On July 1, Edda Yima and Lauria Matsuta of the Nostalgia Party visited the Principality of Jagus.

As tribute, they delivered 30 kilograms of magi stones, 15 kilograms of magi crystals, and a general-purpose battle golem.

"Well, thank you."

Zain Meziebe, the Minister of Internal Affairs, received and inspected them.

Edda Yima makes a proposal to the Minister.

"Well, I heard that you can meet Elena this time when you delivered the last ......."

"Yes?　......mm. ......Yes,............ wait a bit."

The Minister of Internal Affairs knew about the appointment, so he made them wait and went to check with the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Edda Yima and Lauria Matsuta waited in silence.

They were in a hostile environment where they did not know where they would be watched. They refrain from unnecessary conversation.

They waited for 30 minutes.

At last, Zain Meziebe returned.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I checked with the Prime Minister. I'll let you see Elena at first sight."

"Thank you."

The two of them are always on the down-low, always trying to satisfy the other's vanity.

"Good. Then, follow me."

With these words, the minister led them outside.

Then he put them in the golem car waiting there and took them to the <>.

* * * *

"...... is Elena here?"

"Yes. But only to see her.

Zayn Mezibeh led them to the entrance of the tower.

It was guarded by four soldiers who made sure that they could not escape easily.

In addition, a battle golem roamed the grounds as a guard.

Unbeknownst to Edda Yima and Lauria Matsuta, since Jin and Rhodes succeeded in escaping, the current security force is twice as large as it was then.

As it was, Edda Yima and Lauria Matsuta remained at the entrance to the tower. The minister went up the stairs, opened the door at the end of the stairs, and went inside.

There were two soldiers at the top of the stairs.

After 10 minutes of waiting, the door opened.

The door opened and the fake Elena appeared.

She was accompanied by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Zain Meziebe.

The minister came down the stairs, but the soldiers stopped her and she only looked down from the top of the stairs.

"What do you think?　"How are you? I took you to see Elena. She looks good, doesn't she?

Lauria Matsuta noticed that the breath of Minister Zayn Mezibeh smelled faintly of sweet, candy-like air as he said this.

"Elena-sama!"

Edda Yima exclaimed, as if overcome with emotion.

In response, the fake Elena smiled and waved her hand. Then, urged on by the soldiers, she disappeared behind the door.

"Well, now I have fulfilled my promise. ...... So, I have an additional request for the next souvenir."

"What?　Last time you said it would be the same as the first time. ......"

Edda Yima protested softly, but Zayn Mezibeh was having none of it,

"We have our own reasons."

Zayn Mezibeh was not afraid to say so.

"......So, what do you want?"

Zayn Mezibeh answered Edda Yima's question.

"...... a seasoning."

"...... what?

"That's why I told you to add the various seasonings."

The fake Elena was serving home-cooked meals to the people around her, Edda Yima recalled the information she had heard beforehand.

And Lauria Matsuta,

(Ah, the sweet aroma just now was from picking cookies or something. ......)

) She realized that she had just picked cookies or something.

"Okay."

Adding seasonings was not difficult, so Edda Yima and Lauria Matsuta agreed to do so.

"Good."

And they were put back in the golem car and sent on their way.

"See you in five days.

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

On the same day, Jin was in the Principality of Dalat.

More precisely, he had been there since the day before.

He landed in Radatola, the capital of the Principality, using a granted by the King, and requested a meeting with the King.

Of course, he was immediately taken to the palace where he spoke directly with Gilberto de Dalat, who was feeling much better.

"I see that you have decided to join the three duchies," he said.

As expected, Gilberto nodded.

Thanks to you, my health has improved a lot. You can join us anytime.

It had been five days since his treatment, and he was gradually learning to walk.

"That's good to hear."

Jin then handed over 20 bottles of Persica juice that he had brought with him.

"By the time these run out, I'm sure your body will be back to normal.

"Oh, Jin-dono, thank you."

Jin then announced that the signing ceremony would take place four days later, on July 5, on board the <>, the <>.

"A 100 meter airship. ...... I look forward to the ride."

The king's eyes lit up.

"I will come and get you myself in the hurricane."

Jin said.

And from the to the , he can use the to transfer.

< can carry six passengers, so it can accommodate four passengers besides Jin and Reiko.

There was no problem to carry the four persons, the Prince, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the escort.

If they wanted to participate more, they would only have to make several round trips.

Or we could set up a , Jin thought.

"So, the location is east of Lake Kotsushi, is that right?

"That is the plan.

This was decided because there was no guarantee that <> would not be discovered on the sea to the south of the Principality of Mimaka and the Principality of Dalat.

Of course, the island of Onogoro is covered with a <>, so it would be discovered only rarely.

There was also the judgment that the airspace above the unnamed peak between the four duchies could be seen by the Duchy of Jagus and could be attacked.

That is why the area east of Lake Kotsi, which is not in any country's territory, was chosen.

* * * * * * * * * *

Jin was kept for a day and explained the lifestyle and culture of the <>.

"...... vehicles include horses, carriages, golem cars, wind-powered floaters (blow floaters), sailboats, and golem ships. ......"

"Food, for that matter, is made from a variety of ingredients. ......"

"Academics, if you wish, can be found at ......."

* * * *

The next day, July 1, Jin returned to the Principality of Mimaka and reported.

"Thank you very much, Jin-dono. The Principality of Mimaka and the Principality of Norway also agreed that July 5th would be fine.

Thus, the schedule adjustment with the three duchies was successfully completed, and all that remained was to wait for the signing ceremony.