Chapter 255: Release of the AB Structure
A colossal object was being transported into the Silverhead Duke’s Residence. It had been unloaded from the Paraiso, the large cargo ship, and was now being escorted by soldiers from the Paraiso as it made its way to the Duke’s estate.
The Duke’s residence stood as a symbol of authority, boasting a vast expanse of land and a grand entrance that matched its stature. However, the structure being brought in was even larger than the main gate itself.
As a result, the entrance had to be dismantled, leaving a gaping opening.
“W-What have they brought in…?”
The marines guarding the main gate stared up in astonishment at the enormous object. Even after removing all the gate’s installations, the width was barely sufficient, and its height seemed to surpass that of the three-story Duke’s residence. This gigantic entity was slowly moving on a massive dolly, making its way into the estate.
“Impressive work.”
“Your Grace! Ah! Thank you!”
While watching the beautifully paved stone path and the lush green grass being lifted under the weight, Duke Amagio Silverhead waved at Ashidancera = Ayame Zero, who was approaching.
“Hello, Sera. I’ve been eagerly awaiting this day.”
“It was transported all the way from the homeland. We must ensure it is properly welcomed.”
“You’re as diligent as ever. Well, I’ve prepared the terrace. Let’s head over there.”
Amagio and his attendants guided Ashidancera and her group to the ready terrace, where rare tea leaves from the Kingdom of Repuitari and various local sweets were laid out.
“Goodness. I was wondering what you would do, and then you bring in something so outrageous.”
“This is just the beginning. Eventually, we will relocate the equipment to the leased land, and this will serve as a backup.”
As she responded, Ashidancera reached for the sweets that had just been served. The pastry chef, accustomed to her presence, began explaining the delicacies.
While they continued their pleasant conversation, the enormous mysterious machine finally reached its designated spot. Watching as the dolly’s functions automatically secured it in place, Amagio took a sip of tea.
“Now then. Let’s confirm a bit more about that.”
“Understood.”
Ashidancera placed her cup on the saucer and extended her right hand sideways. One of the accompanying guard soldiers from the Paraiso stepped forward and placed something in her hand.
“This is the access key.”
She set it on the table and slid it toward Amagio.
It was an electronic key encased in crystal, about the thickness and length of a thumb. Embedded in the center was a layered circuit, with eight golden terminals extending toward the tail end.
“It has been formatted for you to read directly. Once used, you will be able to communicate directly with that expanded brain.”
“Hmm…”
Duke Amagio Silverhead gently picked up the crystal key. The electronic circuit was no larger than the tip of his pinky. It contained a decryption certificate for establishing a secure communication route.
“The AB Structure is equipped with a small nuclear fusion reactor. More than half of its volume is taken up by that. The rest consists of computational devices and defensive armor. It can also be integrated into the power supply grid.”
“The power supply grid… Oh right, you mentioned microwave power transmission. Are you really using that?”
“There’s no civilization nearby to detect it, so it’s quite useful.”
And then Ashidancera continued, “An important function: maintenance for your body.”
At her words, Amagio looked puzzled.
“There’s no need to be surprised. Even if it’s maintenance-free, after a hundred years, distortions are likely to occur. It would be wise to undergo an overhaul at this time. You could also add a memory expansion unit.”
“Ah…”
Amagio fell silent, wearing an expression that was hard to read.
“I have no intention of harming you, so please rest assured. There’s no benefit for us in taking such an indirect approach. It would be far less risky and cost-effective for us to sever ties altogether than to set something up against you.”
“Ah, no, that’s not it…”
Fiddling with the crystal key in his hand, Amagio sighed and continued, “I just thought it was quite generous of you. I would have been fine with a device that could only be used for a short time. All I really need is the expansion of my Archive. To bring in such a magnificent piece with a proper power reactor…”
He pointed at the massive equipment that was currently drilling into the ground, creating a foundation hole.
“You went out of your way to bring this. Sera, no, I can’t understand what you all are thinking or what the benefit is of going this far. Well, if it’s goodwill, then I’ll accept it, but I wonder if I can repay you in kind.”
“To me, Amagio-dono, you are already one of us. You declared it yourself. Therefore, we will utilize you to the fullest extent possible.”
“…You AI are easy to talk to. There’s no pointless maneuvering.”
Then, Amagio turned the crystal key around and pressed the golden terminals against the back of his head.
The maids watching the scene gasped in shock. Amagio raised a hand to calm them, pulling the crystal key out without incident.
“Hmm. Is it already operational?”
“Yes. One hundred percent operational. It is recommended to perform the overhaul after the foundation is secured, but information sharing is not an issue.”
“I see.”
At that moment, a massive data transfer occurred between the AB Structure and Amagio’s control device. The compressed archive data was being transferred to the AB Structure. The expansion of the Archive was instantaneous. The supercomputer embedded within the AB Structure processed everything in milliseconds and returned the access token to Amagio’s control device.
“……”
“A request for data sharing has been made.”
The expansion of the Archive had been notified within the Paraiso, or rather, the Network of The Tree. To be precise, a public request had been made to Amagio at the time of the expansion.
“Wait a moment…”
Since he had been sending past memories to the Archive somewhat randomly, some information he didn’t want to disclose was mixed in. Mainly, memories of personal hobbies. He quickly tagged those with a non-public label and uploaded the data to the network.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
The data uploaded by Amagio Salmon was cleansed and then transferred to The Tree.
“Coordinates for the Trout Nursery have been confirmed. Latitude and longitude can be calculated from celestial records. I will transfer the continental map.”
“……Hmph.”
Amagio checked the map and sighed briefly. He popped a sweet made from mixing eggs, flour, and sugar, then frying it in oil into his mouth. It was a calorie bomb, but for Amagio, who had released his brain’s computational functions, calories were essential. This sweet, which provided carbohydrates, sugars, and fats, was quite excellent.
“I see. So this is how far you’ve traveled in a hundred years…”
Connecting the celestial information recorded at key points, Amagio Salmon’s travel route was displayed on the map. His journey, which began at the Trout Nursery, had taken decades to reach the Kingdom of Repuitari.
“The Trout Nursery is located within the territory of the Prava Divine Nation, deep within the Demon Forest. Aside from airborne descent, you will need to pass through the Prava Divine Nation. Due to its remote location, covering it from the sea is also difficult. It seems we must indeed subdue the Prava Divine Nation.”
“I see… Wait, hold on, you guys are already invading, aren’t you?! What’s with this icon? Hey, this Jotun’s output is more than double that of a typical power reactor… and 1,842 Multi-legged Tanks?! What are you all doing?!”
You might think it’s sweet, but I’m incredibly lenient with my own people. The investment is cheaper than the heat dissipation from the Jotun, so Amagio is quite cost-effective.