Putting off deciding on a name for later, Jin chose to proceed with outfitting the artificial island.
Following what the Jin Family members had discussed earlier, they set about completing the island's interior facilities.
That said, since the bulk of the fabrication had already been completed on the Moon, all that remained were the finishing touches.
As such, everything wrapped up in just half a day.
That evening at dinner, Jin addressed everyone:
"Tomorrow we'll all go tour the island, so please point out anything that needs adjusting."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Ah, in that case, let's invite Sion-san, Lordtoss, and Ludmila as well."
Everyone nodded in agreement with Marikka's suggestion. The entire Jin Family would be gathered together.
And so, on February 1st, the entire Jin Family set out to inspect the artificial island.
"My goodness... You've built quite an incredible thing. Though, considering it's meant to serve as Deus Ex Machina's base, I think it's a wonderful idea."
While Sion was surprised at first, she immediately grasped its importance.
"T-This is...! Truly impressive, Jin-san... and Hourai Island."
Lordtoss marveled at the sight, while Ludmila—
"Is this truly the work of human hands...?"
—still seemed unaccustomed to such feats.
"Now then, allow me to show you around."
Taking the lead, Jin guided the group toward the artificial island.
Deus Ex Machina—controlled by Mentor—and Squire Rei accompanied them as well.
First, they boarded a passenger barge from the pier in Tatsumi Bay to travel to the island. Designed to carry thirty passengers, it had plenty of room for everyone. Hope served as the pilot.
No matter how deep Tatsumi Bay was, the underwater section of the artificial island reached down a full kilometer, making it impossible to dock directly at the pier.
While most barges were reportedly incapable of self-propulsion, this vessel was different. Equipped with four compact yet powerful Magi Jet Engines, it could cruise at a maximum speed of fifty kilometers per hour.
"It's called Frog 1."
Looking at the flat-bottomed, wide, and exceptionally stable barge, Jin had associated the flat hull with the breaststroke, which led him to name it Frog.
They arrived at the artificial island in about five minutes.
Along the flanks of the island were several ledges where such barges could pull alongside. They were, of course, man-made ledges.
From there, one could climb a cleverly crafted stone staircase to reach the top of the island... though there was an elevation difference of about thirty meters.
Even so, for the current Jin Family, thirty meters was no more strenuous than walking up to the second floor of a house.
Sion, however, ascended while seated in Hope's arms.
"This is certainly nice and easy."
"Great-grandmother, please don't overexert yourself."
Ludmila stayed right by her side.
"Yes, I'll be fine. I won't push myself."
Saying so, Sion cast a brief glance toward her old friend Marikka, who had been rejuvenated as a homunculus.
"Well then, this is the top of the artificial island."
"There's nothing here, is there?"
"It's nothing but rocks."
It was a desolate view where not a single blade of grass, tree, or even moss had taken root yet.
However, there were also sections that had been leveled flat.
"That's the airfield and runway. Aristotle is quite large, after all."
It occupied an area roughly three hundred meters square.
"That small hill over there is hollow inside, and it'll serve as the core of the base....Or rather, maybe the submerged section counts as the true core?"
At any rate, Jin explained that outwardly, this would serve as Maquina's base.
"Living quarters, guest rooms, a temporary command room, and workshops are all located here."
"If this is temporary, does that mean the real one is somewhere else?"
In response to Sion's question, Jin nodded.
"Yeah. In the section underwater... the cylindrical portion. I'll show you later."
With that, the group walked toward the "mountain."
Then Maquina said,
"There is a hidden door here,"
and placed a hand against a whitish rock.
"It responds and opens when mana is channeled into it."
Emitting a faint sound, a hatch large enough for a large truck to pass through swung open.
"Ohh."
Reinhard let out a cry of admiration.
"I knew about it from our discussions, but seeing it in person is truly thrilling."
Reinhard's eyes sparkled at the sight of the artificial island serving as a secret base.
"This is the command room."
It was a room fitted with several large magi-screens.
In the center was a seat dedicated to the commander—meaning Maquina—which could descend directly to the lower floor via an elevator.
Where it led was the true command room.
"Though functionally speaking, it's not all that different from the room above."
If pressed to name a difference, it was merely that one could deploy immediately from the true command room.
Inside the true command room were several Warp Gates, allowing direct transit to craft such as Aristotle.
"Are there any craft other than Aristotle?"
To Sion's question, Jin answered,
"I haven't made them yet, though."
Hearing that,
"Jin-san! When you build aircraft, please be sure to give me a call!"
"Ah, me too!"
Lordtoss and Ludmila eagerly pleaded with him.
"I don't mind at all, of course..."
Jin had no reason to refuse either.
"And over here is the hangar. It is primarily for submersibles," Maquina explained.
Jin added further clarification, explaining that because mooring large surface vessels was troublesome, maritime craft would be designed as submersibles that could function as boats on the surface but enter and exit directly from underwater.
"In that case, the skies will be handled by Aristotle, and the seas by submersibles?" Lordtoss asked.
"No, that alone won't be enough combat power, so I plan to build around twenty VTOL aircraft."
This time Jin spoke, adding that for ground forces, he also wanted to prepare large golems and multi-legged tanks.
"We have the Mermaid unit for underwater operations, too."
At this point, Marcia chimed in.
"Jin, what about small boats?"
"Ah, since we have the Marine squad, I'd like about twenty trimaran-type small high-speed boats."
"I'll help with that!"
"Yeah, I'll be counting on you then."
The members of the family seemed to find this kind of work utterly delightful.
As for the interior finishing touches...
"I wonder if slightly brighter lighting would be better here."
"Since we don't know who might come stay in the residential district, having some luxurious rooms would be nice."
"Since it's supposed to have existed since four hundred years ago, there ought to be parts made to look appropriately aged."
"In that case, decorating with antique art might be a good idea."
...everyone offered up their own useful suggestions, one after another.