"Wh-What are you doing?!"
Inside the Royal Palace, Nostalgia's deputy envoys, Edda Eema and Lauria Matsuta, were being restrained by soldiers.
"Quiet down. Cooperate, and your safety is guaranteed."
Told this by the man who appeared to be the soldiers' leader, Edda Eema and Lauria Matsuta ceased their resistance.
"Quite right. That certainly makes things simpler."
The diplomat Pringles Kubo stepped forward.
"It appears Lady Elena has taken quite a liking to our research laboratory and intends to reside there for the time being, you see."
As Pringles Kubo spoke with a smug smirk, Lauria Matsuta flared up in fury.
"What did you say?! That's impossible! Lady Elena would never make such an important decision on her own!"
"And yet, it is the truth....Surely you wouldn't want Lady Elena to come to any harm, would you?"
"..."
With things having reached this point, the gravity of the situation finally sank in for Edda Eema and Lauria Matsuta.
"...What is your objective?" Edda Eema asked in a low voice.
"Yes, yes, that is much better," Pringles Kubo replied, his smirk widening. "Our 'demands' will be communicated by the Chancellor shortly."
On Hourai Island, while there was no outright panic, the Jin Family members present were visibly unsettled.
The Jagus Principality had officially resorted to force.
"Man, I really didn't expect them to make a move at this timing," Reinhard said with a sigh.
"Even so, this sort of contingency should have been anticipated. At least by Nostalgia," Louis remarked. "That's precisely why they sent such a small party, after all."
"No, I understand what you're getting at, Louis, but this just seems like a terrible move. For the Jagus Principality, I mean."
Reinhard explained that he couldn't fathom why they would commit such an outrage when they knew a goodwill mission from the World Conference would be arriving soon after.
"Well, for one thing, wouldn't they assume the truth won't leak outside?" Jin suggested.
"Ah, I see. As long as they hold Elena hostage, Nostalgia's members will be at their beck and call."
"Yeah, that's likely just as Reinhard says. Not only that, but if they're clever about it, they might even find a way to brainwash every last member."
"You sure have a knack for imagining terrifying scenarios, Louis..."
"The possibility isn't zero, though."
'Compared to a full-fledged nation, Nostalgia has far fewer members, so the Principality likely viewed them as an easy target,' Laojun interjected. 'Anticipating this, the delegation was kept small and composed entirely of women.'
Laojun explained that this course of action had been undertaken with Nostalgia's full understanding.
"Understood. So, Laojun, what do we do from here?"
In response to Jin's question, Laojun replied:
'Yes, My Lord. Regarding that matter...'
Laojun laid out the assessment.
"I see. So we observe Elena's situation for a while, then?"
'Yes. The underlying motives driving the Jagus Principality to go this far remain entirely baffling.'
Laojun added that there was little reason to worry about Elena herself.
'If worst comes to worst, we can always rescue her.'
"True."
'Rather, my concern lies with Nostalgia.'
"You mean someone might take rash action?"
Laojun confirmed Jin's suspicion.
'Yes. Particularly someone like Wattes Schretzer...'
Wattes Schretzer was their military affairs staff officer, and he was fiercely devoted to Elena.
"Right... In that case, should we swap Elena out?"
Laojun immediately grasped the intent behind Jin's brief remark.
'You mean to disguise a Quinta unit as Elena and send her into the Jagus Principality?'
"Yeah. A commando... Spica, then. Is anyone available?"
'Yes, My Lord. In that case, Spica 9 would be ideal.'
"Alright, recall her immediately."
'Understood.'
Two hours later, Spica 9 returned via Warp Gate.
With Elsa's assistance, Jin modified her exterior appearance to look identical to Elena.
Jin then went over the operational guidelines.
"I doubt they'll see through it, but stay on your toes."
"Understood, Chief."
"Just in case, take ten transporters. Use them if anything goes wrong."
"Thank you very much."
In addition, she was provided with a non-lethal paralyzer, as well as a Weckener and a Hypno Canceller to counter brainwashing magic.
Ten anti-brainwashing hats were also packed into her luggage.
"This should take care of the rest."
Equipped with a magic canceller as well, she could neutralize any opposing magi-devices or magi machines.
With preparations complete, Spica 9—disguised as Elena—stood on standby. Meanwhile, Laojun readied the VTOL craft, Falcon 2.
'Now then, commencing the substitution operation.'
With that announcement, Laojun used a transporter to deploy Falcon 2 to an altitude of 1,000 meters above the Jagus Principality.
Next, using a Peeper to confirm that Elena was alone inside the Tower, it transported Spica 9—disguised as Elena—directly into the room.
Spica 9 handed over the transporter pre-calibrated for Elena.
Elena activated the device, its destination set for the interior of Falcon 2.
With that, the mission was accomplished. Total elapsed time: 15 seconds.
The real Elena would now be flown aboard Falcon 2 to Nostalgia's headquarters or an appropriate branch.
"Thank you very much."
Aboard the craft, Elena was in communication with Laojun.
"Thanks to your swift action, I was able to escape completely unnoticed."
'Not at all, I am glad to see you unharmed....Where should we take you?'
"Let me see..."
While either headquarters or a branch would work fine...
"Edda and Lauria must be worried sick..."
Thinking of them, Elena made up her mind.
"Please take me to the Mitsuho branch, then."
'Understood.'
The airship Elena and her party had traveled on was scheduled to make an intermediate landing before heading back to headquarters.
That layover was the Mitsuho branch.
Its location was the coastal city of Tosa.
Elena intended to wait there for the airship carrying Edda and Lauria to arrive.
"I hope those girls are safe..."
That was now Elena's sole concern.