Putting aside the talk of their "what-ifs" for the moment, Jin steered the conversation back to Neo-Magias.
"More importantly, what's really on my mind is who those automata actually are."
He presumed they were members of the Magic Federation's executive echelon, but they had apparently made no effort whatsoever to mimic their original appearances; all six looked like ordinary men in their twenties.
"Still, Jin, isn't that one unit a little different?"
"True enough."
There was one automaton suspected of being the masked man.
Its craftsmanship was unmistakably distinct from the other five. If one had to draw a comparison, it was as if five were the work of amateurs while that single one was a finished commercial product.
"We can't examine them in person... but if we look through a Doppel, we might be able to pick up on something new."
The Peeper was convenient, but it wasn't all-powerful. Out of the five senses, it only relayed visual information.
Hearing and tactile sensors were crucial factors when analyzing an opponent.
As for the remaining senses of taste and smell... well, they might be necessary for ingredients. Just in case.
On top of that, magic—what could be called a sixth sense—was also at their disposal, making a direct confrontation all the more important.
"Once we catch up to their fleet, flank them, and force them to a halt, you should be able to board."
"Yeah. Let's board using Jin D and Maquina."
Since Laojun gave its assurance, Jin decided to leave the tactical maneuvering in its hands.
Meanwhile, on the bridge of the battleship Hotaka Kai, Duke Niestol Kirillo Jagus of the Jagus Principality had declared that he intended to accompany them as well.
Now, within the Neo-Magias fleet.
"...Damn it! To think both the Magi Craft Meister and Deus Ex Machina would come out in force...!"
"We should have brought the three ships stationed back at the base."
"If we had, we would have held the numerical advantage."
Such were the grievances grumbled by the five people... or rather, five bodies.
Just then, a voice called out to them from the masked man—though he was not wearing his mask at the moment.
"Hey. Their fleet is coming up fast from behind."
"What?!"
"Pull away from them!"
However...
"...It's no use. They're faster than we are."
"What?!"
The five people—since their consciousnesses were human, they will be counted as "people" here—gazed out toward the rear from the bridge.
Bearing down on them were four vessels: the battleship Hotaka Kai and the special cruisers Azusa, Yodo, and Katsura.
"How... can this be?!"
"They're clearly faster than us...!"
Three of those vessels—100-meter-class special cruisers—overtook the three Neo-Magias ships.
"Ngh... aren't they making nearly 100 kilometers per hour?"
"Never mind that! One of them just pulled ahead of us!!"
Two ships—Yodo and Katsura—cruised alongside their flanks, while Azusa swung around to block their path from the front.
Naturally, the battleship Hotaka Kai secured their rear.
In other words, the three Neo-Magias vessels were completely boxed in from the front, rear, left, and right by the four Hourai Island warships.
In a situation like this, the five "people" knew all too well that attempting to fight would only result in a total rout. Defeat would be absolute. Consequently, they refrained from ordering an attack.
They still possessed at least that degree of rational judgment.
"Gh... damn it...!"
"...What do they intend to do...?"
The four surrounding ships were gradually reducing their speed. If the three Neo-Magias vessels wished to avoid a collision, they had no choice but to slow down as well.
Then came a further report from the masked man.
"...A massive airship is descending from above."
At a full 100 meters in length, the Aristotle matched two of the three Neo-Magias vessels in scale, casting an overwhelming aura of intimidation over them.
"Wh-What?!"
"...Is that Deus Ex Machina's airship?!"
"...What an absurd scale!!"
Right then, a transmission boomed out via a loudspeaker magi-device.
"We wish to hold talks. Bring your ships to a halt immediately!!"
"Talks, they say?"
"...As if we could trust a word of that!!"
"No, our current situation is dire....For now, we should feign cooperation and look for an opening to strike."
"Ugh, is that our only choice...?"
"Right. Let's go with that."
The five "people" reached a consensus.
"What do you think? Will they listen?"
Watching the large-class magi-monitor back on Hourai Island, Jin muttered the question to no one in particular.
"Yes, My Lord. Anyone capable of even basic situational analysis should agree to parley," Laojun replied.
"You think so?"
"Yes. Provided they have the wits to realize that fighting while surrounded will only end in their destruction."
True to Laojun's prediction, barely five minutes after the demand to halt was broadcast:
"Understood. We agree to talks."
With that response ringing across the water, the three ships reduced their speed.
"Impressive. Just as you called it, Laojun."
Jin offered his praise.
"Thank you, My Lord. However, we cannot afford to drop our guard just yet."
"How so?"
"Aside from outright capitulation and complying with our demands, there remains the possibility that they are merely feigning cooperation while searching for an opening."
"I see. A crafty opponent would certainly try something like that."
"Indeed. However..."
Even if that were the case, they would find no such opening, Laojun noted calmly.
The three Neo-Magias ships gradually slowed their engines.
The four Hourai Island vessels matched their deceleration, and twenty minutes later, all seven ships lay completely motionless upon the open sea.
At long last, the negotiations were about to begin.