The discussion between Jin D and Try continued.
"Try, do you want to recover your lost memories?"
The question was yet another gamble.
Try was most likely a golem built by the invasion faction.
If it shared the same purpose as its sister units—Mono, Ji, and Teto—its duty would have been managing the ruins.
If Try regained its memories, even if it didn't turn outright hostile, the possibility of it coming into conflict with Arsians wasn't zero.
At present, most of the Ruins that had once served as bases for the Origin Clan were sealed.
Though not known to the general public, this was because maintenance personnel numbered 1 through 10 awakened every ten years to continue managing them.
Units 1 through 10 were servants left behind by the Origin Clan, and they possessed considerable power.
Because parts of the abandoned ruins were currently being utilized, Jin had previously resolved not to stir up trouble with maintenance personnel who might look unfavorably upon such encroachment.
(...Good grief, the Origin Clan really left behind a mess of bothersome problems, didn't they?)
Piloting Jin D, Jin let out a quiet sigh.
"No, I am content as I am now."
Try's response brought a wave of relief to Jin as he operated Jin D.
"I would like to impose upon your hospitality here a little longer."
"I don't mind, but are you truly sure about that?"
"I am....Watching your golems work here is quite fascinating."
"I see."
Jin figured that if Try was satisfied, then so be it, but—
"Would you like someone to talk to?" Jin D asked.
"A conversation partner, you say...?"
Try seemed intrigued by the prospect.
"As things stand, you can only gather information from a very limited perspective. That is why I ask."
"Indeed, having someone to converse with would be preferable."
The answer came almost immediately.
"Understood. I will arrange it at once."
With that promise, Jin D temporarily departed Rebun Island.
"Laojun, is there a suitable candidate among the Quinta mobile operatives?"
Jin promptly opened a consultation with Laojun.
"Yes, My Lord. I believe Regulus 49, commonly known as Teraru, would be well suited."
"Right, got it. Send him over right away."
"Understood."
Ten minutes after Jin D left Rebun Island.
"Try, I've brought you someone to talk to."
"Oh, much obliged."
Try accepted the quick turnaround without questioning the brief absence.
"This is Teraru. He is an automata."
"Hmm, magnificent craftsmanship. Had you not told me, I would never have noticed."
Evidently, Try's current analytical capabilities were fairly degraded.
That was likely why it hadn't realized Jin D wasn't a living human either.
"Teraru, I look forward to working with you."
"Likewise, Try."
From what Laojun could observe, it seemed Try and Teraru would get along reasonably well.
"Once we are certain there is no danger, it might be worthwhile to arrange a meeting with Marikka-san."
In a sense, Try was currently "broken."
It was virtually impossible for it to fix itself by chance. Unlike a human, it possessed no self-repair function.
"So this place is an island."
Try mentioned that it had taken a slow lap around the perimeter.
"That brought something to mind—do you possess 'ships'?"
"Ships?"
Unsure what it meant, Teraru asked for clarification.
"Ah, my apologies. I meant whether this island—or rather, Lord Jin D—possesses ships."
"We have them, but we rarely use them."
"Hmm, just as I thought. Because you rely on teleportation-based means of transport, correct?"
"That's right. Why do you ask?"
"Before I shut down the first time, I sighted some curious ships."
"Curious ships?"
"Indeed."
This was fresh information, and Laojun, listening in, took keen interest.
Laojun immediately instructed Regulus 49, alias Teraru, to press for details.
"...Tell me more."
"Even if I say 'in detail,' my functions were becoming unstable at the time, so my observations may lack accuracy. Is that acceptable?"
"I don't mind."
"Understood. Please keep that caveat in mind as you listen."
"Understood."
"It was roughly three days before I deactivated... I spotted three unfamiliar vessels floating upon the sea."
According to Try, they were all-metal ships measuring approximately 100 meters in total length.
"Before I could inspect them thoroughly, they vanished beyond the horizon."
"Hmm... Did they launch any sort of attack?"
"No. After that, I never saw them again up until the moment I ceased functioning."
Naturally, Try added, it had no way of knowing whether they had returned since then.
"Still, an all-metal build, huh..."
Teraru fell into thought. Outside of Hourai Island, the only party likely to possess such vessels would be Markitus, yet no such ships had ever turned up.
"Is something the matter?"
Unaware of the broader context, Try did not understand why Teraru had gone quiet.
Judging that it would be wise to explain the situation regarding Markitus, Laojun sent an instruction to Regulus 49, alias Teraru.
"In the past... though it was roughly three hundred years ago..."
Regulus 49, alias Teraru, began recounting the tale of Golbart Markitus's rebellion.