It was 5:30 PM local time.
"Well now, that was truly delightful. Thank you very much," Tomax Bartman said, his expression bright.
Deus Ex Machina (=Mentor) thought it seemed to have relieved a considerable amount of his stress.
And so, though it was slightly early, they decided to begin the dinner reception.
Upon the table in the grand dining hall were lined dishes expertly prepared by the Golem Maid rutile.
The main course featured fish caught in nearby waters.
Since preferences regarding sashimi varied, the meal centered around salt-grilled and deep-fried dishes.
There was salt-grilled barakudo (barracuda) and hariboo (flounder), alongside deep-fried trevally (aji).
In addition, there was Cowbull (beef) steak, vegetable soup, and salad.
Along with bread, guests could also choose between steamed rice or rice porridge.
Furthermore...
"What might this be?"
"That is called mizutaki."
Kokarisk mizutaki simmered inside an earthenware pot set atop a small, individual magic stove.
They then toasted with an Olsen vintage 3855, a high-grade white wine produced in the Shouro Empire.
Afterward, Deus Ex Machina spoke.
"Welcome to our base, Arcadia. Thank you all for coming today."
A light round of applause followed.
"The reason I have invited you all informally today is that I intend to extend invitations to the heads of state in the near future."
At this statement, the attendees nodded in understanding.
They now saw why they had been invited at this particular time.
"If there are any shortcomings in our hospitality today, please do not hesitate to share your thoughts and criticisms. Well then, thank you all for your hard work today."
With that, the dinner proceeded as everyone mingled and chatted.
The only exception was Elena, who did not eat.
A plate of food had been set out for her as a courtesy nonetheless.
"Lord Maquina, may I ask you something?"
"Yes, of course."
Deus Ex Machina answered while eating, utilizing its dining function.
"Well then... This Arcadia can move, can it not?"
"Yes. It is capable of traveling at roughly thirty kilometers per hour."
For a floating structure of this scale to reach such a speed was nothing short of extraordinary.
"As for where it has been stationed until now... I suppose I should not pry."
"Indeed... Well, let us just say 'in the north.'"
Because the concentration of free ether was higher in northern regions, magical efficiency increased.
Since Jin had taken action, the distribution of free ether across Planet Ars had gradually been equalizing, but the trend of higher concentrations in the north and lower in the south remained strong. Therefore, it was a fairly convincing explanation.
As the meal progressed, the others also began posing questions to Deus Ex Machina, some offering suggestions of their own.
"Maquina-dono, relative to the sheer size of this Arcadia, isn't the number of Golem Maids somewhat lacking? To host dignitaries from various nations, you will likely need at least double the current number."
This came from Tomax Bartman.
If foreign dignitaries were invited and each was assigned a single Golem Maid, twenty units would be overwhelmingly inadequate.
"You make a good point... We shall increase the number of rutile units."
"Increasing the number of maids is a given, but butlers will also be necessary," added Illumina Ratkin.
"I see. Thank you for your feedback."
Such opinions were valuable, so Mentor, who was piloting Deus Ex Machina, and Laojun, the management magi-brain of Hourai Island, intended to take them into account.
Originally, units like rutile and Mechanic were not directly crafted by Jin, but rather prepared by Laojun after obtaining Jin's permission when Laojun deemed them necessary during Arcadia's outfitting phase.
Therefore, increasing their numbers posed no problem.
"Presumably, the military power of this Arcadia is not limited to what you have shown us, correct?"
This time it was Wattes Schretzer.
"..."
"Wattes, that is impolite," Elena chided him for his bluntness.
"My apologies. I have no intention of prying into secrets, but I believe it wouldn't be a bad idea to hold a partial demonstration at some point."
"I see."
"People fear the unknown, after all. Even if it is only a fraction of your strength, seeing it provides a completely different sense of security."
"I appreciate your perspective."
"Where do you acquire the materials used here?" Edda Eema asked next. "I have never heard of massive quantities being purchased on the open market, after all."
Since she seemed to have some grasp of global logistics, Deus Ex Machina (=Mentor) knew he could not give a half-hearted answer and decided to deliver the explanation prepared for such occasions.
"All metal resources and magi-crystals are mined from the seabed."
Everyone was astonished by this declaration.
"T-The seabed, you say?!"
"Indeed. Land-based mines generally fall under the jurisdiction of a nation. That leaves the seabed, which belongs to no country."
"T-That is true, but... is that even possible?"
"Golems do not require breathing, after all."
"That is true in theory, but still..."
Logically it made sense, but creating golems capable of underwater operation was no simple task.
If built to maintain watertight integrity, anything that could not withstand the seawater pressure faced catastrophic implosion.
On the other hand, allowing seawater into their internal structure would corrode metal components and deteriorate muscle tissue, severely shortening their operational lifespan.
"Well, as for how it is accomplished, let us keep that a secret for now."
"...Understood."
Even for Deus Ex Machina, disclosing every secret was neither intended nor wise.
"Um, do you purchase your food supply?" Fione Fias asked.
"There are some items we purchase, but we are largely self-sufficient."
"Eh?"
"Within the interior of Arcadia, there are about two floors dedicated to that purpose."
Deus Ex Machina explained that by using artificial lighting and bringing in soil, they had established working fields and orchards.
"T-That is incredible."
"If you would like, I can show you around tomorrow."
"Yes, by all means!"
And on that note, the dinner reception came to an end.
Afterward, everyone was guided to their respective guest rooms to rest.
"Oho, this looks quite comfortable."
While the suites were primarily Western-style rooms, the bedrooms were styled with tatami, where guests would rest on futons laid out over the mats.
Beds could also be prepared upon request, but the guests on this occasion all chose to sleep on the tatami.
Equipped with toilets, washrooms, baths, and shower stalls, the accommodations allowed everyone to enjoy a leisurely soak and wash away the fatigue of the day.