"I knew it, I'm still concerned about that magi-brain."
Back on Hourai Island, Jin was lost in thought.
"To get into that room, we'll need to follow Duke Jagus, right?"
"Yes, My Lord."
"...He's most likely being identified by his magic pattern, so if we have a magi-emulator, we should be able to get in."
However, there was also the chance that physical appearance, fingerprints, retinal patterns, or DNA were being checked in tandem, so Jin cautioned himself that an impulsive intrusion was best avoided.
"Additionally, there is a possibility that it monitors the frequency of the door opening and closing."
"Good point."
Since it seemed to be a facility built by the Origin Clan, Jin was determined not to underestimate it.
"Come to think of it, did you figure out why communication failed from inside the magi-brain's room?"
The other day, when Shinobi 1 had slipped in behind the Duke, he attempted to transmit for about a hundredth of a second, but the signal had failed to go through.
"Yes. It is most likely a barrier of the magical barrier variety. The probability is seventy-five percent."
"I see... In that case, I suppose the plan will be to slip in behind the Duke once more, remain inside, and gradually re-educate the magi-brain."
"Yes, that would be ideal."
"Still, being cut off from our side is a bit unsettling."
Jin didn't like the thought of being unable to respond immediately if something went wrong.
"In that case, let us disable the barrier projector—the magi-device generating that barrier."
"Oh, good thinking."
Given the current technological level of the Jagus Principality, it was safe to assume that repairing the barrier projector would either be impossible or take considerable time.
"Can we shut it down without the magi-brain noticing?"
"We shall attempt to do so."
These instructions were promptly relayed to the Shinobi Squad on site.
The units capable of immediate action were Shinobi 1, 3, and 4. The three made their way toward the room housing the magi-brain.
<First, we must locate the barrier projectors.>
<Is there any chance the magi-brain controls them directly?>
<That is possible, but as long as we make it look like a malfunction, it won't matter.>
The magi-brain itself shouldn't be capable of making physical repairs, Shinobi 1 explained.
<In other words, we simply need to cause a failure without being detected?>
<Precisely.>
Unless surveillance devices were mounted directly on critical equipment like the barrier projectors, it was virtually impossible for the Shinobi Squad's activities to be spotted with the naked eye.
<Now, as for the projector locations...>
Laojun had already pinpointed them using the Peeper.
<...There are six in total: above, below, front, back, left, and right of the chamber. If we disable two, the barrier should destabilize.>
<Understood.>
<Understood.>
With that, Shinobi 1, 3, and 4 set to work.
Meanwhile, Shinobi 2 and 5 were closing in on the narcotics manufacturing plant.
<This is...>
<Is this really Origin Clan technology after all?>
Its design bore no resemblance whatsoever to the standard magi-devices found across Planet Ars today. Naturally, it had nothing in common with Adriana-style golem craft, either.
When they reported this to Laojun,
"I see. It is possible the Origin Clan enjoyed narcotics as luxury goods... No, that term is perhaps unfitting....Yes, shall we call it a 'euphoriant'?...They may have indulged in euphoriants."
Laojun was convinced.
The Origin Clan, who had avoided manual labor and relegated all work to their servants, might very well have manufactured such indulgences.
"...In that case, consulting the Elder later would seem to be the quickest route."
While one might wish they had asked him sooner, there hadn't been any definitive proof linking it to the Origin Clan until now.
Even so, obtaining a sample remained a priority, so Shinobi 2 and 5 were instructed to proceed with collection.
<Hmm. Its internal structure cannot be deduced from the outside.>
Shinobi 2 and 5 observed the manufacturing plant for a while, but recognizing that it belonged to an unfamiliar technological system, they decided to focus strictly on extracting a sample.
To summarize the plant's operation: raw materials and water were fed into the apparatus, which processed them until the euphoriant trickled out drop by slow drop. It was collected in a vessel below, yielding a mere ten milliliters or so per hour.
<Do they dilute this?>
<Judging by its viscosity, that is highly likely.>
Since the euphoriant was reputed to be potent even in minuscule doses, Shinobi 2 deduced that it was used in a diluted state.
However, that also meant that because production volume was so low, skimming any off would be difficult.
For their sample, they needed at least one milliliter. Ten would be ideal.
Yet stealing that much outright would inevitably arouse suspicion.
<Nngh, what should we do...>
The one to solve Shinobi 2's dilemma was Laojun.
"I have been observing it, and it appears the magi-device's efficiency has degraded slightly. If we raise the free ether concentration to temporarily invigorate its operation, production output should increase as well."
<I see!>
With that, Laojun sent an ether condenser—a magi-device designed to raise the local free ether concentration—via the transporter.
Naturally, they had already confirmed that no one was in the vicinity.
As expected, the manufacturing plant's operation picked up, its processing speed temporarily doubling.
<At this rate, we should be able to take around two milliliters.>
Shinobi 2 drew two milliliters of the euphoriant into a vial that had been sent alongside the ether condenser.
Then, twelve minutes later, they deactivated the ether condenser, and the euphoriant's production rate returned to normal.
While they would have preferred a larger quantity, running it any longer risked creating a mismatch between the consumed raw materials and the total yield, which might tip off the operators to an anomaly.
Furthermore, if overdriving the plant caused it to break down entirely, there was no telling what unforeseen side effects might occur.
Ideally, they would have liked to destroy the facility on the spot, but doing so now would be premature.
Having secured the ether condenser and the vial of euphoriant, Shinobi 2 and 5 used a transporter to relocate to the private quarters of fake Elena—Spica 9, alias Lila.
This transporter was a magi-device capable of teleporting the user toward a marker; however, even after recent enhancements, its short effective range of roughly ten kilometers remained a drawback. Reaching Hourai Island directly was out of the question.
Therefore, they first jumped to the quarters of fake Elena (Spica 9 = Lila), which was considered relatively safe within the Jagus Principality.
From there, Laojun would dispatch an aircraft to an altitude where it could not be spotted from the ground. They would then use the transporter once more to board the craft and return to Hourai Island via the Warp Gate installed inside.
The aircraft would eventually fly back under its own power, but to handle situations like this, it was stationed on standby at an altitude of 5,000 meters above the Jagus Principality.
"So this is the euphoriant. Shinobi 2, Shinobi 5, excellent work."
Laojun commended the two units.
<Please send us back to the Jagus Principality, then.>
"Understood."
Since they were using the full-scale transporter this time, they were returned directly to fake Elena's quarters in a single transfer.
"Welcome back."
Fake Elena (Spica 9 = Lila), who had been away earlier, greeted Shinobi 2 and 5.
<Things seem to be progressing well on your end as well.>
<Yes. And on yours, Lady Lila?>
The conversation was conducted entirely via their internal manacams.
<Quite well. I believe I have taught them about half of the Conference Countries' recipes by now.>
<Smooth progress, then.>
<Yes. Though I doubt it can truly rival narcotics... or rather, the euphoriant.>
<We have just finished delivering a sample of that very euphoriant.>
<Oh, my.>
And so, fake Elena (Spica 9 = Lila), Shinobi 2, and Shinobi 5 continued their exchange of intelligence.