While I would be keeping the machine, we couldn’t leave it in the garden.
I had to think of a proper place to install it.
And so I returned it to the magic bag for now.
Leaving it in there at all times might be the best way to keep it out of the enemy’s hands.
As I considered this, Philly began to mutter.
“Mister Locke.”
“What?”
“That machine. I would like to study it.”
“I don’t mind…”
I said, but not without a little hesitation. Philly looked a little uneasy.
“Is there a problem?”
“Well, I’m wondering where I could put the machine.”
“Don’t you have many empty rooms?”
“I do, but you can’t just put this machine anywhere. I want a place that can stand the attack of the dark ones.”
“Hm…”
“Besides, the room will become your laboratory, wouldn’t it?”
“Would you mind if it did?”
“I don’t. Do you have all the equipment you will need?”
“As long as there is water… Also, it would be better if no sunlight entered.”
“Then it must be underground. Perhaps I could modify the room connecting to the secret passage.”
I should ask Eric what he thinks, since he would be passing through quite often.
“Eric, what do you think?”
“Would it be dangerous? Like with explosions or fires?”
It was a room that connected to a secret passage that the princesses would use.
Eric was right to be concerned.
“I’m sure there is.”
“That won’t do.”
“I could protect it with magic. So that it can withstand fire and explosions?”
“Hmm. If you can do that Ruck, it should be fine.”
We had Eric’s permission now, so I decided to make Philly’s laboratory in the basement.
We would install the machine there.
After that, we all moved from the garden to the drawing room.
Eric sat down on a chair and took out a small tool.
“What is that?”
“It’s a magic tool that allows you to communicate with people who are far away.”
Eric said as he took out even more of them.
They were shaped like bracelets. And there were four of them.
But he had said before that there were probably none to spare.
“Oh? I thought you didn’t have any left? Were you able to find some?”
“Of course, there were none left. However, accommodations were made.”
“I’m grateful, but won’t that affect other peoples’ work?”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll handle it.”
According to Eric, they were going to trade in a few old models.
“So I have brought you the new ones after they arrived from the magic tool society.”
“What about the department that was supposed to use them?”
“We made an additional order. There will be a delay, of course, but it should not affect their work.”
He said it was fine, because they always traded them in early.
While these magic tools were very expensive, they were still sold in stores.
In that way, they weren’t entirely rare.
“So it won’t inconvenience anyone? That’s good. Thank you.”
“I should have prepared some earlier. It is not good that we cannot contact each other quickly.”
“It will be very useful to have these.”
“Yes, considering the movements of the dark ones, the emergency level is quite high. Your work is very important.”
Eric seemed a little remorseful.
And then he taught me how to use it.
It would allow four people to talk to one another.
“You, Goran and I will use them to communicate. The last one you can give to this dragon, Kathe.”
“Thank you.”
“It will be unbearable if that dragon’s roar echoes throughout the city every time.”
Eric said with a laugh.
After that, Goran came to the mansion, just as I was going to talk about the Most High King.
Goran had said that he would drop by after work. But it was still just a little past midday.
“You’re quite early, Goran.”
“Aye. I just gave them some orders and left. In general, my best subordinates can handle everything if need be.”
And then Goran looked at Eric.
“Ah, you are here too, Eric.”
“You came at a good time. Here, take one of these.”
“Ah, one of those communication rings, eh?”
Eric handed one of them to Goran.
I guess that was what they were called.
And then I explained the whole thing to Goran.
About Kathe. About the alchemy machine in the dragon ruins.
And the Most High King.
“The Most High King of the dark ones, eh? A vampire above the Vampire High Lord?”
“I think that it is possible.”
“I will have the guild look into it then.”
“Thank you.”
Eric said.
“Locke. This dragon, Kathe. Do you think we can get along?”
“Indeed. I think we can.”
“It would be good to be allies. Would that be possible?”
Eric said with a serious expression.
“It is, but…”
“Is there something you’re not sure about?”
Goran asked, and so I explained.
Kathe was very passionate about saving the dragon ruins.
I was not sure that Kathe would care to cooperate with anything else.
“I see. In any case, we must avoid becoming enemies. Locke. Can I ask you to negotiate?”
“I will try.”
“Just in case, I will send a message throughout the guild. Ruins are not to be messed with or even entered.”
“That would be great.”
“Though, I do not know if every Adventurer will obey it…”
They tended to be very free people.
And there were many bad people among the lower ranks.
“I understand that as well.”
I petted Grulf and thought about how to deal with Kathe.