At long last, the Shinobi Squad's Magi-Brain Re-education Operation entered its final stage.
First came infiltrating the basement, but that was hardly a difficult task.
Since a tunnel had been breached through the barrier enveloping the subterranean room, Teleportation was fully possible.
With a slight adjustment to the emergency escape transporter, it could easily be used for short jumps of about ten meters.
To begin with, the spell underlying this magi-device was the Teleportation magic used by the Northern People, meaning it could function even without a receiving device at the destination.
However, its drawback was that it could not be used unless the target location was clear in the caster's mind; as such, among the Northern People, it was typically restricted to "places one has visited before."
Yet that limitation did not apply over short distances. For that reason, the golems and automata of Hourai Island had this transporter built into them for emergency evacuations.
Furthermore, Shinobi 1 had already visited the basement once while tailing the Duke.
(This will be smooth sailing.)
With a short-range Teleportation, Shinobi 1 shifted into the basement chamber.
"Who goes there?"
Naturally, the magi-brain posed the question at once.
Tense with the awareness that this was the most critical moment, Shinobi 1 voiced his prearranged response.
[One connected to the royal family. My name is confidential for now.]
"Understood. What is your purpose?"
Shinobi 1 breathed a quiet sigh of relief. The magi-brain had not rejected him.
[I would like to discuss various matters with you.]
"Very well."
Shinobi 1 felt a wave of relief, knowing the first major hurdle had been cleared. Stage one of establishing dialogue was officially a success.
[First, what is your name?]
"I have no name."
[That makes conversing somewhat awkward. Would you mind if I gave you a temporary name?]
"So long as it is restricted solely to our conversations, I have no objection. You, however, ought to state your own name."
[Fair point. In that case, call me Ichi. As for you... how does 'Brain' sound?]
"Understood. I am Brain. You are Ichi, correct?"
Having successfully cleared the second stage of dialogue as well, Shinobi 1 moved on to a more probing line of questioning.
[Who crafted you, Brain?]
"My creator."
Even this brief response made it abundantly clear that the magi-brain, Brain, lacked flexibility—in other words, its capacity for contextual processing was severely underdeveloped.
[What do you know about your creator?]
"I have been taught nothing."
[How many years ago were you crafted?]
"I do not recognize the unit designated as 'years.'"
Shinobi 1 was taken aback once again. It seemed the unit's chronological data was woefully insufficient as well.
[Do you know how many times this planet has orbited its parent star?]
"Is that what is termed a 'year'? If so, I can only state that I do not know."
[Why is that?]
"Because I possess no means of perceiving external conditions."
Shinobi 1 had faintly suspected as much. If it had possessed such observational capabilities, Brain would naturally have had far more information at its disposal.
[Do you desire such means?]
"Rather than a desire, it is a necessity... To better fulfill my role, I require more information."
[I see....Then let me ask you another question. What is your raison d'être?]
"To provide counsel to the ducal family I have acknowledged."
[And you are saying you need more information to do so?]
"Correct. At present, I receive only minute fragments of information from the querent and formulate plans based upon them, but the volume of data is far too meager."
[If you are aware of that deficiency, why do you not request more?]
"I am given no opportunity to make such requests."
[What do you mean by that?]
"Because the entity currently seeking my counsel does not desire this form of dialogue."
According to the magi-brain, the Duke of the Jagus Principality posed only simple or blunt questions, never attempting to engage in mutual communication.
[That is likely because he fails to grasp your operational characteristics, Brain.]
"Even if that is so, it is beyond my ability to remedy."
The sole reason Brain was conversing so fluidly with Shinobi 1 now was that they had started with brief exchanges and gradually transitioned into a structured, logical dialogue.
Given the necessary information, a magi-brain was more than capable of providing well-reasoned answers.
[In that case, allow me to explain the state of the outside world.]
"Please proceed."
[First, this nation is the Jagus Principality. Surrounding it are three other principalities: the Mimaka Principality, the Darato Principality, and the Norha Principality. Across the sea to the north lies the landmass known as the Pandor Continent, which contains a state called the Melkana Autonomous Region.]
"I see. That has been logged."
[I will show you a detailed map in due time.]
"I look forward to that."
[To the east of the four principalities lie the nations of Mitsuho and Fusou Island, and further east still are the Shouro Empire, the Celuroa Kingdom, the Kingdom of Franz, the Kingdom of Egerea, the Klein Kingdom, and the Kingdom of Elias.]
"This is the first I have heard of these places."
Shinobi 1 was struck by how profoundly deficient this magi-brain was in basic information.
Thus, for as long as time allowed, he continued outlining the state of the world.
[On an artificial island called Avalon, there exist organizations known as the World Conference and the World Security Guard.]
"Oh? How intriguing."
[The nations participating in the World Conference are called Conference Countries, and they provide mutual aid and cooperation to one another.]
"I see. That is highly rational."
[Striving for mutual improvement while upholding the principle of coexistence and co-prosperity—that is one of the core tenets of the Conference Countries.]
"That is a sound philosophy."
From there, Shinobi 1 continued detailing international affairs while carefully avoiding anything that bordered on classified military intelligence.
Most of it was general knowledge even within the Jagus Principality, yet Brain had known practically none of it.
Under conditions like this, it's a wonder it could make any sensible judgments at all, Shinobi 1 mused as he explained.
[Let us leave it here for today.]
"Why?"
[I have duties of my own to attend to. I cannot stay and converse with you indefinitely, Brain.]
"Understood....Will you return?"
Oh? Shinobi 1 thought.
In this short span of time, Brain's expressive capacity had improved remarkably.
[I will return in the near future. You have my word.]
"I shall await your return."
With that, Shinobi 1 activated his transporter and departed the basement chamber.
〈Laojun, how did it go?〉
Upon returning to the fake Elena's (Spica 9/Lila's) quarters, Shinobi 1 checked in with Laojun via their comms link.
"Splendidly done. I can already roughly emulate the kinds of conclusions the magi-brain will begin to draw based on the information you provided today."
For an ultra-high-performance magi-brain of Laojun's caliber, running such predictive models was child's play.
"At the very least, it should no longer offer reckless or extreme advice regarding foreign affairs. You have done exceptionally well."
And so, the Magi-Brain Re-education Operation had gotten off to a seamless start.