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Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: Gattuso Joins the Game

"What, you got a problem with this lady personally calling you out!?"

Charlotte's indignant question rang out in the chatroom.

Emiya paused, fingers hovering uncertainly over the keyboard. Honestly, he always felt a bit out of place in this chat.

Ever since the "Potato Chip Girl" incident—where the so-called ditzy NEET chick accidentally revealed herself as the infamous "Black Swan of Wall Street"—Emiya realized something important: he was the only actual wage slave in the group.

But Charlotte, young mistress of her prestigious household, was feeling great.

After all, within this collection of highborn rich kids, she was the most skilled in alchemy. And among skilled alchemists, she had the most impressive pedigree. Compared to the others, she was second to none!

Her spirits lifted, Charlotte gleefully spammed the chat with rapid-fire messages aimed at Emiya:

"Hey hey! You traitorous little brother who ran off to be someone else's butler! This lady has made a breakthrough in alchemy! Hurry and show some respect to my brilliant invention!"

Perhaps it was the thought of her ranting alone in a quiet group chat that moved Emiya to reply. His fingers tapped the keyboard:

What wild idea are you chasing this time, ojou-sama?

By now, Emiya had Charlotte figured out. She was still stuck in that eternal battle between genius child and tiger-parent. If he weren't above teasing her, he'd have messaged: "Charlotte, turn around. I'm your grandpa."

Wild idea!? How dare you! This time it's truly a magnificent invention!

Charlotte launched into a hyper explanation of her "brilliant" alchemy creation:

"It's a mercury-based fluid weighing 140 kilograms, etched with logic circuits for AND, OR, and NOT operations. I even had Grandpa pull strings at the academy to upload a massive database of test questions. Now it can auto-generate answers through repeated training! I've pushed its accuracy past 95%! Hmmph!"

Emiya could only sigh. No surprise this poor girl had trauma from years of being force-fed exams. She'd literally turned herself into a liquid-metal AI trainer.

Then again… wasn't there a certain genius named Kenneth who also used a mercury construct called Volumen Hydrargyrum?

"Did you add auto-attack, target-tracking, or defense modules to the array?" Emiya asked.

"Eh? Why would I add those?" Charlotte blinked, expecting praise—and instead getting this curveball.

"To prevent your grandpa from catching you cheating. And if he does catch you, you'll want it to defend you from the beating."

Charlotte was momentarily stunned. Then something clicked—he'd hit her right in the trauma. For a second, she actually warmed up to "traitor Emiya," mentally classifying him as a fellow rebel against tyrannical parents.

Two minutes later, she puffed up again, pride peeking through her pouty tone:

"Hmph… I guess you're not entirely hopeless, traitor-butler. Didn't expect you to actually support me."

Emiya twitched slightly as he typed. You're misunderstanding something here…

Just then, "Governor of Gaul" came online:

"Ah, such nostalgic, youthful vibes. Beautiful."

Worried that the conversation might veer off into weird territory again, Emiya quickly shifted gears.

"Hey, Governor, you seem like you've got a lot of experience with romance, huh?"

"Sadly, I do not," the Governor replied coolly. "To this day, I've never met the one girl who could make me stay."

"…But charming a woman's heart is another matter," he added, brushing his hair back in Emiya's imagination. "Just a few nights ago, while sailing with Madelena, she asked me to fulfill my promise and run away with her. A promise I never actually made."

It was the most elegant kind of humblebrag. Men like him didn't need to try—women simply fell in love by existing near them.

Emiya was speechless. In his mind, the Governor lived in some sun-soaked Roman paradise, strolling daily in velvet robes among rose-scented courtesans and sycophants, bathing in perfume and sipping aged whiskey. A dream world.

Pop. All it would take was one poke.

So he struck: "You spoiled noble kids always end up in political marriages, right?"

"Family arrangements?"

The Governor's usual suave smile cracked, turning into a sneer of rebellion.

"Let them arrange whatever they want. A true man sails free across the boundless sea of romance—unfettered by duty!"

Meanwhile, outside Rome, at a secluded estate—

The estate belonged to the Gattuso family, one of the most powerful backers of the Secret Party and top members of the Cassell Academy board. Internally, it was known as the "Hall of the Forebears"—a sacred resting place for the clan's elders. It served a role similar to the underground crypts of the Zhou family.

Now, the elders, dressed in ceremonial white robes, sat in solemn dignity. Despite their age, their gazes were sharp as they reviewed classified documents.

Just 48 hours ago, they'd been lying in cryo-pods made of aluminum alloy, their bodies shriveled like ancient trees. Skin clung to old bone like parchment.

Their revival was no simple affair. Unlike the Zhou family's Nuwa bloodline, the Gattuso elders required a rigorous process—body warming, nutrient infusions, oxygen-rich environments, followed by two days of rest, baths, and ceremonial clothing—before entering the Hall to hear reports from the acting family head.

Standing before them was Frost Gattuso, current proxy head of the family, bowing deeply as he presented the reason for their awakening:

The family's interest in one Chen Motong, daughter of the Chen family. Already considered a candidate for the next generation's patriarch's wife—her final fate needed elder approval.

"Have we dispatched the investigation team yet?"

Most elders remained silent, reading. Only one spoke. He was their leader, codename "Alpha," rumored to have lived over 300 years. The elders held absolute authority. Even the family head bowed to them.

Frost bowed deeper. "Yes. The team has already arrived. These documents contain their preliminary findings."

Alpha exchanged a glance with the others—though they didn't speak, their minds were linked. No words were needed.

After reading through the files, Alpha asked:

"I heard Chen Motong is not allowed to leave her family's estate?"

Frost hesitated. "The Chen patriarch claims the family is entangled in a power struggle within Shenzhou's noble clans. For her safety… she requires close, private protection."

"And what did he request?"

Under the intense gaze of the elders, Frost's lip twitched, sweat beading at his brow.

"…He hopes we will send more personnel. The Chen family… wishes for us to enter the game."

(End of Chapter)

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