In the Celuroa Kingdom, Aron Faal Zeta, Director of the Intelligence Department, mobilized his subordinates to sever the roots of smuggling and tax evasion once and for all.
The documents found by Tama and Laojun had been stored inside an intentionally conspicuous hidden safe, where an intelligence operative supposedly discovered them.
That intelligence agent, Kishin, was actually Quinta unit Regulus 40.
With these documents in hand, the purge accelerated rapidly.
"Baronet Lane de Matillac, you are under arrest on charges of tax evasion and smuggling!"
"W-What is the meaning of this?! I know nothing about this!"
"Save your explanations for the court."
The Celuroa Kingdom was a nation governed strictly by law, its severity unchanged since King Cesar first established it four hundred years ago.
Furthermore, because it operated on meritocracy, anyone of merely baronet rank would be swiftly stripped of their title, and a replacement would be elevated to fill the vacant post.
"Has this cleared things up a bit?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
King Baudouin Valois de Celuroa and Director of the Intelligence Department Aron Faal Zeta—one of his most trusted subordinates—exchanged glances and shared a smile.
The series of arrests on the Celuroa side brought no small impact to the Kingdom of Franz as well.
Dark underground organizations that had previously operated in the shadows were suddenly forced out into the open.
"Most likely, whoever was backing them has pulled their support," Bell, the Director of the Intelligence Bureau in the Ministry of General Affairs, offered his deduction.
"That may well be. But first, please capture as many of them as possible."
"Naturally. We have already arrested over fifty suspects."
As a result, the other illicit syndicates went into decline—even if only temporarily—and were forced to lie low.
For the time being, peace had returned to the Kingdom of Franz.
In Avalon, they were exceptionally busy handling countermeasures for mining towns.
"Manon, are there any issues with the distribution?"
"No, Tomax-sama. It will be 250 for the Shouro Empire, 200 for the Celuroa Kingdom, 150 for the Kingdom of Egerea, 150 for the Klein Kingdom, 100 for the Kingdom of Elias, and 100 for the Kingdom of Franz."
The remaining 50 would be kept in Avalon as reserves and dispatched as reinforcements to various nations as needed, Manon reported.
"Mm, understood. Splendid work as always, Manon."
"You flatter me."
Manon's proficiency in administrative tasks involving such calculations was remarkably high, easily matching more than ten human secretaries.
Thanks to her, Tomax Bertman's workload was substantially reduced, and his health remained in excellent condition.
"Also, in about a month's time, one candidate healer from the Kingdom of Franz is scheduled to arrive to study abroad."
"Oh, that is good news."
"Since this comes with the recommendation of Jin-sama and Elsa-sama, expectations are very high."
"Oh, is that so! Then I look forward to it."
"The Quinta units have also been fulfilling their duties smoothly."
On Hourai Island, Laojun reported satisfactorily to Jin.
"Seems so. Still, the cat golem I made half as a hobby has turned out to be surprisingly useful."
"Indeed, My Lord. You refer to Tama....It can slip into tight spaces where humans cannot enter, and it does not provoke unnecessary suspicion."
"I suppose that's true."
It was a distinct way of contributing compared to the Shinobi Squad.
"Next is the matter regarding Najas Kahn, right?"
Since Elsa was concerned about Najas Kahn, Jin also wanted to do what he could to help.
"Or rather, I honestly can't make heads or tails of the Kahn family's mess."
To Jin, the friction and antagonism among nobles was something he could not understand, nor did he care to.
"Yes, My Lord. Originally, the woman named Lukiane, who gave birth to the first through third daughters, married into the family from the Builder Count family, a house that has since been ruined."
Because she hailed from a higher-ranking noble lineage, she wielded considerable influence... or rather, she seemed to have henpecked the viscount.
"Because of that, setting aside the first and second daughters who were further apart in age, Narun, who was close in age... or rather, of the exact same age, appears to have bullied Najas-san."
"..."
"As she grew older, her personality seemed to warp. However, she possessed a decent amount of administrative competence, and she somehow managed to fulfill the household duties in place of the bedridden viscount."
That was apparently why she had been able to send Najas away to the Intelligence Bureau.
"The influence of her maternal family must have been significant as well."
The dark underbelly of noble society... Jin thought to himself.
"It was just last year that her maternal house was dismantled due to connections with the Magic Federation. Since then, the mother has reportedly been in a state of mental distress and confined to a villa."
"I see."
"We deduce that Narun might be venting that frustration onto Najas-san."
"Is that so?"
"...In that case, Najas-san should just study abroad in Avalon and settle down there permanently."
Elsa, who had been listening quietly, chimed in.
"Yeah."
Considering her personal wishes would also come into play, Jin and the others decided that they would need to keep an eye on her moving forward.
Jin remarked that they should also ask Arthur, the management magi-brain of Avalon, and Manon, the secretary automaton of Chief Administrator Tomax Bertman, to look out for her.
"That should suffice nicely."
"Now, how is the progress on the pneumoconiosis countermeasures?"
"Yes, My Lord. It is proceeding smoothly....Originally, four hundred years ago, dust masks were beginning to be introduced."
They had reportedly started being used in the mines of the Shouro Empire, the Kingdom of Egerea, the Klein Kingdom, and the former Leonard Kingdom.
"However, the Magic Federation claimed that masks were unnecessary if magic was used for air Cleanup, or that they should build a society that did not require resources from mines, causing their usage to decline."
"Ugh."
The Magic Federation truly was a destroyer of culture and civilization, Jin thought with utter exasperation.
"Vollständige Genesung."
"...Ohh, my body feels... a bit lighter... once again."
In the medical room of the Royal Palace of the Kingdom of Franz, Viscount Astero de Kahn was receiving Healing treatment from his daughter Najas.
Today was the tenth day. Najas no longer suffered from magic depletion and had developed plenty of stamina to spare.
Drinking the Persica juice specially crafted on Hourai Island also seemed to be producing good results.
"...How are things... back at the estate?"
Even so, the viscount still appeared concerned about his household.
"It seems Elder Sister Narun has been managing the household affairs properly."
Surprisingly, perhaps because she was now the only one left to protect the estate, Narun seemed to have become somewhat more grounded. Perhaps a sense of responsibility had awakened within her.
Even so, Najas could not bring herself to forgive her elder sister... No, she simply had no desire to return to that house.
"Is that... so..."
However, she did not give voice to those feelings before her ailing father.
"Do you... wish to become... a healer?"
"Yes."
That answer alone left her lips without a trace of hesitation.
"I see... Do as you... wish. I will... support... you."
"Thank you very much, Father."
The viscount, too, was a father who cared deeply for his daughter's happiness, illegitimate child though she was.
Soon, the year 3900 would come to an end, and a new year would arrive.
What kind of year would 3901 turn out to be?