Back on Hourai Island, they had also detected the three ships approaching the Jagus Principality.
"…However, they still haven't made a move."
"Are they waiting for something?"
"They may be attempting to provoke the Jagus Principality into making the first move."
"That makes sense."
If pushed too far, the Jagus Principality might very well launch a preemptive strike. Jin found himself agreeing with Laojun's assessment.
"However, if the Duke thinks to consult the magi-brain or Eiji 1…"
"Ah, then he'll likely hold back on attacking first."
"Yes, My Lord."
"What? They are trying to make us strike first?"
"Correct."
Just as Jin and Laojun had hoped, Duke Niestol Kirillo Jagus of the Jagus Principality was consulting the magi-brain.
"I cannot determine who those vessels belong to, but by anchoring offshore, they are likely applying silent pressure, waiting until our patience wears thin."
"Why would they do such a thing?"
"Without knowing the mentality of those aboard the mysterious ships, my precision is limited, but the possibility of establishing a justification must be considered."
"In other words, claiming they only retaliated because they were attacked?"
"Precisely. If so, they are a cunning bunch."
"Mmh…"
"If you intend to order your forces to hold back, the sooner the better."
"I-I understand."
Duke Niestol Kirillo Jagus hurried back toward his office in the Royal Palace.
Of course, even in a hurry, he was still lugging around a massive frame of 128 kilograms. By the time he finally managed to heave himself up the stairs, he had no choice but to stop and catch his ragged breath.
He then waddled back into his office at a pace that was far from a run.
"This is of the utmost urgency! Inform Minister of Military Affairs Buena Haiti that we are not to make the first move under any circumstances!"
He barked the order to the Chancellor.
"Understood, Your Grace!"
The Chancellor immediately decided to relay the instructions via the Hot Air Balloon Squad.
Minister of Military Affairs Buena Haiti was most likely stationed at the watchtower. In that case, delivering the order by hot air balloon would be far faster than dispatching a messenger on horseback.
His instincts proved correct.
Arriving over the skies of Laralg in about ten minutes, the hot air balloon crew spotted Minister of Military Affairs Buena Haiti in the watchtower and shouted down at the top of their lungs:
"Excellency! An order from His Grace! We are to refrain from making any preemptive moves!"
The shout managed to carry down to the ears of Minister of Military Affairs Buena Haiti and Rokou B. Sihalo.
"…What? From His Grace?"
"Excellency, it is a blessing we did not rush into an attack."
"…Indeed."
Had they been five minutes later, Minister of Military Affairs Buena Haiti might have already ordered the navy to sortie.
"Excellency, I have also thought of an idea."
"Mmh, what sort of idea?"
"From the air. We can scout them from above. Furthermore, should the worst come to pass, an aerial assault would carry far greater destructive power."
"Mmh, I see.…Very well, deploy the Hot Air Balloon Squad."
Minister of Military Affairs Buena Haiti decided to establish a temporary command post on the top floor of the fortress in Laralg.
Although lower than the watchtower, it still offered a clear vantage point overlooking the three vessels.
Minister of Military Affairs Buena Haiti ordered ten hot air balloons to deploy.
"Hot Air Balloon Squad, Units 1 through 10, deploy! Observe the status of the three vessels from an altitude of at least 50 meters. However, you must not initiate combat!"
"Sir!"
Under orders from their supreme commander, Minister of Military Affairs Buena Haiti, the ten hot air balloons immediately took to the sky.
Using their auxiliary wind thruster propulsion, they glided over the ships at thirty kilometers per hour.
"Hmm… There is no one on deck."
"The center ship looks to be roughly 150 meters long, while the ones flanking it are about 100 meters, wouldn't you say?"
Five of the hot air balloons gathered intel on the mysterious ships, while the other five kept watch on the surrounding area.
"Those weapons mounted on the deck… Are they what they call 'cannons'?"
"The kind that fire round iron balls to shatter castle gates and walls, right?"
"To think they can fire such destructive implements from atop a ship… What a terrifying threat."
In the command room on Hourai Island, Jin, alongside Laojun, closely observed the Jagus Principality's movements.
"My Lord, it appears the Duke sought counsel from the magi-brain."
"Kufu, so he wasn't a total fool after all."
Saki had joined them, watching the massive magi-monitor by their side.
"And now they're scouting the enemy with balloons… Isn't that altitude a bit low?"
"Yes, My Lord. An altitude of at least 100 meters would be far safer."
"With ships of that size, there's no way they lack anti-air capabilities."
"Yet they remain completely silent."
"Yeah, they do."
"…Hey, Jin, I wonder which side will lose their patience first?"
Jin could not give a definitive answer to Saki's question, but Laojun spoke up instead.
"Saki-san, if anyone loses patience, it will be the humans. The enemy ships are crewed by automata and golems; they can wait indefinitely."
"Mm, I figured as much. In that case, Jin, wouldn't it be better to intervene right now?"
Jin nodded at Saki's suggestion.
"You're right about that.…For now, how would they react if we used a transporter to drop a reconnaissance team directly onto their flagship?"
"My Lord, I would advise against that. It could easily be misconstrued as an attack originating from the Jagus Principality."
"I see…"
"Instead, I humbly suggest we move our deployed fleet closer and observe their reaction."
"Oh, good idea."
While it remained uncertain how they would respond to the approach of warships that clearly did not belong to the Jagus Principality, Jin agreed that it was worth a shot.
"Alright, relay the orders to the four ships on standby."
"Understood."
"Let's also have the aircraft unit ready overhead to provide support at a moment's notice."
"I will have them hold on standby at an altitude of 1,000 meters."
With that, the Hotaka Kai, Azusa, Yodo, and Katsura got underway. Utilizing barrier projector propulsion, they surged forward at a cruising speed of 100 kilometers per hour.
The distance to the three mysterious ships was roughly twenty kilometers. In about ten minutes, their silhouettes would emerge on the horizon.
The moment of contact between the Hourai Island fleet and the mysterious vessels was drawing inexorably closer.