Renne and Tio had reunited under such a strange light, on top of becoming new friends with Tita Russell. Renne and Tio haven't seen each other since the events of Nemeth Island took place. Tio was there with Naoto when Naoto's Party raided Paradise alongside Zephyr and Ouroboros. He had brought his entire Party back onto the Glorious before they went their separate ways. Tio was dropped off at Remiferia to reunite with her parents, only to become estranged with them, sever that connection, and join the Epstein Foundation as a genius student. All because of Gnosis. Renne took a different path. She remained on board the Glorious, became acquainted with the members of Ouroboros because of what Naoto requested, and eventually became Enforcer No. XV, the Angel of Slaughter.
Even Tio doesn't know of Renne's newest status. It remains to be seen whether this will shed some light. To Tio, Renne is but a friend. And now, Tio has met yet another new friend, Tita Russell.
Perhaps it was a form of rivalry, but a hidden spark of electricity shot out as Renne stared at Tio after the two greeted each other. After Tita's initial shock subsided, she noticed the change in the air.
"U-Umm...", Tita tried to say, feeling the air turn tense for a brief moment. All this did was cause Renne to reveal a grin at Tio.
"Hmm. Is this a friend of yours, disciple candidate?", Professor Schmidt inquired.
"Yes. This is Renne. We've met in the past, albeit I cannot dive into the details on how we've met. At the very least, we can be considered friends.", Tio explained without going into the specifics. After that hidden spark flew, Renne took a moment to observe Tio's expression. Back then, she saw Tio could hardly express any form of emotion, and had a hard time doing so. But seeing Tio here in person, Renne could see Tio's complexion has vastly improved. She was no longer the pale girl she had met last. Just that alone brought a smile to Renne's face. "As for what I can say, Renne is a similar-minded individual, comparable to my own."
"A person whose intellect is similar to your own?", Professor Schmidt responded. At first he didn't bother, but now that Tio is saying that Renne is just like Tio in that regard, Professor Schmidt's interest grew considerably. "It isn't often my disciple candidate gives praise at another person's candor. If it is as anything as she says, you are more than welcome to join the Epstein Foundation."
"Y-You're seriously trying to poach someone who has no basis into your own!?", Erika retorted, obviously annoyed. "There's a time and place for everything, you damn old coot."
"Hehe, but is the Professor wrong, Miss Russell? Put yourself in my shoes. It is true I have not affiliated myself with anyone yet. Would you rather have me go sell my genius to Calvard's Verne Company or Erebonia's Reinford Group? I much prefer the Epstein Foundation.", Renne said while telling a white lie. Her true affiliation is with Ouroboros, but from an outside person's perspective who hasn't gotten acquainted with Renne prior to this, she can do whatever she wants to. Renne then turned toward Erika. "I mean, as the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot, right?"
"That...", Erika said, not immediately answering. "You aren't exactly wrong there."
"I stand by my point.", Professor Schmidt simply said, and had his eyes remain on Renne. "Nonetheless, the doors to the Epstein Foundation will be open, should you express your desire to join."
"I thank you for the invitation, Professor. We will see where the winds take me. For the time being, I have prior commitments here in Grancel City, so I do not see myself going to another country anytime soon. If I do, I'll be sure to drop by.", Renne answered.
"Such a pity. Well, if you decide to change your mind, the two of us will reside here in Grancel City for a short while. All you need to do is reach out to my disciple candidate here.", Professor Schmidt said.
"Mmm.", Tio responded with a nod. Her expression returned to normal, and became that usual deadpan stare that Renne was used to seeing. Seeing Tio not say much, Tita scratched her cheek, unsure of what to say next. Thankfully, her mother beat her to the punch, and asked the question she's been wanting to ask.
"That reminds me. What ARE you doing all the way here out in Liberl? This is our turf, you know. Don't you have your little war machines you've been developing for the Reinford Group?", Erika asked with a condescending tone.
"We do have that ongoing project with the Imperial Government, yes. But that isn't the reason why I came here. I came to check up on MY model, and to see it didn't get tampered with by a Russell.", Professor Schmidt coldly said.
"Of course you did...", Erika uttered with a sigh. She raised her hand and rubbed the bridge of her eyes, shaking her head and acted as if she had expected this. "Still, I saw that glint in your eyes earlier. Have a look will you?"
After Erika said that, she tossed the treasure in her hand toward Professor Schmidt. He didn't react, and simply caught it. Unsurprisingly, Professor Schmidt immediately recognized it.
"Strange. This is most definitely a completed Master Quartz. We haven't even put the first one out onto the assembly line, let alone finish its circuitry yet. How on earth did you acquire this?", Professor Schmidt asked with a serious tone. His earlier demeanor vanished. "I'm pretty sure we only assisted His Royal Highness with those Enigma II blueprints he provided us."
"We most certainly did. And that's the problem. I wasn't the one who acquired it. His Royal Highness did. Haven't a damn clue how.", Erika said, feeling confused.
"Mom! No cursing!", Tita said with a complaint. Hearing that, Erika laughed.
"Haha. Sorry about that Tita. You know, why don't you go take your new friends and go play around for a bit? I have something further to discuss with this old coot. It'll only be for a little while. From there, we can change our location and finish our work up for His Royal Highness then, okay?", Erika suggested. Hearing that, Tita paused, and her eyes lit up.
"Really?", Tita responded, feeling excited. She glanced over at Renne and Tio.
"Sure, sure not? I'm here to explore Grancel anyway. You down for that, Tio?", Renne asked.
"Mmm. Any friend of Renne's is a friend of mine. We won't wander far.", Tio said, nodding her head in agreement. Tita wasn't used to Tio speaking like this as Renne was, so she found this strange, but shrugged it off. Her excitement couldn't hold her back. Getting approval from her mother, Tita acted quickly, and dragged Renne and Tio off further into the North Block.
The three started to have fun. It warmed Erika's heart seeing this. As much as she wanted to take pictures of the ongoing scene in front of her, Erika knew she couldn't cause any delays. Especially with it being Professor Schmidt in front of her.
"So, out with it. How did you acquire this?", Professor Schmidt said.
"Courtesy of His Royal Highness. I have no idea how, but he acquired a Master Quartz.", Erika said, and sighed. She had no idea how to explain the concept of a Gamer System's Reward Box, let alone what the Gamer System was. Naoto never explained that part. He just tossed the box her way to test her luck. "But if he was able to do it once, then perhaps he will be able to send one your way too, Professor. I would have already flown back to Zeiss to analyze its composition if it weren't for the fact that we need to finish his Enigma II."
"Is that so?", Professor Schmidt responded, and turned silent for a moment to ponder. "Well, it already has a damned Russell's hand on it, so I'll let you finish the job. I'll continue overseeing the project and make sure you don't tamper with it."
"Y-You...", Erika tried to say, only to sigh again. "Do you really have to take jabs at every single thing I say? I'm not dad you know. If you have a complaint, I'll be more than happy to lend an ear and send it his way~"
"A Russell is a Russell. At least the one thing I will say is the latest generation seems to be of sound mind. Collaboration will do them well in the future.", Professor Schmidt said, offering a rare praise. "But we cannot tarry for long. Considering there is more business to do, let us make haste for the castle. You still have work to do."
"I know it hasn't been long since we left but you want me to turn around right now? I was going to go let Tita explore Grancel for a little while as I think of how I should proceed with the finishing touches. But since you are here, I might not need to think for long...", Erika said, mulling over what to do next. Seeing Professor Russell into her own thoughts, Professor Schmidt turned around, and spoke out to Tio, who was now further into the North Block, having fun with Tita and Renne.
"What you do has little interest to me. If you want to walk around the capital for a while, then walk around the capital. My time is precious.", Professor Schmidt responded. He then spoke out, looking at Tio in the distance. "Disciple candidate, let us head to the castle. I will not take any excuses!"
The moment Professor Schmidt said that, Tio came to a pause, and looked at Tita and Renne. A hint of sadness appeared in her eyes.
"It looks like we have to stop here for now. What the Professor came here for takes priority.", Tio explained.
"Aww. And we were just getting to know each other better!", Tita responded with a frown.
"Hehe. Big Brother will be in for a surprise to see you again, Tio. We won't keep you.", Renne happily said.
After Renne said that, Tio nodded her head again. Tita entered a daze seeing Tio quickly run off toward Professor Schmidt's side. Erika darted her eyes from one side to another, and smiled again seeing her daughter's present appearance.
"Well, we'll let that old coot be. He likely has some words to say to His Royal Highness, so while he gets his ears chewed out, why don't we go have some fun?", Erika suggested. "It is a shame you just met Tio and already had to see her leave, but you can bring your other new friend along!"
"How about it?", Renne asked. "I've got all the time in the world. Unlike Big Brother, that is."
"That...", Tita uttered. "I don't see a problem, but who is this Big Brother you keep referring to?"
"Hehehe.", Renne giggled. "Didn't you hear it already when Miss Russell spoke earlier? I'm talking about His Royal Highness, of course. Who else could it be?"
It took a moment to let it register in Tita's head. But the moment it did, she exclaimed in shock.
"E-EHHHHH!?", Tita exclaimed. Even this expression Erika found amusing. Tita didn't even know she was getting pictures of her with quick snaps of an orbal camera. That's right, they exist here in Trails, using what's called photo quartz to act as a film reel.
Meanwhile, as Renne's group began to have some fun, Tio and Professor Schmidt began to make their way toward the large white doors that led into Grancel Castle. It took a good moment for one of the guard's at their post to realize one of Professor Epstein's disciples came to pay a visit. Once they regained their stupor, the guard panicked for a second before opening the doors and rushed inside.
As for us back inside Grancel Castle, our midday meal was well underway now. It was Grandmother, Kloe, Angelica, Ennea, and I. Hilda brought Jayna to another room, likely beginning her training. I'll leave them be for now. Renne also departed earlier in the day, so we didn't have too much time to chat. This is her first time here in Liberl, and she isn't tied down by the duties of being in Ouroboros. There's no active mission she has to do. She's got a lot of free time now, so I'm going to let her do anything she wants to do to have some fun. To my surprise, it didn't take long for a guard to come into the dining area with a worried expression. That didn't take long.
"Y-Your Royal Highness, my utmost apologies for interrupting your meal, but it appears there is an urgent matter for you to attend to.", The guard exclaimed, still somewhat shocked. "The chief of orbal development is waiting outside the castle!"
"...Come again?", I responded. My eyes shot up. The chief of orbal development? It can't be...
"Hmph. It is as your guard says. Their presence at the entrance bored me, so I went ahead and invited myself in. Now that the Enigma II model is almost complete, I have come to see its results.", Professor Schmidt's voice spoke out, which drew our eyes to the room's entrance. Sadly, I couldn't even react before I heard a quick sound of shuffling feet. I saw a shadow quickly approach my direction. I was suddenly greeted with a hug, despite me still being seated.
It took a moment to realize who this girl was.
"Tio?"
"Mmm.", Tio happily answered with a nod. She looked up at me. "It is nice to see you again, Naoto."
*
This chapter aligns to Chapter 171 before rewriting this Fanfiction. This leaves 219 chapters to go! Still a ways away, huh?