Shortly after the Gensokyo group settled in, the intelligence reports finally reached the higher-ups in Leithanien. Looking at the data in their hands, everyone involved felt a chill run down their spines. The Ursus army had suffered a catastrophic defeat. According to the scouts, the battlefield bore signs of firepower equivalent to at least an entire army group. Most shockingly, the scouts discovered that the Ursus side had even lost two High-speed Battleships. However, because they spotted traces of surviving Ursus personnel during their investigation, the scouts withdrew immediately to avoid a diplomatic misunderstanding.
The firepower of an army group appearing silently on the border, less than thirty kilometers from Leithanien, was an impossibility. The scouts couldn't even find any traces of the enemy's retreat. In other words, this unit had appeared out of nowhere, finished off the Ursus forces, and then vanished just as suddenly as they had arrived.
"The Yan military?" Lieselotte asked, her voice echoing in the spire.
"It doesn't look like it. It seems more like... more like the methods of our Caster units," the attendant below hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Hmm?" Lieselotte hummed in confusion.
The attendant quickly added, "According to the reports sent back by the reconnaissance team, there are traces of dozens of different types of Magic on the battlefield. Judging by the scale, it's at least the work of an entire Caster Squad. If Yan had such a Caster Squad appearing at the border, it would be impossible for our people not to notice."
After hearing the man finish, Lieselotte nodded slowly. "Then whose handiwork do you think it is? That girl named Flandre Scarlet?"
"Unlikely. Although intelligence confirms she fought the Ursus army head-on and successfully escaped previously, she was raiding an Ursus camp at the time; those soldiers were unarmed and in a state of chaos. But this time, it was a group of fully armed Ursus troops and two High-speed Battleships. If that Blood Demon really had such capability, the Reunion Movement wouldn't be struggling this much."
"Then who else do you think has this ability?"
"I have a suspicion. Do you think it could be the Royal Court Army?"
"The Sarkaz Royal Court Army?" Lieselotte fell into deep thought. Indeed, if it were the Royal Court Army, they truly would have the power to do this easily. "Go investigate the recent movements of those Sarkaz! Immediately!"
"Yes!" As the words fell, the voices inside the tower gradually faded, leaving only Lieselotte staring at the nearby fire, pondering the implications.
After the convoy set off again, they entered a town in the afternoon. Zhang Wei gave everyone a half-day off, allowing them to have a good night's rest. "You all can take a stroll around the city today! The environment in Leithanien is quite nice, and there are many interesting trinkets. If you like something, feel free to buy it... This is a sum of money Governor Wei gave for Flandre to buy things she likes. Since you are her sister, I'll leave this money to you."
Zhang Wei handed a thick stack of currency to Remilia. Remilia offered her thanks and watched him leave. "That Governor Wei of Lungmen is quite nice to you!" Ibuki Suika blinked and then continued, "I smell the scent of wine. That... could you..."
"What are you doing? This is my sister's money!" Remilia bared her fangs threateningly.
"Hey, just a little loan. It's not like I won't pay it back!" Ibuki Suika pleaded.
"Flandre has lots of money. Suika helped out, so Flandre should repay her!" Flandre whispered to Remilia from the side.
"Fine, for my sister's sake. Here, this money is for you." Remilia reluctantly pulled out a few notes and handed them to Ibuki Suika. The other party took the money and vanished in a flash.
"Don't we need to look after her?" Flandre looked at her sister.
"No need. Although that drunkard is a bit unreliable, if she wants to run, these people can't stop her." Remilia patted her sister's head and then looked at the others. "In that case, everyone gets a share. Take some money to buy things you're interested in... Flandre, is that okay?"
Flandre nodded and patted her small satchel. "It's fine! Distribute all of it. Flandre still has money here; I can play with Big Sister."
"I don't need any; I'll just walk with you later," Patchouli Knowledge waved her hand; since she was walking with everyone from the Scarlet Devil Mansion anyway, she had no interest in money. Finally, Yukari Yakumo and Eirin Yagokoro each took some money and chose to split off. The two of them hadn't come to this world just to play; they had tasks and might need to purchase items, so having some money on hand was best.
After agreeing to meet tomorrow morning, Remilia held Flandre's hand and, along with Patchouli and Sakuya Izayoi, walked toward the commercial street. Upon reaching the street, Remilia's curiosity was even greater than Flandre's. She would often stop and ask questions about things she didn't recognize. Flandre would answer the ones she knew, and for those she didn't, she would ask the shopkeepers. The group stopped frequently and soon bought a pile of items. Among them, Patchouli was holding a heavy Leithanien dictionary.
After returning to the station, accommodations had already been arranged. Once they settled in for the night, Patchouli asked if they could be introduced to the Magic master Fremont once they reached Zwillingstürme. Flandre scratched her head, saying they would likely only pass through there on the way back. Patchouli said there was no rush.
Back in the room, Flandre asked Remilia if they weren't going back now that they had come over.
"Yes and no!" Remilia told her that one of the reasons Eirin Yagokoro and the others came was to investigate whether this world was suitable for Youkai to live in. After all, Gensokyo was too small, and the outside world there was becoming increasingly unsuitable for Youkai survival. The 'Fear' inside wasn't enough to keep the lower-level Youkai fed. This world had one great advantage: humans and Youkai looked extremely similar. This way, Youkai could walk openly without worrying about being ganged up on.
The reason only this many came was that enough people had to stay in Gensokyo for stability, and for preliminary investigation, the Great Youkai who had come were already sufficient. Finally, it was about resources; traveling back and forth consumed a significant amount of materials.
A short while later, Eirin Yagokoro and Yukari Yakumo also returned. Flandre then mentioned that the biggest difference between this world and Earth was the energy source. Terra had no energy sources like oil or natural gas; the primary source was something called Originium.
"Originium... can we get some? And what does this thing have to do with Oripathy?" Eirin Yagokoro asked. Flandre began to explain in detail about Originium, the "clean yet dangerous energy." The danger was that it was a lethal substance itself. Originium would assimilate and erode most substances. After Flandre finished, Eirin Yagokoro became quite curious and asked if they could get a sample.
Flandre went outside to find Zhang Wei, hoping he could find her some pure originium. Zhang Wei mentioned that an entire wagon in this shipment was filled with it for the Reunion Movement. Flandre said she only needed one piece for research. They found Dropper, who led them to the wagon. He carefully opened the door and took out a box. "This stuff is very dangerous; be extremely careful yourself," Dropper warned.
By the time she returned to the room, Eirin Yagokoro had been waiting. Flandre opened the box, revealing the dark brown, diamond-shaped stone.
"I can indeed feel a very powerful energy from this!" Patchouli remarked after her inspection. Eirin Yagokoro put on gloves and carefully picked up the stone.
"I have some ideas... but there's no equipment here. Yukari, put this away in your gap, and give it back to me after we return."
The next morning, as the vehicles were about to start, Ibuki Suika finally staggered back, reeking of alcohol. Seeing this, a disgusted Remilia teamed up with Yukari Yakumo to tie her directly to the roof of the vehicle, as the smell of alcohol was too strong for the cabin.