After returning to Hourai Island without incident, Jin spent some time discussing matters with Laojun.
“...And for those reasons, I have decided to redeploy the Quinta. Since their understanding of the current era's lifestyles and social norms is still incomplete, they will be positioned under the guise of travelers.”
“Yeah, that works,” Jin agreed.
As travelers, their lack of local common sense wouldn't draw unnecessary suspicion.
“I’ll leave the specifics to you, Laojun. You have the most experience with this.”
“Yes, My Lord. Leave it to me.”
Once they finished their discussion, Jin decided to soak in a midday bath. He had been limited to showers during his stay at Marquis Kuzuma’s estate.
“Ah, there’s nothing like a real bath...”
Jin stretched out his limbs in the tub, relaxing completely. Reiko stood by his side, ready and eager to wash his back and hair.
“I’d really like to just live a quiet daily life like this...” Jin sighed.
He wanted to believe that the recent succession crisis had been nothing more than an outlier in his otherwise peaceful existence.
＊ ＊ ＊
Later, as Jin was cooling off with a glass of citran juice, Laojun chimed in with a report.
“My Lord, I have gathered an overview regarding the rumors circulating in Blue Land.”
“Great. Let’s hear it.”
Jin grabbed a second bottle of citran juice and settled onto a nearby stool.
“Yes, My Lord. To put it simply: a bandit group is utilizing golems.”
“Right. Makes sense.”
“However, the performance of these golems reportedly far exceeds current standards. The local security golems are apparently no match for them.”
“I see...”
Jin had a rough grasp of the situation now. The real question was the nature of the machines. “What exactly are these ‘high-performance golems’ like?”
“Based on rumors alone, I can only offer vague conjectures, but several distinct characteristics have emerged.”
Laojun listed four points synthesized from various reports:
- They are far swifter than any human.
- They possess strength far beyond human limits.
- They are capable of masking their presence.
- They can fly, albeit for short durations.
“The claim of ‘flight’ is less certain than the others, but it remains a factor worth considering.”
“True,” Jin noted.
It wasn't impossible to fly without a force generator.
“Maybe if they used wind-attribute magic or attached wings to their backs... there are a few ways it could be done.”
Jin thought of several methods, though none of them particularly appealed to his engineering sensibilities. However, that didn't mean someone else hadn't tried them.
“Given these factors, I speculate that these golems date back to a time before the rise of the Magic Federation. The probability is high.”
Laojun suspected the machines were crafted in an era before the Federation’s influence had stifled the transmission of technology. Jin was inclined to agree.
“If that’s the case, then someone either built them using old knowledge or discovered them in storage... but we just don't have enough information yet. What would you like to do, My Lord?”
The question was clear: intervene or observe?
“I have to admit, I’m curious about these ‘high-performance golems.’”
“That is very like you, My Lord. In that case, I recommend utilizing a Body Double to investigate Blue Land.”
“Good point.”
With a Body Double, he could use a force generator to fly, and there would be very little risk to Jin himself.
“I judged the danger to be minimal during the recent medical treatment, but this situation is different,” Laojun insisted. He was firm in his stance that Jin should not personally lie in wait for a group of bandits.
“Father, please do not go yourself,” Reiko pleaded, echoing the sentiment.
“Alright, I understand.”
Yielding to their concerns, Jin abandoned the idea of going in person and opted for a Body Double instead.
“We’ll send a Body Double to Blue Land tonight and see what we can find.”
And so, the plan was set.
＊ ＊ ＊
When 10:00 PM arrived in Blue Land, it was 12:45 AM the following day on Hourai Island.
Jin rubbed his sleepy eyes as he activated the Body Double. “Alright, Laojun, over to you.”
“Understood.”
Jin’s Body Double—Jin D—and Reiko were teleported into the Blue Land castle grounds. Laojun had used a Peeping Telescope beforehand to confirm the area was deserted.
“...Not a soul in sight. Good work, Laojun.”
“Father, what is our first move?” Reiko asked.
“Let’s see. How about an aerial stakeout?”
Jin suggested they hover in the air using their force generators to monitor the town from above. Both Reiko and Jin D had the devices built-in, but since Jin wasn't accustomed to controlling them himself, simply floating and moving slowly was the extent of his capability. He relied on Reiko for the actual maneuvering.
“Wow, quite a view.”
Floating approximately 500 meters above the city, Jin D and Reiko cast a Hide barrier. The magic masked their presence, though the effect would break if they spoke aloud or were struck. Since they communicated via internal manacams, this wasn't an issue.
They remained there until 4:00 AM local time the next morning, but the night passed without incident.
The following night, Jin entrusted the control of Jin D to Laojun while he slept in the bed located in the command room. This allowed him to be woken up immediately if anything happened.
But once again, the night was perfectly quiet.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next night—the 23rd—in Blue Land.
A suspicious conversation was taking place just outside the city walls.
“...It’s definitely the Raglann Company’s Blue Land branch tonight, right?”
“Yeah. The branch only opened two years ago, but it’s already grown into one of the top five companies in the city. They’re swimming in cash.”
“I checked them out during the day; a massive amount of currency was changing hands.”
“Perfect. Their settlement day is in two days, which makes tonight the ideal time to strike.”
There were three men. Standing silently behind them were two shadows.
“It’s almost midnight. Let’s move.”
“Tuen, Teii—wake up.”
The two standing shadows lurched into motion.
“Your orders, Master.” “Your orders, Master.”
The two units spoke in unison.
“The target is the merchant company we marked. Your objective is to retrieve every gold and silver coin in their safe.”
“Understood.” “Understood.”
The two units gave short acknowledgments and kicked off the ground. Simultaneously, air hissed violently from the Jet Thruster devices mounted on their backs.
Powered by that propulsion, the two golems rose into the air. They leveled off and accelerated, flying straight into the heart of Blue Land.