The intelligence-gathering mini-golems, Sam 1 through 10, were deployed to the mysterious naval base situated on the western coast of the Pandor Continent.
While it seemed unlikely that a degraded version of a barrier could interfere with the transporter, they were sent atop the rocky ledge just to be safe.
They sprang into action immediately.
"We will move beneath the rocky ledge using our barrier projectors."
Sam 1, acting as squad leader, issued the directive.
"Understood."
Following that order, Sam 2 through 10 took to the air and relocated beneath the rocky shelf.
Since the barrier offered no physical defense, they breached the interior of the facility without encountering the slightest resistance.
"No signs of human presence..."
"Indeed. Then let us proceed with the investigation in two-man cells: 1 and 10, 2 and 9, 3 and 8, 4 and 7, 5 and 6."
"Understood."
With assignments set, Sam 1 headed toward the rear of the facility alongside Sam 10.
"There really are living quarters after all."
"So it seems."
Given Sam 1's rank as squad leader, Sam 10 spoke with polite deference.
Using their barrier projectors, the two units opened the door and stepped inside.
"...It doesn't feel very lived-in."
"Indeed. Could it be that they do not reside here permanently?"
"That is highly likely."
Sam 1 concluded that the room was merely used for temporary lodging whenever someone operated the facility.
"In that case, their primary residence must be somewhere else."
"That stands to reason."
A moment's thought made it obvious; setting aside anything crafted by Jin, there was no way a makeshift living space thrown together inside a subterranean vault like this could ever be comfortable.
"Let us search the interior. However, avoid touching anything left out as much as possible."
"Understood."
Meanwhile, Sam 3 and Sam 8 were investigating the shipyard.
"This... appears to utilize technology from the Progenitors."
"Indeed. But their operation of it is so inept that they aren't reaping even a tenth of its benefits."
To cite a concrete example, there was the power reactor.
Whatever had originally been installed had been removed, and it was obvious that a replacement had been retrofitted afterward.
Normally, the facility would require a magi-reactor or a magi-device capable of equivalent output, but what was currently in place was an inferior ether converter paired with a mana driver.
Because they could not secure the necessary power, the air conditioning, ventilation, and lighting throughout the complex were reduced to the absolute bare minimum.
If Jin were designing it, rather than centralizing power in a single point of failure, he would have embedded micro-class magi-reactors into each individual device.
That way, a malfunction in one unit would never affect the others.
On the other hand, that approach required more effort and slightly increased the overall system's probability of component failure.
It was not necessarily a question of which was objectively superior, but rather a fundamental divergence in design philosophy.
"Personally, I prefer Master's way of doing things."
"I quite agree."
Sam 5 and Sam 6 had boarded the rearmost of the three vessels to conduct their inspection.
"The hull material is steel. Roughly ten centimeters thick."
"Propulsion is handled by an aqua thruster."
"Its power source is also an ether converter and a mana driver."
Evidently, they had lacked the capability to construct a high-efficiency magi-reactor.
"Their aqua thruster is no match for Master's, either."
"Well, that goes without saying."
Right then, a communication came in from Laojun.
"Complacency is forbidden. Furthermore, this was originally a facility belonging to the Progenitors, so conduct your investigation thoroughly and ensure nothing is overlooked."
"Understood."
"Understood."
Sam 4 and Sam 7 were busy surveying the hangar.
Much could be deduced simply by taking inventory of the available supplies.
"Food supplies are scarce."
"Most of it consists of preserved rations... perhaps enough for fifty meals."
This was further proof that no one lived here permanently.
"As for construction materials... there are no stockpiles."
"It appears they have exhausted almost all of it."
This made it clear that they would be unable to construct any large-class vessels for the foreseeable future.
"Any relics believed to have been left behind by the Progenitors are... absent, it seems."
"None in sight."
Even if there had been any, there was a strong chance they wouldn't have simply left them lying around.
The scouts made a note to consider the possibility that whoever was using this base carried such relics on their persons.
Separate from the shipbuilding dock, Sam 2 and Sam 9 discovered a room that resembled a workshop or a research lab and began inspecting it.
"Is this... a room belonging to the Progenitors?"
"The probability is high."
Its atmosphere bore a striking resemblance to the quarters of Elder No. 700672 back on Planet Hehl.
The interior was neatly organized, and no magi-devices were in sight.
"As expected, it appears the Progenitors took anything of value with them when they abandoned this place."
"Having suffered from chronic resource shortages, perhaps they couldn't shake that habit even after arriving here on Planet Ars."
"That may very well be."
As Sam 2 and Sam 9 conversed and pressed onward with their search, something caught their attention.
"...There is no dust accumulated here."
While a coastal location might naturally generate less dust, the room was remarkably clean even with that taken into account.
Indeed, it was as if someone had been cleaning it on a regular schedule...
"However, this level of thoroughness is not the work of a human."
"Agreed."
It reflected a flawless standard of maintenance that brought to mind the Five-Colored Golem Maids of Hourai Island.
"It wouldn't be surprising if there were a golem specifically dedicated to cleaning."
"My thoughts exactly."
And with that, the Sams pressed even deeper into their investigation...