Even as Niestol Kirillo Jagus, Duke of the Jagus Principality, felt startled by the depth of his own fury, he pressed on.
"To threaten the peaceful lives of ordinary people for the selfish desires of a few is utterly inexcusable!"
Suenk scoffed derisively.
"Hmph."
However, due to the crude craftsmanship of his automata body, all that emerged was an odd fsoo sound, like an awkward wheeze through his nose.
Suenk sneered and spoke again.
"How astonishing to hear such righteous words from the Duke of the Jagus Principality."
"What did you say?"
Suenk pressed on in a mocking tone.
"Tell me, who was it that brainwashed the populace and exploited them to his heart's content?"
"Guh... E-Even so, the citizens of our nation do not languish in poverty!"
Indeed, the citizens of the Jagus Principality enjoyed a modest standard of living, and none appeared destitute.
Deep down, however, the Duke knew full well that this was a manufactured peace, half-enforced through brainwashing.
"You make me laugh. What do you truly consider your people to be, Your Highness?"
"Ngh... The foundation of the nation."
"You certainly know how to talk pretty!"
"How dare you!"
"...Enough."
The masked man... Larva, stepped between the Duke and Suenk.
"We should be focusing on a more constructive discussion."
"Hmph, I know that!"
Suenk spat back irritably, then fell silent.
Observing the confrontation on Hourai Island through Jin D's eyes, Jin and his companions grew certain of their theory.
"...Just as we thought. Those five are human—or rather, they've had the memories of former Magic Federation members copied into them."
"Yeah, exactly as you say, Jin. I can't imagine anyone going out of their way to program such human-like petulance into an artificial control core."
Jin and Reinhard were in complete agreement.
"Kufu, so what about that Larva guy, then?"
At Saki's question, the two exchanged glances.
"To be honest, we're not entirely sure."
"Yeah, Reinhard's right....If I had to guess, it's possible only his knowledge was copied over, while his thought circuit remains purely that of an automata."
"Hmm, I see. That makes sense."
With the parley reset, Jin D decided to voice one of his pressing questions.
"...There's something I'd like to ask. Why did you choose to show up now of all times?"
"What do you mean by that?"
To their surprise, Larva was the one who asked in return.
"I'm saying the timing for an invasion makes no sense."
This time, Deus Ex Machina took over.
"Right. If this had been two years ago, neither Jin nor I had made a public appearance yet. Things wouldn't have ended up like this."
"...I see. I understand what you are getting at."
Larva gave a faint nod.
"We have our own circumstances."
"Which is why I'm asking what those circumstances are."
"And what do you intend to do once you know?"
"Just pure curiosity, really..."
"Then there is no need for me to answer."
"...Understood."
Jin D and Deus Ex Machina backed down.
Evidently, there were secrets Neo-Magias could not afford to let slip—factors that would likely put them at a disadvantage if revealed.
"Even so, this Larva doesn't show much emotion, does he?"
Watching from Hourai Island, Jin reasoned that Larva did not operate on human-based thinking.
"Indeed. Which means he's the one we need to keep a close eye on."
Reinhard seemed to share that sentiment.
'Yes, My Lord, Reinhard-san. That is almost certainly the case.'
Laojun chimed in, supporting Jin and Reinhard's deduction.
'Assuming this Larva is indeed the masked man, his decisiveness and strategic cunning in orchestrating conspiracies must never be underestimated.'
"Understood."
"I have a question of my own."
Larva spoke up.
"What is it?"
"It concerns your fleet....Why are you in these waters?"
"Hm?...Ah, I see what you're asking."
Laojun, who was piloting Jin D, grasped Larva's intent in a fraction of a second, but feigned a brief pause before having Jin D answer.
"We were conducting a sea trial."
"A sea trial, you say?"
"That's right. Our route started east of the Lauren Continent, headed north, circled counterclockwise around the top of the Gondoa Continent, passed through the massive island chain between the Pandor and Gondoa continents, surveyed the waters north of the Darato and Jagus principalities, and looped around to the north of Fusou Island."
"Hmm..."
Larva sank into thought. Jin D pressed onward.
"It took us about three months to make the circuit. We were sailing east along the thirtieth parallel north when we caught wind of this commotion."
While one could argue the timing was far too convenient, Larva felt the lingering awkwardness of having just refused their own question. Moreover, he seemed to assume Jin's side harbored classified matters they could not openly discuss.
"...Very well, let us leave it at that."
As Larva nodded, Jin D added one more detail.
"Things are pretty inconvenient as they stand, so once peace is restored to the Four Principalities, I'm hoping to dig a canal somewhere west of the Darato Principality."
"A canal?!"
"A canal, you say?!"
Jin D's remark drew sharp exclamations of surprise from both Larva and the Duke of the Jagus Principality.
"Yeah, a canal....Though that's still a long way off, and this isn't really the time or place to discuss it, is it?"
"Indeed, that is true."
Jin D steered the conversation back to the matter at hand.
"At any rate, let's focus on what needs to be handled right now."
"Agreed."
Larva nodded.
"Then I shall ask again....What is your objective?"
Niestol Kirillo Jagus, Duke of the Jagus Principality, stepped forward to demand an answer.
"Our objective is..."
In response, Eas opened his mouth to speak...