Rin strolled through the El-Melloi Faction's headquarters under Kayneth's guidance.
After the tour, citing the exhaustion of the journey, Rin declined the request to hold a banquet late at night and returned to the room Kayneth had arranged for her with Sakura and Fujino.
Rin recalled what she had seen along the way and examined the mercury-based humanoid 'maid' beside her. 'It seems Kayneth has been doing quite well for himself these past few years!'
With the help of the mercury maid, Rin, Sakura, and Fujino tidied up their respective rooms and returned to the hall of this guest suite.
"Big Sister, this place is so big!" Sakura couldn't help but exclaim, feeling the terrifying financial power of the El-Melloi Faction.
Indeed, the tour had been an eye-opener for Rin, a 'country' young lady from the Far East. Whether it was the endless lawn in front of the estate or the gold-adorned castle filled everywhere with ornaments containing ancient mysteries, everything screamed the words 'nouveau riche'. Not to mention these mercury humanoids and the numerous Magus servants.
Just considering the guest suite Kayneth had arranged for Rin, it not only had a hall of nearly 200 square meters but also included four bedrooms, a study, a walk-in closet, and two independent bathrooms.
Looking at the sighing Sakura, Rin also revealed a look of longing, then said firmly to Sakura.
"Don't worry, Sakura. In the future, Big Sister will definitely get an estate even better than this and let you be a little princess inside it!"
In the castle's conference room, the air was already thick with smoke.
Kayneth sat in the main seat, a cigar in his mouth, asking with some annoyance toward his mentor, father-in-law, Head of the Department of Creation, and one of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower, the head of the Sola-Ui family, Yulifeis.
"Can you be certain?"
Yulifeis took a note from his pocket and handed it to Kayneth.
"Kayneth, those guys from the Democratic Faction have already taken the opportunity to stir up trouble. This came from the Barthomeloi Family. It seems they intend to use Tohsaka Rin as their breakthrough point this time."
"Waver, what do you think?"
Waver frowned, contemplating the situation, and flicked the ash from the cigar in his hand.
"Master, I think we can use that 'Agreement between the Tohsaka Family and Zelretch'."
"You mean the jewel sword!"
"Yes. As long as we can get Zelretch to step forward again like nine years ago, those guys from the Democratic Faction will definitely let it drop this time. As long as she can grow and demonstrate her value, we can completely take the lead in having the Aristocratic Faction accept another Tohsaka Family. If those Democratic Faction members try to bring up old matters again and use Tohsaka Rin as an excuse to make trouble, that would be a declaration of war!"
Kayneth nodded and instructed Waver.
"Then, Waver, go and confirm it tomorrow. If Tohsaka Rin hasn't finished the imitation of the jewel sword, I authorize you to mobilize all resources of the El-Melloi Faction to help her imitate the jewel sword. Mentor, please trouble yourself to visit the Barthomeloi Family more often these few days to stall them. Don't let the Department of Magecraft Administration issue any directives so soon. I will find a way to handle Zelretch."
"Mm. Kayneth, leave the Barthomeloi side to me. You can focus on contacting Zelretch."
"Very well, Master."
Early in the morning, under the service of the mercury humanoid, Rin finished washing up and dressing. Carrying the morning tea brought by a servant, she sat in front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window, watching the unique scenery.
Having arrived at the estate late last night, Rin hadn't carefully observed the courtyard outside the castle. Now, with the clear morning view, she finally observed the full picture of the courtyard. Apart from the endless lawn leading to the castle gate, the other directions—a massive botanical garden, an exquisite pavilion, a clear pond, a flowing stream, and the distant forest—composed a fairy-tale-like scene.
"The front lawn is to better observe intruders. Good morning, Miss Tohsaka Rin."
Just as Rin was immersed in the beautiful scenery, a cute young girl wearing a western-style dress with soft blonde hair and skin as delicate as a doll came behind Rin and explained.
The girl looked at Rin, who had turned her head to look at her in confusion, smiled slightly, and bowed to Rin like a lady.
"Hello, Miss Tohsaka Rin. Please allow me to introduce myself: heir to the El-Melloi Faction, Kayneth's adopted sister, Reines El-Melloi Archisorte."
Rin set down the morning tea she was holding and, after politely returning the bow, said.
"Miss Reines, may I call you that?"
"Of course you may, Miss Tohsaka Rin. Thank you for your help to the El-Melloi Faction over these years."
"Not at all. It should be me thanking the El-Melloi Faction for their help to me over these years."
Just as Rin and Reines were engaging in polite professional flattery.
Fujino and Sakura, having finished washing up, arrived at the guest hall. Seeing Reines chatting happily with Rin, Fujino and Sakura both fixed their hostile glares on Reines.
Feeling the gazes of Sakura and Fujino, Reines stopped her conversation with Rin, turned her head to look at Sakura and Fujino, then looked back at Rin, a playful smile appearing on the corner of her mouth.
"Miss Tohsaka Sakura, Miss Asagami Fujino, did you rest well last night?"
Seeing Reines's ladylike demeanor, Fujino and Sakura realized what was happening, withdrew their gazes, and politely returned the greeting to Reines as well.
"Good morning. Thank you, we rested very well last night!" X2
"Right, chatting with you was so pleasant that I forgot my purpose. My brother has already set up a banquet in the banquet hall, and I am here to invite you all over."
Following Reines to the hall, Rin couldn't help but mutter.
"A banquet early in the morning..."
As they walked into the banquet hall, Sola-Ui, who was waiting at the entrance, and Reines, who was leading the way, enthusiastically pulled Sakura and Fujino towards a dining table filled with delicacies.
Meanwhile, Rin, who was surrounded by a large group of Magi fawning over her, saw Waver in the distance constantly signaling to her. Roughly understanding what was going on, Rin politely apologized to the Magi who had come to see her, pushed through the crowd, and followed Waver toward another exit of the banquet hall.
Seeing Rin leave with Waver, this group of Magi all wore expressions of disappointment.
"The'strongest maternal body', huh? Seems like aside from those legs, she's just a bit cute. Is she really as legendary as they say?"
"Who knows? Anyway, my family gave me a strict order: if I can't gain Tohsaka Rin's friendship, I'm going to be in big trouble when I go back today."
In the crowd, an arrogant young Magus rolled his eyes at this group of losers from various families and couldn't help but mock them.
"You idiots, can't you even feel the magical energy intensity on her? In my opinion, her mage circuits, combined with main and auxiliary, might be nearly 100!"
"What, 100? You're joking, right? How is that possible!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
The young Magus ignored their chatter and just calculated silently in his heart, 'Based on my own 12 main and 30 auxiliary circuits, to reach this level of magical energy as Tohsaka Rin, it would require at least 40 main and over 50 auxiliary circuits. Once I get Tohsaka Rin, I'll make her reveal her mage circuits to open these idiots' eyes.'
(PS: Rin has 40 main and 30 auxiliary circuits, totaling 70. This book adopts this statement. This guy thinks Rin has over 100 because I set Rin's mage circuits to be of super high quality, roughly equal to the quality of Alice's mage circuits.)
Rin followed Waver, turning through various corridors, and slowly walked into a room. When Rin saw the figure in the main seat in the center of the room, she froze on the spot, not knowing what to do.
-------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 30 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon.
patreon.com/TLScarlet
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!