Switching scenes, on the same day, inside the meeting room of the World Security Guard in Avalon.
"...I see. I understand the situation now."
Chief Administrator Tomax Bartman nodded slightly after listening to the latest report.
"So Jin-dono and Deus Ex Machina-dono are providing practical support. That leaves us to deal with the Jagus Principality's conspiracy."
No one among the attendees voiced any objection.
"To begin with, let us discuss the 'brainwashing.'...Illumina, if you please."
"Yes, sir."
Tomax Bartman asked his adjutant, Illumina Ratkin, to explain the details of the situation.
"While we refer to it broadly as 'brainwashing,' factoring in the information from Jin-dono, Deus Ex Machina-dono, and Nostalgia, it can be broken down into four distinct categories."
Murmurs rippled through the conference room for a moment.
"First is the brainwashing induced by the magi-devices discovered in the ruins."
It was already known that this type could be neutralized using a Weckener.
"The second is 'Seduce.'"
While weaker than brainwashing via magi-devices, it was correspondingly harder to detect.
This, too, could be undone with a Weckener.
"The third is 'education.'"
It appears that individuals of the rank of Officer Candidates and above, or members of the privileged class, have loyalty to the state drilled into them from childhood.
There is no way to undo this in a short period of time.
"And the fourth is 'narcotics.'"
At this, the meeting room stirred once more.
"I use the term 'narcotic' for lack of a better word, but it differs slightly from conventional drugs."
Illumina Ratkin continued her explanation.
"First, there are no harmful side effects on the body. One will not fall ill simply from failing to ingest it."
Sighs of relief escaped from several attendees upon hearing this.
"However, it is addictive. If it were not, we would not call it a narcotic in the first place."
Murmurs of agreement could be heard from around the room.
"Upon ingestion, it envelops the user in a sense of euphoria. Shaking off that feeling is apparently no easy task."
"Hmm, that stands to reason."
Here, Raldo, the Captain of the World Security Guard Land Combat Unit stationed in Avalon, nodded in agreement before raising a question.
"May I ask something?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"What kind of narcotic is it?...No, that is a poor way to put it. Do we have detailed data on this substance?"
"A fair amount, yes....To begin with, it is a colorless, transparent, tasteless, and odorless liquid. It dissolves easily in water, and its effects manifest within a few minutes of consumption."
"...How terrifying."
"Indeed. While it does not induce severe withdrawal symptoms, it produces a considerable level of psychological dependence."
Illumina Ratkin described it as being several times more potent than a craving for good food.
"It is several times more addictive than the urge to eat a delicious meal again after having tasted it once."
Furthermore, consuming more than a baseline amount did not intensify its effects.
In other words, ingesting small amounts allowed one to enjoy its effects over an extended period.
"...It seems this narcotic is being distributed to foreign merchants who trade with the Jagus Principality."
Illumina Ratkin explained that because of this, the merchants supplied the goods desired by the Jagus Principality regardless of profit margins, while taking care never to leak information about the drug to outsiders.
"How on earth did you uncover the existence of such a substance?"
"Through the cooperation of Nostalgia."
"I see....Their Honorary Advisor—Elena-dono, was it? She is currently being held hostage there, correct?"
"Yes, nominally."
"Indeed, nominally."
Everyone present at the meeting was well aware that the Elena held hostage was actually a body double.
"Now then, allow me to move on to the next matter."
Illumina Ratkin glanced at the documents in her hands and resumed her briefing.
"This next piece involves a rather curious situation."
She gave a brief preface before continuing.
"Regarding Elena-san, the hostage we just mentioned—it appears that despite her confinement, she continues to spend her time cooking."
"Pardon?"
"Cooking?"
Several people let out dumbfounded voices.
"Yes, cooking....It seems culinary culture never truly took root in the Jagus Principality."
Rather, Illumina explained that due to a lack of crop diversity and the harsh necessity during their early pioneering days to prioritize mere survival over flavor, their gastronomic culture had died out entirely.
"Because of that, she has recently taken to requesting seasonings and ingredients from Nostalgia."
Illumina Ratkin concluded that, in a way, one could almost say she was winning over the people of the Jagus Principality through her food.
"Hmm... But turning that situation to our advantage will likely prove difficult..."
Raldo, Captain of the Land Combat Unit, wore a troubled frown.
"It takes time for the fruits of such covert influence to take root. However, this proves that the Jagus Principality's unity is by no means monolithic."
"There is one final piece of information."
Illumina Ratkin began her third briefing.
"A flashing communicator believed to belong to the Jagus Principality was discovered within the Mimaka Principality. It was being used by brainwashed agents to transmit intelligence regarding the Mimaka Principality at irregular intervals."
"What?!"
Someone gasped in astonishment.
"Upon investigation, it was confirmed that ten individuals had been brainwashed."
Illumina concluded by explaining that the flashing communicator was a short-range model, transmitting its signal to an automated repeater situated in the wastelands roughly twenty kilometers from the royal capital, which in turn relayed the data to Nameless Peak.
"Hmph... Quite ingenious, isn't it?"
The remark came from Lumand Crossite, the Director of the Military Affairs Bureau.
"We must stay on our guard as well."
Tomax Bartman voiced his agreement.
"To that end, we will require the cooperation of Manon, Simone, and the others."
Because they were automata and entirely immune to narcotic-based brainwashing, they could be trusted unconditionally.
"We must take every precaution to ensure none of our own people are compromised without our knowledge."
While they possessed anti-brainwashing hats, overconfidence was a hazard in itself.
Moreover, they could not wear them twenty-four hours a day. Personnel would inevitably have to remove them while bathing, getting haircuts, or attending formal diplomatic ceremonies in other nations.
"Let us make it a policy to run the Weckener on a regular schedule."
Tomax Bartman made his decision.
"Paranoia and mutual suspicion are the very things we must avoid at all costs."
Avalon, too, began considering how best to deploy its strength to counter the looming threat of the Jagus Principality.