After spending a night in the Mimaka Principality, Gajue Tsuga and his party returned to the Mimaka garrison the following morning to load their crates of magi-stones before setting off once again for the Darato Principality.
Covering the 450-kilometer distance took nearly eight hours at their cruising speed of 60 kilometers per hour, bringing them into the royal capital of Radatora shortly after 4:00 PM.
Unlike the warm welcome they had enjoyed in the Mimaka Principality, they were met with distinct coolness here. However, once they presented the letter of introduction from Moitz Myas Rohdai, Chancellor of the Mimaka Principality, the local officials softened their stance somewhat.
The diplomatic gift of magi-stones they offered undoubtedly helped smooth matters over as well.
On the morning of May 30—the final day of the month—a meeting with the Chancellor of the Darato Principality took place in a conference room within the Detached Palace.
"It is an honor to make your acquaintance. I am Gix Yabo Miyata, Chancellor of the Darato Principality."
"I am Gajue Tsuga, goodwill ambassador for the World Security Guard. These are my deputy envoys, Fione Fias and Manon."
Gix Yabo Miyata was an elderly man with pure white hair.
He was clean-shaven, and a keen, penetrating light shone in his gray eyes. Though slender, he was far from frail.
His entire presence radiated the sharp intellect of a seasoned statesman.
"Miyata... That sounds like lineage from Fusou Island or Mitsuho, does it not?"
After taking a sip of the served tea, Gajue Tsuga brought up the observation as casual small talk.
"Oh, you are quite well-informed. I have been told that the First Generation head of the Miyata family hailed from Mitsuho."
"So my hunch was correct."
"...What kind of nation is Mitsuho, if I may ask?"
Despite his ancestral roots, Gix Yabo Miyata explained that he had never visited Mitsuho himself.
"Well, in a word, it is an exceptionally peaceful land."
"Peaceful, you say...?"
"Yes. There are very few magi there, but in their stead, they have factories that manufacture magi-devices and various daily tools..."
"Ah, I have heard tales of that. If I recall correctly, they were established long ago by the one known as the Magus."
"Indeed. Later, the Magi Craft Meister modified and maintained them, which is why those factories remain operational to this day."
"The Magi Craft Meister, is it...? I have heard that name—or rather, that title—as well."
Through this exchange, Chancellor Gix Yabo Miyata and Gajue Tsuga managed to break the ice and build a rapport.
With the pleasantries concluded, they moved on to the heart of the matter.
"While this is a courtesy visit, we anticipate that a formal delegation from the World Conference will arrive before long. Please consider our visit a preliminary survey in preparation for that."
Having framed their purpose, Gajue Tsuga pivoted the conversation in a different direction from their talks in the Mimaka Principality.
"Have you ever heard of a group called the Revolutionary Party?"
"The Revolutionary Party, you say? Yes, of course I know of them. The ruling classes across all Four Principalities trace their origins back to it, after all."
"Does that mean its influence persists today?"
At that question, Gix Yabo Miyata shook his head.
"No, nothing of the sort. That is strictly ancient history now. From back when the caste system was far harsher than it is today."
"I see..."
If the Chancellor spoke the truth, the Revolutionary Party held no sway over the Darato Principality, bringing a quiet sense of relief to Gajue Tsuga and his companions.
"In that case, what is your stance regarding the Jagus Principality?"
At this inquiry, Chancellor Gix Yabo Miyata's expression hardened.
"My, you certainly do not hesitate to ask the most difficult questions."
Gajue Tsuga offered a polite, apologetic bow.
"My apologies. However, this is information of vital importance for the future."
"...I understand that, but... well now, how best to put it..."
After a thoughtful pause, the Chancellor spoke deliberately.
"To put it bluntly, they are a grave threat."
Hearing this, Gajue Tsuga felt a wave of relief. The old adage the enemy of my enemy is my friend crossed his mind.
"So you view them as such after all."
"Indeed....Though for the time being, the Jagus Principality seems focused on targeting the Norha Principality to the east."
"I see....Do you happen to know why?"
Of the two nations sharing extensive borders with the Jagus Principality, Gajue Tsuga figured there had to be a concrete reason why they singled out the Norha Principality with such hostility.
"It is merely my supposition, but they likely covet their freshwater lakes."
"Ah, Lake Kotsushi and Lake Yato."
"Precisely. Among the Four Principalities, the Norha Principality is blessed with by far the richest water resources. The other three nations rely almost entirely on groundwater. Well, the Mimaka Principality can draw from Lake Yato to some degree, but that is the extent of it."
"So that is how matters stand."
Water was the lifeblood of any civilization. One key reason the Four Principalities had established their settlements along the coastline was access to groundwater.
Even the fertile farmlands celebrated as regional breadbaskets could extend only thirty kilometers inland due to irrigation constraints. Even with that limitation, the harvests were more than bountiful.
The Norha Principality, however, held the immense advantage of drawing directly from two massive freshwater reservoirs: Lake Kotsushi and Lake Yato.
"Though using such waters merely to catch freshwater fish is a terrible waste of a natural treasure on Norha's part."
"I suppose people tend to take for granted the blessings that surround them naturally."
"An insightful perspective, Tsuga-dono. There may very well be truth to that."
While Gajue Tsuga and Gix Yabo Miyata conversed, Fione Fias was lost in her own train of thought.
(Water resources... That means water-related magi-devices could serve as powerful bargaining chips...)
To make that happen, they would need to consult the researchers back home.
(Pumps powered by magical energy, water-lifting wheels... If only we could commission Maquina-dono, but... that might prove difficult.)
In her own way, Fione Fias was searching for avenues to ease the geopolitical friction among the Four Principalities.
Still, she lacked the foundational intelligence needed to draw firm conclusions.
With the formal discussions concluded, Gajue Tsuga, Fione Fias, and Manon returned to the quarters assigned to them in the Guest House.
There, they set about debriefing and compiling the findings of their meeting.
Once Manon swept the room and confirmed there was no risk of eavesdropping, the discussion began.
"If we offer substantive aid to the Darato Principality, they will likely align with our side."
"Yeah, that seems probable. In terms of aid, food supplies and magi-devices would be our best leverage."
"Agreed. That should help them recognize how deeply joining the Conference Countries serves their own national interests."
Gajue Tsuga and Fione Fias carried the bulk of the conversation, while Manon interjected periodically to keep their deductions thorough and grounded.
"However, one critical question remains unanswered."
Before either of them could prompt her, Manon continued.
"It concerns the organization that went by the name of the Revolutionary Party—or the Reformist Revolutionary Group."
It seemed highly improbable that simple independence had been their sole objective, Manon pointed out.
"I suspect there was a deeper motive concealed beneath the surface."
Though at this stage, we have no means of verifying it, Manon concluded.
"That's certainly true. But what practical good does uncovering that do us now?"
Gajue Tsuga struggled to grasp the core of Manon's intent.
"Allow me to clarify. The ducal families of the Four Principalities have likely shaped their governance around that founding ideology. In other words, understanding it is essential if we wish to Analyze their policies effectively."
"I see! Manon, you mean that in order for the World Conference to gain leverage in governing the Four Principalities, we need to Analyze their political foundation as thoroughly as possible!"
"That is correct."
Having spent the earlier meeting quietly organizing her thoughts beside Gajue Tsuga, Fione Fias was quick to grasp the automaton's reasoning.
"At the very least, we want to bring both the Mimaka Principality and the Darato Principality into the fold as Conference Countries."
"Yeah, you're spot on, Fione."
"And if possible, the Norha Principality as well... That is why grasping the ideological roots behind their rule is so crucial."
Their third destination would be the Norha Principality.
With each nation they visited, their pool of intelligence grew. If the Norha Principality could also be brought to the side of the Conference Countries, they might successfully isolate the Jagus Principality and liberate its people from oppression.
Driven by that shared objective, the three continued their strategic planning late into the night.