Something floating outside the window. It's a hot air balloon made in the Kingdom of Cerroa. No, it is a <>.

It looks just like the one used by the Unifilers in the past.

When Jin and the others step out onto the balcony, the balloon has just risen about 10 meters. <

"It's a bad thing we went out there," he said. ......Erza, tell Edgar to get the knife ......."

"Hmm. Edgar, aim for that balloon.

"Yes."

Before Jin could finish, Elsa instructed Edgar.

Edgar's knife, the one still remaining, is released. It misses and cuts through the air sac. The gondola is falling.

"Hm?

But there is nothing or no one in the broken gondola that has fallen into the courtyard.

"Oh, no!　A decoy!

The generic golem seems to be quite clever.

"It's possible that it was checking out our country's secrets. Hmmm, I wonder where he hid: ......"

"Well, he's probably trying to get out anyway. Delight seems to have been abandoned."

Jin glanced at the floor.

The Delight is left unconscious. It seems that Rekar, the generic golem, was not only listening to Delight's instructions, but was also investigating various information about the Klein Kingdom and informing his master.

He may have been the real mastermind. If so, the longer it takes, the harder it will be to catch him.

"Reiko, can't you detect it?"

Reiko has a . Due to its size, it is not as accurate as the Magi Radar, but it is very practical.

"This is the control core that was taken out of the big golem a while ago. If the maker is the same, his magic pattern will be helpful.

"Okay, I'll give it a try."

Reiko received the control core from Jin, read the magic pattern, and activated the Magi Detector to look for similar magic.

"...... understand."

Reiko said in a quiet voice.

"...... there!"

Reiko pointed to a corner of the balcony, behind a wooden box.

"Edgar?"

"Yes!"

A knife is released from Edgar's hand.

There is a metallic click, and the thrown knife is knocked away. At the same time, the spell of <> is broken.

This <> spell is a spell to make one's presence disappear, but it loses its effect if one speaks out or is attacked.

"What?　There it is!"

Princess Rieschen's surprised voice.

Rekar, realizing that he could no longer escape, aimed at the one who looked the most likely to be able to give him the best chance.

That is, the smallest ...... Reiko.

Rekar did not see Reiko defeat the heavy work golem in the hallway, nor did he see her neutralize three more battle golems.

Therefore, he might have thought to attack Reiko, the smallest of the three, and maybe even take her hostage.

"That's stupid."

Reiko intercepts Reker, considering the angle.

She steps forward, dodges Reker's outstretched arm, and moves into his pocket. Then she strikes him with a small fist.

With a heavy thud, Reker is blown away.

"Ah!"

Just before Reiko's fist touches him, he twists his body in a desperate attempt to escape, and his flight over the balcony railing and into the courtyard is slightly off course.

As a result.

"Whoa!

Who uttered that voice?

The walls of the royal castle...... Delight's office wall blew away along with the leeker.

"The outer walls are 70 centimeters thick, you know. ......"

Princess Rieschen's voice rang out in exasperation.

* * * *

That evening, Jin and Erza were in the Prime Minister's office.

"......I have so many things to tell you, I don't know where to start,...... but first I would like to thank you."

The Prime Minister bowed first to Elsa and then to Jin.

"Your Majesty's condition seems to be much better. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Miss Elsa, Jin-dono, and the Shoro Empire for sending you both.

"No, it is more than half a coincidence that we found the cause of your illness. We would never have known if we hadn't asked His Highness Rieschen about it."

"No, in fact, our healers found the cause of your illness and cured you where many others had failed to do so."

"...... If you say it's natural, it's because healers are supposed to cure diseases."

"No, no, its hard to take for granted ......"

Words of gratitude and humility were mixed. After a while, they finally converge.

"...... we have to talk about the next topic. Former Industry Minister Delight."

"Yes."

Jin and Elsa straighten up and listen.

"After our investigation, we were unable to prove any connection between Delight and the Kingdom of Celuloa."

"Why, sir?"

Delight had clearly mentioned the name of the Kingdom of Celuloa to Elsa.

"No, I mean the royal family of Celuloa, or the government, to be precise."

"......"

"I'm sure he had ties to the people of the Kingdom of Celuloa. But it's not a personal connection. There's nothing to prove that the Kingdom of Celluloid as a nation had ties to Delight."

"That's absurd!　Didn't they divert 300 tons of wheat, or receive a golem in return, or any number of other things?"

Jin also approaches the Prime Minister with an indignant tone. But the Prime Minister looked disappointed.

"......That's the thing, Jin-dono submitted the control core as evidence, but no matter how many details I read, not even the name of the maker, let alone the name of the Kingdom of Celuloa, came up.

That's a very careful move," the Prime Minister concluded.

"But this does not mean that we have given up. This time it became clear that they are sending agents into our country to destroy it from within. Then we can do something about it.

The prime minister did not say what steps he planned to take.

"And as for the honorarium," he said.

The Prime Minister began to speak, looking apologetic.

"To tell the truth, our country's finances are strained at the moment. No, we are on the verge of bankruptcy. So we can't thank you in money. I am ...... sorry!"

The Prime Minister stands up and bows deeply to Jin and Erza.

Jin and Erza cannot remain silent when he says so.

"...... I have come by order of His Majesty the Emperor to treat His Majesty the King. In other words, I am here on official business. So there is no need to thank me."

Erza says in reply. Jin's eyes were kind as he looked at her.

"But, Jin-dono, you are a certified by our nation, and an honorary knight. Nothing is left to be desired."

With these words, the Prime Minister took what appeared to be some sort of document from his desk.

"I would like to bestow upon Miss Elsa the title of in the Kingdom of Klein. And I would like to reward Jin-dono by making the village of Kaina an independent territory.

"Independent territory?"

The name was unfamiliar to me.

"No wonder you don't understand. It is a newly created system. An independent territory means that although it belongs externally to the Kingdom of Klein, it is actually the domain of Jin-dono.

The Kingdom of Klein will not interfere in any way. In effect, it is the Kingdom of Jin. The Prime Minister explained, "But officially, I want it to be called the Kingdom of Klein.

"It is more of a territory than a fiefdom. The Kingdom of Klein will not be involved in the area north of the village of Kaina.

"Understood. I accept.

"Oh, thank you."

The Prime Minister may have thought that this was not beneficial to Jin from a practical standpoint, but in fact it was not.

The area from the northern part of the village of Kaina to the Pazdekst isthmus can be called a vacant zone. It is the same as the recognition of the Kingdom of Klein as Jin's territory.

In effect, Jin has claimed more than a third, if not half, of the territory of the Kingdom of Klein. Jin can use this land effectively in many ways.

"Now, lastly, I would like to talk about desiccants.

The Prime Minister resumed.

"I would like to hear about the desiccant you made for Delight.

Since Delight's replacement has not yet been chosen, it seems that the Prime Minister will be taking over.

Seeing the Prime Minister's face, which had grown a little thin again, Jin became concerned about his health.