"Lady Elena!　Are you safe?

"Wow, I'm so glad... ............!"

As Elena had planned, she was reunited with Edda Yima and Lauria Matsuta at the Nostalgia branch in the southern city of Mitsuho.

The two were so relieved that Lauria Matsuta even began to cry with relief.

"I'm sorry I worried you, both of you," she said.

Elena confided that she could not reveal how she had been rescued, but that she had been saved by the Magecraft Meister, Jin Nido.

She explained that the price was that she would not reveal the rescue method to others, so neither Edda Yima nor Lauria Matsuta would inquire further into the matter.

The next day, on the 22nd, Elena went to the hospital to see her husband.

The next day, the 22nd, Elena and her group returned to the headquarters.

A strategy meeting was held immediately.

First, they reported on their visit to the Principality of Jagus, the mock battle with Jagus Golem, their visit to the research institute, and their confinement in the ,

"What nonsense!　Did they not do anything to you, Elena-sama?"

Wattes Schletzer, the military chief of staff, showed his indignation.

"Yes, don't worry. If I were serious, they would be a match made in armor.

Elena tried to soften Wattes-Shrezza's anger a little and replied in a way she did not usually use.

"That's fine, but ......"

"I'd rather think about putting this to good use."

Wattes Schletzer reacted to Elena's words with a twitch.

"Is it for use ......?"

"Yes."

Elena nodded and explained her purpose.

"For the time being, I'm not going out. In other words, <> will pretend that I am still a hostage.

Elena then explained that she wanted to carry out the operation by pretending to accept the demands being made of her.

"But, this ...... one who has taken Elena's place, is she safe?"

Edda Yima said with a concerned look on her face.

"That's all right. The substitute is also an automata created by Jin-sama.

"Is that so? If that's the case, I wonder if we can make a drastic strategy as well.

Wattes-Shrezza thinks for a moment.

Then he looked at Edda Yima and Lauria Matsuta, the technical staff,

"I think we can do a lot of things with the technical staff," he told them.

He begins to explain what he has in mind.

* * * *

The old man, of course, was also present at the meeting. With Elena's permission.

And if there was a need for magic tools that Edda Yima and Lauria Matsuta could not handle, he was going to prepare them himself.

And if the old man is not able to provide them, I will ask Jin to do so.

It seems that Wattes-Shrezza's plan was based on an accurate assessment of their own capabilities.

<

The old man traced the thoughts of Wattes Schletzer, hoping to learn from his planning skills.

* * * * * *

"First of all, the act that Lady Elena is being held hostage must be carried through by all parties involved. This is a prerequisite."

Wattes Schrezza looked around at the executives lined up in front of him.

"Then we will listen to the Duchy of Jagus. ...... I think it is quite probable that they will ask for <><><>."

No one objects.

"There is also a possibility that they will ask for other magical tools."

This is a guess based on information from those who have actually seen the Duchy of Jagus.

"Magi stones (magi stones) should be left as they are. The magi crystals will be modified.

Wattes Schrezza confirmed this with the technical team in advance.

"It's only a slight modification. When we hit it with a certain magical power, it will collapse.

With this, Wattes said, it is possible to disable magic tools, golems, etc., that use these magic crystals at any time.

"And as for the magic tools, we will do the same with these."

<

"The magic power will be Elena-sama's magic power."

Since it does not react to any magic pattern other than Elena's, there is no need to worry about it being detected by the inspection.

This means that we do not have to worry about the items we delivered to the Duchy of Jagus.

"...... is the plan I have devised."

Wattes Schrezza bailed to Elena.

"If you have any questions or suggestions for improvement, I would like you to point them out to me."

This is for all of us.

"It's a good idea, Wattes."

Elena said a compliment.

"Thank you, Miss Elena."

Wattes Schrezza bailed happily.

Elena then added, "If you could, I would like to work with you in the magic world.

"If possible, can't you add a wiretap function to the magic tool?"

To this Edda Yima replies.

"Elena, that is not possible with our current technology. Unless you want ...... to be able to detect it.

Wattes Shrezza also replies,

"Elena-sama, I have thought about that too, and I have consulted with the technical team, but it seems to be quite difficult ......."

I've been thinking about it, too, Elena," he said with a frown.

"......Yes, that's too bad."

Elena, too, had given up, saying that what could not be done could not be helped.

(Jin-sama would be able to do it. ......)

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

.

In Horai Island, the old man was planning to make use of Elena's idea.

If we can get <<<< mini-craftsman(smith)>> to process it, it will be processed in a way that even the <> engineers will not be able to detect it>>.

By this process, it is possible to eavesdrop on the sounds near the magic tools and golems that use the magi crystals.

If it is a magic tool used in the meeting room in the castle, we can know the contents of the meeting.

<<>.

The old man instructed his mini-craftsman (Smith) to engrave a for eavesdropping.

Each cherry-sized Magi Crystal uses only the equivalent of a grain of mustard, making it impossible to detect visually.

In addition, the use of magi crystals with small scratches on the inside further reduced the possibility of detection.

Moreover, since the contents of the eavesdropping are transmitted not to Horai Island but to in satellite orbit, there is almost no fear that the destination will be traced.

* * * * * * * * * *

After the meeting, Elena, who was alone in her room, was communicating with the old man using the built-in manacam.

> "Okay," she said.

"Understood. Thank you for your cooperation.

Elena finished her communication and spoke to herself.

"We won't know how effective ...... this strategy of using the other party's intentions against them is until we try it, won't we?"

The counterattack of the < was about to begin.