< and are now able to talk to each other.

"......For the time being, I'm going to attach this <>> to <>>."

For the time being, it would remain here in the workshop, but it was thought that it would not become unstable if moved in this way.

"Now, can I ask you a few questions, <>?"

"Sure. The conversational function seems to be working fine.

"That's a big deal. ...... What is the raison d'etre of your existence?"

To serve my master and those closest to him.

"I see. How do you define "those close to you" or how do you draw the line between them and others?

"Whether or not they do harm to their masters, whether or not they do what their masters do not want them to do.

Here Rodriguez makes his first bet. It's a gamble with a good chance of winning, though.

"Well," he says, "I guess. "Well... ...... how do we position ourselves?"

Neutral... friendly.

I see.

Since we've only made talk for now, and we haven't repaired it or anything, it's not surprising that we're not very friendly, Rodriguez decided.

"What is it that your master wants or does not want?"

This was important. He needed to know this in order not to be considered an adversary without knowing it.

In a word, what we want is peace. To be more specific, we do not want to bother our masters.

"Hmm. ......"

Here Rodriguez thinks.

（It is unlikely that the master of is still alive. ) If so, then those closest to him must have priority. But is that ......?)

So, after thinking about the question, I asked it again.

"I won't ask about your <>, but can't you ask about the <>?"

《......Yes, I can tell you briefly. By <> I mean the family and friends of <>.

Is it forbidden to know where they live?

Yes. Yes, it's forbidden.

But not in this country?

...... The only thing I'm sure of is that it's not within 1,000 kilometers of where I last stopped.

Rodriguez thought, "Oh my God," he said.

"Age 1, how well do you know other countries?"

"Yes, I know them.

A voice came out of someone's mouth.

"What are they like?"

"That's a vague question. ...... Well, in a word, .

"Peaceful?　Not peace?

Yes. Peace is a little short of peace. But there are no wars, no disasters. But there are no wars, no disasters.

Are we not invading each other?

No, we are not invading each other.

"......"

Not only Rodriguez, but also the other members of the could not help but be surprised by this information.

So they thought to themselves,

"You're not lying, are you?

I asked him.

It is not a lie. There is no point in giving you false information. You can find out if you look it up.

But we don't have the means to find out, Rodriguez thought, but did not say so.

After a few more questions, the conversation turned to something else.

We'd like to fix you, but we don't have the technology. You said ...... that you are general-purpose, but can you teach us how to do that?"

"Yes, a little bit.

"Oh, yes!"

Everyone in the room was buzzing.

Now their skills had hit their ceiling.

If they could break out of their shells, even just a little, they would be able to aim higher .......

Now, please explain.

Yes, I will. ......In the first place, engineering magic is all about image. ......

's explanation began with the rudiments.

But it was a gospel for those who had been self-taught for a long time.

It is important to be able to form a ...... image, and the way to practice is to make a perfect sphere, and to make several objects of the same size at the same time. ......

The day ended after about an hour of such a talk.

* * * *

That night, Rodriguez was relaxing and talking with his wife Ariana.

"...... was a good day, wasn't it?"

"Yes, it was. We've been so self-involved that we've neglected the basics, haven't we?

"That's right. But if that can teach us the basics, we can go a long way.

"I'm really looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, Lubark Bassi is saying..,

"d*mn!　I missed ......!"

He was disappointed that Rodriguez had taken the best part of the game.

And then,

"...... well, I'll go to < now and ask around."

He thought, "I'll go to < now and ask him a lot of questions so that I can stand out from the others.

Lubark Bassi steps into the empty, secluded workshop.

"<>, I am Lubark Bassi. I'm a colleague of Rodriguez."

"Hmm, what can I do for you?

I'd like to talk a little bit more about you.

I don't mind, but are you alone?　What about the other four?

They have their reasons.

I see.

So, what's the story?　You want to talk about it?

All right. But it depends on what you want to talk about.

What do you mean?

I can't tell you what I think all your friends would be better off hearing.

declared that he would tell us what he thought everyone should hear when everyone was present.

"......"

Lubark is astonished.

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

"...... already."

"Already?

Enough. I'm going back tonight. I'll get together what I want to ask you and come back later.

Okay. I'll be waiting.

Thus, Lubark Bassi's plan to make a run for it had gone awry.