At 1:00 PM that same day, Deus Ex Machina's Aristotle touched down at the garrison of the World Security Guard Pandor Continent Squad.
The base was situated near the coast to the east of the royal capital, Mahalig. This location had been chosen because flat land was easy to secure, and communication with naval vessels was straightforward.
"Deus Ex Machina-dono, welcome. We are honored by your visit."
Squad leader Non stepped forward to greet them.
"If I recall correctly, you are Non-dono, yes?"
"Oh, it brings me great joy that you know of a humble officer like myself."
Maquina and Non exchanged handshakes.
"I have a general grasp of the situation. And are those the bandits?"
Bound securely with ropes, the bandits were led down from the Aristotle.
Escorting them were the Arma units.
"What marvelous golems. These, too, are naturally of your crafting, Maquina-dono?"
"Yes, indeed."
Walking side by side, Non spoke eagerly. In truth, he was a huge fan not only of Fritz, but of Maquina as well.
"Splendid! The researchers in our Avalon are giving it their all as well, but..."
"...The turmoil caused by the Magic Federation was a heavy blow, after all."
"Indeed. It is quite frustrating that even our Avalon was not an exception."
"In that regard, Jin and I were untouched by such influences."
"I truly envy that... Um, Maquina-dono, where exactly is your base located?"
Caught up in the flow of conversation, Non took the plunge and asked.
"Right now, it is between the Shouro Empire and the Celuroa Kingdom. Or rather, offshore along the extension of the Border River that forms the boundary between the two nations."
"Eh?!"
Having never expected a real answer, Non was taken aback.
"It sits on the opposite side of Avalon, across the peninsula at the southern tip of the Celuroa Kingdom."
"I-Is that so?"
Feeling as though a monumental secret had just been entrusted to him, Non felt a slight pang of guilt.
As for Maquina, since he was already considering making the base known before long, he figured that revealing it bit by bit like this was for the best.
While they conversed, the bandits were all ushered into the garrison's temporary holding cells.
Calling it a cell was generous, as it was merely a makeshift shack fitted with simple wooden bars.
"According to Jin, the majority of them have been brainwashed. There is a spell called 'Wecken' to dispel it."
"'Wecken'?"
"Yes, 'Wecken.' It is a spell developed by Jin's Madam, and its defining characteristic is that it causes almost none of the physical pain associated with Stun."
"I see, how magnificent."
"We will also craft magi-devices for dispelling brainwashing eventually."
As he spoke, Maquina cast Wecken across the group bound in ropes.
"...Ah?"
"...Eh?"
The bandits, who had been glaring hatefully at Maquina and Non just moments before, suddenly took on vacant, bewildered expressions.
"Just why... have I been doing all this...?"
"Doing such awful things without feeling a shred of remorse..."
"...Ah, why didn't I realize it until now...?"
"It feels like the fog in my head has cleared..."
Once the brainwashing lifted and most of them returned to their senses, none of them seemed to understand why they had committed crimes with such utter indifference.
However...
"Kh... To think there was someone who could break Brainwashing Magic..."
There was one man on whom Wecken had no effect—or rather, one who had not been brainwashed from the start.
Maquina and Non deduced that this fellow was likely their leader.
With that, they decided to move those who had regained their senses to a different area.
"H-Hey...?"
"W-Wait, we're... Waaaah!"
Seventeen silent golems picked them up, carrying them out one by one.
It was only natural for the captives to feel terrified as they were hauled away.
Meanwhile, the lone remaining man asked with a brazen sneer:
"What do you plan to do with me?"
Non replied evenly:
"An interrogation... of course. I'd prefer if you spoke honestly."
It was a matter-of-course statement.
"About what?"
"First, your objective."
"I don't mind answering that. The governance of this country by Lord Vladimir Hangazone Melkana."
"...Are you serious?"
The Mercana Principality was currently being temporarily administered by the World Conference as an autonomous region.
The World Conference intended to withdraw as soon as the local citizens became capable of managing and governing themselves, but so long as internal rebellions and conflicts like this persisted, that was impossible.
When Non asked if he was aware of that, the man retorted:
"What is wrong with asserting a rightful claim?"
"In the first place, this country exists solely because the Melkana family founded it. Therefore, Lord Vladimir Hangazone Melkana ought to govern this land."
"I believe that is incorrect."
Here, Vice-Captain Yumis Isle cut in. Non decided to leave things to her logical approach for a moment.
"Please look back on history. To begin with, this nation was founded by pioneers. No matter how far back you trace its history, there is nothing before the year 3579 of the Continental Calendar."
"..."
"And since it was pioneered after 3579, any claim over who has an inherent right to govern is exceedingly weak, isn't it?"
"Kh..."
"Furthermore, the Melkana family was nowhere to be found in the early days of development. If I recall correctly, their name first appears in this country's history in the year 3636."
Listening beside them, Non was inwardly astonished by Yumis's vast erudition.
"Though it is not recorded in the official history books, as for how the Melkana family came to dominate this nation... at the very least, it is certain that it was not by the will of the people."
"Guh..."
"Now then, let me ask you once more. Do you truly believe that it is correct—no, legitimate—for the Melkana family to govern this nation?"
"Naturally."
"...I see..."
Yumis Isle spoke with palpable disappointment.
"Then please take some time to cool your head."
Thus, the initial interrogation concluded without yielding any significant breakthroughs.
With Deus Ex Machina, who had remained an onlooker throughout, joining them, the three of them—Non, Yumis Isle, and Deus Ex Machina—decided to deliberate in a separate room.
"...The seventeen individuals whose Brainwashing was dispelled seem to have shown a normal reaction—namely, an attitude of remorse over what they have done up until now."
Deus Ex Machina explained that this was the result of a brief questioning after having the Arma golems carry them out.
"In the first place, the former Mercana Principality was practically a vassal state of the nation across the sea... the Jags Principality, was it not?"
"It is just as you say, Lord Maquina."
Yumis Isle nodded in agreement.
"I also found that point suspicious, but I lacked sufficient knowledge regarding the Jags Principality to press him on it."
"In other words, does that mean the Melkana clan is operating under the influence of the Jags Principality?"
"Yes, Lord Maquina. That is what I believe."
"Hmm... That's right, wasn't his name Paerova Sondvik? If it's him, wouldn't he know something about this?"