Vol 4. Chapter 2: Consulting on Espionage Activities
“What’s the situation looking like?”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am. No particular issues. The fleet is charting a return route to the Northern Archipelago without entering visual range of <The Tree>.”
“Good, good. I was wondering what we’d do if they came our way, but it looks like they’ll avoid us.”
It had been over two years now. A fleet believed to have been dispatched from the Northern Archipelago—previously seized by military force—had finally made its way back, albeit with reduced numbers. From the documents retrieved aboard a previously secured derelict ship, it had been confirmed that it belonged to this very fleet.
“Still, I wonder just how far that fleet managed to travel?”
“Yes-affirmative, Commander Ma’am. Due to the long distance, the matter had been postponed, but there is a continent to the south. It lies more than 6,000 kilometers away, but it is highly likely that was their destination.”
“Hoh~. I’m surprised they managed to sail that far with just sailships... And they didn’t even have proper maps, right?”
Indeed, 6,000 kilometers wasn’t a distance even <The Tree> could cover lightly.
Well, in terms of sheer travel, it was possible—but due to the horizon problem, communication could not be maintained. Ideally, it was a distance best avoided for any deployment.
Nowadays, with mid-route relay drones prepped in advance, the coverage range could be expanded, but it was still an expanse of endless sea with nothing in between. Hence, the focus had remained on the Northern Continent.
“It’s likely they possessed some level of navigational technology. While they primarily move via wind power, their ships are equipped with rudimentary propulsion systems. Compared to Earth’s sailing vessels, their maritime capability and techniques are presumed to be incomparably superior.”
“I see...”