"You have arrived, descendant of Tohsaka Nagato."
Originally, according to Waver's plan, he was going to arrange a meeting between Zelretch and Rin after confirming she had finished the imitation of the jewel sword. However, news of Rin's arrival in London spread throughout the Clock Tower overnight. It just so happened that Zelretch had finished his journey through parallel worlds and appeared at the Clock Tower during this time. Filled with interest in Rin, Zelretch came to the El-Melloi Faction's headquarters early in the morning, specifically asking to see this descendant of his student.
Zelretch looked at Rin, who was frozen in place, shook his head, stood up, walked to Rin's side, and examined her himself.
"You seem different from the Tohsaka Rin of other parallel worlds. Did you have some kind of special encounter?"
Rin, frozen in place, turned her head mechanically, looking at Zelretch with a grim expression. 'It's over, is Zelretch going to see through me? How could I forget that Zelretch is a guy who wanders through parallel time and space? Damn it, I must find a way to 'moe' my way through this!'
Zelretch shook his head, slapped his hand on top of Rin's head, and pressed down firmly.
"What are you nervous about? This old man doesn't eat people. Oh, I forgot I'm a Dead Apostle, so I suppose I really could eat people. Hahahahahaha."
Rin stood frozen in place, feeling the powerful hand pressing on her head, and made an expression worse than crying while starting to laugh awkwardly with Zelretch.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha!"
Kayneth and Waver, who were on the side, looked at the suddenly laughing Zelretch and Rin, confused. Although they didn't understand the reason, after exchanging a glance, they also started laughing along.
As Waver and Kayneth started laughing, Zelretch was stunned for a moment. 'Is this old man's joke that funny?' Then, he stopped laughing, removed his hand from Rin's head, pinched her cheek, and said.
"Your laugh is too ugly! Alright, you two, stop laughing too. Rin, whatever special encounters you've had have nothing to do with me. Don't be afraid. I came to see you today simply out of curiosity about the descendant of Nagato in this world."
Hearing Zelretch say this, Rin let out a sigh of relief. 'It seems Zelretch can't tell I'm a Transmigrator.' Her courage grew, and she slapped away the hand Zelretch was using to pinch her cheek, put her hands on her hips, pointed at Zelretch, and asked.
"Hey, Kischur Zelretch Schweinorg, is your agreement with my ancestor still valid?"
Zelretch stood there, stunned, looking at Rin with confusion.
"Agreement? What agreement?"
"The jewel sword, of course. Didn't you leave a blueprint for the jewel sword to my ancestor?"
Zelretch thought for a moment and finally remembered the matter. Tohsaka Nagato, a disciple he had casually guided a few times in the Far East back then.
Because his personality was mediocre, cold-blooded, and somewhat manic-depressive, and he was obsessed with pursuing a benevolent future—to the point of planning to sacrifice himself—it had even bothered Zelretch at the time. So, he had given the jewel sword blueprint to the "uninspired" Tohsaka Nagato as an assignment, hoping he would strive towards it as a goal. As for the so-called agreement, that was entirely a delusion of the Tohsaka Family's descendants; it didn't exist at all.
Zelretch looked at the expectant Rin and sighed, 'Forget it, let's just pretend such an agreement exists.'
"Yes, there is such an agreement. As long as you Tohsaka Family descendants can reproduce the jewel sword, I will take that person as my disciple."
In fact, Rin wasn't clear about this matter in her past life's memories either; the claim of an agreement had come from Tohsaka Tokiomi. Hearing the 'truth' of the agreement now, she breathed a sigh of relief. Although she knew that most of Zelretch's disciples were, or would become, 'useless,' Rin, who had the system as her trump card, was still a bit worried, but decided to cling to this thigh delivered to her doorstep first.
With a flash of magical energy, the jewel sword previously bestowed by Zelretch and Rin's own replica appeared in her hands. Rin respectfully handed the jewel swords to Zelretch, and once he took them, she performed a disciple's salute and shouted.
"Master!"
Zelretch took the two jewel swords, took the one Rin had replicated, and casually slashed at the air. It was as if space had been sliced open; a cut appeared right there in the air.
Then, seeing through Rin's thoughts, Zelretch spoke to her.
"Very well, Tohsaka Rin. I allow you to identify yourself as my disciple from now on. If you don't want to be broken, you had best not seek me out beyond today, and stay far away if you see me, understand?"
Rin nodded at Zelretch, 'thinking to herself, I don't want to become a 'useless' person like most of your disciples either, so this is for the best. Anyway, I only wanted the status of being your disciple.'
Zelretch tossed the two jewel swords back to Rin and looked out the window.
"While it is still early, I shall give you some pointers. Rin, if you have any questions, you may ask now, but remember my warning."
Kayneth and Waver exchanged glances. Although Waver's plan had been ruined, it seemed they now had a better outcome. Watching Zelretch in the hall preparing to instruct Rin, the two greeted him and then walked out of the room, remaining in the hallway to prevent anyone from disturbing Rin's opportunity.
At the Clock Tower's Department of Magecraft Administration, Barthomeloi Lorelei, accompanied by her guards, kicked open the door. Walking into the office of the Department of Magecraft Administration, Barthomeloi Lorelei surveyed the room, looking at her uncle, Barthomeloi Charles, who sat blankly in the main seat, and Yulifeis, the head of the Sola-Nu family who was sitting beside her uncle. A disdainful smile curled the corner of her lips.
Lorelei walked to the desk in front of Charles, slammed the riding crop in her hand onto the table, and asked the startled Charles.
"Where is the detention order for Tohsaka Rin?"
Barthomeloi Charles came to his senses. Glancing at Yulifeis, who was signaling him, he calmed down, slammed the table firmly, and shouted sternly.
"Barthomeloi Lorelei! Do you have any respect for me as your uncle? Get out and knock on the door right now!"
Barthomeloi Lorelei cast a contemptuous glance at her uncle and then stared fixedly at Yulifeis.
"I am here in my capacity as the Assistant to the Director of the Clock Tower and the current Sorcery Marshal to collect the detention order for Tohsaka Rin. And Barthomeloi Charles, don't forget, I am the head of the Barthomeloi family now!"
Yulifeis looked at his old friend, who was preparing to say something else, and shook his head at Charles.
"Charles, give it to her. Lorelei, although I don't know what promises those Democratic Faction guys made to you, don't forget that you are also a Barthomeloi, and also of the Aristocratic Faction."
Lorelei glanced at Yulifeis, picked up the document Charles produced, and left the Department of Magecraft Administration with her guards without looking back.
"What kind of promises could those Democratic Faction guys make to that girl? Nothing more than Dead Apostles. A little girl who doesn't understand politics! I really don't know why my elder brother passed the family headship to her at a time like this!"
Hearing his old friend's complaint, Yulifeis shook his head. His old friend seemed to have forgotten that they were Magi, and that for Magi, it was ultimately about power.
At the El-Melloi Faction headquarters, Kayneth, who was waiting outside the room of Rin and Zelretch, frowned as he watched a servant running over in a panic, and asked the servant with displeasure.
"What's the meaning of this panic?"
"Lord Head of the Family, it's a disaster. The Sorcery Marshal is leading the Choir clone unit and intends to force her way into the estate."
"Barthomeloi Lorelei! Have they produced a warrant?"
"Lord Head of the Family, they have a detention order signed by the Department of Magecraft Administration."
Kayneth turned his head to look at Waver, signaling him to wait here. Then, ignoring the servant, he walked out of the castle with furrowed brows.
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