"Are you a magical engineer (magi engineer)......?"

Lao Tzu asks in return, and Oliver gives a supplementary explanation.

"Yes. There is not a single Magi Engineer here in the town of Ismar."

"I understand that, but are you going to hire ...... one?"

Lao Tzu asked.

"No, no,...... yes, well, yes. It's not me who wants to ...... hire you, but someone I know."

"I see,...... and what are the terms and conditions?　I would not be able to introduce him to you if you don't tell me what his requirements are.

"......You are right. ...... Well, the salary is negotiable, but I don't think it will be less than 20,000 dollars per month. The work will be repairing ...... various magical tools."

"Hmm, so where will you be working?"

Oliver was visibly flustered by the question.

"...... I'm afraid I can't give you an answer to that question. ...... Well, it wouldn't be good if I said ...... in the desert, would it?"

Hearing these words, Lao Tzu's thoughts turned to the question. Even though Lao Tzu is using only a part of his processing power, his processing speed is many times faster than that of human beings.

(Probably an alien race or someone connected to them. (I think it would be better to extract a little more information here and leave the rest to us.)

Lao Tzu shrugged his shoulders, having made such a decision in an instant.

"I don't think there are any magical engineers who would be willing to hire me just for that story. ......"

"So, I guess. ...... Well, I trust you, Mr. Roshi, and I'm going to tell you something. ...... But first, please do not tell anyone about what I'm going to tell you as much as possible."

"Of course."

"......The people who need magical engineers are the ones who sold us the bonito flakes.

"Hoh."

Lao Tzu secretly exclaimed in delight at his prediction.

"I see. I can imagine what you mean. ...... Then, you must have some people in mind.

I answer appropriately. I have no idea, but we are about to prepare the fifth column (quinta).

"Really?

But Oliver was overjoyed.

"Well, that's great. Well, when can I meet you?"

Lao Tzu played the role of a thoughtful man.

"...... Well, it will be about five days from now....... That is when my husband will be in town." Oliver heard this and looked at her.

Oliver was elated to hear this.

"Yes, yes, of course!　Please, please, please, please!"

He bowed again and again. Lao Tzu stopped them.

When the excitement subsided, Oliver asked again.

What kind of person is this Master Lao Shi?　If you don't mind my asking, I would like to know.

Lao Tzu had to think a little about what he said. He was not sure whether he could tell Jin or not.

But, Lao Tzu being Lao Tzu, he came to a conclusion in less than a second even though he was thinking about it.

"His name is Mr. Nido, and he is traveling in search of rare materials.

He revealed not Jin's name but his family name.

"You say your name is Mr. Nido? I presume you are here for sandworm leather?

"Yes."

Oliver thought about this answer for a moment and then said,

"In that case, we would be happy to prepare it for you.

He said, "In that case, we would be happy to get it for you. Since there was no problem, Lao Tzu agreed.

"Then, I will visit you in five days with an engineer.

"Yes, please do."

Thus, Lao Tzu had a foothold in a foreign country.

* * * * * * * * * *

The same day in the village of Kaina.

"Master Jin, may I ask you a question?

As Jin is relaxing on the second floor of the workshop, Meane comes to him and asks for his advice.

Of course. Yes?"

Jin nodded his head, so Meane quickly got down to business.

Jin-sama has been taking Hannah to many cities and towns, hasn't he?

"Yes.

"Do you consider the risk of kidnapping?"

"Yes. Not only Hanna, but also Erza has a covert SP to escort her without being seen.

At this point Meane shakes her head.

"No. Not in the sense of danger, but in the sense of making sure everyone knows about it."

"Is it known to all?"

"Yes, sir. Master Jin has received honorary knighthoods in three countries. This means that you must act as a nobleman. In doing so, he must be accompanied by at least one visibly recognizable bodyguard.

In other words, they need to show off.

"So it is necessary to show the insolent people that they will be hurt if they touch us.

"So that's what you're saying. ......"

Jin has Reiko, Erza has Edgar, and Hanna is usually with Jin. Even if not, Jin thought that the covert task force (SP) was enough.

"When I walk around town in a dress, of course, but also in normal clothes," he said.

The capital of the Shoro Kingdom, Leusert, is a safe place and kidnappings are rare, but the regional cities of the Kingdom of Selroa and the Franz Kingdom are not so safe.

"I don't know what kind of place Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein, is like, but I think we should be very careful.

"I understand. Thank you."

After receiving Meane's advice, Jin thought about it.

"Well, then, there is ...... Lao Tzu, and I don't see why we have to start ...... anew," he said.

"Well, I don't mind if it doesn't look like a human being.

"Oh, I see."

Jin is a Magecraft Meister.

At least in the three countries that recognize this, it would not be surprising if he had a golem to protect him.

"Okay, this is where the steward comes in.

Steward is a handy all-purpose golem created by Jin to guard the golem chariot.

Although it looks tough, its basic performance is better than that of a butler, and it is an ultra-high-performance golem that can do everything from hard work to precision work.

Jin immediately contacts the old man and instructs him to give necessary information to the steward who is waiting at Horai Island.

The old man can tell the steward the purpose of the project by transinfo, which will save him the trouble of explaining it to him.

"The problem is that the number of people in the group has increased since we left the Shoro Empire, hasn't it ......?

Yes, it would be strange if there are more stewards who were not there when we left Shoro by airship.

"......I hope they didn't contact us from the Shoro Empire to tell us how many people are going with us. ......"

Hearing Jin's mutterings, the old man contacted him.

"I see.

The manaphone was given to each country so that the old man could monitor their conversations.

"Then there is no problem to take him with us. ......?

If there is a problem, it is overweight. But if the weight is reduced by gravity magic, there will be no problem.

Thus, Jin prepared for his visit to Alban, the capital of the Kingdom of Klein.

"I should get going.

At 1:30 p.m., Jin sat up.

The time difference between Kayna and Alban is about 20 minutes. It was not a big difference.

It would be enough for him to arrive in the early afternoon.

"Hey, sweetie."

Hannah's here.

Jin.

Erza's ready, too.

I'm off then.

Erza, do your duty.

Be careful, Jin.

After greeting Mine and Martha who saw them off, Jin and the others flew to Horai Island.