"Regulus 49, Teraru" explained how Markitus had thrown the world into turmoil from three hundred years ago right up until recently.
"Hmm... To think such a man existed. And that he had expanded his reach into the Pandor Continent, no less."
Chronologically speaking, Golbart Markitus vanished from the stage in Continental Calendar year 3770, only to reappear under the name Guillermo Markitus in Continental Calendar year 3884.
Try was discovered by Niestol Almazov Melkana in 3780 and ceased functioning in 3790. Their timelines never crossed.
"I see. It is quite likely that those ships... were built by this Markitus fellow."
Since Teraru had explained that all-metal vessels scarcely existed in this world, Try arrived at that conclusion.
However...
"...There is, in fact, one other possibility," Try added.
"Which is?"
"...The possibility that they were built by the same creators who made me. Given that I am here right now, it would not be strange if such ships survived as well."
"Indeed, that is true," Teraru agreed.
"Naturally, that would place them in the sea north of the continent, correct?"
The Rebun Island where they currently stood lay in the waters south of the continent.
"That is correct."
"In that case, could their base of operations be on the Pandor Continent?"
"Yes, that is highly probable. For a 100-meter-class all-metal ship, that distance is well within navigable range."
Listening in on the exchange, Laojun sank into thought.
The period when Try sighted the mysterious ships coincided precisely with the era when Reiko and Hourai Island were sealed away, meaning Laojun had no detailed grasp of the state of affairs back then.
Naturally, they were not ships from Hourai Island.
'Hmm... Between the "mysterious ships" and the "masked man"... whether there is a connection or not, there is simply too little information to make an educated guess.'
The "masked man" was the mastermind who had pulled the strings behind the Big Three executives of the Revolutionary Party that threw the Melkana Autonomous Region into chaos.
He had reportedly called himself Ivan Ivanovich, but that was almost certainly an alias.
Because he was said to always wear a mask, they simply referred to him as the "masked man."
'Another mystery to add to the list, it seems...'
Even so, the only reason it remained a "mystery" was a lack of data. In other words, as they gathered intelligence, the mystery would inevitably resolve itself.
With that in mind, Laojun decided to begin by searching for the "ships" using the Peeper telescope.
Meanwhile, in the Jagus Principality, Duke Niestol Kirillo Jagus was eating a dietary meal prepared by "fake Elena" in the Tower.
"Mm, this is reasonably good."
"Since it is dietary fare, it cannot match the exquisite flavors you are accustomed to, however."
Given the limited ingredients available, along with the strict reduction of salt (which caused fluid retention), high-calorie oils, and sugar (the primary culprit among carbohydrates), the flavor had inevitably dropped a notch.
"No, for dietary food, this taste is more than adequate."
When the Duke had sought counsel from the magi-brain, it had provided him with diet meal plans, but every single recipe had been utterly tasteless.
"To compensate for the reduced salt, I have made clever use of seasonings and rich broths."
"I see."
Incidentally, lunch today consisted of Japanese soba alongside "mushrooms sautéed in olive oil."
Yesterday's meal had been somen with "lemon sautéed chicken."
Because the number of dishes and portion sizes had also been scaled down, the Duke honestly felt a bit unsatisfied, but he accepted it for the sake of his weight-loss regimen.
(The duchess consort is supposedly dieting along with him, but he has surprisingly strong willpower.)
Even fake Elena was privately impressed.
Of course, this resolve was largely thanks to his trusted magi-brain persistently warning him that continuing his old lifestyle would send him to an early grave.
Meanwhile, the Progressers had finally reached the stage where they could attempt to repair the distortion in Eiji 1's arm.
"Forming!"
Eiji 1 possessed an exterior shell and skeletal frame forged from adamantite.
Lubark Bassi, the self-proclaimed leader of the Progressers, wielded magi-craft with beads of sweat glistening across his forehead.
"...Forming!!...Whew..."
One of the four twisted arms seemed to have straightened out slightly toward its original shape.
"Why is this so extraordinarily difficult to reshape?"
Rodriguez asked. Lately, all questions directed at Eiji 1 had been handled exclusively by Rodriguez.
<<That is because stabilization magic has been applied to the metal.>>
"Stabilization?"
<<Correct. Toughening and Hardening are examples of such enchantments. In short, they render the material far less susceptible to external interference.>>
"I see, of course. Being resistant to external interference means it is equally resistant to magical deformation."
<<Precisely.>>
"Still, to apply processing of this caliber... just how extraordinary was the skill of your creator...?"
<<My Creator is likely the greatest in the world.>>
"...Indeed. What's truly frightening is that it doesn't even sound like an exaggeration. Compared to that, we are practically infants."
"...Lord Rodriguez, aren't you being a bit too self-deprecating?"
Lubark chided Rodriguez with a sour expression for comparing them to infants.
"No, no, evaluating oneself objectively is essential."
Hearing his colleague Luihardt echo the sentiment only made Lubark scowl further.
<<...Indeed. My Creator could likely forge thirty adamantite true spheres simultaneously. And in less than a second, at that.>>
"What?!"
"...At that point, he's nothing short of a monster..."
The unfiltered truth slipped right out of Lubark Bassi's mouth.
Overhearing the remark, Eiji 1 took immediate offense.
<<How insolent. My Creator is no monster.>>
Flustered, Rodriguez stepped in to apologize on the group's behalf.
"Forgive him, that was rude. He did not mean to disparage your creator."
<<Very well. As long as you understand.>>
"Now then, let us continue the repairs."
<<Yes, please proceed.>>
"...Forming!......Forming!!"
"Forming! Forming!!"
Taking turns pouring their magi-craft into the metal, Lubark Bassi and Luihardt finally managed to restore one of the arms almost entirely to its original shape.
<<Oh, you have my gratitude.>>
"...Haa... haa... No, no... don't mention it."
"......If we were... of some help... then it was worth the effort......"
Luihardt and Lubark were completely out of breath.
And with that, the day's repairs drew to a close.