On August 5, Jin visited the Norha Principality to provide technical assistance.
"Magi Craft Meister Jin-dono, welcome. We are deeply honored by your presence."
Duke Keith Tennick de Norha personally came out to greet Jin's Hurricane.
"Thank you very much for the warm welcome."
Jin had come in person this time, accompanied by Reiko as his attendant and Hope as their pilot.
Because the Hurricane was equipped with a remote-piloting mode, leaving it unmanned posed no issue at all.
With that, Reiko and Hope joined Jin as they headed toward the Ducal Palace.
Upon arriving at the Ducal Palace, Jin was escorted to the Small Conference Room.
The attendees included Duke Keith Tennick de Norha, Chancellor Premus Hai Yasuna, First Ministry of Internal Affairs Daha Shomur, Minister of General Affairs Kaimu Law Hasta, Minister of Magic Miko Bee Saffron, and Minister of Technology Jarbee Keef.
"Without further ado, there is something I must report first," Chancellor Premus Hai Yasuna began. "The other day, the soil analysis report arrived from Avalon."
"Is that so?"
"According to the findings, typical soil is composed of sand, clay, humus, and similar elements. Outwardly, our soil appears to share the exact same composition."
However, that was purely on the surface—the underlying reality was entirely different.
"Regarding the sand... the fine mineral particles, that is. Astonishingly, the source mineral behind it turned out to be magi-stone."
"I see! That's remarkable."
Jin had already learned of this through the analysis performed by Saki and the others, but he made sure to feign surprise for the occasion.
"It seems these magi-stone components continuously enrich the soil, which is why we have enjoyed uninterrupted bountiful harvests."
"So that's how it works."
At this point, Jin decided to introduce one final observation.
"Hmm..."
He began by putting on a contemplative look.
"Jin-dono, is something the matter?"
Right on cue, Minister of Magic Miko Bee Saffron spoke up.
"Yes, there's just one thing that caught my attention," Jin replied.
"And what might that be?"
"...You mentioned that the magi-stones activate the soil, but for that to occur, I believe there must be a 'master' somewhere."
"A master?"
First Ministry of Internal Affairs Daha Shomur looked puzzled by the term, so Jin offered a clarifying explanation.
"Yes, like the master-slave concept in a chain of command. In other words, there must be a magi-device serving as the master somewhere, sending out operational instructions."
"I-I see..."
"T-That makes sense..."
Minister of Magic Miko Bee Saffron and Minister of Technology Jarbee Keef immediately grasped Jin's meaning and nodded in understanding.
"What does that entail?"
"Could you explain in a bit more detail, please?"
However, seeing that the Chancellor and the Minister of General Affairs still seemed slightly lost, Jin elaborated further.
"To put it simply... I suspect there is a magi-device buried somewhere issuing specific commands, such as 'sterilize the soil' or 'eliminate pests and crop diseases.'"
With that, clarity finally dawned on the rest of the room.
"Ah, so that's what you meant!"
Jin was quick to follow up with reassurance.
"Of course, since you were merely analyzing soil samples brought back to the lab, it's completely understandable that you wouldn't have noticed. It certainly doesn't reflect poorly on Avalon's analytical capabilities."
Jin emphasized that he had only realized it because he was on-site.
"With that in mind, I'd like to conduct a brief survey to locate this 'master.'"
Food supply was a paramount concern for the Norha Principality, and Jin wanted to bring this investigation to a thorough and satisfying conclusion.
"Indeed. We would be most grateful for your help."
Duke Keith Tennick de Norha, who had been listening in silence until now, spoke up and gave Jin a respectful nod.
Jin was somewhat surprised by the gesture, but recognizing it as the Duke of Norha's earnest way of showing sincerity, he replied readily.
"Understood. I will do my absolute best."
Shortly thereafter, Jin set out for the farmlands aboard the Eagle Unit 1, which had been deployed from the Hurricane.
Hope took the helm as pilot, Reiko attended to Jin, and Minister of Magic Miko Bee Saffron came along as an observer.
"Our time is limited, so I plan to inspect just two or three locations," Jin noted.
In truth, Laojun had already pinpointed their coordinates with Peepers using the subterranean survey data gathered by the Adriana the other day.
There were far more masters than expected, and they were distributed across an extensive area.
It was presumed they had been spaced out so that local civil engineering works would not disrupt the overall system.
"...Ah, there's something underground here... roughly fifty meters down."
Thanks to the prior intel, the discovery came almost instantly.
"Oh, you've found one already?!"
"Yes, and there seems to be another one over that way, about seventy meters down."
The Progenitors had buried a vast network of these soil-activating masters throughout the land.
There was roughly one per are.
With this setup, even if a unit were accidentally unearthed, the surrounding masters would ensure the system continued functioning with virtually no disruption.
Incidentally, the effective range of a single master was approximately one hectare.
The Progenitors certainly were thorough... Though they probably didn't bury them by hand, Jin mused.
The shallowest master in the immediate area rested about twenty meters beneath the surface. Jin cast Dig to open a shaft and had Reiko retrieve the device.
He then discreetly duplicated its contents using the magi-craft spell Copy. He intended to send the data back to Hourai Island later via the Hurricane's Warp Gate so Laojun could run a full analysis.
"I see. A remarkably sophisticated magi-sequence is engraved onto this."
The master was densely inscribed with micro-class magi-sequences that only someone of Jin's caliber could decipher.
"According to this... it issues directives to exterminate pests and blight through free ether manipulation, regulate air circulation, maintain moisture levels, and the like."
"T-To think such a mechanism exists! Just who could have created something like this...?"
Minister of Magic Miko Bee Saffron was left utterly dumbfounded.
"One can only attribute it to... a prehistoric civilization."
Starting with the former Dinar Kingdom, remnants known as the Ruins were scattered across many regions, and their creators were commonly referred to as a prehistoric civilization.
Jin knew they were actually the Progenitors who had arrived from Planet Hehl, but for now, information regarding Planet Hehl remained strictly confidential.
Once humanity becomes capable of venturing into space, I'd like to explain it to them, though...
That milestone, however, still lay in the distant future.
Regardless, the oversight of ancient ruins was entrusted to the discretion of individual nations. Official directives had been issued warning against unauthorized excavations and investigations due to unknown perils, and those rules were being observed—at least on the surface.
There was always the danger of hazardous technologies lying dormant within, and just like Onogoro Island, some ruins remained fully functional.
Provoking such sites could lead to entirely unpredictable consequences.
Once a proper ruins management framework is established in Avalon... that will be the time to act.
Such were Jin's private thoughts.
After concluding his inspection, Jin returned the master to its original resting place and filled the hole back in.
"That clears up all our questions. Let us head back."
"Yes, indeed. Let us return."
With their mission accomplished, Jin and Miko Bee Saffron made their way back to the Norha Principality's Ducal Palace.