"My Lord, the bandits have made their move."
"Mm... I see."
Jin sat up in bed at Laojun’s report. Since he was a quick waker, his mind cleared almost instantly.
"There are three humans outside the northern city wall. Meanwhile, two golems are flying through the air, attempting to infiltrate the local branch of the Raglann Company."
"The Raglann Company... I didn't realize they had a branch in Blue Land as well."
"Yes. It appears they opened it about two years ago. While the procedures for establishing branches in foreign countries are notoriously tedious, they likely felt the potential profits outweighed the trouble."
"I see... and are those the ones?"
The footage from a Peeper was being projected onto the large-class manacam in the command room.
"Those are... they aren't Adriana-style, nor are they that format we've been seeing so frequently of late."
Jin judged them to be a sort of "third format." In that case, there was an extremely high probability that they represented one of the technical peaks reached before the rise of the Magic Federation, just as Laojun had theorized.
"It’s a shame... if magi-craft had continued to develop along those lines, the world might have turned out quite differently."
However, now was not the time to be lost in such musings. Jin focused his attention on the magi-screen.
＊ ＊ ＊
The bandits' golems continued their flight, looking somewhat clunky in the air.
They maintained a speed of about ten kilometers per hour, their bodies tilted forward roughly thirty degrees. Since they relied on back-mounted propulsion systems for both lift and thrust, this awkward posture was a necessity.
Even so, the height of the surrounding walls meant nothing to them. Their ability to infiltrate the upper floors of three- or four-story buildings—or even towering spires—was a terrifying advantage.
Since they used sound-dampening barriers to muffle the roar of displaced air, the only way they might be detected was by the physical draft from their jets.
For now, they were flying over deserted areas, so that wasn't an issue. They seemed to believe that even if they were spotted while making their escape, it wouldn't matter. After all, there was no one capable of catching a flying golem. At least, not until tonight.
Their target was the southwestern district within the walls of Blue Land—the commercial district. Standing there was a three-story stone building: the local branch of the Raglann Company.
Currency in this world consisted entirely of metal coins. While a system similar to modern Japan's "bills of exchange" existed in very limited circles, it was far from widespread.
Consequently, if one possessed sensors that could detect gold and silver, they could pinpoint exactly where the money was kept. These golems were equipped with exactly that.
The two units headed straight for the third floor without a moment's hesitation. Upon reaching a window, they used crude magi-craft Forming to silently pry it open.
One golem remained outside as a lookout while the other slipped inside.
＊ ＊ ＊
"Alright, that’s catching them red-handed for breaking and entering. Let's move in, Reiko."
"Understood, Father."
Just as Jin D and Reiko were rushing to the scene—
"!?"
A window shattered, and a golem came flying out from within the building, falling straight toward the road below.
"What was that!?"
The fallen golem was not the intruder.
"Is that... a security golem?"
Remaining invisible, Jin D and Reiko approached through the air to observe.
＊ ＊ ＊
The Raglann Company had been on high alert regarding the phantom thief group and had increased the number of security golems on patrol.
That night, on the third floor where security was tightest, they discovered the intruders. Two units rushed to intercept.
The first to arrive closed in to apprehend the intruder.
However, because the security golem prioritized stopping the thief without destroying it—hoping to identify the commander or operator—it left itself open. It took the full force of the intruder golem's counterattack and was blown clean through the window.
Two seconds later, the second security golem arrived on the scene.
Having seen its partner get blown away, this one engaged with enough force to partially destroy its opponent.
The one-meter baton in its hand swung with a heavy whistle toward the intruder golem's right knee.
But—
＊ ＊ ＊
"Oh!?"
The intruder golem easily evaded the security golem's baton.
"Hmm, its reaction speed is more than double."
Jin analyzed the combat data as he watched the magi-screen.
"I want a closer look at this... Laojun, switch the control of the Doppel over to me."
"Yes, My Lord."
Jin took direct control of Jin D and began observing the intruder golem's movements firsthand.
The intruder golem continued to effortlessly dodge every swing of the security golem's baton.
"Reaction speed and movement speed are both roughly 2.5 times higher than the standard."
In the case of golems, when such a performance gap exceeds 1.5 times, the difference becomes insurmountable in close-quarters combat. Unlike humans, there is almost no room for luck or coincidence to bridge the gap.
However, another security golem arrived from the floor below.
The two worked in coordination to face the intruder. It seemed the battle might stabilize into a stalemate at two-on-one, but the bandits had a second unit.
"Ah, the other one is joining in."
When the second intruder that had been waiting outside entered the fray, the disparity between offense and defense became hopeless once more.
"Reiko, we can’t just keep watching. For now, disable one of them."
"Yes, Father."
Having observed and analyzed them from a distance of only twenty meters, Jin had managed to determine the intruder golems' output with considerable accuracy.
(To think they rival five percent of Reiko's current output... No wonder ordinary golems are no match for them.)
Reiko leaped through the shattered window and struck the nearest unit.
A heavy metallic clang rang out as the intruder golem was punched through the interior wall.
"...I missed the center of mass slightly," Reiko mused to herself as she turned toward the other unit.
The second intruder, realizing the disadvantage after seeing its partner neutralized so easily, leaped out through the hole in the wall.
It immediately engaged its propulsion system to flee through the night sky.
"I won't let you get away."
From Hourai Island, Jin instructed Laojun to trace the fleeing unit using the Peeping Telescope.
Meanwhile, Jin D landed beside the golem Reiko had punched down. Reiko descended immediately after.
"I definitely want to secure this one, but... this has turned into quite a commotion."
Not only the employees of the Raglann Company branch, but also the residents of the neighboring buildings had been jolted awake and were peering out from their windows.
Before long, Blue Land's patrol golems and security guards arrived on the scene.
"My Lord, I believe it would be wise to reveal your identity at this point."
Laojun suggested that since Jin was an acquaintance of Duke Blue, she would likely grant him official permission to investigate the golem.
"Hmm, I suppose you're right."
Laojun offered to handle the tedious greetings and negotiations, so Jin gratefully left it to the AI and decided to catch a bit more sleep.
＊ ＊ ＊
"What? You've captured one of the phantom thief group's golems?...A Magi Craft Meister? You mean Jin-dono is here!?"
Duke Blue happened to be staying in Blue Land at the time. Despite it being the middle of the night, she rushed to the scene the moment she received the report.
"Oh, Jin-dono, it has been far too long!"
"It has indeed."
For the time being, Jin had disconnected the intruder golem's power system, allowing him to hand it over to Duke Blue without further incident.
Then, when he made his request—
"Your Excellency, would you be willing to leave the analysis of this golem to me?"
She gave her immediate approval.
"If you are willing to do it, Jin-dono, then I would definitely like to ask it of you."