Since Colleöne couldn’t provide any actionable intel on the hostiles, NSLICE-00P turned to the next inquiry.

“Query: Does entity Colleöne possess any non-classified data regarding non-standard capabilities displayed by the hostiles? In particular, the ability of the hostiles to forcibly relocate units?”

Colleöne held her chin and tilted her head before nodding.

“Ah, you mean when they sent you to the Realms of Mana, right? Yes…I should be able to speak on that a bit. We did not intend for any inhabitants of the Material Plane to travel directly to the Source or the Realms of Mana, but summoning magic to call beings from the Source does exist. I suppose we should have expected someone would find a way to do the reverse.”

Colleöne’s eyes flashed with golden and silver light for a moment. She hummed and then nodded.

“Ah, I see what happened. I was wondering how they did it to you, a forcible reverse summoning should have been extremely difficult, since that means removing a being from the plane it’s most deeply connected to when it intends to resist. In the previous battle, it appears they deceived you into consenting to the ritual.”

“Affirmative. Query: Does entity Colleöne know of any countermeasures to said tactics?”

Colleöne nodded with a serious look on her face.

“Be careful what you agree to. That’s generally good advice, especially if there are magic formations in the area. But if you don’t provide something that counts as consent for the ritual, it would be significantly more difficult for them to pull off, and you would have the opportunity to respond. And even if it happens again…you now have a way back. Your ability to enter your own Material Plane is not contingent on your location, it should be possible to open an entrance even within a Realm of Mana, and then return through a subordinate dungeon.”

“Objection: If this unit must return through a subordinate dungeon, then she may not be able to return to the operational area in a tactically relevant time frame, unless there is a subordinate dungeon within the area.”

Colleöne pursed her lips but nodded.

“…yes, that is true.”

“Follow-up Query: Are there any other methods to immediately return to the operational area?”

Colleöne took a deep breath.

“…there are no formal methods to do so that I am aware of. But traveling quickly within Aelea should be significantly easier than traveling between the Source and the Material Plane.”

“Acknowledged.”

NSLICE-00P’s robotic eye flickered. Colleöne’s eyes unfocused as she stared into the air.

“…I know where this is going. She’s going to start conquering and spreading dungeons everywhere, just to make sure she can come back.”

Eh, I’m ok with that. Every dungeon she builds is one less for me to make!