Jin and his party arrived at the airfield at three in the afternoon.
The escorting knight summoned the security guard captain and ordered the hangar doors opened. Jin and Reiko stepped inside immediately.
"Any anomalies, Hope?"
"None, Jin-sama. No intruders have approached the craft since the previous incident. However, I believe one is currently nearby."
Hope had recorded the intruder's magic pattern the night before. Since a matching pattern was currently within range, Hope hypothesized that the culprit was likely a member of the airfield staff or the security force.
"I see. Let's look into that."
Under the pretext of inspecting the Hurricane’s interior, Jin boarded the craft and used the onboard Warp Gate to return to Hourai Island. In his place, a Doppel controlled by Laojun emerged. To anyone watching from outside the Hurricane, the switch was imperceptible.
"Everything seems to be in order."
The Doppel, Jin D, stepped off the Hurricane and performed a cursory check of the Avalon airship, Bronte 1, confirming that it was also secure. During the inspection, Jin D’s sensors picked up the magic pattern of the previous night’s intruder nearby.
Having finished the inspection, Jin D exited the hangar and identified the possessor of the magic pattern: a member of the security guard.
I see. One of the guards. That explains how they could deactivate the security golems so easily, Laojun thought, processing the situation through Jin D. How should I handle this? Should I deploy the Quinta... No, it would be better to resolve this publicly.
Deciding on a course of action, Laojun had Jin D casually approach the guard. The knights followed close behind.
"Do you have a moment?"
"Yes? What is it?" the man replied, his tone perfectly natural.
"I’d like to ask you about the intruder from last night."
As the question left Jin D’s lips, Laojun detected a slight spike in the man’s heart rate through the Doppel’s auditory sensors.
"...What are you talking about?"
"Exactly what I said."
The man suddenly spun on his heel and tried to bolt. However, Jin D reacted with the superhuman speed unique to a Doppel, seizing the man’s arm in an iron grip.
"Why are you running?" Jin D asked calmly. The guard, however, began to panic.
"Damn it! Let me go!"
The man’s behavior was so overtly suspicious that the escorting knights immediately interjected.
"What is the meaning of this agitation? Do you have something to hide?"
Jin D delivered the finishing blow. "Are you a remnant of the Magic Federation, by any chance?"
"We are not remnants! We can still succeed! We will remake this world!"
The man’s outburst was a full confession. The knights promptly moved in and placed him under arrest.
That was surprisingly simple. My Lord, the intruder has been captured.
On Hourai Island, Laojun reported the news to Jin, who was finally relaxing.
His reaction was typical of someone under light mind control.
"I thought as much. Reiko just told me the same thing. That should leave only one or two more."
Jin sat at a table, sipping tea while conversing with Mini Reiko. The Mini Reiko was a Small Doppel remotely operated by Reiko herself. Because she was splitting her attention to control the terminal, Reiko’s main processing speed was slightly reduced, but given her immense capacity, it was hardly a hindrance.
Jin was currently receiving a live report through the terminal.
"There must still be a technician out there—someone who was operating those Deformed Golems."
Likely so. We will likely have to draw them out from within the Royal Palace.
"I suppose so..." Jin replied, finishing his hojicha.
Jin D returned to the Guest House. The captured guard had been hauled away by the knights for interrogation.
"This should help us smoke out the rest of the remnants hiding in the castle," one of the knights remarked, looking quite satisfied as he led the prisoner away.
Upon returning to his room, Jin D was met by Kaela, who had arrived as a messenger from the King.
"Jin-sama, His Majesty requests an audience. Would you be willing to accompany me?"
"Of course."
Jin D nodded and followed Kaela, with Reiko trailing close behind.
Jin D was shown not into a private office, but a large conference room.
Present were the New King, Adalbert Nemo Elias I; the Magic Technology Minister, Fiorina de Dorante; the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magi Technology, Citranella de Zaus Firenziano; and the Royal Ritter Order commander, Bartolo Eldiais.
The warrior golem Volk and the recently arrived Kaela stood guard, and Tomax Bartman was also in attendance.
"Jin-dono, Tomax-dono, I apologize for summoning you while you are surely weary," Bartolo Eldiais began.
Then, King Adalbert spoke. "I am truly ashamed!"
The King stood and bowed deeply to Jin and Tomax.
"Exposing our honored guests to such peril was an inexcusable failure on our part. I ask for your forgiveness."
"..."
"Our foresight was severely lacking," Bartolo added, bowing as well. "We failed to realize that the Vice-commander of the Royal Knights had turned traitor. The Kingdom will provide a formal indemnity for this grievance."
Faced with such a humble display, Jin D felt compelled to respond.
"...I understand. I accept your apology."
"You have my thanks," the King said, looking relieved.
Though it was a Doppel, Jin was the one behind the controls. Since no real harm had been done and the King was showing genuine sincerity—even offering reparations—Jin found it difficult to be harsh. Their distant blood connection also softened his resolve.
"I apologize again for today’s negligence, but I must also thank you," the King continued, his tone shifting to one of earnest gratitude. "Your strength was instrumental in repelling the attack. Our nation has languished under the shadow of the Magic Federation for far too long. My father, the Former King, was so obsessed with their ideology that I suspect he may have been brainwashed; his support for them was fanatical."
The King explained that as the Crown Prince, he had felt his own life—not just his succession—was in danger if he did not play along with the Federation's influence.
"But recently, the Federation’s power has waned. The Nostalgia group has regained its footing, and most importantly, I heard that Guillermo Markitus has vanished."
Having gathered this intelligence, the King had judged that now was the time to purge the Federation's influence.
"While we succeeded in smoking out the remnants today, I never intended for you to be caught in the crossfire. That was an error in my judgment."
The King bowed once more. Then, Fiorina de Dorante took the floor.
"Jin-dono, we have identified the source of the magic-specialized Deformed Golems you neutralized. They came from within this very palace."
As I thought, Jin mused from Hourai Island. Laojun had already flagged the Technical Chief. Jin had assumed the man would have fled, but...
"It was the Technical Chief of the Ministry of Magi Technology, Bernarda Jash. Once we apprehended him, he confessed quite readily."
"I see."
"Apparently, seeing his latest magic-specialized models so easily dismantled by your servant broke his spirit," Fiorina added.
Jin felt a sense of relief that the battle had served a greater psychological purpose.
"We live in a world of physical matter," the King said, reclaiming the conversation with an authoritative, royal air. "We cannot separate ourselves from it. Perhaps in the distant future it will change, but for now, we must rely on the material. The Magic Federation sought to destroy everything the Predecessor Magi Craft Meister and her peers built. Their actions are utterly loathsome."
The King paused, glancing at Jin.
"My great-grandmother was a member of the Nido family from the Shouro Empire who married into our line. In other words, I share a blood connection with the Predecessor Magi Craft Meister."
The King was confirming exactly what Laojun had reported.
"Because of that bond—and for the sake of our future—I wish to cooperate in the advancement of magi-craft, specifically for peaceful purposes."
The King then formally declared that he was retracting his previous plan to reduce funding for Avalon.
"That is most welcome news," Tomax Bartman said with a wide smile.
Jin was equally heartened to see the King’s true colors.
"I hope we can count on your further technical support," King Adalbert said, bowing his head once more.
"Avalon will spare no effort in cooperating with you," Tomax replied.
"I also wish to see the technology of the past restored," Jin D added.
Fiorina, Citranella, and Bartolo all expressed their gratitude. The Kingdom of Elias was finally stepping back onto the path of progress. Jin made a silent vow to help however he could.
Outside the Royal Palace, the sky was painted in a brilliant, fiery sunset, a silent promise of fair weather for the day to come.