Rin followed Waver back to the office, feeling exhausted.
In the class just now, Rin felt like she had entered a kindergarten. Facing the endless harassment from the 'bratty kids' in the audience had left her mentally and physically drained.
Waver pushed the office door open and then froze at the entrance, causing Rin, who was following closely behind, to bump into his back.
"Waver, what are you doing?"
Waver ignored Rin and asked toward the room:
"Your Excellency the Grand Marshal and Lord Trambelio, it is an honor to have you both here. May I ask what business brings you?"
Lorelei and Lord Trambelio, the Lord of the Department of General Fundamentals and a fellow member of the Three Great Noble Families, were seated in Waver's office. Seeing Waver open the door, Trambelio ceased his conversation with Lorelei and curiously peered past Waver to size up Rin behind him.
"Oh, so this is Tohsaka Rin?"
Lorelei set down her teacup and spoke to Waver and Rin.
"Both of you, come in."
Waver stepped aside to let Rin enter first, then flipped the sign on the door to activate a magecraft boundary before slowly closing the door.
Rin curiously observed the middle-aged man before her. From Waver's address, she already knew his identity: Lord Trambelio of the Department of General Fundamentals. 'Isn't this guy the leader of the Democratic Faction? Why would he come looking for me today?'
Trambelio stood up and gave a slight bow to the curious Rin, speaking with an apologetic tone.
"Miss Tohsaka Rin, I am truly sorry. It was due to a lapse in my family's work and a misjudgment of intelligence that led the Department of Magecraft Administration to issue a detention order against you. I have come specifically to apologize for this."
Rin was stunned by Trambelio's explanation. To be honest, she hadn't quite figured out yesterday's events herself and hadn't bothered to, as the situation at the Clock Tower was far too complex. With so many families, the Twelve Lords, the thirteen departments, the three factions, and the three great noble families, no amount of underhandedness would be surprising. However, the current development was far beyond her expectations.
Unlike Rin, Waver, who had been at the Clock Tower for over nine years, was not at all surprised by Trambelio's visit. After Rin's battle with Lorelei, he knew such an outcome was inevitable. Unlike Lorelei, who was raised with vast resources and a thousand-year heritage, Tohsaka Rin—a genius who emerged from the Far Eastern desert of magecraft—was actually able to hold her own against Lorelei. This had completely defied everyone's expectations.
Although the magecraft world had been hyping up Tohsaka Rin's genius and talent, most families at the top of the hierarchy had scoffed at such rumors. It wasn't until her battle with Lorelei that these families were forced to take her seriously. Rin had now demonstrated potential that matched the rumors; once she matured, she might become another peak in the world of magecraft. Furthermore, for various families, Rin's value far exceeded Lorelei's.
It was precisely for this reason that Trambelio sought Rin out the very next day to seek her forgiveness. Unlike Lorelei, Tohsaka Rin came from the 'countryside' and was female. If a family could win her over, the boost she would provide would be immense. No Magus family would pass up even a sliver of hope for such an opportunity. Without realizing it, Rin had truly become a prize in the eyes of the Magus families across the entire magecraft world.
Completely confused by the situation, Tohsaka Rin stood dazed for a moment. She thought for a long time but still couldn't understand why the Trambelio before her was apologizing. Thus, with the mindset of not offending a Lord if she could help it, she spoke up.
"Um, although I don't understand why you're apologizing, I forgive you."
Waver sighed and massaged his forehead. 'Why is it that someone so shrewd most of the time drops the ball at the most critical moments?'
Beside them, Lorelei watched Rin 'forgive' Trambelio and pulled out a document, handing it to her.
"Congratulations, Rin. From now on, you are a Magus of the Fes rank. Your assigned color is 'Red.' This is the Association's evaluation document."
Trambelio suddenly interjected.
"What's wrong with those people at the Association? They didn't even give Rin the title of Grand. This is too much. Don't worry, Rin, I will definitely help you demand justice from the Association."
Hearing Trambelio's words, Rin hurriedly waved her hands. Although she had only met two Casters of the Crown so far, she knew full well that she couldn't beat Lorelei, and even against Touko, she wouldn't win in a real life-and-death struggle—even escaping would be a luxury. Moreover, her cheating equipment had been destroyed in yesterday's battle with Lorelei and couldn't be rebuilt anytime soon, and she couldn't easily use her other trump cards. If she were given the rank of Grand, she might be crushed to death if some other Grand took a dislike to her.
"No, no, thank you for your kindness. I'm already very satisfied with the Fes rank."
Lorelei watched Trambelio put on a show of indignation for Rin's sake and walked over to his side.
"Enough, you old fox. Drop the act; it's unsightly."
Trambelio didn't mind Lorelei's sharp remark. He pulled a box from his coat, placed it on the table, and turned to walk out the door.
"Lorelei, you're still young; you don't understand these things. Rin, this is an apology gift from the Trambelios. Now, if you'll excuse me. If you ever need help, you can come find me. The Trambelio family welcomes you."
Once Trambelio left Waver's office, Lorelei picked up the box from the table and tossed it into Rin's arms.
"Take it, Rin. This is what you deserve."
Rin nodded and put the box away, then asked Lorelei.
"Lorelei, why did you come looking for me today? Surely it wasn't just to deliver my rank certificate."
"Of course not. Rin, I'm here to extend an invitation. Are you interested in joining me to exterminate a Child of Fuhairin?"
"A Child of Fuhairin? Where? When?"
"Trambelio provided me with information. The Mystic Eye Collection Train will encounter a Child of Fuhairin on its journey this time. Well, interested?"
'The Mystic Eye Collection Train... I wasn't planning to get involved, but it looks like I'll have to go. I can arrange my meeting with Marisbury Animusphere on that train. Maybe I'll even see the young "Director."' Thinking this, Rin nodded to Lorelei.
"No problem, Lorelei. I accept your invitation. But I'll leave the invitation letter to you..."
After concluding her talk with Lorelei, Rin followed Waver out of the Clock Tower to a small shop on a street for ordinary people to have lunch.
"Waver, I have a favor to ask. Please help me notify Marisbury Animusphere that I want to meet him on the Mystic Eye Collection Train this time."
"Alright, Rin. I'll arrange for someone to notify him this afternoon. By the way, Rin, why do you care so much about Gray? Your behavior doesn't seem to be just because of her looks."
"That's because... Waver, can you lend Gray to me for a while? In exchange, I invite you to participate in this Holy Grail War as a representative of the Three Founding Families..."
Recommendation: "My Online Wife is Umaru"
Written by a silly loli!
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