At noon on July 14, Jin D's Hurricane touched down in the town of Gidami in the southern part of the Mimaka Principality.
First Ministry of Internal Affairs Jinzue Mihoyasu stepped forward to greet Jin.
"Jin-dono, I have been expecting you!"
Then, catching sight of the fifty Smith units filing out one after another, he gasped.
"O-Ohhh! W-What a magnificent sight!"
His face was a mixture of open admiration and awe as he welcomed them.
"...As I suspected, they bear quite a resemblance to the golems Deus Ex Machina-dono employed."
Once his excitement had settled, First Ministry of Internal Affairs Jinzue Mihoyasu offered his assessment of the Smith units.
Jin figured it would be best to lay the groundwork now.
"They are the same model, after all. Both Maquina and I built them based on the Predecessor's templates."
"Aha, I see."
"We use several other golems of this exact type as well."
Offering this explanation was a calculated move to prevent anyone from finding it odd that Jin and Maquina possessed identical golems.
"It only goes to show how truly perfected the Second Generation's techniques were."
"Y-Yeah."
Since Jin himself was the Second Generation, he couldn't very well phrase it that way, but he felt relieved that the minister had accepted the explanation. Seeking to change the subject, he pressed on.
"From here on, I will have these fifty units handle the highway maintenance. The route was surveyed the other day, so everything is in order."
"I leave the matter in your capable hands, Jin-dono."
Meanwhile, around the time Jin was setting to work on the highway, over in the Jagus Principality...
Inside the Tower, Spica 9 (Lila)—the Quinta operative posing as fake Elena—was busy cooking as usual.
Since then, shipments of seasonings had arrived twice from Nostalgia, vastly expanding her culinary repertoire.
The number of royal chefs coming to study under her had grown to four. In addition to preparing mayonnaise, they had even mastered how to draw dashi stock and properly cook white rice.
"...If I keep spending months and years like this, I could probably win over more allies through cooking, but that would simply take too long..."
Night had fallen.
Spica 9 (Lila) retreated to her bedchamber for the time being, feigning sleep.
Having already confirmed the room was free of any surveillance magi-devices,
〈Thank you for allowing us to use this room for our strategy meetings.〉
It had become the operational base for the Shinobi Squad.
〈Did today's investigation yield any results?〉
Their leader, Shinobi 1, inquired with Shinobi 2 and Shinobi 3.
Units 4 and below were currently deployed to surrounding cities rather than Royal Capital Jag, so they were not present.
〈Through our observation of the high-ranking officials in the Royal Palace, we have determined one key detail....The vast majority of them are not brainwashed.〉
Shinobi 2 answered.
〈Brainwashing via magi-devices degrades cognitive function, so that is a logical conclusion.〉
Shinobi 1 nodded in agreement.
〈Indeed. That makes sense. In that case, did you uncover how their loyalty is enforced?〉
Shinobi 3 took over the report.
〈It appears to be a product of education from early childhood.〉
〈...Mm... As I suspected. But if that is the case, it means we cannot simply undo it with a Weckener.〉
〈That would be correct.〉
At this point, Spica 9 (Lila) chimed in on the conversation.
"I believe one of the Jagus Principality's primary objectives was to reach the eastern mountain range. What is located there, and what do they stand to gain from it?"
Shinobi 1 replied.
〈For one, it seems to be a cherished ambition passed down ever since the First Generation Duke.〉
"That seems rather peculiar. I do not know how many generations have passed, but could they truly remain fixated on it for so long?"
Spica 9 (Lila) mused aloud whether any Duke along the line had ever questioned it.
〈Roughly one hundred years have passed since the nation's founding. The current Duke is the sixth generation....Before him... there may well have been Dukes who harbored doubts. However, debating that now serves no purpose. At least for the moment.〉
"That is true....On another note, why has the Origin Clan's technology survived in such a fragmented state?"
〈That remains under investigation.〉
Shinobi 1 noted that the most likely possibility was that something akin to a magi-brain had survived and was dispensing incomplete education.
"Will we not be investigating the eastern mountain range?"
〈That falls to Laojun and Master to decide.〉
"You are right. Knowing the Chief, he likely has a plan in mind."
Around the same time on Hourai Island, Laojun had compiled the reports from the Shinobi Squad and was briefing Jin.
"I see....Laojun, Spica 9 brought up the ruins that should be in the mountain range east of Norha Principality. Do we still have no detailed readings on them?"
"Yes, My Lord. I regret to say that remains the case."
"And the reason is... the barrier against ether waves, correct?"
"Yes. If we employ sub-ether waves, the barrier calibrated for standard ether waves would pose no obstacle; however, we cannot predict what effect that might trigger within the ruins," Laojun explained apologetically.
"True enough. Up until now, we've rarely encountered Origin Clan ruins under such heavy protection."
Jin understood Laojun's caution.
"Indeed. For that reason, I am refraining from forcing our way in."
"That's wise. If prying inside triggers a self-destruct mechanism, it defeats the entire purpose."
"Precisely as you say."
"Still, you don't plan on leaving it alone indefinitely, do you?"
"No, My Lord. I would like to gather a bit more intelligence regarding those ruins from within the Jagus Principality first."
Jin gave an understanding nod.
"Right. Once we have enough information, that's when we make our move?"
"Yes. Given the high probability that these ruins belong to the invasion faction, I intend to proceed with the utmost caution."
"That sounds fine. The Four Principalities are still barely making any moves. No need to rush—just take your time gathering intel."
"Understood."
Meanwhile, Deus Ex Machina...
Having returned to the royal capital of Quonale, he delivered a full report of the incident to the Duke.
"Just how far will the Jagus Principality's malice continue to eat away at our land...?"
The eleven-year-old Duke's shoulders slumped as he let out a heavy sigh.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. From here on, Jin, myself, and Avalon will stand with you. Should anything happen, do not hesitate to rely on us."
"...Thank you."
"I will relay these developments to Avalon. Once I do, I expect they will take appropriate action."
"Maquina-dono, I place my trust in you."
Chancellor Moitz Myas Rohdai bowed deeply toward Maquina as well.
"Looking at the situation now, one cannot help but wonder why we ever shunned diplomatic ties with the outside world in the first place," Duke Gaspar de Mimaka murmured thoughtfully.
"I cannot say what the Pioneer Revolutionary Corps had in mind back then. However, they may have simply fallen victim to paranoia, terrified that the land they had worked so hard to cultivate would be turned into a colony."
"Indeed, it may very well be just as Maquina-dono suggests."
The Chancellor nodded in agreement with Maquina's assessment.
"Whatever the past may hold, our nation, together with Dahlat and Noruha, has taken a momentous first step."
Duke Gaspar de Mimaka offered the remark with a bright, renewed tone.