第１８７３堀：具体的な調査内容について (Part2)
"And so, this route also branches out to the east and west."
"Regarding this, there is room for debate as to which should be prioritized. I have heard from you, Yuki, that the Weed Navy, led by Dressa, is deploying drones toward the west coast of the New Continent, but..."
The gaze shifts to me. Dressa is not present at this meeting. With Vilia pulled away for the northern survey unit, she is essentially managing the navy alongside Hiiro. Ensuring the stability of the seas and conducting surveys are part of their duties, so they have almost no spare capacity to focus heavily on the New Continent. Of course, they would prioritize it in an emergency, but for now, it is limited to route observation via drones.
Setting that aside...
"Regarding that, we haven't confirmed the coastline with the drones yet. We don't know which area is more suitable. It likely won't make much difference whether it's the east or the west. That said, there is no doubt that having a port on either side would be convenient, so the priority for both is effectively the same."
Indeed, there is no hierarchy of importance at the moment. Furthermore, even if the drones identify a route, whether we actually sail it is another matter entirely. To be honest, it is faster and safer to use a gate to travel directly to the southern coast of the New Continent. We are only searching for sea routes as a contingency in case the gates become unusable. After all, the ocean is home to that putrid, gargantuan fish they call a Leviathan. Considering the prospect of an encounter, I find the routes Dressa is pioneering to be somewhat precarious. Well, I do plan on dealing with that creature—or at least doing something about it—eventually.
"I see. So, the opening of a route from Weed—or rather, the Rogali Continent—to the New Continent will not have a significant impact on this particular survey."
"Correct. Proceed according to your own circumstances. There are still many unknown threats in the sea. Dressa and her people have to keep those in mind, so it is difficult to ask them to provide support for the New Continent. If they were to come, it would mean Vilia or Hiiro leading a separate fleet."
"Understood. I shall proceed with securing the coastline while monitoring the situation in the east and west."
And just like that, the map of the south now has lines extending to the left, right, and downward. It is as safe a method as one could hope for when conducting an investigation. We are checking the cardinal directions and then moving toward the suspicious areas. Even if this survey doesn't reveal exactly where the monsters are coming from, if another Great Outbreak occurs, observing from these various points will allow us to narrow down the origin of the surge. It is by no means a waste of effort.
"Next, we shall discuss the survey of the southern cliffs, which will be commanded by Aslin and Firia."
From there, the explanation of the detailed southern survey begins.
"Basically, it follows the plan we discussed. We will deploy only one unit at a time, rotating personnel via the gate while conducting the survey as we move south. We intend to use a three-unit rotation to reduce the burden on the participants as we progress."
Yes, I had heard as much.
"The specific composition will be as follows: Havia, Wazfi, and Nailua will serve as leaders, supported by laboratory staff and security soldiers. Additionally, to provide individual combat power, Deryu, Taiki, and Holly will be attached to each unit, making for a team of six."
I see. It is a reasonable composition. It seems Aslin and Firia will be stationed here as commanders rather than being on the front lines. However...
"If that is the case, will it be alright that Aslin and Firia cannot conduct the survey on-site?"
The original purpose was that there might be insights gained only by having the two of them see the site firsthand. If that is missing, it feels like the plan is missing the point—or perhaps, putting the cart before the horse.
"That, too, is not a problem. They will accompany the unit during the rotation, conduct their survey on the spot, and return within the same day. This way, they can complete their on-site investigation, verify the conditions, and still maintain command here in the control room."
I see, that is the approach. There might be complaints about the brevity of their stay, but since they won't be doing anything dangerous—or rather, won't be allowed to—I imagine Seraria and the others will be satisfied.
And so, the explanation continued in this vein. Aslin and Firia remain the heads of the operation, with their time spent in the field kept to a minimum. Instead, Havia, Wazfi, and Nailua will be the ones heading out. The judgment is that since Deryu and the others are there for protection, there shouldn't be any significant issues.