After several hours of discussion, Reines finally let Waver go, allowing him to rest.
Only after Waver left did she cover her mouth with her hand and let out a small yawn.
As a child under ten years old, the fact that she could muster the energy to discuss matters with Waver for so long already demonstrated her exceptional intelligence.
However, when she closed her eyes, she couldn't help but recall the conversation she had with her "brother," Waver Velvet.
"My relationship with my teacher wasn't very harmonious, and he didn't think highly of . But I was a student in that classroom, and that's a fact. So I can't take away the opportunity to learn from those students who were once like ."
And when Reines brought up how he had stolen Kayneth's relic, the man responded like this.
"You're right. I wasn't skilled enough to use it properly. I wasn't worthy of being the Master of the King of Conquerors. I admit my guilt, so I only ask that you spare my life."
"Oh? Shouldn't you be saying sothing like, 'If that's not enough to satisfy your hatred, then kill '?"
"I still have things I want to do."
It was at this mont that the frail man exuded a captivating aura, like that of a seeker of truth.
"I will stake the honor of that king."
"Live, Waver. Witness everything, and then live to tell the tale. Tell the world how joyfully your king lived, tell the world how swift and fearless Iskandar's charge was."
Those were the final orders from a certain heroic spirit, a certain king, and they beca the dream that Waver would carry throughout his life.
For that dream, he was willing to lose his dignity and his freedom.
Recalling the man's eyes, filled with unwavering determination, Reines tilted her small face upward, her eyes flickering as she montarily forgot her words.
If she had initially planned to use Waver as a tool while pulling the strings from behind the scenes, she now fully believed in this man's resolve and had truly decided to entrust him with power.
Soone with the sa look in their eyes as hers would never think of running away or giving up.
"Since you're taking responsibility, you'll have to start with the debts—the Archibald family is currently drowning in debt, enough to fund a Hollywood blockbuster."
"I accept."
"Seriously? Then, the second condition... concerns the El-lloi family's Magic Crest."
After briefly showing the emotions of a little girl, Reines quickly returned to her serious deanor.
"As for my brother's Origin Crest, it's currently in the hands of that mysterious guy."
"And what I want you to do is take it back from him, bro~ther~"
The mory faded, and Reines opened her eyes, looking at the dimly lit, empty room. A trace of exhaustion finally appeared on her small face.
"The only person I can rely on is you now... Waver Velvet."
***
What Reines didn't know was that after finishing his conversation with her, Waver was transported to another place the mont he stepped out of the room with his left foot.
It was a study decorated in a Japanese style, with books from different schools and disciplines neatly arranged, almost filling the entire room.
At the tea table in the center of the study, two figures sat facing each other.
"Ah, you're finally here. Took you long enough," said Sakatsuki, his white hair and golden eyes glowing as he flipped through a book with his left hand and held a teacup in his right, not even looking up. "It seems Reines is really wary of , spending so much ti discussing things with you."
"Yo, Waver!" Sitting across from Sakatsuki was a tall, thin man with white hair. His face was pale and sickly, but it was flushed with excitent. "Long ti no see, my dear friend!"
Waver wasn't surprised by Sakatsuki's invitation, but he was shocked by the presence of this man. "lvin! Why are you here?"
"My dear friend and my business partner are about to fight—how could I miss such an entertaining event?" Seeing Waver's shocked expression, the white-haired man smiled with a natural sense of delight.
lvin Weins was a young man from a prestigious family connected to the three great noble houses. Due to his frail health, he remained a Fes-rank tuner and was one of the most extre pleasure-seekers. His twisted personality was almost innate, and he derived pleasure from others' downfalls or missteps. If not for Waver, his closest friend, and his own principles, he might have beco soone similar to Kirei Kotomine.
He called himself Waver's "best of best friends." Before the Fourth Holy Grail War, he had lent Waver money for a plane ticket after Waver declared, "I'm going to turn the Clock Tower upside down and show you." At the sa ti, the funds Waver planned to use to purchase the El-lloi classroom were also provided free of charge by this wealthy friend.
"Back to the main topic. After discussing things with your child bride, it's ti for us to have a bachelor party, Waver—or should I call you Lord El-lloi II now?" Sakatsuki closed his book and smiled with interest.
"Child bride?" Waver was almost defeated by Sakatsuki's wild imagination. "What are you talking about? She's just my sister."
"Oh, sister~" Sakatsuki and lvin exchanged a glance, then drew out their words in unison.
"Hey, you two, that's enough!" Waver was starting to lose his composure. "I said let's get back to the main topic! Sakatsuki, you never actually planned to make Kayneth's family submit to you, did you?"
"As expected of Waver, you figured it out so quickly," lvin clapped. "You know, a whole bunch of people at the Clock Tower are still in the dark about this."
"That's because I know what kind of person he is. Don't let his current harmless appearance fool you—when it cos to being a jerk, he's on par with you, lvin." Waver didn't hold back in his criticism.
Perhaps because they were both survivors of the Holy Grail War, or perhaps because Sakatsuki had truly fulfilled his promise to Iskandar, Waver had gradually beco familiar with Sakatsuki, and their conversations had beco less formal.
"From your previous actions, it's clear you never intended to take control of the family, yet you kept pressuring them, forcing them to seek external help—naly, —to oppose you and buy ti."
"The term 'buying ti' is well put," Sakatsuki nodded. "Because of my ddling, you haven't yet taken over the El-lloi classroom, nor have you achieved anything to earn Reines' admiration. You should know deep down that in this unequal situation, Reines forcibly brought you here to use you as cannon fodder."
"Who knows about that..." Waver avoided the topic, lost in thought as he recalled Reines' expression at the ti. "You've already given 'that thing.' You've fulfilled what Rider entrusted to you. So, why did you pressure the Archibald family to bring here? No, before that, there's another question—what is your purpose for coming to the Clock Tower?"
Facing Waver's question, Sakatsuki didn't hide the truth. "My purpose for coming to the Clock Tower is simple: to deal with the Golden Apple... and things like that. Without resorting to violence, the 'Geis Scroll' I signed with Kayneth is the simplest and most efficient way for to enter the Clock Tower."
"I see... For you, as long as you can enter the Clock Tower legitimately, that's enough. The Archibald family, as one of the twelve Lords, is actually a burden to you?"
"Exactly." The young man snapped his fingers. "But based on my understanding of you, you would never stand by and watch the decline of Kayneth's lineage. Rather than letting you clean up the ss years later, it's better to push you to the forefront now. With as the big bad guy, you'll save a lot of effort."
"I understand the general situation." Waver, who had now grown out of his youth and started growing his hair longer, nodded solemnly.
"But why go to such lengths for , Sakatsuki?"
***
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