The report on the analysis of the information crystal (information memory) came to an end.
From there, the key figures moved to the Grand Conference Room to begin their meeting.
The core attendees were Chief Administrator Tomax Bartman, Deputy Chief Illumina Ratkin, Secretary Fione Fias, and the captain of the World Security Guard Pandor Continent Squad, Non.
Non was present because he had served as the commanding officer when they occupied and surveyed the ruins.
From Nostalgia, Elena, Wattes Schretzer, and Edda Eema were in attendance.
Naturally, Jin and Elsa, Reiko, Hope, as well as Deus Ex Machina and Squire Rei were also there.
Other attendees included battalion commander-class officers from the World Security Guard and laboratory chief-class personnel from the academy.
Naturally, Rasnat Heilbronn, the chief of the Go-lab, and Roa Eisker, the chief of the Aviation Research Lab, were present as well.
"Now then, I shall continue to serve as the moderator."
The secretary automaton Manon made the announcement, and the meeting officially began.
The agenda was "Countermeasures Against the Brainwashing Device."
"Regarding the 'liberation from enslavement and brainwashing on the Pandor Continent' carried out the other day, is there anyone unfamiliar with the matter? If so, please raise your hand."
When no one raised a hand, Manon proceeded.
"First, I would like to confirm a detail with Elsa-sama... Is it possible that the people freed from brainwashing the other day were subjected to this 'brainwashing device'?"
Jin reasoned that this question came up because Elsa had spent the most time examining them as patients.
At the same time, however, he knew that the brainwashing had already been undone by the time Elsa examined them, leaving him to wonder how much she could truly ascertain.
"Well... That they suffered no aftereffects whatsoever, and that they remembered everything leading up to that point, is certain. However, we cannot make a definitive conclusion based on that alone."
"So it is impossible to be sure after all..."
"Yes, unfortunately."
In the end, it was only natural that her answer remained noncommittal.
"May I say something?"
Elena raised her hand, apparently having a thought to share.
"Elena-sama, please go ahead."
"Yes, thank you....Um, it does not need to be immediately, but would it be possible for me to diagnose those who were brainwashed?"
"I believe that can be arranged....We shall see to it."
Elena had made the proposal because she possessed extensive knowledge regarding brainwashing and Charm.
"I have one more question....Jin-sama, regarding the 'anti-brainwashing hats' you delivered the other day, would they be able to counter this 'brainwashing device'?"
"I believe they should, but without testing, I cannot say with absolute certainty."
"I see... Just as I thought..."
Manon looked crestfallen.
"Now then, let us move on to the main topic....Assuming that this 'brainwashing device' is currently located in the Jagus Principality, I would like to determine our future course of action."
Everyone gathered here was well acquainted with the details of the previous operation.
"There is a strong possibility that the 'masked man' is in the Jagus Principality. Furthermore, the Jagus Principality's objective is likely the armed unification of the Four Principalities."
She stated that the probability exceeded ninety percent.
"Resorting to military force is a poor option. Therefore, I would like us to lay out the framework for the approach we should take. We would deeply appreciate the cooperation of Elena-sama's group, Jin-sama's group, and Lord Maquina's group as well."
Manon explained that although informal, she considered this a matter of considerable urgency.
"We understand this is an imposition, but an opportunity where the three of you and your associates are present here in Avalon is exceedingly rare. We ask for your understanding regarding any discourtesy."
"I do not mind."
Deus Ex Machina was the first to reply.
"We shall cooperate as well."
Jin voiced his agreement right after.
"Naturally, we are pleased to assist as well."
Finally, Elena readily agreed.
With that, what was better described as a "strategy council" rather than a mere conference truly got underway.
"In that case, allow us to explain as much as we currently know regarding the Jagus Principality."
"Elena-sama, if you would be so kind."
It was an open secret that Elena and Nostalgia had embedded intelligence operatives in the region.
"It appears that the Jagus Principality is currently under a rather autocratic regime."
Her briefing drew from as much intelligence as could be gathered within the so-called "House Arrest Zone"—officially designated the "Treaty of Amity and Commerce Zone."
"The royal capital, Jagus, is being refitted as a military stronghold... though calling it fully fortified might be a slight exaggeration."
A quiet stir rippled through the conference room.
"You may wonder where the funds for this are coming from. While this involves a fair degree of conjecture, it is because a rich mine was discovered and developed midway up an unnamed peak in the southeastern part of the Jagus Principality."
As a brief aside, an unnamed peak simply referred to a mountain summit that had not been given an official name.
At this point, a question was raised from the floor.
"Regarding that unnamed peak, isn't it a summit that borders the other three principalities? If that's the case, why didn't the other countries develop the mine instead?"
"Yes, about that..."
Elena's answer was crisp and direct.
"As for the other nations... The Darato Principality has built nearly all of its cities, towns, and villages along the coastline, never expanding into the interior. In the Mimaka Principality, people likewise live only along the coast and beside the highway leading from the Norha Principality. And in the Norha Principality itself, settlements have formed exclusively along the coast, around lakes, and along the highways connecting them."
Here, Manon projected map data onto the conference room's magi-monitor.
Elena used the display to continue her explanation.
"Thank you....As you can see, compared to the other three principalities, the Jagus Principality has pushed remarkably far into the inland territory."
Murmurs of comprehension arose from various parts of the room.
"This is all that is certain for now. Once our operative dispatched as a merchant returns at the end of this month, we should have a bit more information."
With a polite bow, Elena concluded her report.
"Thank you very much....Taking all this into account, it means that among the Four Principalities, the Jagus Principality stands a cut above the rest. And their ambition to swallow up the other three principalities does not seem out of reach."
That led naturally to the question of how the Jagus Principality had managed to gain such a lead over the neighboring nations, but with so little data, any answer was pure conjecture.
"There is a possibility that they discovered ruins left by the Progenitors and acquired a portion of their technology."
Elena offered her perspective.
"I see."
Jin considered that entirely plausible as well. He decided to voice his own speculation.
"Or perhaps the 'brainwashing device' wasn't the only thing they unearthed in those ruins."
"Indeed, the possibility Jin-dono raises cannot be dismissed."
"In fact, it sounds quite likely."
For a while, a buzz of speculative chatter that could hardly be called a structured debate filled the room, until—
"Please refrain from discussions that cannot yield a definitive conclusion."
At Manon's gentle reprimand, everyone fell silent.
"That being the case, the agenda item on which we can likely reach a conclusion today is 'what stance we should adopt toward the Four Principalities moving forward.'"
Having framed the topic, Manon waited for input.
When opinions were slow to surface, Manon spoke up herself:
"For the time being, should we simply gather intelligence and observe the situation?"
At that suggestion, someone pushed back:
"No, if citizens are being enslaved as they were in the recent incident, shouldn't we intervene?"
From there, opinions began flooding in from all sides.
"Even so, the recent incident could be interpreted as an invasion of another country. Shouldn't internal domestic affairs fundamentally be handled by the nation in question?"
"No, that's far too dangerous. There are clear indications that the Jagus Principality intends to subjugate other nations by force. Such seeds ought to be nipped in the bud early on."
"Would doing that not be an overreach on our part?"
"Have you already forgotten the 'brainwashing device'? If that falls into malicious hands, world peace itself will be in jeopardy."
"A valid point. Then what specific actions do you propose we take?"
"Hrmm..."
The debate showed no signs of drawing to a close anytime soon.