Chapter 370: · Verbal Clash, the Ill-Intentioned Lord of the Yullifeis Faction

Tohsaka Rin: "These two really know something."

Waver: "It's just that they have differences in their approach."

Caules: "This woman gives people a feeling of being willing to die."

Gored: "That man also looks like he can't hold on much longer."

Kayneth: "Behind this, it seems a big secret is hidden; it should have to do with their survival from the labyrinth."

Waver: "Perhaps it also has to do with the drastic change in Hartless's temperament."

【On the other Reverse Reverse Reverse Reverse Side, the three of them leave the Department of Demonic Analysis and slowly head in one direction.】

【El-Melloi II: "How was it?"】

【Yvette: "In short, they weren't lying~"】

【She had quietly activated the ability of her Mystic Eyes during the conversation just now.】

【The Mystic Eyes of Emotional Perception can capture fluctuations in a person's emotions.】

【"It's just that they seem to have guessed the reason for the other disciples' disappearances. When Teacher asked about that, their spiritual energy fluctuated noticeably."】

【El-Melloi II: "I thought as much."】

【Yvette: "In that case, the problem lies in the nature of what they are hiding. What is the issue, and why must it be kept from us?"】

【El-Melloi II: "Regardless, we don't have enough material to make a judgment yet. It's fortunate enough that we could catch a glimpse of what Hartless was like back then."】

Rin Tohsaka: "Those Mystic Eyes are really convenient."

Kairi Sisigou: "Indeed. They can attack, scout, and now even monitor emotional fluctuations. There's no telling how many more abilities they have."

Kayneth: "After all, that girl's Mystic Eyes are the crystallization of several generations of effort by the Reiman family."

【Gray: "It sounds like he used to be someone who cared for his disciples."】

【Yvette: "That's because magi are gentle toward their disciples. It's just that, in most cases, students aren't included in that category. Magi are creatures that harbor an obsession—sometimes exceeding their own lives—only for the successors who can inherit their Magic Crests or magecraft. In that sense, Hartless seems quite the exception. Or perhaps, was it the Modern Magecraft Department that drove him to act that way?"】

【El-Melloi II: "—By the way, Dr. Hartless was kidnapped by fairies when he was a child, right?"】

【Yvette: "He seems to have gained some kind of supernatural ability because of it. Perhaps he doesn't trust me, but he wouldn't tell me the details!"】

【El-Melloi II: "There are many legends about receiving some kind of grace from fairies. However, as we approach the modern era, what fairies bestow is gradually no longer pure grace. Matsuwanko Matsuwanko Take the origins of half-fairies, for example. Setting aside the ancient heroes who left their names on the Throne of Heroes, the realms of humans and fairies have now separated. In most cases, it requires paying a price equal to—no, even higher than—the grace received. Even in modern times, legends of 'changelings' can still be heard in many parts of Western Europe; the impression they give is actually closer to a calamity."】

Rin Tohsaka: "Right! I almost forgot the rumor about Hartless having his heart stolen by a fairy."

Waver: "Indeed, this is likely an important clue, but we have no use for it right now."

Kairi Sisigou: "Then do you think this rumor is true?"

Waver: "... don't know. But when it comes to Hartless, nothing seems strange, no matter how absurd it is."】

Kairi Sisigou: "Yeah, he's a mysterious man."】

【El-Melloi II: "The Rail Zeppelin..."】

【Gray: "What is it, Teacher?"】

【El-Melloi II: "Nothing... I just feel like we missed something absolutely fatal on that train—"】

Rin Tohsaka: "Hm? Missed what?"】

Waver: "..."】

Waver: "Don't ask me, I don't know either."】

【Gray looks around and says, "There are so many theaters here."】

【Without realizing it, they have walked into another street.】

【El-Melloi II: "Stage plays and performances have always been popular in this area. However, the other party shouldn't have any intention of coming here to enjoy a play."】

【Gray: "Ah! Is this the meeting spot?"】

【That's right, their schedule for today isn't over yet.】

Kayneth: "So the meeting with Yullife is today as well."】

Fiore: "Doing two things in one day, that's really tough."】

【El-Melloi II: "They said they would send someone to guide us when the time comes..."】

【Yvette: "Teacher? It's a bit..."】

【Only then do they realize that there are surprisingly few people on this street; it could be said there is absolutely no one.】

【This isn't some remote area, and it's near dusk; how could there be no one here?】

【There is likely only one reason for this—】

【El-Melloi II looks at the outdoor seating of a nearby cafe, where an old man with long white hair and glasses is sitting.】

【The man wears a massive gemstone necklace on his chest, and his withered-branch-like fingers are adorned with numerous rings, all set with various colored gems.】

【However, rather than luxury, the first impression the old man gives is one of gloom.】

【"... ong time no see, Lord El-Melloi."】

【El-Melloi II: "If you don't mind, please add 'the Second' after the title."】

【"I've heard that line before... but... that is your own tedious insistence... It's meaningless for me to accommodate you... The fact that you are Lord El-Melloi and I am Lord Yullife will not change..."】

【That's right, this old man is none other than the Lord, Rufreus Nuada-Re Yullife.】

Rin Tohsaka: "Ah! Is this Sola's father?"】

Sola: "Yes."】

Illya: "The age gap feels a bit large."】

It's more than just large; in the video, Rufreus looks so aged that he must be seventy or eighty, and even Inorai looks younger than him.

How old is Sola now? Even though the video is set ten years later, the difference is just too great.

Rufreus doesn't look like Sola's father at all; he looks more like her grandfather.

Kayneth: "Ahem, Master Rufreus is indeed Sola's father; there is no doubt about that."】

Caules: "So it's what they call having a child in one's old age."】

Rin Tohsaka: "I always thought Lords took good care of themselves, but it turns out there are exceptions."】

Xiang Junior Feng Xi: "After all, not everyone cares about this mortal shell."】

【Rufreus: "It seems... you haven't forgotten the promise..."】

【El-Melloi II: "You jest, though I didn't expect us to meet at a place like this."】

【Rufreus: "This is convenient... Please come, someone else..."】

【As soon as he finishes speaking, another shadow appears on the street, and it's someone El-Melloi II knows.】

【"Long time no see, Lord El-Melloi II."】

【El-Melloi II: "Indeed, Lady Olga Marie..."】

【The newcomer is Olga Marie Animusphere, whom El-Melloi II and the others met on the Rail Zeppelin.】

Rin Tohsaka: "Lady Olga Marie is here too?"】

Waver: "It seems the Animusphere family has also declared their stance."】

Caules: "But since the Lord didn't come, it seems a bit less sincere compared to the others."】

Kayneth: "Hmph, Marisbilly is a man obsessed with his own research. Not to mention the Grand Rank resolution, I haven't seen him more than a few times since I took office."】

【El-Melloi II: "I didn't expect that not only old Mr. Rufreus, but even the young lady of the Astronomy Department would come."】

【Rufreus: "... t has been several years since I last spoke with the current Lord El-Melloi."】

【El-Melloi II: "This is our third conversation, although my teacher was long favored by you in the past."】

【Rufreus: "... m, the matter of the previous generation is also deeply regrettable to me... Setting aside Sola, Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald was the most outstanding disciple I've had in recent years."】

Rin Tohsaka: "Why does this guy like to pause so much when he talks?"】

Xiang Junior Feng Xi: "Hahaha, that's the only way to fit the posture of an old man."】

【Rufreus: "Haha, but it's good... I thought you had already been persuaded by Trambelio and would refuse the invitation of this old bag of bones..."】

【El-Melloi II: "How could that be? Not limited to the previous generation, there is a deep bond between El-Melloi and Yullife."】

【Rufreus sneers: "Mm... If you dared to say such a thing, I could hang you on the spot."】

【El-Melloi II is unbothered, squinting his eyes as he says: "However, I thought you would send Mr. Bram as your proxy this time, just like in previous Grand Rank resolutions."】

【Rufreus: "Heh heh, since Trambelio's Magdaniell is showing up directly, that won't work... So, have you heard from Trambelio... about the nonsense of wanting to redevelop the Spirit Tomb Albion?"】

【El-Melloi II: "Yes. Old Mr. Rufreus is quite mischievous; if you had told us in advance, we could have made more preparations."】

【Rufreus: "I had no intention... of hiding this matter."】

【Yvette whispers: "... hat's obviously a lie."】

Waver: "Heh heh, this old Lord is really blunt."】

Kairi Sisigou: "Compared to that gentle Lord Trambelio, this Lord Yullife is truly full of murderous intent at every step."】

Kayneth: "..."】

Sola: "Father... sigh..."】

In just a few short sentences, Rufreus has made several moves.

First, he played the emotional card, then used his presence to intimidate, then laid his cards on the table to tell El-Melloi II that he knew everything about his actions, and finally tried to pass the buck directly to El-Melloi II. Unfortunately, all of these were skillfully neutralized by El-Melloi II.

This Lord Yullife is clearly not here with good intentions.