On September 10, back on Hourai Island, Jin was receiving a stern lecture from Reinhard and Louis.
"Jin, I understand how you feel, but you really need to build connections with the Klein Kingdom, too, you know?"
"Yeah, I know, but..."
"I get that it's a hassle, but you should at least handle the introductions yourself."
"...I have no excuse."
They were referring to how he had pushed the delivery of the bus onto Maquina and Sion the other day.
"W-Well, at the time, my Doppel was stuck in Avalon, so it couldn't really be helped..."
"Right. How convenient for you."
"Urgh."
Put that way, he couldn't deny that he had deliberately taken advantage of the timing.
"B-But hey, the bus seemed to get great reviews, so all's well that ends well, right?"
He brought up the feedback from the test run that had reached them through Laojun earlier.
"Ah, true enough. Having helped build it, I was relieved to hear that."
Reinhard had also been briefed on the results.
Deciding he had made his point, Louis chose to step back.
"During the trial run, twenty soldiers rode along, and one of them was a member of the Quinta. They gave us a detailed breakdown."
"Uh-huh."
"According to the report, the suspension system worked splendidly, and the shock absorption was fairly solid. They mentioned wanting a bit more speed, but given the Klein Kingdom's current state of affairs, there aren't many situations where top speed would even be necessary."
"I see."
"If there was any complaint, it was the low passenger capacity....Then again, there isn't a carriage in existence that can carry more than a bus anyway."
"Then we can just lease them another one."
"I suppose so. All right, let's do it."
Without delay, Jin and Reinhard set to work crafting a second bus of the same model.
"...Right. Maybe I should deliver this one myself."
"Following up on our talk earlier? That would definitely be best."
"In that case, making it an exact carbon copy of Maquina's build wouldn't look right, so I'll make a few subtle tweaks."
With that in mind, he decided to alter the design slightly.
Since the bus credited to Maquina was a bonnet bus, he swapped the in-line layout for a horizontally opposed Golem Engine.
"A horizontally opposed 12-cylinder."
Aiming for the flattest profile possible had led to a twelve-cylinder setup.
Granted, calling them "cylinders" on a Golem Engine felt a bit unnatural, but it was second nature to him by now.
"I'd love to raise the passenger seating like a double-decker bus, but if I push it too far, we'll lose stability..."
Since there were virtually no paved roads, it was unfortunate that he had to prioritize performance over rough terrain instead.
(Well, once these buses catch on, road paving will probably follow.)
When people felt a genuine need for something, they could accomplish it with astonishing fervor.
Jin figured that once that day came, he could simply build a faster golem bus.
(As for traffic accidents... having golem drivers should prevent the vast majority of them.)
Unlike humans, they didn't tire or doze off, and their reaction speeds were several times faster, making them far better at hazard avoidance.
(It might actually be safer to leave the driving entirely to dedicated golems.)
In a way, that was its own form of automated driving.
And so, Jin decided to transport the new bus to the Klein Kingdom aboard the Aristotle.
Their cover story was that Jin had asked Sion to contact the Klein Kingdom, and with Deus Ex Machina's cooperation, the Aristotle had been dispatched to handle transport.
This was because the 40-meter Hurricane was simply too small—or rather, appeared too small—to haul an entire bus.
At 100 meters long, the Aristotle could visually carry it without looking strained.
In truth, lifting the weight of a bus with a standard airship would have been practically impossible, but optics mattered.
"You built another bus?"
Upon arriving, Sion D—Sion's Doppel—sounded half exasperated and half impressed.
"Yeah. Apparently, they felt it couldn't carry enough people."
"Ah, I see."
Jin then shared his other, true motive.
"Besides, it's about time I established a direct line to the upper echelons of the Klein Kingdom."
"That's certainly true," Sion D agreed with a nod. "...For now, Magic Technology Minister Cowen Lacca Kido will be the one greeting us, so do your best."
"Wait, what?"
Since they were presenting such an advanced magi-device, having a predetermined point of contact was only natural.
On September 11, the Aristotle, carrying Jin, Sion D, Reiko, and Deus Ex Machina, touched down in the Klein Kingdom's royal capital just as it had before.
"Welcome, Magi Craft Meister, Jin Nidou-dono."
Greeting them was Magic Technology Minister Cowen Lacca Kido, along with...
"I have long wished to meet you."
The King of Klein Kingdom, Melikalans I.
"It is an honor."
Jin maintained his composure as he shook hands with both of them, though he felt a faint knot of tension in his chest.
"Last time was Deus Ex Machina's bus; this one is mine."
"Oh, that is a tremendous help. The lease terms remain unchanged, I presume?"
"Yes, of course. As long as you provide a report on how it handles down the line, that will be plenty."
"Understood. You have my word."
Melikalans I carried the conversation with a resolute, dignified air, formally cementing the agreement.
The details would be drawn up in writing later.
Then, watching for the dialogue between the king and Jin to wrap up, Magic Technology Minister Cowen Lacca Kido stepped forward.
"Jin-dono. I have eagerly looked forward to meeting you."
His manner was so composed that Jin inwardly thought, Huh? This isn't the impression Sion gave me.
"In my youth, I learned of the glorious achievements of the Predecessor... the Second Generation, and I have held you in the highest esteem ever since."
"Is that so?...I am the Third Generation, but please allow me to thank you on his behalf."
In truth, he was the very same person.
"Oh, the honor is all mine."
Perhaps because they were in the presence of his sovereign, Magic Technology Minister Cowen Lacca Kido maintained an utterly flawless, professional demeanor from start to finish.
Afterward, Jin gave a brief walkthrough of the new vehicle.
"The fundamentals are the same as Maquina's, but to improve forward visibility, I removed the bonnet."
"Oho... Impressive, as expected."
"Those who come second always have the luxury of hindsight, after all."
Following their exchange, an invitation was extended.
"By all means, please do us the honor of joining us for dinner this evening."
Naturally, Sion D and Maquina had no objections, and since Jin's main objective was to establish rapport with the Klein Kingdom, he saw no reason to refuse.
Leaving the Aristotle parked at the airfield, they made their way toward the Royal Palace by carriage.