The black boat that took Reinhard and Stellina left for the river Asur.

The great river, the Asur River, flows out of Lake Asur. Lake Asur is not only a tourist attraction, but also a place where the Kingdom of Selroa can secure valuable fishery resources.

The width of the river is about 300 meters. There are four 40-meter-long boats floating in the middle of the Asur River. They are owned by the Kingdom of Cerroa, and are ferryboats, so to speak, for transporting carriages across the Asur River.

The black boat approached one of them. It was already around four o'clock. It took a long time to get out of the canal and into the river because of the many obstacles and tricks to get out of the canal without being seen.

The sun was setting and no one could see the black boat. The black boat was already at an angle where it could not be seen from the shore.

The distance between the boats was about 150 meters, and the sun was fading, so the naked eye could no longer see what was going on.

The small black boat has pulled up alongside one of the larger ships, and Reinhardt and Stearina have been transferred to it. Their arms are already bound behind their backs.

"What is it?　Are we transferring to a bigger ship?"

Reinhardt says,

"Amari, don't worry about it.

The golem nudges Reinhardt in the face.

The large ship with the two on board heads up the Asur River. The remaining three ships did not respond.

Reinhardt sees this and wonders.

"I don't suppose any of the three ships are under the control of the Unifilers? Or is it ......?"

Reinhardt senses that he is observing his surroundings,

"Your yoni someina kata ni mirareru no chinochi komaruna."

With these words, the golem blindfolded Reinhardt and Stearina.

The large ship was moving at a slow pace. The city of Dali is far away and both banks of the river are deserted. The night was falling and the area was enveloped in darkness.

After about two hours, the boat approached the right bank of the river. There we found the ruins of an old fort. It seems to be a watchtower from the time when the Kingdom of Selroa was expanding its power.

It seems to be no longer in use, and is covered with ivy.

The fort, half of which is built over the river, is quite huge. Although it is a watchtower, it must have been used as an important fort during the war.

It was designed to be accessed by boats directly from the river, and large boats disappeared into the black, open mouth-like doorway.

Now blindfolded and unable to see, Reinhardt could tell by the atmosphere that a ship had come ashore.

"Have they arrived at their destination?"

A spokesperson-like golem voice said, "Have we arrived at our destination?

"Tsuita ori te moraou!"

Reinhardt is triggered by a human-like arm.

"Ouch!　You have to be more gentle!"

I heard Stearina's voice. She seems to be with him.

Blindfolded, Reinhardt walks up the stairs, down the corridor, around the corner and up the stairs again.

Eventually he feels the carpet under his feet and is made to sit in a chair. At the same time, the blindfold is removed.

"Welcome, Mr. Reinhardt, Mr. Stearina. Welcome."

A man sitting in front of him said to him.

"I am Intact Marzecilia de Galvani, the leader of the sixth branch of the Unifiler Party. I am also the Viscount of the Kingdom of Celuloa.

Intact is in his mid-thirties, about the same height as Reinhardt. He was about the same height as Reinhardt, but skinny to the point of being scrawny. Dark brown hair, gray eyes. A crooked eagle nose, chiseled cheeks. His eyes had a brutal gleam to them, almost maddening. He was dressed in a white robe and cloak.

The room where I am now is a large stone room with a carpet on the floor and tapestries hanging on the walls. Countless magic lamps were lit, and the room was as bright as daylight.

"We are honored to have the distinguished magecraftsmen Reinhardt and Stearina in our branch," said Perlman.

"Hmph, just like that Purcell fellow..."

Reinhardt says as if he is going to spit it out. Intact frowned.

"Purcell?　Don't put me in the same category as that imbecile. I'm one of the few branch managers who has been given the newest all-powerful golem."

"The all-powerful golem?"

Yes. Stronger than your Black Knight (Schwarzlitter) and capable of autonomous action. You've seen firsthand how powerful it is.

Well, yes.

Reinhardt affirms.

"And I'm sorry that you had to resort to such a heavy-handed approach, as I'm sure you've approached Stearina many times."

"Hmph, I will not cooperate with you in any way.

Stearina says stoutly, but her voice is slightly trembling.

"Hmph, there is no use in being stubborn. We have the means to make them cooperate with us regardless of their will.

"You mean hypnosis?"

Reinhardt exclaims.

"What?　Who told you that?"

Intact stared at Reinhardt with steely eyes.

"Let me guess. I don't remember who told me that.

"Well, there's no point in playing dumb. If you put me under hypnosis, I'll tell you everything.

Reinhard bit his lip.

"Well, think about it. If you cooperate with us, your magical skills will be greatly improved. After all, we have the world's most gifted magi-craftsmen.

"Oh, I see.

Reinhardt, who knew Jin, had no idea that he was the best in the world.

"Well, I don't trust him. But you've seen the power of the all-powerful golem. It was a golem garden party held in the Kingdom of Egelea, and I took advantage of the commotion I caused at the party to investigate golems in various countries. That's why that golem was created based on that information.

So, the disturbance was a diversion to gather information?

Yes, it was. And I heard that there was a golem that surpassed even the Taurus? <

Intact speaks with a great deal of pride. The madness in his eyes seems to have increased.

"In addition, I have also received a battle golem that specializes in combat. It is nearly twice as strong as the all-purpose golem. It is truly a golem worthy of the name 'invincible.

Reinhardt does not know all of Reiko's powers. But he knows about Jin's technology and the island of Horai that was shown to him the other day. Knowing this, what the man in front of him says sounds hollow.

"Well, I don't think you should use invincibility so easily.

Reinhardt said this sarcastically, and Intact seemed to take it as a reference to the black knight (Schwarzlitter),

"Well, I thought you would say so.

He laughed it off.

"At any rate, Mr. Reinhardt, Mr. Stearina, as long as you are here, no help will come. And even if they do, it will take an army of over a thousand to bring them down. Think carefully and let me hear your answer.

With that, Intact squared his jaw and four black masked men forced Reinhardt and Stearina to their feet and led them out of the room.

"Where are you taking us?"

Reinhardt said,

"The guest room," one of the men answered.

One of the men answered, "The guest room," and locked them in the room at the bottom of the stairs. There were no windows and only two simple beds. Only one magic lamp was on, and the room was dimly lit.

"Phew."

Reinhardt is relieved when his hands are released from behind his back. Stearina is drooping.

"Stellina, cheer up!"

When Reinhardt says this to her, she stays down. She is also feeling a bit lazy, which is also the reason for her low spirits.

"......It's no use. No matter how much she refuses, she will end up like Dominique.

Reinhardt had told her the other day that Dominique had been brainwashed or hypnotized, and Stearina shuddered at the memory of that maniacal behavior.

"I can't do that!　I don't want to be myself anymore!"

She was shocked by her own words and seemed to be getting more and more panicky.

"Don't worry, I'm here for you."

Reinhardt hid the fact that he too was feeling lazy and gently hugged and patted Stearina on the back. This seemed to wake up Stearina's arousal.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Reinhardt."

When she pulls away from Reinhardt, Stearina's cheeks are a little red. She falls back on the bed.

"Now what are we going to do?"

Lying on the bed, Reinhard ponders.

He tried to contact the innkeeper in the town of Dali, but he could not find a manacam. The protection ring has been taken away.

I was kidnapped in the late afternoon. It took me 5 or 6 hours to get here. And an hour or so after that.

It's about time, if you notice anything unusual from the fact that you haven't called Jin on time. If he can find himself with the device he used to find Erza, perhaps help will arrive tomorrow morning.

Reinhardt thought so and tried to hang on until tomorrow morning.

But he was mistaken.

For one thing, Jin did not realize that he did not know Reinhardt's magic pattern.

And the other was.

"Reinhardt-sama, isn't it?"

Jin and Houraishima's ability to get serious.