Commander Lewis withdrew his gaze from the Mana Airship that had vanished into the distance and turned to Count Russell beside him, looking slightly puzzled.
"Lord Russell, we're more than two thousand kilometers from the Stantin Duchy. No matter how fast that Mana Airship is, it can't possibly get a reply from Xu Yi within half an hour, can it? What are those Xinfei Merchant Guild people thinking?"
Count Russell was still staring in the direction where the Mana Airship had disappeared, as though he wanted to keep it in sight forever. Hearing Commander Lewis's question, he shook his head slightly and said solemnly, "The Xinfei Merchant Guild always comes up with strange and unusual things. If they say they can contact Xu Yi within half an hour, then it's possible, no matter how far away he is."
"You really do think highly of the Xinfei Merchant Guild."
Commander Lewis shrugged. Deputy Chief of Staff Russell was famous throughout the Candel Empire Navy for his admiration of the Xinfei Merchant Guild. In his eyes, it seemed there was nothing the guild couldn't do.
"It's a fact." Count Russell withdrew his gaze and looked intently at Commander Lewis, his expression grave. "I've personally seen many of the marvelous things the Xinfei Merchant Guild has created. If you don't take them seriously enough, you'll suffer badly for it."
Commander Lewis gave a dismissive chuckle, clearly unconvinced.
Still, he couldn't be bothered to argue over such matters with Russell, who was nominally his superior. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Lord Russell, why do you think... the Empire's Military Department arranged this operation?"
Count Russell glanced at him. "Why do you ask?"
"The Rulson Kingdom doesn't have anything you could call a navy, much less the ability to bring supplies in by sea.