The date is back a little, May 20.

A local city, <>, is located 50 kilometers north of Jag, the capital of the Principality of Jagus.

There is a 100 meter square area surrounded by a 4 meter high wall, known as the <>.

It is commonly referred to as the .

The area is similar to the Dejima, which once existed in Nagasaki during the Edo period.

Merchants from various countries stay there and conduct business with the Duchy of Jagus.

The agents, <> and <>, who have been dispatched from <>, blurted out, "I'm staying here for a few days, but I'll be back soon.

"Ha ...... I didn't know you were going to extend your stay ......."

"Yes. ......"

She was supposed to leave here in mid-May for her homeward journey, but she was stranded due to circumstances on the part of the Duchy of Jagus.

"I wonder what happened. ......"

"I wonder what happened. ......"

They were completely bored, as they could only move around in a compartment of only 100 meters square.

* * *

"Are the merchants stranded?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Yes, Your Majesty. Have you made the arrangements at ......?

They will be ready tomorrow.

Good.

But, Your Majesty, at this rate we will never be able to keep up with the supply.

Mm. ......

We'll have to do something about the technicians. ...... It hurts that we had to give up the Principality of Mercana.

"Indeed. But we'll manage. The technical staff is getting stronger.

huh?

* * * * * *

Then, on May 22nd.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. We have finally prepared drinking water and food.

<.

Behind him were barrels of water and containers of food such as dried bread.

"Oh, finally!

I've been waiting a long time for this.

"Come on, give it to me!"

"Yes, we will give them to you in that order. ...... first, the people of the Kingdom of Klein: ......."

The officer in charge gave the merchants from each country the water and food they would need on the way back.

"Finally. ......"

<<> and <>, supposedly merchants from <>, were the last to receive water and food.

"Now you can go home!"

The other merchants all looked happy. They are hurriedly preparing to return home.

Sean Dennison and Dorothea Arkin were in the same boat.

By noon that day, all of the merchants had left the and were on their way back to their home countries.

Of course, Sean Dennison and Dorothea Arkin were there.

No wonder they were all there, for they were being transported in a sturdy Golem vehicle that resembled a prisoner convoy.

The golem vehicles, although old, were quite strong and could easily tow the wagons loaded with the merchants' goods.

They first headed northwest from Dragul to the seaside town of , about 25 kilometers away.

There they found a huge .

This magic circle is old and huge, and requires a large amount of magic crystals to activate. Needless to say, all of them are owned by the merchants.

Even so, the ability to transfer an entire cart was worth the use of magi crystals.

In other words, it was a very efficient means of transportation. Hence, the merchants paid for the expensive magi crystals out of their own pocket.

The host magic circle is located in the town of in the southern part of Mitsuho.

This is a port town where ships from many countries dock.

The merchants board their ships and return to their own countries.

< and is about 4 hours. < is 4:00 p.m., and it is still light enough to see.

Merchants from different countries load their ships and spend the night in the town of Tosa.

It is reckless to set sail after dark.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

You're finally getting your life back.

Yes.

Sean Dennison and Dorothea Arkin boarded the Nostalgia ship with their luggage.

They used the ship's transfer magic circle to move to the headquarters via a relay station.

Elena was waiting for them there, and she thanked them for their reinstatement.

"Sean Dennison, Dorothea Arkin. Thank you for your service.

Yes, Elena.

You're late, aren't you?

We were about a week behind schedule.

Yes. We couldn't get enough water and food for all of you.

"I see. ...... where did you get the water and food?"

"Yes, along with the goods we bought."

When Elena heard this, she said,

"Find out what water and food they brought back!"

She gave the order.

Then, ...... was analyzed.

The report was: "Dear Elena, the water and food were normal.

Elena was disappointed.

Elena was disappointed.

"I see. ....... I thought there might be some secret in them.

"What do you mean?"

Wattes Schletzer, a close associate of Elena's, asked.

"It is extraordinary that the Duchy of Jagus is selling goods of little value and no one complains about it. I thought you might know why."

In short, I thought it was like a drug, a brainwashing drug," Elena explained.

"Maybe they were just being cautious."

Sean Dennison said.

"As I mentioned in my report, some merchants from the Kingdom of Selroa were suspected of being agents and were detained while we were there."

Elena looked at him with difficulty.

"I see. ....... This is the first time we've done business with them. They might have been wary of us."

Elena wished she had some way of checking the water and food that the merchants from the other countries had brought back,...... she thought ruefully.