That same day, in the laboratory.
"...This is..."
"It truly is a deformed golem..."
"Why would anyone build it in such a shape?"
Karion, Raig Armor, and Coo Fene stood at a total loss before the deformed golem.
"Even if we're told to analyze it, where are we even supposed to start...?"
"It's entirely the product of an alien technology."
"Furthermore, this metal appears to be adamantite. Working with that is far beyond us..."
The other researchers had thrown in the towel early on, which was how the task ended up dumped onto Karion's research lab in the first place.
Laboratory Director Rokou B. Sihalo had even impressed upon him, "The reputation of our laboratory is on the line, so do this properly," leaving them desperately wanting to produce results, but...
"If we can't do it, we simply can't..."
After all, they could not even hammer out the dents in its armor.
"It seems to have undergone a treatment that grants it exceedingly high magic resistance."
Even Coo Fene, who was well-versed in materials science, could tell nothing beyond that.
"Without knowing its internal structure, there's no way to even perform a Decomposition," Raig Armor said with clear frustration.
"Mm... In the end, this is beyond our capabilities, isn't it...?"
Hanging his head, Karion continued, "...It can't be helped. I have no choice but to report as much to the director."
He resolved to fulfill his responsibility as the laboratory chief.
"What did you say?! What do you mean you can't do it?!"
Just as expected, Rokou B. Sihalo flew into a rage.
However, Karion calmly explained the situation. "Director, zeal alone can only take us so far. Besides, if we drag this out without producing any results, you will incur His Majesty's displeasure."
The final phrase—"incur His Majesty's displeasure"—seemed especially effective.
"Ugh... Th-That is true....Discerning whether something is feasible or not is also part of our duty, after all."
Grudgingly, Rokou B. Sihalo accepted the reality of their limitations.
In this regard, Karion knew Rokou B. Sihalo's personality inside and out, handling the man with practiced ease.
"What?!...Nnngh, you're saying the laboratory couldn't manage it?"
"Yes, we have no excuse."
As technical administrator and laboratory director, Rokou B. Sihalo explained the situation to the Chancellor and offered his apologies.
"Nnngh... What am I supposed to tell His Majesty...?"
The Chancellor wore an expression as though he had bitten into something foul.
However, he possessed enough good sense not to pointlessly berate his subordinate.
"...It can't be helped. I suppose I'll go take my scolding."
The Chancellor knew very well the dire consequences if he tried to feign competence and was later exposed.
He also knew that Duke Niestol utterly despised dawdling.
Thus, immediately after receiving the report from Rokou B. Sihalo that analysis was impossible, the Chancellor contacted the Duke.
And to his immense surprise, Duke Niestol Kirilo Jagus did not reprimand either the Chancellor or the laboratory.
He merely frowned and muttered, "Is that so?"
Then, he issued a new directive.
"...Understood....Have that deformed golem transported to the inner garden of the Ducal Palace."
At dusk on that same day, Duke Niestol Kirilo Jagus stood in the inner garden.
Standing beside him was one of the Progressers, Lubark Bassi.
He was the engineer Duke Niestol currently held in the highest regard.
"...How about it, Lubark?" the Duke asked curtly.
Lubark Bassi replied with just a single phrase: "Leave it to me."
"Mm, splendid....I'm counting on you."
"Yes, consider it done."
"Aaaaarrrrgh!"
Having brought the deformed golem back to his workshop, Lubark Bassi held his head in his hands.
He had acted bold and confident in front of the Duke, but analyzing the deformed golem lying before him seemed utterly impossible.
"This is bad, this is bad, this is bad!"
Coming back later to say "I can't do it" would be completely humiliating.
"At this rate, staying in the Duke's good graces will be entirely out of the question!"
Lubark Bassi was a man harboring an ambition rare for an engineer.
After agonizing over the dilemma, Lubark finally made up his mind.
"...It can't be helped. I'll consult the others."
Realizing it was impossible on his own, he decided to enlist the aid of his comrades.
"Oh!"
"Th-This is...!"
"Truly deformed..."
"To think such a thing was unearthed..."
For this occasion, he had reached out not only to the active members Luihardt and Dear, but also to the retired Rodriguez and Ria, gathering all five members of the Progressers for the first time in a long while.
"Fumu, the exterior is adamantite, is it?...And not ordinary adamantite either. It seems to have remarkably high magic resistance," Rodriguez, who could be considered the elder of the group, noted upon inspecting Eiji 1.
"...I heard it moved slightly when it was discovered, yes?" Ria confirmed with Lubark Bassi.
"That is what I was told, yes."
Though Lubark had an arrogant disposition, he maintained enough respect toward the elder Ria to address her with polite deference.
"...If that's the case..."
"Ria, did you think of something?" her husband, Rodriguez, asked.
"Yes....Could it be that this golem's ether converter isn't entirely broken after all?"