores 1 confirmed that Jin and Reiko were safely aboard, the golem set the vehicle in motion. The six-wheeler pulled away, kicking up a light trail of dust.
Their first stop was an area blanketed in a profusion of reddish-purple flowers. Fores 1 brought the car to a halt.
"Is this... milk vetch?"
"Yes, Master. This is a site planned for future paddy fields. Until the day they are put into full operation, we are cultivating milk vetch here."
Soil bacteria called rhizobia, which form nodules, live symbiotically in the roots of milk vetch. These rhizobia fix nitrogen from the atmosphere to supply the plants with fertilizer; in return, they receive carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis.
In ancient Japan, farmers would grow milk vetch in the spring before flooding their rice paddies. By plowing the plants into the earth, the nitrogen fixed by the rhizobia would enrich the soil. This traditional farming method had been adopted on Hourai Island, and preparations were now well underway here on Hale.
"I see. Keep it up."
Satisfied, Jin asked to see more. Fores 1 set the car in motion once again. The area designated for these future paddy fields covered a vast expanse of land.
"We expect to secure a sufficient supply of irrigation water," Fores 1 noted.
A fleet of weather control satellites was currently in orbit, and reports indicated they were functioning perfectly. Since they had originally been deployed by the Progenitors, there were no concerns regarding their environmental compatibility.
"We have spent over a century gradually returning Hale's climate to its ancient state."
"Right."
Since the Progenitors had abandoned Hale, a vast amount of time had passed. Because there were risks involved in suddenly reverting the climate, the golems had been restoring it incrementally over the span of a hundred years.
"Is that why the air feels more humid than when I last visited?"
"Yes. Initially, the humidity was around twenty percent, but it has now increased to roughly forty percent."
It was said to rise even higher during periods of rain.
"That's good to hear. Carry on."
"Understood."
The six-wheeler left the future paddy fields behind and reached a sprawling series of upland crops.
"As you can see, these are our vegetable fields. We are growing potatoes, sweet potatoes, taro, and other tubers, as well as root vegetables like daikon radishes, carrots, and burdock."
"You aren't calling them Topopo or Itopo?"
"No, Master. We felt there was no need to conform to the naming conventions of Ars."
Jin welcomed this change; the names he had used in modern Japan were far more familiar to him.
"These are the leafy vegetables. And over there, we have the cucurbits."
Meaning cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelons, and melons. Fields for beans, eggplants, and tomatoes were also prepared, much to Jin's satisfaction.
"And that area is the orchard. We have already begun cultivating many varieties, including apples, mandarins, lemons, peaches, cherries, grapes, loquats, walnuts, and chestnuts."
Since fruit trees took several years to yield a harvest after planting, they had started early. The produce currently being harvested was being transported back to Hourai Island.
"The nutritional value and flavor are identical to those grown on Ars."
"That's excellent."
"Regarding forestry, the actual sites are quite far, so I shall explain the situation here."
The species of trees growing naturally on Hale were not significantly different from those on Ars.
"However, there were a few species specific to Ars that were missing here, so we brought seedlings over to plant them."
Those species were hemlock, yew, and camellia. Hemlock was intended for construction, yew for fine craftwork, and camellia for the oil extracted from its seeds.
"I understand."
"As for the fishing industry, with a few exceptions, it remains largely untouched."
The exceptions were the preparations for river fish and the construction of fish pens.
"Understood. I suppose that means we'll need a Marine Squad and a Mermaid unit here as well."
Jin began to consider preparing a dedicated Navy and Underwater Force specifically for Hale.
"That concludes my report."
"Good work."
Having returned to the spaceport, Jin thanked Fores 1 for its service.
"Since the redevelopment has progressed this far, it might be time to take things to the next level."
He was referring to the specialized aquatic units. Generally, the forces on Hourai Island operated as garrison farmers, engaging in agriculture, fishing, or forestry during peacetime. He would likely produce these new units on Hourai Island and send them through a Warp Gate.
＊ ＊ ＊
Pleased with the development of the East Coast, Jin traveled to other regions to conduct further inspections—this time from the comfort of the Adriana.
His observations confirmed that development was progressing at a similar level across other lands. He also learned that the reason for the increasing sea levels was the melting of the massive amounts of ice located at the poles.
"Wait, you're saying the Progenitors deliberately turned the water into ice?"
Inside the Adriana, Jin listened as Laojun explained the situation.
"Yes, My Lord. You are aware that their resources were being depleted. That meant..."
According to the records, the Progenitors had frozen the seawater and stored it in satellite orbit to allow them to efficiently mine the resources on the seabed. Laojun had discovered these orbital stores, thawed them, and was gradually restoring the seawater to the planet. The process was being handled slowly to prevent the coastlines from eroding or collapsing under a sudden surge of water.
"The Progenitors were certainly reckless..."
Jin imagined that this extreme manipulation was likely why the planet's atmosphere had become so dry.
Laojun also confirmed that almost no Progenitor facilities remained on the surface. The only real exception was a ruined dome in the east of the continent. Chico, the last of the Haleans, now rested in an eternal sleep on the artificial satellite Kuna, alongside the remains of Nani, the wet nurse homunculus who had remained loyal to the very end.
However, the seawater ice had been kept in a much more distant orbit.
"The seawater was preserved in the form of ice in an orbit further away than any artificial satellite we previously knew of. In that same orbit, the weather control satellites and their management magi-brains were also kept in a state of dormancy."
"I see..."
Those discoveries had been made by the version of Jin who lived four hundred years ago, during his final years. It was no wonder the current Jin was unfamiliar with them.
In any case, seeing firsthand that the redevelopment of Hale was proceeding so smoothly allowed Jin to finally breathe a sigh of relief.