Following a break for lunch, the exchange meeting resumed.
Incidentally, that day's lunch consisted of sandwiches, among which were several prepared by Reiko and Manon.
"These taste quite different from the others, don't they?"
"Indeed. The slight tang is rather pleasant, so to speak..."
That distinct flavor came from the mustard butter they had used.
To Jin, it was a familiar taste, but for the attendees from the Norha Principality, it was apparently their first time experiencing it, and it was met with immense acclaim.
"Lady Illumina, is there some sort of secret to this?"
Since it pertained to cooking, the question was directed at Illumina Ratkin rather than Jin.
"Um, that would likely be because we used mustard butter..."
"What is this 'mustard butter'?" came the immediate follow-up.
"Well..."
Illumina Ratkin cast a quick glance toward Manon.
Picking up on her cue, Manon took over the explanation.
"The mustard butter used today was prepared by blending butter, mustard, and mayonnaise, with a small touch of honey added as a secret ingredient."
It was hardly a state secret—just an everyday recipe within the Conference Countries.
However, upon hearing it, the officials from the Norha Principality were thrilled.
"Oh, I see!"
"Would you mind if we made use of that recipe in the future?" they eagerly inquired.
"Of course not," Illumina Ratkin replied, having Manon share the full recipe with them.
After that pleasant lunchtime exchange and a brief tea break, the afternoon session commenced.
"Now then, we would be most grateful for your guidance regarding our golem soldiers."
With that on the agenda, the venue shifted to the small drill grounds located within the Royal Palace.
Though labeled "small," it was an expansive open field roughly the size of two soccer pitches.
The members of the goodwill mission present were Jin, Illumina Ratkin, and Reiko. The rest of the delegation, including Manon, were holding separate discussions inside the palace.
Jin had also summoned Hope to join them.
He felt that relying solely on Reiko, an automata, would be insufficient when analyzing golems.
Meanwhile, the representatives from the Norha Principality included First Prince Zifola Movie de Norha, Minister of Technology Jarbee Keef, Minister of Magic Miko Bee Saffron, and Minister of Military Affairs Zonata Nictes Vecchio.
Minister of Military Affairs Zonata Nictes Vecchio bowed respectfully.
"We have assembled the 2nd Frontier Corps for your inspection."
Drawn up before them in orderly ranks stood thirty combat golems.
According to his explanation, their forces comprised three corps in total: the 1st and 2nd took turns patrolling the border with the Jagus Principality, while the 3rd Frontier Corps was tasked with garrisoning the royal capital.
At present, the 2nd Frontier Corps was stationed back in the capital.
"I am Jin Fulsort Raxeve, commander of the 2nd Frontier Corps."
"And I am the vice commander, Madaim Luha."
The two officers bowed in greeting.
"...?"
Jin thought the vice commander's face looked vaguely familiar.
At the same time, Vice Commander Madaim Luha recognized Jin as well.
"Y-You!"
Hearing the vice commander suddenly raise his voice in shock, Minister of Military Affairs Zonata Nictes Vecchio frowned and questioned him.
"Hm? Do you know Jin-dono?"
Upon hearing that, Madaim Luha and the man beside him, Jin Fulsort Raxeve, were both astounded.
"Y-You're Jin? Er, Jin-dono?!"
"Oh, so you are Jin-dono! It is an honor to make your acquaintance!"
The reactions from the two men could not have been more different.
"Hey, Madaim, were you already acquainted with Jin-dono?" Commander Jin Fulsort Raxeve asked his subordinate.
"Y-Yes... The year before last, we received intelligence that Lordtoss-dono, a key figure from the Nord Federation, had fled the Jagus Principality. I attempted to invite him to our country, but he refused... This man was the one accompanying Lordtoss-dono at the time."
"Mind your tongue! How dare you disrespectfully refer to him as 'this man'!" Minister of Military Affairs Zonata snapped, rebuking Madaim Luha's insolence.
Yet Madaim Luha still tried to defend himself.
"Even so, this man... Jin-dono never introduced himself back then, nor did his demeanor suggest he was someone of importance..."
Jin gave a wry smile.
"...Jin-dono, Madaim Luha claims as much, but is this true?" Unable to overlook the matter, Minister of Military Affairs Zonata asked Jin directly.
"Well... it's true that we met," Jin admitted. "Back then, certain circumstances had brought me to the Jagus Principality. When I tried to leave, they wouldn't permit it, so I escaped alongside Lordtoss, who had similarly been placed under house arrest."
"I see..."
At that moment, Hope chimed in.
"...If I may add a clarification, Madaim Luha-dono's conduct back then could hardly be described as an 'attempt to invite' us."
"Guh..." Madaim Luha choked, rendered speechless.
"Luha, is what he says true?" Minister of Military Affairs Zonata Nictes Vecchio demanded, pinning him with a stern gaze.
"............Yes."
Reluctantly, Madaim Luha conceded the truth of Hope's words.
"...Very well. Seeing as our time is limited today, your disciplinary action will be decided tomorrow."
Minister of Military Affairs Zonata Nictes Vecchio turned back to Jin and bowed deeply.
"It appears there were various misunderstandings in the past. I would be immensely grateful for your forgiveness."
"Please, don't worry about it. We weren't exactly in a position to be composed back then either," Jin replied with an easy smile, soothing the minister's embarrassment. "Let us focus on the golems for now."
"Thank you very much... In that case, we would first appreciate your evaluation of our security golems."
"Let's see..."
Jin carefully inspected the thirty golems lined up before them.
Twenty of them were essentially identical to the squad he had encountered while traveling with Lordtoss.
Eighteen were unarmed, while two carried quarterstaves.
As for the remaining ten, two wielded maces, two carried spears, two held swords, and four were equipped with large shields.
"Would I be correct in assuming that the eight wielding swords, maces, spears, and staves form the vanguard, the four with shields serve as guards, and the remaining eighteen act as general-purpose units?" Jin offered his initial assessment.
"That is essentially correct. The eighteen general-purpose units are outfitted with either shields or maces depending on the tactical situation," 2nd Frontier Corps Commander Jin Fulsort Raxeve explained.
"I see. While military tactics and deployment lie outside my area of expertise, I must say that swords may not be the most practical choice for golems of this design."
With that, Jin began offering his insights purely from an engineering standpoint.