The assembled ministers were left dumbfounded by the concept of Daidara—a golem built specifically for civil engineering—and by Jin's assertion that he could transport it here.
"O-Our country also possesses a giant golem standing twenty meters tall, but..." Emperor Ernst II forced out.
Jin was already well aware of it.
It weighed a staggering two hundred tons, and because of that immense bulk, agile movement was out of the question. If anything, it was an artifact built purely to intimidate foes.
During past maintenance, it had gone berserk and laid waste to its surroundings. In the end, it had even attempted to self-destruct through Dissolute, only halted at the final moment by the words of the previous Empress, who carried the bloodline of its former master—that incident.
"Aside from that, I believe you also have a large-class golem around six meters tall called Golias, do you not?"
"As expected of Lord Jin, you are exceptionally well-informed. Indeed, an upgraded model is currently under development," the Magic Technology Minister replied. "However, it lacks the capacity for precise movement, so its practical applications remain quite limited."
"I see."
The Daidara Jin had constructed, however, was specialized entirely for fine motor control.
Naturally, it could never match the dexterity of Reiko's fingertips, but it far outstripped a Titan of comparable stature. In exchange, its combat effectiveness was low. Even so, it possessed physical strength commensurate with its massive frame, meaning it could effortlessly swat aside ordinary golems with a single sweep.
"Well then, we shall leave the matter in your capable hands."
"Understood."
Jin made a show of contacting his craft via the manaphone installed aboard the Hurricane to order Daidara dispatched... or at least, that was the pretense he maintained.
Meanwhile, Elsa had sat down for a conference with Minister of General Affairs Schtlogen Domel von Kabastan and Minister of Health Zemrip Pring von Baroque.
"How is the pneumoconiosis situation progressing here?"
The Minister of General Affairs fielded her question. He possessed brown hair, brown eyes, and an unassuming, medium build, but beneath that ordinary exterior lay a remarkably capable statesman.
"Because the influence of the Magic Federation was minimal in our lands, the working conditions within our mines are not particularly dire. Protective masks are also in regular use. As such, the number of patients developing pneumoconiosis remains fairly low."
"That is good to hear."
"Even so, there remains a certain subset of laborers who dislike wearing masks because they find them suffocating. Since neglecting to wear one does not result in immediate illness, enforcing complete compliance presents its own difficulties."
"I see..."
It truly was impossible to achieve one hundred percent mask compliance, Elsa reflected.
"However, we have received reports that introducing the air purifiers has alleviated much of that burden," the Minister of Health interjected. He was a solidly built man with fiery red hair and steady gray eyes. "Taking the overall expenses into account, we are currently gathering data to determine whether masks or air purifiers offer the superior approach."
Air purifiers required a higher initial investment, but their ongoing operational costs were low. Dust masks were the exact reverse, as they required frequent replacement and Refreshing.
"Yes, it seems that assessment will take a bit more time....How are the therapeutic magi-devices performing?"
"Those have proven invaluable. Since the majority of our cases are mild, several individuals have already been discharged from care."
"That is wonderful news." Elsa let out a quiet sigh of relief. "On that note, do you have any specific feedback regarding the air purifiers?"
This, too, was a crucial matter. Hearing direct feedback from those in the field was essential.
"Let us see... Their portability is more than adequate, as is their air purification performance."
"However," the Minister of Health added, "we feel it would be immensely beneficial if the unit could visually display the current air quality."
"Ah, I understand."
Minister of Health Zemrip Pring von Baroque elaborated that a visible indicator showing the level of purification—allowing workers to tell at a single glance whether the air was safe to breathe without a mask—would be extremely convenient.
"I will pass that along as a formal request."
"Oh, that would be greatly appreciated."
"Is there anything else?"
"One more thing, if I may." This time, the question came from the Minister of General Affairs. "Would these air purifiers remain effective in settings other than mines?"
"What sort of setting do you have in mind?" Elsa asked, not entirely sure what he was driving at.
"Ah, forgive my lack of clarity. In short, would they function properly in open-air environments such as stone quarries or incineration sites?"
Quarries undeniably produced heavy dust, while incinerators generated soot and thick smoke. Inhaling either posed a serious health hazard.
"They can be used. However, their effectiveness will drop considerably."
"Mm, as expected."
"In open spaces, I believe dust masks would offer far better cost efficiency."
"That certainly stands to reason."
Elsa gently emphasized that specialized magi-devices yielded the best results when operated strictly within their intended design parameters.
Back on Hourai Island, launch preparations for Eagle 1 were already in full swing.
"On this occasion, we shall meticulously record all telemetry regarding departures from this underground dock," Laojun had resolved, methodically running through every item on the checklist.
"Laojun to Adler 1. What is the status of the Eagle 1 pre-flight check?"
"Adler 1 reporting to Laojun. Eagle 1 pre-flight inspection complete. No abnormalities detected."
"Laojun acknowledges. Adler 1, proceed with launch preparations for Eagle 1."
"Adler 1 acknowledges....Blow Engine Wake up sequence standing by."
"Laojun acknowledges. Daidara 1 secured in the cargo bay."
"Adler 1 acknowledges. Closing cargo hatch....Lock confirmed."
"Laojun to Adler 1. Transporter standing by. Initiating transport to an altitude of six thousand meters above Hourai Island in ten seconds. Prepare for departure."
"Adler 1 acknowledges. Activating Blow Engine in ten seconds. Force generator engaging simultaneously."
"Laojun to Adler 1. Initiating countdown....Nine... Eight... Seven..."
With the entire Jin Family away, not a soul was present to witness the exchange, yet Laojun and Adler 1 adhered strictly to every protocol without cutting a single corner.
"...Three... Two... One... Zero!"
Eagle 1's massive airframe vanished from the underground dock. In that exact fraction of a second, it materialized six thousand meters in the sky above Hourai Island.
A sudden plunge began instantly, but Adler 1 reacted with flawless precision.
The force generator arrested the free fall, and the Blow Engine roared to life, generating immediate lift to stabilize the vessel.
"Adler 1 to Laojun. Eagle 1 launch sequence complete without incident. Setting course for the Shouro Empire."
"Laojun acknowledges. Safe travels."
Incidentally, the minor inconsistencies in their military phraseology stemmed almost entirely from Jin's own limited familiarity with standard military jargon.
With that, Eagle 1 banked toward the west and streaked through the open sky.
Laojun reviewed the telemetry from the launch.
"No anomalies detected. If anything, we ought to run thorough simulations for cargo loading protocols as well."
Laojun anticipated that this heavy transport craft would prove invaluable for hauling asphalt during the planned racetrack construction in the Kingdom of Franz.
"This is Eagle 1. Relaying mid-flight status report. Currently traversing the airspace above Azul Lake. All systems nominal."
"Laojun acknowledges. Maintain present course."
Before long, Eagle 1 would arrive in the skies over the Shouro Empire.